Olyroos coach Graham Arnold today declared he wanted Argentina to win the battle with Barcelona over star striker Lionel Messi so there could be no excuses when the Australians beat them in Shanghai next week.
Messi, 21, is locked in a battle between club and country as the Spanish giants appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport over a FIFA ruling which says clubs must release under 23 players for the Olympic Games.
Australia's Olyroos play Argentina next Sunday in Shanghai in their second of three pool games and Arnold hopes Messi is cleared to play.
"I would rather Lionel Messi be there because potentially when we beat them they will have no excuses," Arnold said today.
"Argentina do not put any fear into us."
It was a bold statement from the Olyroos coach, particularly considering their dreadful results leading into the Games.
Australia lost their final warm-up 1-0 to South Korea yesterday and have won just one of their past seven games during their Olympic preparations.
They will head into their Olympic opener against Serbia in Shanghai on Thursday on the back of three straight loses but Arnold said he was confident because their fitness in the Asian humidity is outstanding.
The team was just lacking some finesse in front of goal.
"The hardest thing to coach in football is making chances," he said.
"If you're making them and not scoring, the goals will eventually come.
"If you're not making the chances then we have a few problems."
Arnold said he was hopeful striker Archie Thompson, one of three over-age players called into the side, would provide the spark in front of goal when it matters most.
Thompson was happy to oblige today and said he was keen to play strongly in this tournament to make up for not getting any game time as part of Australia's World Cup squad in 2006.
"Hopefully I can do a lot more talking with my feet than I do maybe with my mouth," said Thompson.
"I'm just hoping I can bring a lot of experience and settle the boys down when it gets too much."
David Carney and Jade North are Australia's two other over-age players while the team is captained by Mark Milligan.
Aside from Argentina and Serbia, the Olyroos have also drawn the Ivory Coast and face a monumental task reaching the quarter-final stages.
Arnold believes his side will need at least a win and a draw from their three round games to reach the final eight and insists it is attainable.
"We are striving for nine points. We are here to be confident and every game is a game we want win," he said.
"(But) I don't care how we get through, goal difference is fine by me."
