Australia can still qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, but only thanks to their rivals being just as inconsistent
Jackson Irvine after last week’s draw with Saudi Arabia last week. The Socceroos face Bahrain next in World Cup qualifying.Jackson Irvine after last week’s draw with Saudi Arabia last week. The Socceroos face Bahrain next in World Cup qualifying.remain well placed in their efforts to punch a ticket to North America 2026. Yet as they prepare to face Bahrain, their standing is fraught and a relative position of strength can turn to one of weakness with just a single adverse result.
Time and time again, Australia’s men have threatened to fall off the pace, only for results elsewhere to throw them a lifeline. Just last week,had the opportunity to vault over Australia and Saudi Arabia into outright second place, only for a 91st-minute winner from China to consign them to defeat in Riffa. That goal saw China, who are the only side in the group to lose three games but who also sit alongside Japan as the only team to win multiple times, move onto six points.
There is plenty to do but, ultimately, it starts with putting the ball in the back of the net. Whereas the Socceroos’ three goals conceded is joint second best on the continent and there are signs of promise in Tony Popovic’s new 3-4-2-1 formation, across three of their opening five games they are the only side in Asia to have failed to score. Against the Saudis, they created four gilt-edged chances, only to come up wanting.
Scoring is perhaps easier said than done against Bahrain, who have made a habit of being a particularly stubborn thorn in the Socceroos’ side. Last September on the Gold Coast, Dragan Talajić’s side frustrated and confounded Australia with their low block and mastery of the dark arts as the hosts registered one of their worst performances in recent memory.
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