Australia players have insisted they are not afraid of Lionel Messi as they prepare for their last-16 clash in the 2022 World Cup.
They, however, admitted their admiration for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Australia qualified thanks to a 1-0 win over Denmark.
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The Socceroos will now take on Messi and co on Saturday evening for a place in the quarter-final.
“I always loved Messi and I think he is the greatest to ever play the game.
“[But] it’s not an honor to play against him because he’s just a human, as we all are.
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“It’s an honor to be in the round of 16 of a World Cup. Whether we played Argentina or we’d have played against Poland, it still would have been an honor to represent Australia in the round of 16 of a World Cup,” defender Milos Degenek said.
