After last night’s debacle against Japan, Australia will not be going directly to Qatar – but there’s still a path to the World Cup.
The Socceroos will play what is now a dead rubber against Saudi Arabia next week, consigned to third place in the group regardless of what happens.
Much like the 2018 World Cup cycle, Australia will have to take the long road to the tournament, playing a play-off against the other third-placed Asian team, and then an intercontinental showdown.
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But it won’t be two-legged home and away ties in each, as it was four years ago.
Instead, both games will be held in Qatar as one-legged, sudden death matches.
Australia overcame Syria and then Honduras to reach Russia 2018, but this time around were draw to play the South American fifth-placed team, rather than fourth in North America.
So, assuming Australia navigate past one of Syria, Lebanon or UAE, they will face one of either Peru, Colombia, Chile or Uruguay with a spot in the World Cup on the line.
Given the Socceroos’ recent struggles, we shouldn’t be taking the Asian play-off for granted – but there would be something beautifully ironic about the absolute end of the ‘golden era’ for men’s football down under ending with a defeat to Uruguay, some 17 years after it began with the reverse outcome.
Graham Arnold has been told he has the full backing of the FA going into these games, and Australia should get a host of missing players, including Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic and Riley McGree, back for these key games.
But after their dour showing against Japan, it’s going to be an uphill battle to make it to a fifth-consecutive tournament. Speaking on Ten’s coverage, former Socceroo Andy Harper lamented the build-up to last night’s match, which included meek draws against China, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
“This is a big-ticket item, Australia versus Japan, they’re our number one rivals … and we stagger into this match. So many empty seats here, who is accountable for that?” he said.
“It is very, very convenient to pour all of this at the feet of Graham Arnold, and I think he is accountable on some of the football issues.
“Those three draws, they killed the campaign.”
But still, where there’s life, there’s hope.
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