FIFA World Cup: Socceroos can create history if they can beat $1.1b Argentina squad

If the $58m Socceroos squad can beat the $1.14b Argentinian side, they join the likes Donald Bradman, Ian Thorpe and Cathy Freeman in Australian sporting history, writes Buzz Rothfield.

Craig Goodwin of Australia celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group D match between France and Australia.

The Socceroos are on the verge of becoming arguably the greatest and most inspiring story in Australian sporting history.

If we can beat Argentina and their superstar Lionel Messi, who is worth many times the entire Socceroos squad, it will be up there with anything this country has achieved on the international stage.

Absolutely anything.

It will go down alongside Warnie’s ball-of-the century, Australia II’s America’s Cup victory in 1983 or Cathy Freeman at the Sydney Olympics.

Sir Donald Bradman, Lionel Rose, Phar Lap or Ian Thorpe.

That’s how massive this game on Sunday morning is.

Australia making the final 16 is a monumental achievement in itself.

To go one better with our squad, which has been valued at $58 million, against the $1.147 billion South American outfit, would be the most colossal accomplishment.

Argentina’s squad is ranked as the eighth most valuable on the transfer market at this tournament, while Australia’s is 30th, which places us just above lowly Qatar and Costa Rica.

Because he’s near the end of his career, Messi’s transfer value is a “meagre”, while Lautaro Martinez is the country’s most valuable player with a price tag of $151m.

When it comes to his actual salary, Messi beats everyone in the world, with Forbes listing his pay at $191m, which takes in $110m for on-field earnings and $81m for off-field earnings.

Argentina megastar Lionel Messi. Picture: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Craig Goodwin (right) plays for Adelaide United in the A League. Picture: facebook / Socceroos

We were the most unlikely of teams to come out of the group stage, but we did it.

This extraordinary story is all about the courage and fighting qualities of a team of underdogs that is now the pride of the nation.

Players who, on paper, should be outclassed in every game.

Battlers against professional giants.

Even the coach Graham Arnold, who all the ‘experts’ wanted to sack just a matter of months ago.

A team representing a country in which soccer struggles for mainstream attention.

The struggling A-League has been in decline for several years.

Television ratings on Channel 10’s coverage this year are down by 50 per cent.

It was a battling sport that has now received the most remarkable shot in the arm.

A stack of bets were placed with the TAB on the Socceroos to beat Denmark at $7.

“The Socceroos winning was a disastrous result for us – but I’m sure the bosses will be happy to wear that one now that we’re through to the next round,” TAB’s Andrew Georgiou said.

The Socceroos are now rated massive $15 outsiders with the TAB to beat Argentina.

In a two-horse race, those are incredible odds.

They firmed from $301 to $151 to win the tournament after the miracle over Denmark, with one very parochial punter plonking $1500 on them on Thursday morning for a potential collect of $225,000.

Still, just about everyone else doesn’t give them a hope.

Which is fine because that’s been the story all along.

At one stage we were not even going to qualify for the tournament, let alone make it through to Sunday morning.

One thing we all underestimated was this team’s mental toughness under pressure and their never-say-die attitude.

There is an old saying in sport ... that a champion team will always beat a team of champions.

It sums up this Australian squad perfectly.

There are no champion individuals like the old days with Harry Kewell and Timmy Cahill.

But as a team, they are not out of place against any of the global giants.