'ABSOLUTE MADNESS' TO PLAY IN TWO DAYS

Argentina coach Scaloni laments tight scheduling of last-16 clash against Australia

DOHA Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni says it is "madness" for his team to play their World Cup last-16 game against Australia with just two rest days after their last group match.

The South Americans carved out a 2-0 win over Poland on Wednesday night to top Group C and set up Saturday's knockout clash with the Group D runners-up.

"I think it's absolute madness to play in nearly two days and a bit when we are top of the group. I can't understand it," Scaloni said after the game at Stadium 974 ended just before midnight.

"What time is it? Nearly one o'clock in the morning... Thursday, the next day, is for preparation and then we play. Those aren't good conditions but it's the same for everyone. We're first in the group. We could have had more rest."

Australia will benefit from only a few more hours of recuperation and preparation time than Argentina, given their last group match, a 1-0 win over Denmark, was completed earlier on Wednesday.

But Scaloni's comments touch on the wider controversy over holding the World Cup in Qatar in mid-season and the more compressed timetable.

Argentina have found their rhythm again in beating both Mexico and Poland comfortably after they were shocked 2-1 by Saudi Arabia in their opening match.