Outgoing Socceroos coach Graham Arnold says he will hand the team over to his successor with pride after watching an under-strength Australian side go down 1-0 to a powerful Argentina at the MCG.

In what was almost certainly Arnold's last game in charge and also the farewell match for long-time Socceroo Josip Skoko, Australia put forward a bold challenge, particularly in a scoreless first half.

The Socceroos were missing skipper Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Brett Emerton, while world No.2 ranked nation Argentina had a virtual full-strength squad including stars Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez.

"It was just such an honour to see the boys compete against a world class side like that and push them the whole way and have the possibility to have some occasions to score, by no means were we outplayed," Arnold said.

"I'm very proud of the fact that I'm handing the side over - (substitute) Nik Mrdja was my 53rd player (to represent Australia) in 13 months - which is unbelievable.

"I've had a lot of difficulties in my time as the coach because of unavailability and older players retiring and moving on and I'm very proud of the fact that I've introduced young blood into the team.

"... I can proudly say that I can now hand over 30 names, 35 names, to the new manager, who I know now can play at this level."

Arnold, an interim appointment after the World Cup, is set to be replaced by an overseas coach - likely to be Dutchman Dick Advocaat - to spearhead Australia's campaign for the 2010 World Cup.

The Socceroos had some strong periods in attack in the first half and were desperately unlucky not to score in the 25th minute.

A powerful Mark Bresciano free kick was somehow deflected by Argentine keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri, despite the keeper having little idea where the ball was.

Bresciano's thundering shot hit the base of the crossbar, rebounded onto the keeper's head, hit the crossbar again, then bounced off the keeper's back without going into the net.

"I've seen something in football tonight I've never seen in 30-odd years ... it's incredible," Arnold said of the keeper's clearance.

Australia also had some close shaves in defence in the first half, particularly a near-miss from wonder kid Messi, who showed his class to move past two defenders and fire a bullet-like 20m shot which cannoned across goal off the left post in the 17th minute.

Fittingly, Messi and Tevez were both involved in setting up the winner four minutes into the second half.

Tevez earned a free kick with a clever run down the right flank, wheeling past Australian defender David Carney, before Carney grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him down.

It blotted a solid performance by Carney, who defended stoutly for most of the match.

Messi took the free kick, curling it beautifully into the box to find Martin Demichelis at the far post, whose header clipped the post on the way in.

From that point, the Argentines were largely prepared to sit back and soak up Australia's attacking pressure, while launching occasional counter-attacks, with the Socceroos rarely looking like piercing the defence.

Skoko was called to the bench soon after the goal, receiving the pats on the backs of his team-mates and loud applause from the 70,171-strong crowd.

Carney almost levelled the scores four minutes after Argentina's goal, when he created a chance from nothing, lobbing a long-range shot which almost cleared keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri, who managed to tip it over the bar.

A Bresciano free kick two minutes later was also tipped over the bar, in Australia's only real threatening moments of the second half.

Argentine coach Alfio Basile praised Australia's performance and said they deserved to be ranked well above their 49th position.

"Especially after the World Cup, the fact that they performed so well," Basile said.

"A 1-0 result to Argentina showed just that little bit extra that Argentina has."

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