- Updated
- Sport
- Soccer
- FIFA World Cup
This was published 2 years ago
Shockeroos: Tough draw puts Australia on long road to World Cup
A familiar foe stands in the way of the Socceroos and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after Australia were drawn against Asia’s top-ranked side, Japan, in the final group stage of qualifiers.
The Socceroos were dealt a difficult group at the draw in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday afternoon after being pitted against the highest-ranked opponents from all but one pot. Australia were selected in Group B for the third round of qualifiers, alongside Saudi Arabia, China, Oman and Vietnam as well as the Blue Samurai.
Jackson Irvine, third right, celebrates with the Socceroos after scoring against Kuwait in the previous qualifying round.Credit: AP
“Both groups are strong but all we can do is focus on ourselves ... and make sure we get ourselves ready for whoever we play and whenever we play,” Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said.
The draw continues Australia’s 15-year rivalry with Japan, which stems from a 2006 World Cup group stage win for the Socceroos. It has festered in Asian Cups and World Cup qualification since, with Japan eliminating the Socceroos from two Asian Cups, notably beating them in the final of the 2011 tournament.
The Socceroos and Japan have been pitted against each other in all four of Australia’s qualifying campaigns since the country joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.
Thursday’s draw of the two third-round groups split teams into pots based on rankings, with Australia ensured of avoiding South Korea. Of the five teams Australia could have been selected with, China were the only team not ranked highest in their pot.
“I think this group shows you’re going to need a good amount of depth in your squad,” Arnold said. “What we learnt from the second phase, where we had to play seven out of eight games away from home and we won all eight games, it gives the players a lot of belief and confidence.”
Socceroos players who featured in the qualification process for the 2018 World Cup in Russia will face another former adversary in Saudi Arabia. Australia finished third in that qualification group, behind Japan and Saudi Arabia, and had to progress to Russia via the arduous play-off stage, defeating Syria and Honduras in two-legged home-and-away series.
Australia face Vietnam and China for the first time in the final stage of World Cup qualification, while Oman were among the opponents in their final qualifying group for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Australia begin the final group stage on September 2 against China at home, with the venue and match details yet to be confirmed. The Socceroos have been unable to play at home since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Football Australia has held talks with the federal government about playing the final stage of qualifiers at home but a decision is yet to be announced.
Australia’s Group B rivals
- Japan: The four-time Asian champions remain the continent’s strongest team. The side is rich in depth, with many of their best players appearing regularly in the top leagues of Europe, particularly in the German Bundesliga. They are expected to win this group and will prove tricky for the Socceroos, who have never beaten Japan in Japan in all four previous qualifying games.
- Saudi Arabia: The Green Falcons are a difficult opponent; fast, young, skilful, they benefit from the resources the Saudi domestic football system offers. They’re most dangerous in attack, hard to beat at home but historically weak away. They’re prone to defensive errors and have little patience for underperforming coaches, having churned through 11 in the past decade.
- China: Considered by many to be a rising force but the Chinese are yet to match their burgeoning domestic league with international results. That may soon change. No country has invested more into football than China over the past decade and it’s produced some fine talent, notably Wu Lei who has become a regular in La Liga.
- Oman: One of the highlights of the draw for Australia is they don’t have to play Oman away in the peak of their summer. Oman are a strong side, organised and fierce competitors but they’re most dangerous at home. The last time Australia faced them in the Muscat summer, they struggled in a goalless draw.
- Vietnam: One of the fastest-growing football nations in Asia, Vietnam could cause a few shocks in their first appearance in the final stage of World Cup qualifiers. The country has invested heavily into its football programs and their promising youth is now breaking into the senior team, developing incredible talent such as Nguyen Quang Hai.
The top two teams from Australia’s group progress automatically to the World Cup, while the third-placed side enters a play-off with the third-placed from Group A. The winner of that tie will play an intercontinental play-off against a team from either Oceania, South America or North & Central America for a place at Qatar.
Meanwhile, many Socceroos fans might be disappointed by the draw as Australia missed the chance to face Iran again in a World Cup qualifier. Australia have not played Iran since the infamous 2-2 draw in Melbourne in 1997, which cost them a place in the World Cup in France the following year.
Group A: Iran, South Korea, UAE, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon.
Group B: Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, Oman, Vietnam.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.