Argentinians think a lot about football. 

They analyse the game endlessly; the players, the coaches, the tactics. 

Live TV programs on multiple channels rake over games for hours and hours, pulling them apart, deconstructing every key moment, shouting, arguing.

Daily sport newspapers will devote dozens of articles to each game the Argentina national team, the Albicelestes, take part in at the World Cup.

You'll find millions of opinions on how the game should be played — and specifically how the Albicelestes should play, but there are two overarching footballing philosophies, Menottismo and Bilardismo.

These are named after the two coaches who have led Argentina to World Cup glory, César Luis Menotti and Carlos Bilardo.

Menotti, who won the nation's first World Cup in 1978, is a chain-smoking romantic. His teams played flowing, passing football with the emphasis on attack.

Bilardo was a pragmatist and master of the dark arts of football. His defensive, solid approach relied on moments of individual brilliance from his players — perfect for the side captained by Diego Maradona that won the 1986 World Cup.

It's fair to say Argentina is a traditional footballing country, with a well-established culture and history, while their next opponent in Qatar, Australia, is a developing nation when it comes to having mainstream football discussions.

But one thing that may emerge from the Socceroos' unexpected and euphoric run to the knock-out stages is a question that fans and journalists might be asking from now on: Should we be playing Ange-ball or Arnie-ball?

The last Socceroos side to make it through the group stage of a World Cup was coached by Guus Hiddink in 2006. They played a fluent, positive brand of football that caught opponents off-guard.

That generation carried that style forward through various coaches, with Ange Postecoglou placing his own stamp on the side at the 2014 World Cup. The Socceroos under Postecoglou played an even more aggressive style of attacking football, winning the Asian Cup in 2015 and qualifying for the 2018 World Cup — before he quit ahead of the tournament.

Ange-ball was high intensity and high stakes. They came out swinging whether they were playing a minnow in Asian qualifying, or Spain or The Netherlands at the World Cup.

It was certainly fun to watch, but as the golden generation was replaced by a new set of players with more limited abilities, it became harder to achieve results.

Before Qatar, Australia had not won a game, or even scored a goal from open play at the World Cup since 2010. 

In 2022, they've scored three times from open play, won two games and qualified for the knock-out phase for the second time ever — all playing a much more conservative brand of football under Arnold.

Postecoglou, currently proving his credentials with Celtic in Scotland, is probably Australia's greatest coach.

Arnold has been much maligned; too boring, too direct, no tactical nous. 

But Arnie-ball has achieved results not seen by Australian men's football since 2006, and with a group of players cobbled together from the A-League, Scottish football and other less-fashionable leagues.

The team has become a reflection of Arnold himself, no-nonsense, blunt, gritty and fiercely determined. 

There's no right or wrong way to play football. This World Cup has shown that repeatedly.

Regardless of what happens against Argentina, this thrilling tournament for the Socceroos has added to the richness of Australia's footballing culture, giving some spice to future debates about what we are and who we are.

This World Cup has reinforced over and over again that no result is impossible.

Australia has a puncher's chance against the Albicelestes, and the tournament is already a success for the Socceroos, having made it this far.

Saudi Arabia shocked the South Americans in their opening game in a smash-and-grab affair, scoring two quick goals in the second half after Argentina had completely dominated the first.