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Socceroos can control own WC destiny with win over Saudis
After getting Australia’s World Cup qualification campaign back on track, coach Tony Popovic has urged the Socceroos to embrace the challenge of beating Saudi Arabia and wrest their fate firmly into their own hands.
Australia’s hopes of direct qualification were in dire straits after the 1-0 home loss to Bahrain and 0-0 away draw to Indonesia that ultimately resulted in Graham Arnold stepping down as coach.
The Socceroos are battling to take control of second spot in their FIFA World Cup qualifying group.Credit: Getty Images
But the Socceroos righted the ship under Popovic, beating China 3-1 in Adelaide, then earning a gutsy 1-1 draw with Japan in Saitama as other results fell in their favour.
In that window, the Saudis drew 0-0 with Bahrain and China beat Indonesia 2-1.
It means Japan (10 points) are outright Group C leaders, with Australia (five points, +1) ahead of Saudi Arabia (five points, -1) and Bahrain (five points, -4) on goal difference.
The top two teams in Group C secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup, while third and fourth place go into the next round of qualifying.
It only magnifies the importance of Thursday night’s crunch clash with the Saudis at AAMI Park, then the away match against Bahrain four days later in Riffa.
AAP
Good evening
G’day everyone and welcome to tonight’s World Cup qualifying blog as the Socceroos play arguably the most important of their matches hosting Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
We have a capacity crowd expected at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, as it is known in the Asian Football Confederation, and whoever wins this match will take a big step towards direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Kickoff is set for 8.10pm AEDT and Ten, 10Play and Paramount+ will all have live coverage of the match in Australia.
If you are in a country without broadcast coverage of this match, there is a live feed on AFC’s YouTube channel but that should otherwise be geoblocked.
We will have plenty of coverage throughout the night including the musings of our elite football journalist Vince Rugari, so please enjoy the evening to come.
