Bring on Messi, say triumphant Socceroos

A fourth World Cup game in 10 days, against Argentina and one of the best-ever footballers, Lionel Messi?

Bring it on, say the Socceroos.

Australia's unexpected run through the World Cup in Qatar reaches a knockout bout with Messi's Argentina on Saturday night (0600 AEDT Sunday).

Both nations have just two days to recover from their last game.

But the Socceroos are banishing any thought of fatigue.

"You have just got to do it, mate," midfielder Jackson Irvine said.

"It's the same for them. It's the way it is.

"It's one of those things that is obviously not ideal ... you have got to just find a way, dig deep.

'We have also got the very best medical staff, the very best support network, we have got everything there to be able to back up.

"So no excuses."

As the Australians celebrated their landmark 1-0 victory against Denmark which booked a passage to the round of 16, captain Mat Ryan's message was simple.

Dream bigger.

"It's great to see that we're an ambitious group," Ryan said.

"Because everyone is enjoying the (Denmark) victory post-match out on the pitch but the comments are already coming out: we're not done yet ... we want to make this chapter as special as it can be."

Goalscoring hero Mathew Leckie said the mantra was instantaneous.

"We want to dream big," he said.

"Arnie (coach Graham Arnold), the first thing he said was 'let's go one more'."

Defender Harry Souttar said there would be no mention of tiredness.

"There is no excuses on the facility front because they are one of the best in the world that we're using," Souttar said.

"There's one day less (recovery) than there was for this game.

"But we will be ready to go. Last 16 of the World Cup, I don't need to say much more, to be honest."

Midfielder Aaron Mooy noted the Australians would actually have more time to prepare than Messi and Argentina, who played four hours after the Socceroos.

"It's a short turnaround for them as well," Mooy said.

"A lot will be about team spirit."

Defender Milos Degenek was already dreaming bigger.

"The sky is the limit in football, mate," he said.

"Anything is possible, it's football.

"These beautiful football stories are the ones that are written in these situations and these moments.

"And it's these things that define a certain generation and define you as a person is what happens now."

And striker Jamie Maclaren was bubbling with anticipation.

"Bring it on," he said.

"Because we know there's going to be scenes again."