Nine’s Wide World of Sports
History is not on the Socceroos' side ahead of their crunch FIFA World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia on Thursday night.
The Aussies have not beaten the Saudi national team since 2017 but will be hoping to take victory at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium with direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup on the line.
Ahead of his third match at the helm of the Socceroos, coach Tony Popovic is wary of a spirited Saudi Arabia that is "desperate" for a win under reinstalled boss Herve Renard.
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"We expect that [from Saudi Arabia on Thursday] night, a very energetic, determined [team], maybe desperate to get a result," he told media on Wednesday.
"We know what's coming and we have to match that enthusiasm and energy, but have the patience and calmness to play our football at the right moments and identify what the game presents."
Tony Popovic speaks to players during a Socceroos training session. Robert Cianflone via Getty Images
Saudi Arabia's former coach Roberto Mancini was sacked three weeks ago after a string of mediocre results.
Renard has since taken over for his second stint in charge after leading the team between 2019 and 2023.
"Renard obviously has a lot of experience with the team, he had them for four years. He did a very good job with them, fantastic at the World Cup, he had the women's Olympic team," Popovic said of the Frenchman.
"We've monitored what he did in both jobs and we expect them to bring that energy and enthusiasm that comes with playing for your country."
The Socceroos started their qualifying campaign poorly with a 1-0 home defeat to Bahrain on the Gold Coast before playing out a scoreless draw with Indonesia in Jakarta.
Afterwards, Popovic took the reigns from Graham Arnold and steadied the ship with a 3-1 victory over China in China before the side battled out a 1-all draw away in Japan.
Australia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are all on five points in Group C of the Asian qualifiers — though the Socceroos sit ahead based on goal difference.
The nations are five points adrift from group leader Japan.
The top two nations from each of the three Asian Football Confederation groups will directly book their place at the 2026 World Cup, to be held in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
With the race on to take second spot, Popovic said that securing automatic qualification was in the Socceroos' "own hands".
"We feel it is in our hands, at our home stadium," he said.
"The players look calm and confident and I want to see that in their performance."
The Socceroos will take on Saudi Arabia at 8.10pm AEDT on Thursday before travelling to Riffa, where they will meet Bahrain next Wednesday.
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