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With Group C delicately balanced, the Socceroos have an opportunity to strengthen their position as the battle for automatic qualification intensifies.
Australia and Bahrain are no strangers, having faced off seven times in ‘A’ internationals. The Socceroos hold the edge with six wins, but their only loss – a 1-0 defeat on the Gold Coast in September – remains a painful memory. That result set back their qualifying hopes and Graham Arnold’s resignation as head coach followed not long after, ushering in Tony Popovic’s tenure.
Under Popovic, the Socceroos have shown many positive signs, including one of resilience, with Australia remaining unbeaten in three matches, including a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia last week. While the clean sheet highlighted the team’s defensive improvement, missed opportunities in front of goal proved an issue. Australia’s 13 shots against the Saudis – compared to their opponents’ three – yielded no goals, leaving the Socceroos disappointed not to come away with the three points.
In Group C though, every point matters. Australia – who are currently sitting in second spot – Saudi Arabia and China are locked on six points, with Bahrain just one behind. Japan leads the group, while Indonesia remains a threat on three points. The Socceroos’ current standing is due, in part, to China’s dramatic late victory over Bahrain last Thursday, which prevented the Gulf nation from leapfrogging Australia into second.
Popovic’s side will be bolstered by the return of Craig Goodwin from suspension, but they will be without Nishan Velupillay, whose ankle injury against Saudi Arabia saw him stay behind in Melbourne. The coach has emphasised the importance of building on the defensive stability while finding that clinical edge in attack. Players like Goodwin, Riley McGree and Jackson Irvine could be crucial, particularly as the Socceroos look to increase their success rate in front of goal.
This match also represents the start of an important stretch. With games against Indonesia and China to follow, nine points from the next three matches is an attainable target and would go a long way toward securing automatic qualification.
For the Socceroos, Wednesday is more than a game – it’s a chance to exorcise the ghosts of their last meeting with Bahrain and take control of their destiny in the Road to 2026. To achieve that, they’ll need to produce a complete performance in a campaign where every chance, and every point, counts.
Bahrain: 76
Australia: 24
Played: 7
Wins: 6
Draws: 0
Losses: 1
“We’re happy. I’ve inherited a very good group of players, fantastic characters, winners – they want to win for their country, they want to qualify for the World Cup. So it’s a pleasure to coach this group along with the coaching staff. We saw fantastic signs in our first match against China.
“We’re trying to play a particular playing style and we see that with each training session, with each game, we are seeing good signs of improvement and we’ve had two good performances against Japan and Saudi.
“Maybe not the desired outcome in the end but I know if we can keep building on the performance, those wins will certainly follow and we’re confident that can happen tomorrow.”
“It’s very important [the match vs Bahrain]. Obviously you can see the table, apart from the leaders Japan, you see how tight it is, so it’s a huge game for us and it’s one obviously that we’re going to try and do our best at to get the three points to get more points on the board.
“There are going to be a lot of differences [vs last time we faced Bahrain] – different players, different coaching staff, different atmosphere, different stadium, different pitch. And we’ve got to use it to our advantage, we know obviously what happened in the first match and we respect Bahrain as a team but if we look at ourselves at that match, we knew that we weren’t playing to the capability that we can play.
“So we come into this game with a different mindset and to be ready for tomorrow’s match.”
“They’re all big games and the attitude of the players and the staff is one that we approach every game with – the seriousness of what they are, which is playing for your national team, playing a World Cup qualifier and the importance of that.
“So the approach doesn’t really change for us. We recognise and obviously respect our opponents but focus on our own game and deal with the circumstances that come with that.”
On what it meant to make his Socceroos debut
“It sunk in the second I stepped onto that field. It was a very special moment looking into the stand and seeing my family there with the Australia kit on. It felt very real from the get go, it fueled me with energy and excitement, and it’s immediately become the highlight of my career. It’s a special moment, and one I’m grateful for.”
On being in the Socceroos camp
“I’m familiar with a lot of people here. It’s a serious environment, but a welcoming one. I think it’s a place that allows everyone to strive for and be at their best. So I’ve enjoyed every minute so far. It’s an amazing feeling and even though I’m in my 30s, I think this will provoke growth in me still. It’s going to test the level that I’m at, but I’m confident I can deliver a good performance when called upon.”
On Australia’s start to qualifying
“Obviously we haven’t made the best possible start. I guess it’s disappointing, but it’s not that disappointing that you know you’re going to be negative and you’re going to dwell on the fact that we haven’t made a good start. You can’t have an impact on what happened before – four months, five months, you know, you can have an impact on what’s going to happen on Tuesday and what’s going to happen in March and in June. You can have an impact on that, and you have to be positive. And for me, it’s about getting the boys to know that it’s all in our hands. We don’t have to rely on someone else getting results for us if we win every game from now until June, we go to a World Cup, and everyone’s happy.”
On returning from injury to make the squad
“I think it was one of the main motivations for me, was the fact that I could be part of something special again. Because for me, obviously club football is the football that pays your bills and puts a roof on your head, but this is the football that you try to give back to people that have helped you in life. I’m the happiest when I’m here. And that’s not me over-exaggerating, I think it’s more me being really honest. I’m just so happy, man. Every part of the day, I have a laugh. I’m very happy, I’m very positive. And for me, when I was going through a hard time being injured, I’ve got something to look forward to, and I’ve got hopefully a World Cup in a year-and-a-half’s time to look forward to. And that was something driving me. It was driving me crazy that I couldn’t get fit quick enough but what was positive for me was that I’ve got time, and I want to be fit and healthy, and when I do come into camp, I want to be ready to show what I can offer.”
Bahrain v Subway Socceroos
Tuesday 19 November 2024
Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa
Kick-off: 9.15pm local (5.15am AEDT – Wednesday, 20 November)
Broadcast: Paramount+
Australia will host Indonesia before travelling to China during the March window.
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