Having romped through the second round of Asian qualifiers, the Socceroos are back in World Cup action and aiming to kick-start the third phase with a win over China in Doha on Friday.
Graham Arnold’s men recorded eight wins from eight to finish top of Group B in the second round of qualifying, smashing minnows Nepal and Chinese Taipei twice and finishing a group stage that kicked off nearly two years earlier with a 1-0 win over the tricky Jordan.
Progression to the next round always felt routine, but things could get decidedly tougher from here in a group that should contain a few surprises.
China – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha – Friday 4am AEST
China finished second to Syria in Group A, despite downing the Syrians 3-1 in Sharjah in their final second round qualifier.
They’ve picked four naturalised players to face the Socceroos, the most interesting of whom is surely England-born defender Tyias Browning – or Jiang Guangtai as he’s known in China.
The former Everton defender qualifies for the national team through his Chinese grandfather and he’s already featured three times in the heart of defence, having made his debut earlier this year.
The other naturalised players are familiar faces to those who follow Chinese football, with Elkeson and Alan joined by newcomer Aloisio in a squad boasting some serious firepower.
But the jewel in the crown remains Wu Lei, with the versatile Espanyol striker the only foreign-based player called up by coach Li Tie.
China’s talismanic front man bagged eight goals in the second round of qualifying – scoring in four consecutive fixtures when qualification resumed earlier this year – and the former Shanghai Port striker would no doubt love to get on the scoresheet in Doha.
One to watch – Elkeson
If Wu Lei is China’s spiritual leader then Brazilian-born striker Elkeson – or Ai Kesen to give him his Chinese name – is the man who perhaps poses the most serious danger.
The Guangzhou FC striker has made a slow return to World Cup qualifying, scoring just once this year in a 7-0 rout of Guam. But the 32-year-old hasn’t scored more than 100 goals in the Chinese Super League for nothing and he’ll be keen to make his mark now that Alan and Aloisio are breathing down his neck.
Vietnam – My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi – 10pm AEST Tuesday
Without doubt the most recent big improvers in Asian football, Vietnam have never reached this phase of World Cup qualifying before.
They have Australia to thank in part after the Socceroos’ 1-0 win over Jordan in their final second round encounter confirmed Vietnam as one of the five best-placed runners-up.
The Golden Stars turned in some Herculean displays in Group B, drubbing Indonesia 3-1 in Bali and backing it up with a dramatic 1-0 win over the United Arab Emirates in front of a packed house at the National Stadium in late 2019.
Not even a pandemic could slow their momentum and after belting Indonesia 4-0 on their return to World Cup action, it was a gritty 2-1 win over Malaysia that ultimately sealed their progression to the third round.
They still needed Australia to knock off Jordan in Kuwait City to qualify, but having come this far, they won’t exactly be keen to repay the favour on Tuesday night.
One to watch – Nguyen Quang Hai
Does the name sound familiar? It probably should. There’s no shortage of talent in this Vietnamese side but Nguyen Quang Hai is an absolute star.
A diminutive creative talent who plays his club football with V-League side Hanoi FC, Quang Hai scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over the Olyroos back in January 2018.
Widely regarded as one of finest talents to emerge from South-East Asia in years, the 24-year-old has been virtually ever-present in Vietnam’s run up the FIFA rankings.
How will the Socceroos fare?
Graham Arnold has picked an almost exclusively foreign-based squad, with Sydney FC defender Rhyan Grant the only A-League representative.
Rhyan Grant of Sydney FC (Photo by Steven Markham/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The nation’s strict COVID regulations have proved a huge headache for Football Australia, with skipper Mat Leckie a late withdrawal after understandably not wanting to go through quarantine on his way back to new club Melbourne City.
The Socceroos would have run out against China in front of a packed house in Parramatta, but the match will instead take place in the sterile confines of Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
Sadly for a Vietnamese team that tends to sell out every game at their My Dinh National Stadium home in Hanoi, they’ll face Australia on Tuesday night behind closed doors.
The Aussies will look to get off to a flyer in a group that contains traditional powerhouses Japan, but while six points from the two games should be the goal, that might be easier said than done given the difficult preparations.
You can watch Australia’s clash with China live on Channel 10 at 4am AEST on Friday, with Simon Hill back behind the microphone.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
No-one is saying AFC is as strong as UEFA. People are merely pointing out that whilst UEFA has many strong teams, it also has many weaker teams that have World Cup records that are significantly worse than those of their AFC counterparts. Scotland is one of these. This is merely a statement of fact. Whilst I appreciate your opinion regarding the likes of Scotland and Lithuania, it is based on conjecture. Perhaps your argument may be enhanced by referring to Asian sides in something other than derogative terms.
Clemenza
Guest
Please, do not make excuses for Australia's poor performances against these midget nations. Australia has not won at World Cup level since Nelspruit in 2010. That says an awful lot about our standards in Asia. Fact is AFC is not UEFA, and I doubt many AFC teams could compete in Europe.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
China started strong but died in the ass after 10 minutes, Soutter was totally maked out of the game like i new he would, Good to see Duke get the goal. Overall good performance
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
So where did Arnold say he was trying to get the game played in Europe and was prevented, no all we heard from Arnold is he wanted help from Australian governments that was not forthcoming to play at home . There is no way a nation is going to play away from home by choice so no way would Australia have tried to played actual qualifiers in London before with the home option open. This was the one opportunity to do so and no one has mentioned it was attempted let alone refused. You mean 4 out 5 home games last time. They use first class with a dedicated physio for each player for world cup qualifiers. You dont seem to remember how close some of those games against weak teams were. The extra time against Syria at home, Saudi Arabia and even Thailand. I would think we would have done Syria 3-0 in London. Why wouldn't Australia struggle away from home in Asia, the opposition has both the home crowd advantage and zero travel. Playing in Australia you have the home crowd though in same cases the opposition has heaps of support plus travel for both but more for Australia. The other thing you forget is there are two matches in a row generally so travelling to Australai and then back to Asia is double travel. Make them travel to London, put them into the cold then you would be putting them away and performing better away in Asia.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Just a heads up that all AFC WCQ are on 10play for free, meaning all non-Socceroos games as well Here’s their schedule https://10play.com.au/afc-asian-qualifiers-road-to-qatar/articles/afc-asian-qualifiers-road-to-qatar-fixtures/tpa210825yedsq
Micko
Roar Rookie
And his spruiking of Lithuania & Iceland was good for a giggle too! :laughing: I'd love to see them having to travel huge distances, playing in the hot middle east or steamy south east Asia.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
It's a weird one, but a couple of posters have been parroting the same nonsense. Scotland have been to the World Cup 8 times and never progressed from the group stage, whereas Japan progresses 50% of the time they make the finals, South Korea made the semis and North Korea the quarters. Must be something in the haggis.
chris
Guest
I like it! lol
Nick Symonds
Guest
Australia could really struggle in the match against China. Graham Arnold will probably go for a defensive set up in a 5-3-2 formation. Souttar - Grant Behich- Degenek - Sainsbury Smith - McGowan - Elder - Strain - Wright Ryan
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I watch a World Cup qualifier there years ago; Qatar v Sri Lanka. We were put in the Sri Lankan section, which was reasonably full due to all the migrant workers, and someone gave us little Sri Lankan flags to wave. Probably as many Sri Lankas as there were Qataris at the ground (only a few thousand in total). Sadly the mighty Golden Army were hammered 5-0. Sebastian Soria bagged a brace. From memory, even back then the ground was in good nick.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
that stadium for the china match, is the one i was thinking of (Khalifa). the pitch will be fine. however it hasnt got a retractable roof like i thought, but the roof covers half the stadium though - you dont see too many stadiums designed like that lol
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
AA - I've never seen a Middle Eastern surface conducive to playing good possessional tiki-taka football on. I'm expecting similar surfaces like we had in the first rounds of games of the WC qualifiers. :thumbdown:
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Wonders aloud, how important Socceroo success is to the importance of the A-League rebirth this year...
Micko
Roar Rookie
Scotland?! :shocked: You really are out of touch! :laughing:
AGO74
Guest
Doha surface will be fine. Hanoi I’m not so sure of. Reality is that national teams when you only have one session prior to game (such as tonight’s game) requires a simpler approach and can’t deliver comprehensive and highly technical and trained approaches. This is where Ange ran into trouble as there wasn’t the time let alone the cattle to deliver the style of football that we love watching from his teams. Agree that the last Arnie game vs Egypt at Olympics was death by a thousand cuts but the quality of player and conditioning of those players (ie not playing a 3rd game in six days) is better this time around. I think we should still win tonight but All of that said China with two weeks in camp will never get a better chance to beat Australia away from home in a live qualifier.
Clemenza
Guest
Two goal buffer minimum. Seriously I just do not rate AFC teams. When did they make semi finals of the world cup? You see teams like Scotland miss out on major tournaments time and time again and they would be right up there in the top four of AFC which says something. A Lithuania or a Iceland would be a top ten team in Asia and I would love to hear an argument against that. So, therefore Australia should be putting these Lilliputian nations away.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
the pitch won't be as bad as you are anticipating, if its the stadium in doha im thinking of. (granted my knowledge of qatari stadiums isnt up there with my knowledge of european ones lol) Id be more concerned about the heat/humitity - high 30's like usual is the stadium theyre playing in the one with the retractable roof??? if so they could close it and get the a/c cranking.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Leckie withdrew pre squad announcement citing he did not wnata do the quarantine... J Mac also had reasons as well...
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Having spent a lot of time with Vietnamize people .... if Vietnam beat China ... boy I would love to be on the streets ...
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
The state of the surface will be an interesting factor. Ange, when he was in charge demanded perfect playing surfaces for his style and approach to football. Arnold, on the other hand, not so fussed, so for me we may see a 4-4-2 on the night. Let's face it, the surface will be horrible---we are for sure going to see long balls into the box from deep and out wide. I'm betting that our goals will come from set pieces. I can't see that we are going to see any real good football played on the ground here from either outfit. However, I will guarantee you though, it will be tense.