Socceroos coach Graham Arnold is getting “goosebumps” interested by Australia’s potential encounter with world champions Argentina subsequent month in China.
Negotiations are persevering with a few conflict in Beijing, the place the Socceroos would acquired a shot at avenging their 2022 World Cup round-of-16 loss to La Albiceleste.
More importantly, it might be very best as one of many “tough games” Arnold desires for Australia forward of the beginning of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in November, and the January-February Asian Cup in Qatar.
“It’d be amazing,” Arnold stated on Friday.
“I just get goosebumps now thinking about it. If this game comes off, it’d just be fantastic to play against the world champions.
“There’s no better way to test players than put them out against top opposition, because if you put them out against the lower opposition, well, then you’re not learning too much about the players.
“I want these tough games. I want to play against teams that are going to push us to the limit and we’ll push them to the limit. Then when you get those good results, when you do well against those type of teams, that builds the belief and confidence in the players.”
Arnold crossed paths with Argentina’s mentor Lionel Scaloni earlier this week in Qatar, however the subsequent month’s potential battle wasn’t mentioned.
“He came over to me and just gave me a hug and said how much they appreciated the (World Cup) game against us,” Arnold stated.
“He felt we were the hardest game for them at the World Cup but also, he loved the way we played and the players’ attitude, the fight and the grit in our performance and he was very complimentary to us.”
However, Arnold is intent on transferring on from the Socceroos’ memorable World Cup exhibiting.
“It’s whole new chapter now,” he stated.
A web page within the “chapter” features a assembly with England at Wembley in October.
“That cricket rivalry will come back … the Ashes,” Arnold stated.
“This will be a great opportunity for us on the football field to do the same.”
Originally printed as Socceroos coach Graham Arnold excited by the prospect of Australia taking over Argentina in China
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
