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December 5, 2019

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Australia can 鈥榮hock the world鈥 at Copa, says Arnold

Australia is not just going to next year鈥檚 Copa America to make up the numbers and will be looking to 鈥渟hock the world鈥 by beating co-host Argentina on the way to reaching the quarterfinals, coach Graham Arnold said yesterday.

Australia, which will make its debut at the South American continental championship as one of two invited guest sides, was on Tuesday drawn in Argentina鈥檚 Group A alongside Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Chile.

The Socceroos, No. 42 in the FIFA rankings, were eliminated in the group phase at the last three World Cups and had their Asian Cup title defense ended in the quarterfinals in January but Arnold is aiming high at the Copa America.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got Argentina lined up in our sights,鈥 the coach told reporters on a conference call yesterday.

鈥淚 never coach a team to go out there and have any mentality other than them winning the game.

鈥淎nd nothing will be different ... Why can鈥檛 we go out and shock the world and beat Argentina in their own country? That鈥檚 the purpose and the expectations.鈥

Australia is one of two invited sides to the 12-team tournament held from June 12-July 12 along with 2022 World Cup host Qatar.

Australia鈥檚 last brush with Argentina was at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where an Arnold-coached side was beaten 0-1 by the Lionel Messi-inspired champion in the group phase.

Australia lost a 2007 friendly 0-1 to Argentina in front of a crowd of 70,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and was beaten 2-4 by the South Americans at the 2005 Confederations Cup.

Australia has had its moments, though, upsetting Argentina 4-1 on home soil at a one-off 1988 tournament to celebrate the bicentennial of the country鈥檚 first settlement.

It also pushed an Argentina side captained by Diego Maradona in a tense qualifying playoff for the 1994 World Cup, losing 1-2 on aggregate.

鈥淲e go there with great hopes and very good stats against them and we鈥檙e looking forward to playing them,鈥 added Arnold.

The top four sides in both groups qualify for the quarterfinals.

Despite lacking a top-tier striker, Arnold has fashioned the Socceroos into an attacking team and he said his players would not be cowed by the reputations of players like Messi at the tournament.

鈥淭hey know they belong on the same field as them and that鈥檚 the main thing,鈥 said the 56-year-old.

鈥淲hen you believe in something so strong then you can create miracles.鈥


 

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