KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up-to-date scores and biggest talking points from Australia’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of World Cup winners Argentina at The Workers’ Stadium in Beijing, China on Thursday June 15.
MATCH REPORT: Messi sparkles but Socceroos also shine as Argentina edge World Cup rematch in Beijing
ANALYSIS: Poise of Bos and O’Neill underlines why young Australian talent is back in demand
Robertson left hanging by Messi post-game
Was it a request for a handshake, or for the kit off Lionel Messi’s back?
In any case, Socceroo Alexander Robertson was given the cold shoulder by the Argentina captain in the aftermath of Australia’s 2-0 defeat to the World Cup winners at The Workers’ Stadium.
It was the Lionel Messi show in Beijing on Thursday night. On the pitch, he sent the 68,000-strong crowd into a frenzy with a second-minute strike and multiple touches of genius throughout a 90-minute friendly that at times seemed to belong solely to the Argentine great.
But to go with everything Messi brought to the occasion with the ball at his feet came a handful of moments outside of the gameplay itself that were truly bizarre.
At half-time, the assistant referee appeared to be caught on camera in the tunnel receiving an autograph from the Argentina captain.
During the second half, a pitch invader ran to engulf him in a bear hug; Messi pushed him away, and he was swiftly escorted off the pitch. Throughout the game, every time Messi touched the ball, a wave of sound surged around the stands.
And then came the full-time whistle, and Robertson’s failed attempt to capture Messi’s attention. The Manchester City youngster began with a slight tug at Messi’s shirt, following him as he walked, seemingly indifferent to Robertson’s repeated gestures to get his attention.
Robertson exchanged a smile with Argentina and Manchester United rising star Alejandro Garnacho in the aftermath as Messi continued on his way.
“Tonight is all about Leo Messi – and now the fight is on for his shirt!” Said Paramount+ commentator Simon Hill as he watched the post-match scenes unfold.
“Alexander Robertson having a go, and I’m sure there’ll be a few contenders for it!”
At the World Cup, it was Socceroos midfielder Cam Devlin who was the surprise recipient of Messi’s match-worn shirt, after the two nations faced off in the Round of 16.
No Socceroo managed to repeat the feat on Thursday night – on the pitch, at least. Time will tell if any of Graham Arnold’s squad members succeeded in taking a piece of history away from the friendly fixture with a fresh attempt in the change rooms.
Bos lauded for ‘exceptional’ starting debut and nearly-moment he’s practiced since childhood
It was the sublime piece of skill that almost landed the Socceroos an equaliser – and it was nothing fans of Melbourne City and the Isuzu UTE A-League hadn’t seen before.
Former City full-back Jordan Bos, in just his second Socceroos outing, made an all-too-familiar run off the left to cause havoc for Argentina in the first half, cutting onto his right foot off the left wing to whip a right-footed ball into danger.
On two occasions in the 2022-23 A-League Men season, Bos scored sensational goals off that exact play. It’s a manoeuvre that Bos has been perfecting since he was a child, with a towel tied as a target in the top-right corner of a homemade goal in his backyard.
On Thursday night in Beijing, he dished the ball on a platter for Mitch Duke to attack, and the Socceroos striker should have hit the back of the net. Instead, Emiliano Martinez made a crucial intervention, with his touch sending the ball off the post and back into his arms.
It was the standout moment in an otherwise brilliant starting debut from one of the most exciting prospects in the Australian game.
“This is his first start, against the world champions, but he always looked positive in the way that when he got the ball, he wanted to attack,” said former Socceroo Archie Thompson in the Paramount+ post-game show.
“He wasn’t afraid to pull the trigger – and he’s getting himself into this area where he can look to link up, but goes himself. I feel like if you can add dynamics to your game, where you can go inside or go outside, it’s very hard for a defender to mark that – he was exceptional tonight I thought.”
“He can do both,” added Luke Wilkshire. “That was his second cap, 20 years old, playing in front of 68,000 people against the World Champions.
“Phenomenal performance from Jordy Bos – that’s the future.”
