In a World Cup where so much history has already been made, Australia and Egypt are on the cusp of making their own when they meet tomorrow in the round of 16 in Dallas.
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Both are chasing their first playoff win, ensuring one will create history and the other will go home wondering what could have been.
Let’s start with the Socceroos, who are competing in the World Cup for the sixth time in a row.
With one of the most exciting teams in a generation, they are full of optimism and confidence that under the dome of Dallas Stadium they will achieve what some of the country’s greats have not been able to do.
Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and co scored Australia’s first World Cup goal and secured their first exit from the group stage.
Australia’s golden generation has provided many memorable moments, but the current crop hopes to go even further. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
But Australia have won just three more World Cup matches since then, making it five wins from 23 matches in the Code’s biggest competition.
The Socceroos have already added to their legacy in this current edition, with Patrick Beach making eight saves against Turkey on his Australia debut – the most by an Australian goalkeeper at the Men’s World Cup.
No Australian has made more saves in a single World Cup match than Patrick Beach’s eight against Turkey. (Reuters: Lee Smith)
Nestori Irakunda in the same game became Australia’s youngest scorer at the World Cup and the youngest scorer in the Asian Football Confederation.
History has already been made and the Socceroos are hoping for a collective prize, although to achieve it they will have to overcome an opponent with their own agenda.
Egypt is also chasing a piece of history
The African nation has become the powerhouse of the African Football Confederation, winning the African Cup of Nations seven times, but not since 2010.
With aging great Mohamed Salah likely to play in his final World Cup, they have a chance to win the knockout stages themselves.
Mo Salah could be in his last World Cup and hopes to give Egypt their first knockout win. (Getty Images: Emma Ottosen/ISI Photos)
The Pharoahs have struggled on the global front, having qualified for just four World Cups since 1934, with other appearances coming in 1990 and 2018.
Egypt made history at this World Cup when they beat New Zealand to record their first win of the tournament.
The team also scored five goals in this tournament alone, which is the total from their previous three matches.
They can also know that the two teams that beat Australia in the playoffs won the World Cup, so if they do their job, they can dream about the ultimate goal.
Whichever side wins, and they really should, the history books will be refreshed once again in a tournament that has produced so many moments.