World Cup 2022: What Australia must do to qualify for Round of 16

After the stunning win over Tunisia, Graham Arnold’s Socceroos are out to make World Cup history for Australia. Here’s how they progress to the round of 16, plus all the fallout.

Mat Ryan saved Australia late against Tunisia. Picture: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Graham Arnold’s Socceroos want to not just master the art of winning ugly, but are determined to use that approach to create World Cup history for Australia.

Arnold’s team has the goal of becoming just the second Socceroos side, after the 2006 golden generation group, to reach the knockout stages in their sights now following Saturday’s historic 1-0 over Tunisia, which leaves destiny in their hands.

Following Denmark’s 2-1 loss to France, the Socceroos know a draw will be enough for them to progress – barring a highly improbable six-goal win from Tunisia over the defending world champions in Group D’s final game.

And Arnold didn’t have to wait long to be reminded that another challenge lay ahead of them.

With the first question in his post-match press conference, Arnold was asked how Australia will beat Denmark.

“Can I just have five seconds to enjoy this?” he joked.

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Coach Graham Arnold hugs Riley McGree after Australia’s 1-0 win. Picture: Chandan KHANNA/AFP

But the truth is the question cut to the core of what Arnold had himself told his players amid their on-field celebrations.

“I’m very proud. And no doubt the nation is extremely proud. But we’ve done nothing,” Arnold told his triumphant team as they formed a circle around him in the middle of Al-Janoub Stadium.

“You have achieved something to talk about after the tournament. But we’re here to go as far as we can go.

“I don’t want any celebration. Just enjoy these couple of minutes with the fans here in the stadium.

“Get yourself in the dressing room, ice baths, recover and get ready for the next one.”

The Australian players after the victory. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

After one of his finest displays in national colours in a gruelling, pulsating contest, Aaron Mooy was utterly exhausted.

Mooy knew it wasn’t the prettiest of wins, nor the prettiest of winners via Mitchell Duke’s game-breaking goal, but it was what Australia demanded.

As Arnold said afterwards, it was fight, grit and determination: the Aussie way.

“We just adapt to the situation. Obviously we want to play good football, but sometimes it’s not always possible,” Mooy said.

“You have to win your battles and we got the points today, we did the hard stuff, the battling, one-on-one duels.

“We played a bit more in the first half, the second half was more of a fight and we got to do that. It’s not always pretty, football.”

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Aaron Mooy celebrates on the final whistle. Picture: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Mat Ryan saved Australia late against Tunisia. Picture: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Being honest with themselves about winning ugly is what may well have just saved Australia’s World Cup following a dispiriting first-up defeat to France.

Fiery defender Milos Degenek says the approach is simply about Australia showing respect for themselves and proving that the only commodity worth chasing is victories.

“You can’t disrespect yourself and say I’m Aussie, they’re Brazilians, they are born with the ball at their feet,” he said.

“Sometimes you have to be realistic and be honest with your strengths and weaknesses, and our strength is that fighting mentality.

“I’d love it if we had 75 per cent possession and have seven or eight beautiful goal scoring chances and score a 25-pass goal.

“But sometimes a goal (like Duke’s) where a cross is whipped in low, somehow ends up high and is scored off a striker’s head is the best thing you can have and you win 1-0, and you make 25 million people happy.

“You have to realise where you are. You want to play beautiful football but you’ve got to win games.

“I’d be the happiest guy on earth if we had 15% possession, one shot on goal and the other team had 25 shots on goal and Maty saved them all and we win every game and win the World Cup.”