Can you believe it? That the Socceroos have made the last 16 of the World Cup?

Is this the same team that limped towards qualification, before finding its mojo, and its traditional backbone and fight when the chips were down?

All kudos to Socceroos coach Graham Arnold and his squad for providing the nation with such pride, and joy, on the biggest stage in world sport.

And incidentally, the FFA with $43 million smackers, the prize for a top-16 berth, a day after expressing his concern about pathways to the national team.

Let's hope they use it wisely.

The results against Tunisia, and to a larger extent Denmark, we're a triumph for organisation, determination, concentration, and togetherness.

And dare I say it pragmatism.

Australia made the most of the resources available, the chances on offer, and the energy created by team belief.

It's a total triumph for Arnold and his men.

All have played their part, and any joy from here, is an absolute bonus.

As is the fact that you can win a massively important game against credible opposition with 28 per cent of the ball.

Regular readers of this column might recognise a hint of vindication in my summary.

Aim high, but be aware of the difference between ambition and ability .

A ten-dollar TAB voucher for anyone who can tell me the common denominator for the qualifying match with Peru, and the wins against Tunisia and Denmark?

If you took longer than two seconds to blurt out "three clean sheets Lowey", you are ineligible for the prize.

The only recent hiccup was the 4-1 loss to France who happen to have 3 or 4 world class players.

It's fairly safe to say Argentina are similarly blessed.

Sixteen years ago I was taken to task by a local radio program for suggesting that our golden generation squad would win win two out of 10 games against Uruguay at best if both teams had an even night.

In short Australia had to have a great night and Uruguay needed to be profligate to generate the right result, and even then we actually drew the two-legged contest, and progressed through the goalkeeping heroics of my old Marconi teammate Mark Schwarzer.

Why the retrospective glance?

Because I'm about to risk a whole chorus of derision from hopeful Socceroos' supporters, and tell you that tomorrow morning's task against Argentina is considerably more daunting.

Why? Because it extends beyond the genius of Lionel Messi, to a squad of high-class footballers, with a cutting edge required to be a top-tier football nation.

They have smothered, and summarily dissected two very decent opponents in Mexico, and Poland, after an early hiccup against Saudi Arabia, which could very easily have been a comfortable victory but for three VAR decisions to disallow goals, in the first half of that game.

Apart from their top-class technique, the Argentines have pressed with an intensity bordering on controlled ferocity in their matches to date.

And if you were thinking it's going to be almost impossible to stop Messi and co when you have 28 per cent possession, consider seriously that the Socceroos may well have even less of the ball if Argentina wish.

I hope the Aussies fare well, but they are facing a big step up in class, a footballing genius, and a team well aware that only Australia, and either a youthful American side or a steady rather than stimulating Dutch team stand between them and a World Cup semi-final.

And a fourth game in 11 days for a largely unchanged starting side will test the limits of endurance .

You may sense I have some legitimate concerns for the Socceroos, and I do, but whatever happens tomorrow we should be well proud of them.

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