Socceroos can control own 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.
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.
"In October, we embraced the challenge we had against China, and we knew our situation, but we embraced that challenge," Popovic said.
"We embraced the challenge of travelling to Japan, and we do the same now, obviously we're a month later, two different games.
"They're important for different reasons, but we'll embrace this opportunity. That's how we see it.
"Of course, it's a big game with Saudi Arabia on the same points, and they're here with the same goal in mind.
"So we understand that challenge, but it's an opportunity to progress our game and show that tomorrow on the pitch."
Popovic noted he was still building layers to his team, with fresh faces such as Max Balard and Anthony Caceres among those joining the squad.
But he wasn't going to offer any excuses.
"Our expectation is to win, regardless of whether it's early in our tenure together as a group or not," Popovic said.
Australia, who last beat Saudi Arabia under Ange Postecoglou in Adelaide in 2017, won't be able to call on Craig Goodwin, who is suspended for this match.
The Saudis are back in the hands of Herve Renard, who led them to a famous World Cup victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.
Renard coached against the Socceroos in the 2022 qualification cycle, earning a home 1-0 win and an away 0-0 draw to claim a direct spot to Qatar.
He was notably coach of France's women's team when the Matildas famously beat them on penalties in last year's World Cup quarter-final, and has replaced Italian Roberto Mancini as Saudi boss.
"I'm sure they'll have a bit of a bounce, as teams do, and we know their qualities," midfielder Jackson Irvine said on Wednesday.
"We've come up against them a number of times over the last few years, and we're aware of those threats."
Visiting teams often sit deep when playing in Australia to frustrate the Socceroos, though Renard has also been known for his intense, energetic style.
"We expect that tomorrow night - a very energetic, determined, maybe desperate to get a result," Popovic said.
"We know what's coming, and we have to match that enthusiasm, that energy, but have the patience and calmness to play our football at the right moments and identify what the game is presenting.
"We feel it's in our hands, here at our home stadium, our crowd.
"The players look calm and confident and I want to see that in their performance tomorrow."
The entire Socceroos squad trained in the short window open to media on Wednesday.
Popovic said skipper Mat Ryan, recently benched for Joe Gauci, could yet feature against the Saudis.
