While the Soccerroos still have a chance to qualify for the World Cup, Thursday’s 2-0 loss to Japan before home fans have led to questions over the manner in which the team folded in the dying minutes against their arch rivals in Asia.
While Japan climbed to the top of FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group B on 21 points, the defeat which came through two very late Kaoru Mitoma goals (89′ and 90+4′) at the Accor Stadium has left the Socceroos in third place, on 15 points. Next week they travel to Saudi Arabia, who drew 1-1 with China. The Saudis have amassed 20 points and whatever the result against the Socceroos, they cannot be shifted from second spot on the log and qualification.
The Socceroos now, face a long, tough route to Qatar. They will need to beat the third placed team in Group A of the Asian Qualifiers – as things stand that would be the United Arab Emirates. If they succeed, then they qualify for a play off against the fifth-ranked South American team.
Australian preparations in the week before the match against Japan were described as chaotic with key players Tom Rogic and Kye Rowles ruled out because of injuries. Melbourne City’s refusal to release Curtis Good added to the problem. It also did not help that national coach Graham Arnold was fined $20,000 for breaching COVID isolation regulations in New South Wales.
Former Socceroo Luke Wilkshire questioned the players’ commitment to the cause and was particularly critical of Jamie Maclaren who will miss the match against Saudi Arabia to get married.
“What is the priority here? For our league, for our A-League, for our players, what is their priority? Is it to miss international games and go and get married? Is it because I want to go on holiday and I’m going to pick and choose when I play for the national team?” asked the former Socceroo in the post-match discussion on Ten.
“As a player, playing for your national team is the ultimate. To qualify for a World Cup, that can only happen once in your career. You’ve got to sacrifice and you’ve got to make sure you do everything possible to do it,” Wilkshire said.
Andy Harper and Simon Hill questioned Australian football planning and whether Arnold was the right man after the poor run of results to qualify for the World Cup. The question was reflected in newspaper headlines with the Sydney Morning Herald declaring in a headline: “‘Not looking good for him’: Axe looming for Socceroos coach Graham Arnold”.
Harper said the problem confronting Australian football went beyond the result against Japan or the team’s poor performances in qualifying.
“The problem with this team and the extent to which Graham Arnold has control of this problem or not is those three draws against teams we should have beaten.”
Hill said the past week had shown that there was little cohesion or depth in Australian football.
“We lose a few players to injuries and COVID and all of a sudden you’re scratching around looking for quality players, because we do not have enough professional teams in this country,” he said.
Fans on social media while slamming Thursday’s result also lamented the state of Australian football and called for a reassessment of the way forward.
Australia at least still have a chance to get to Qatar, European champions Italy failed to qualify when they were stunned 0-1 at home by minnows North Macedonia when Aleksandar Traijkovski scored late into extra time. The winners will face Portugal who beat Turkey 3-1. The result leaves the three-time winners out for an unprecedented second world cup in a row.
