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Fifty years in the past, the Socceroos booked their place within the FIFA World Cup for the very first time, with Jimmy Mackay scoring a wonder-goal towards the Korea Republic to punch Australia’s ticket to the 1974 match.
Australia wouldn’t seem at one other males’s World Cup till 2006, however have certified for each match since.
On Thursday evening towards Bangladesh, the Socceroos take step one within the highway to the following World Cup – in 2026, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the US.
It is going to be a protracted journey for the Socceroos to succeed in a sixth-straight World Cup, although main modifications to the qualification format ought to make issues simpler for Australia.
However the Socceroos nonetheless have loads of challenges to handle – and the following 12 months may show essential.
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HOW DOES QUALIFICATION WORK?
The 2026 match can be expanded from 32 groups to a whopping 48 for the primary time ever, one thing which supplies a serious enhance for Asian Soccer Confederation (AFC) nations together with Australia.
The variety of computerized qualification spots for the AFC will rise from 4 to eight – plus yet another spot for the winner of a playoff towards groups from different confederations – leading to a shake-up within the qualifying format.
On this spherical, 36 groups had been divided into 9 teams of 4 groups. Australia’s group options Palestine, Lebanon, and Bangladesh, with the Socceroos to play every of them house and away.
Australia will play two matches this month, two in March 2024, and the ultimate two in June.
The Socceroos should end within the high two groups of this four-nation group to progress to the following stage, whereas a top-two end additionally ensures qualification to the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
Within the subsequent spherical, 18 groups (winners and runners up from the 9 teams on this spherical) can be cut up into three teams of six.
The Socceroos would then play the opposite 5 groups in home-and-away video games, starting in September 2024. Ending within the high two of the group after these ten matches ensures direct qualification to the World Cup.
But when the Socceroos end in third or fourth in that subsequent stage, they might then be put into a gaggle of three groups. Australia would play the opposite two groups as soon as every, with the group winner qualifying for the Cup.
End runner-up of the three groups and Australia would then be compelled right into a do-or-die sequence of playoffs, first towards one other AFC crew then towards nations from different confederations.
Successfully, the Socceroos can be aiming to qualify in 16 video games – six at this stage, and 10 on the subsequent.
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It’s not fairly so long as the 1,008 day, 20-match highway to qualifying for Qatar 2022, or the 22-game highway to Russia 2018 – the place they clocked up over 240,000 kilometres in journey and performed extra video games than some other qualifying nation.
However even with the modifications to the qualifying format, crisscrossing Asia for 16 video games continues to be one of many longest qualification journeys for a World Cup.
Nonetheless, there may be one other main distinction from final time round: the Socceroos will now get to play way more matches on house soil now Covid-19 border restrictions have eased.
As Arnold stated: “It’s been a extremely, actually very long time since we performed right here in Australia. You understand, I used to be wanting simply the opposite day, in my reign of 44 matches, we’ve solely performed 9 video games right here in Australia. So we’ve been away a very long time and performed a whole lot of soccer away from house.”
Irvine equally said: “I feel for us, some of the vital issues is having the prospect to play in Australia, in entrance of our house followers once more.
“I feel over the past 5 years that is perhaps the ninth or tenth sport we’ve performed at house, which within the context of a qualifying marketing campaign is barely something.
“So we don’t take these experiences with no consideration to play in entrance of our house followers.”
The larger variety of qualifying spots on supply for Asia, and the new-look format, ought to make qualifying for 2026 considerably simpler for the Socceroos.
There are extra probabilities for redemption in the event that they slip up and may’t end proper on the high of their group at every stage, whereas the bigger variety of teams ought to unfold the higher-ranked groups round – which means extra matches towards lower-ranked opposition.
However there is no such thing as a doubt that regardless of the brand new format and the good thing about extra house matches, the highway to a spot within the 2026 World Cup is not going to be a simple one.
Captain Maty Ryan stated: “It’s a protracted journey and a gruelling one, however the fruits on the finish of it are so candy that you haven’t any worries in confronting them and doing all you may to succeed in the tip aim of enjoying within the World Cup.”
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LAST WORLD CUP – AND SINCE?
The Socceroos loved a historic efficiency in Qatar final 12 months.
They led reigning champions and eventual runners-up France of their first group sport earlier than dropping 4-1, however rebounded to beat Tunisia 1-0. Then they overcame Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark 1-0 to make it out of the group stage.
They then fell 2-1 to eventual champions Argentina within the Spherical of 16 regardless of a stellar efficiency the place they even got here near equalising in damage time by means of teen sensation Garang Kuol.
However, securing two group-stage wins was a primary in Australian males’s historical past, and the clear sheets in each wins had been additionally spectacular and uncommon – not since 1974 had the Socceroos saved a World Cup clear sheet.
The win over world quantity 10 Denmark was additionally the primary time the Socceroos had crushed a top-ten nation on the WC.
The Socceroos performed with tenacity – that oft-spoken-about Australian combating spirit – however had been additionally tactically wonderful, with famend French publication L’Equipe naming coach Graham Arnold the most effective of any supervisor on the match.
“L’Equipe is among the most revered and one of many harshest markers of video games, coaches, gamers you identify it,” former Socceroo Robbie Slater stated on the time. “They’re essentially the most revered in all of Europe.”
It additionally noticed the Socceroos surge up the rankings by 11 locations into twenty seventh, their greatest spot since September 2012 (twenty fifth).
Arnold, having been on the point of being sacked simply six months earlier than the World Cup after the struggling Socceroos missed out on direct qualification and had been compelled into the intercontinental playoffs, was handed a brand new deal to stay in cost by means of to the 2026 match.
Since then, he has set the Socceroos on a brutal path – going through off towards a number of the world’s hardest groups in a sequence of testing friendlies.
They confronted Ecuador (#41) in a pair of fixtures in March, battled Lionel Messi’s Argentina (#1) in June, clashed with Mexico (#12) in September, earlier than final month going through England (#4) at Wembley Stadium and New Zealand (#104).
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If the 2022 World Cup proved the Socceroos deserved to be on the world stage, that run of fixtures was intentionally designed to take the crew to the following degree, to have the ability to compete towards the elite.
It was a uncommon alternative for the Socceroos, who’ve struggled to squeeze pleasant matches into their packed schedule prior to now.
And whereas the outcomes had been blended – there have been wins over Ecuador and New Zealand, a sloppy draw with Mexico and three losses – way more vital was the chance to experiment with new techniques and line-ups, with Arnold handing out a bunch of debuts to younger abilities.
“We’ve had the chance to check ourselves towards a few of world soccer’s greatest within the final six months, and our performances have proven simply how efficient we will be, studying loads alongside the best way,” Arnold stated final week.
“It was an opportunity to develop as a gaggle, offering alternatives to youthful gamers in preparation for the beginning of the 2026 World Cup qualification cycle.
“These performances haven’t solely proven what we’re able to, however bolstered a powerful perception inside this group as we start a particularly vital interval.”
Now, the trialling part is over. The Socceroos should flip their minds to victory – as a result of the following few months aren’t nearly World Cup qualification.
As Arnold stated: “Now? It’s a World Cup qualifier. I feel that experimenting is over, now it’s all about getting the techniques proper, getting the gamers on the pitch, getting their performances proper, and successful these video games in any respect prices.”
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THE ASIAN CUP
The Asian Cup will happen from 12 January to 10 February subsequent 12 months, and the Socceroos will rightly consider they’re contenders for only a second title after their 2015 win on house soil.
The match was meant to be held in China in July of this 12 months, however that nation relinquished internet hosting rights final 12 months on account of Covid-19. Qatar ultimately received the rights however – identical to final 12 months’s World Cup – scorching mid-year temperatures compelled the rescheduling of the match to the cooler months.
That’s arguably a blessing for the Socceroos, who’ve now used the extra time to squeeze within the aforementioned run of high-quality pleasant matches.
However it additionally implies that the Socceroos can not merely deal with the long term aim of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and reshaping the squad to be prepared for that match.
They have to deal with the right here and now – one thing that can also be true of the Olyroos, Australia’s Below-23 crew which can compete within the U23 Asian Cup in April subsequent 12 months. That match doubles as qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics, with the Olyroos needing to complete within the high three to straight qualify, whereas fourth place performs off towards an African crew for an additional berth.
The Olyroos completed third on the 2020 U-23 Asian Cup to ebook their place on the Tokyo Olympics, the primary time the boys’s crew had competed on the Olympics since 2008.
Whereas they did not make it out of their group, their growth was essential – particularly given Socceroos coach Graham Arnold took on the Olyroos teaching function in a deliberate try and information a brand new technology into Socceroos.
That strategy was remarkably profitable: 9 of the Olyroos that featured on the 2020 Olympics went on to play on the 2022 World Cup with the senior aspect (10 when you depend Mitchell Duke, who competed on the Olympics as a delegated overage participant).
Because the Socceroos progress in the direction of the 2026 World Cup, the squad will naturally want to usher in contemporary faces, simply as they did earlier than the final World Cup. The event of the Olyroos, who play an analogous type because the senior crew – may show essential in that regard.
That’s why the following 12 months looms as an important interval for each the Olyroos and the Socceroos – and never simply because each groups can be contending for main silverware.
As Jackson Irvine stated: “In fact that is the start of a protracted journey, however it will also be considered as a brief preparation for what’s coming in January.”
Whereas the highway to the 2026 World Cup is simply starting, Graham Arnold must steadiness competitiveness now with the long-term way forward for the squad. It’s hardly an enviable activity.
THE SQUAD
Arnold’s squad for Thursday’s conflict with Bangladesh and subsequent week’s assembly with Palestine is essentially unchanged from final month’s fixtures, with simply 4 modifications to the 23-player unit.
Veteran defender Milos Degenek was dropped after struggling for game-time at Pink Star Belgrade, as is goalkeeper Tom Glover at Middlesbrough. Winger Awer Mabil was dropped, as was one other gloveman in Andrew Redmayne.
The squad is a mixture of youth and expertise – which very a lot sums up the present state of play for Graham Arnold’s aspect.
Arnold stated final month earlier than the matches towards England and New Zealand: “We’re going by means of a bit extra of a rebuild scenario in the intervening time. Whenever you take a look at the squad total, there are 11 gamers who’ve had lower than 10 caps, there’s 5 – 6 gamers which have had between 11 and 20.”
There’s been vital turnover within the final 12 months, with simply 9 members of the squad having competed on the World Cup in Qatar.
Midfield stalwart Aaron Mooy retired, whereas Nathaniel Atkinson and Riley McGree are each injured.
However plenty of different gamers from Qatar are struggling for type or match minutes at membership degree, together with Degenek and Bailey Wright, or Ajdin Hrustic who was arguably Australia’s greatest participant within the qualification highway to Qatar however now can’t get a sport at Hellas Verona in Italy.
It’s clear from the variety of debuts handed out in latest months that Arnold is wanting in the direction of the longer term and making an attempt to extend the depth of the squad – one thing he additionally prioritised when he took over after the 2018 World Cup, when a bunch of retirements together with the likes of Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak compelled a generational shift within the squad.
Arnold used 68 totally different gamers in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup – and it might hardly be stunning if he exceeds that quantity this time round.
Seven gamers have already debuted in 2023, whereas 37 have been utilized in whole. Within the present squad, there are two uncapped gamers – Portsmouth striker Kusini Yengi and goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer of Charlton Athletic.
Maynard-Brewer is one in every of two younger goalkeepers referred to as up instead of extra skilled heads like 34-year-old Andrew Redmayne. Maynard-Brewer was included within the September squad for the Mexico match however has not but debuted for the Socceroos. Joe Gauci additionally returns to the set-up, having debuted towards Ecuador in March earlier than being disregarded of the previous couple of squads whereas his Adelaide United waited for the brand new A-League season to start.
The pair of younger abilities (at 24 and 23 years outdated respectively) are considered because the doubtless long-term successors to captain Maty Ryan. The 31-year-old stays in nice type with AZ Alkmaar within the Netherlands and has a monopoly on the primary jersey at current, however guaranteeing the following technology of keepers are able to step up is essential, particularly given the ever-present risk of accidents.
On the reverse finish of the park is an equally urgent want to seek out long-term options. Yengi is one in every of 4 strikers included, alongside veterans Mitch Duke (30 caps), Jamie Maclaren (30) and Brandon Borrello (9). However with Duke 32 years outdated and McLaren 30, the necessity to plan for the longer term within the quantity 9 function – arguably the place the place the Socceroos have struggled for depth essentially the most in recent times – is evident.
It’s an analogous story with the remainder of the attacking unit. Craig Goodwin is popping 32 subsequent month, Martin Boyle is 30, whereas absent veteran Mathew Leckie is 32. Whereas they’re key contributors now – and will show very important to a superb run on the Asian Cup in January – what number of will nonetheless be a part of the crew ought to Australia qualify for the World Cup in 2026?
Samuel Silvera (23) and Brandon Borrello (28) are on this squad, whereas Awer Mabil (28) is lacking – however there’s no scarcity of youthful attacking expertise ready within the wings for his or her likelihood. Garang Kuol already has 5 caps at age 19, whereas Marco Tilio (22) additionally featured on the World Cup final 12 months. Yengi (24) will also be deployed on the wing.
Mohamed Toure (19) earned his debut towards England final month, whereas fellow teen sensation Nestory Irankunda (17) is about for a transfer to German giants Bayern Munich and has additionally educated with the Socceroos squad prior to now.
Socceroos veteran and Toure’s former Adelaide United captain Craig Goodwin instructed Foxsports.com.au after that debut final month: “He’s somebody with huge potential.
“He’s somebody that for my part could possibly be the Socceroos’ striker for the following 10 years.”
Whereas they might not be within the crew this time round – and won’t turn out to be common fixtures till later within the World Cup qualification journey – there’s little doubt that the youngsters are coming.
And with three years and no less than 16 video games on the highway to the following World Cup, the younger weapons will get their likelihood.
For now, although, the Socceroos should begin successful.
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