DOHA: Australia’s World Cup heroes hope their surprise run to the last 16 will transform football at home a er they went down fighting in a 2-1 defeat to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina.

It was only the second time that the Socceroos had got this far at the tournament and there was a sense of pride a er being edged out in Qatar on Saturday to one of the pre-World Cup favourites.

A acking midfielder Riley McGree, who plays in England with second-tier Middlesbrough said: “Just be proud, hold our heads high with what we’ve done here and hopefully inspired generations to come.”

“To do what we’ve done, you could say it’s ground-breaking and moving forward it’s only going to be good for the sport in the country,” the 24-year-old added.

Graham Arnold’s squad matched the “golden generation” from the 2006 World Cup of Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka in reaching the last 16.

Their 1-0 group-stage wins over Tunisia and European semi-finalists Denmark were the first time Australia had won successive games at a World Cup.

Messi scored the opener and then a defensive blunder put Argentina 2-0 up, but an Australia team strong on togetherness and hard work pegged them back with a deflected shot by Craig Goodwin 13 minutes from time.

The Socceroos then had chances to equalise late on, with Aziz Behich bursting from fullback on a mazy run which took him deep into the Argentina area before a last-gasp Lisandro Martinez challenge.

Teenager Garang Kuol also had a golden chance in the remaining seconds.

Goodwin admi ed to “mixed emotions”.