Another high-stakes encounter looms for the Socceroos against Saudi Arabia on Thursday night in Melbourne, where their World Cup hopes will again go on the line.
With Japan the standout in Group C, it’s looking like a head-to-head battle between these two nations for the second direct qualification slot for the 2026 World Cup.
He’s back: Herve Renard.Credit: Getty
It’s almost the halfway point of this qualifying stage and Australia and Saudi Arabia are tied on five points; the winner will move into pole position, the loser will be at huge risk of missing out, while a draw … well, that’ll do nothing for no-one.
We take a look at the big questions surrounding the clash at AAMI Park.
How real is the new manager bounce?
It sure helped the Socceroos last month. They were Tony Popovic’s first matches in charge since Graham Arnold’s sudden departure. And yes, it got a little nervy early on against China, but overall, new life was successfully breathed into Australia’s campaign: they unveiled a new system, a new style with some new faces, and came away with four points, including an unexpected 1-1 draw with Japan.
Will the Saudis get a similar benefit? This game will be the first match of Herve Renard’s second stint, with their federation having dropped the axe on Roberto Mancini – hitherto the highest-paid coach in international football – after a sluggish start to qualification. Renard was the hero of Saudi Arabia’s World Cup upset of Argentina in 2022, and remains a revered figure in the kingdom.
He only left the job because his country, France, came calling; you might remember him from last year’s Women’s World Cup and the incredible quarter-final showdown between the Matildas and his Les Bleues. He was also floated as a possible contender to become Socceroos coach when Arnold resigned. A two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner who specialises in the international game, it would be no great shock if Renard instantly returns the Green Falcons to their best.
Who comes in for the suspended Craig Goodwin?
He’s arguably Australia’s best player at the moment, and would have been particularly handy on Thursday night due to his intimate knowledge of Saudi football, where he plays for Al-Wehda. But alas, Goodwin received his second yellow card against Japan, which means he cannot play in Melbourne.
Jackson Irvine and Ajdin Hrustic.Credit: Getty Images
That leaves a vacancy in one of the two inverted winger/No.10-ish roles in Popovic’s formation – assuming, of course, it remains in place – and the frontrunner would appear to be Ajdin Hrustic, the left-footer who, not too long ago, was considered an indispensable star for the Socceroos. After a couple of years wrecked by injury and a lack of club minutes, he will have a lot to give, particularly in his hometown.
Who gets the gloves?
One of the biggest shocks of the Popovic era so far was Joe Gauci’s emergence as the starting goalkeeper last month and Maty Ryan’s relegation to the bench. Ryan, of course, is yet to play a single minute since joining Italy’s AS Roma. Gauci, meanwhile, has only been used twice in the Carabao Cup by Aston Villa – but those 180 minutes were enough for Popovic to declare that he was “ready for an opportunity”.
But as players and even Popovic have recently said, Ryan still remains the captain of the national team. But is he a captain in exile? Will he only return to the starting XI if he’s playing for Roma? And what about Paul Izzo, who’s playing week-in, week-out for his club in Denmark? This is a delicate situation for Popovic and goalkeeper coach Frank Juric to handle.
Joe Gauci in action for Australia.Credit: Getty Images
Who partners Jackson Irvine in midfield?
Assuming Irvine keeps his spot – and he should, given his form in the Bundesliga for FC St. Pauli – it’s unclear who will play next to him. Popovic cycled through a bunch of different options last month, including Aiden O’Neill, captain of Belgian club Standard Liege, Macarthur FC’s Luke Brattan, Arnold-era favourite Keanu Baccus and young gun Patrick Yazbek, who plays for Nashville SC in MLS. But Brattan and Baccus have been dropped from this squad, making way for uncapped pair Max Balard and Anthony Caceres.
Balard has been a cornerstone of the Central Coast Mariners’ recent success and was quickly nicknamed the ‘Australian Kanté’ by fans of his new Dutch club NAC Breda. Caceres, meanwhile, was in the same category as Brattan as one of the best players to have never played for the Socceroos. Both have profiles that should complement Irvine’s often chaotic vibes in midfield.
What does history tell us?
Two things, chiefly. The first: Melbourne is where good things happen for Australian national teams in important matches, including against this opponent. The Socceroos beat Saudi Arabia 4-2 at AAMI Park in qualification for the 2014 World Cup, then won the opening match of the 2015 Asian Cup there against Kuwait. Last cycle, they destroyed both Vietnam and Bangladesh at the same venue, while at last year’s Women’s World Cup, the Matildas routed Canada 4-0, a result which triggered a “Matildas fever” superspreader event across the country.
The second thing: the Saudis don’t have a great record here. They’ve only ever tasted victory on Aussie soil once, and that was at the 2015 Asian Cup when they beat North Korea – but they didn’t end up getting out of their group. Their last visit in a World Cup qualifier, in 2021, was also the only time they’ve ever taken a point off the Socceroos in this country.
A sold-out crowd of Victorians should make them feel very unwelcome.
