While maiden international goals for defender Kye Rowles and Keanu Baccus delivered another win on the road to the 2026 World Cup, it was a performance described as ‘sloppy’ by multiple players and coach Graham Arnold.
It seemed like it’d be a quiet night for the veteran gloveman, but he was called into action a few times in the second half and produced some sharp saves – the first to deny a vicious shot from a tight angle, and the second to keep out a free kick in the final seconds of stoppage time. He scrambled off his line well to clear the ball once or twice, and deserved another clean sheet.
Kye Rowles: 8
With Aziz Behich injured – the veteran who started every game of the Asian Cup in January – Rowles slid from his usual centre-back role to the left flank.
He has done it before, against Mexico and England in friendlies last year, and proved he was a dependable back-up in that position.
This time around was a similar story.
Rowles was beaten a couple of times by opposition wingers early on, but held his head high and won the majority of the battles from there.
And he put an exclamation mark on his performance by chiming in with a maiden international goal in the second half, thundering home a half-volley.
Speaking about the goal, an emotional Rowles told Channel 10: “Words can’t really describe it to be honest.”
“Lucky it happened pretty quick, I didn’t have time to think about it,” he joked.
He was named man of the match, and was all class in his post-match interview when asked about playing out of his usual position.
He said: “I don’t mind at all. As long as I’m out there, I’m happy to do whatever the job is the team needs me to do.”
Harry Souttar: 7
His long-range passing was absolutely exceptional, with diagonal raking balls to the wingers stretching the Lebanon defence. He showed his trademark set piece threat by getting his head to an early corner and a knee to another, though it was his usual centre-back partner that found the scoresheet. He was guilty of a couple of sloppy errors – like every teammate – but it was a solid performance despite his lack of club minutes at the moment.
Cameron Burgess: 7
In just his seventh appearance for the Socceroos, Burgess’s reputation continues to grow by the minute. He made a number of excellent interceptions and tackles, but was partially at fault when Lebanon poached the ball and hit the post late in the game. Other than that, it was a very fine showing.
Nathaniel Atkinson: 5.5
“It has been a position that’s been up for grabs,” former Socceroo Luke Wilkshire said before the game on Channel 10.
But Atkinson didn’t quite do enough to lock down the right-back role based on tonight’s performance, struggling to link up with his wingers down the right flank and get into dangerous positions.
It wasn’t a poor performance by any means, but there was certainly room for improvement.
MIDFIELD
Keanu Baccus: 6
Baccus started slowly, with a couple of passes gifted to the opposition in the first five minutes – only for the midfielder to score his first Socceroos goal with a superb curling effort from out wide. It may have been a mis-hit cross, but we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt!
He told Channel 10: “I’ll take it. I’ll take it regardless!”
And when coach Graham Arnold was asked if Baccus intended it as a shot, he joked: “He said he did and I believe him.”
Making the goal even more special for the 25-year-old is that it came in front of his family at Parammatta’s Commbank Stadium – the home ground for the Western Sydney Wanderers, who he represented over 100 times before signing for Scottish side St Mirren in 2022.
After the goal, it was an up-and-down performance. There were moments of sloppiness where he gave up possession too easily, before a second-half yellow card that means he’ll miss Tuesday’s match.
But it was a typical hardworking, hard-tackling shift.
Keanu Baccus celebrates his goal.Source: Getty Images
Jackson Irvine: 6.5
The second-most capped player in the squad (behind Ryan), his leadership was on full display in a bustling performance. He was everywhere in the first half-hour and his industriousness summed up the Socceroos’ energetic start. He was clearly given a licence to push forward and made a number of probing runs and passes, but the final touch or pass never quite seemed to materialise.
ATTACK
Riley McGree: N/A
The Middlesbrough attacker managed just 15 minutes before being forced off the field with injury, seemingly a foot issue. After missing nearly three months with injury late last year, it’s a devastating blow to the winger who has impressed in England’s second tier this season.
Connor Metcalfe: 7
Few players have risen through the Socceroos ranks as strongly as Metcalfe in the last 18 months, and tonight was another fine performance.
Since narrowly missing out on the World Cup squad, Connor Metcalfe has gone on to become one of the first names on the Socceroos’ team sheet. He came off the bench in two of the first three matches after the World Cup – but since then, he’s started in 10 of the last 12 matches (including tonight).
He’s reaping the rewards of playing regularly in Germany’s physical second division, where he’s learning from club captain and Socceroos midfield teammate Jackson Irvine.
Irvine was full of praise for his young countryman, this week stating: “He’s a totally different player to the one that arrived in St Pauli a year and a half ago.”
“Physically, mentally, tactically, everything; he’s grown so much.”
“We saw at the Asian Cup what a big part of this group he’s become and how versatile he can be.”
He was again versatile tonight, starting on the right flank but given freedom to roam centrally, before shifting to the left when Ajdin Hrustic came on late in the first half.
An assured performance showed how far Connor Metcalfe has come.Source: Getty Images
Adam Taggart: 6
Taggart was very busy in the first half-hour – throwing his body around and giving away a number of fouls as he battled hard with the defenders. He selflessly made runs into the channels but his touch in the penalty area twice let him down as he searched for a first goal since 2019. He was caught off-side a handful of times, though one was brutally unlucky – when he was through on goal with a golden chance.
Kusini Yengi: 4
Worked hard but didn’t have the kind of impact he would have hoped for. The connection between him and Taggart up front is clearly brand new, so it’s understandable that it didn’t always click. Yengi was aggressive with the ball at his feet and took defenders on, but couldn’t quite make things happen. There were positive moments, with some good hold-up play, but he’ll look forward to Canberra and the chance to score a maiden goal there.
SUBSTITUTES
Jordy Bos: N/A
There were plenty of questions over Graham Arnold’s decision to leave the 21-year-old out of his starting line-up, but McGree’s early injury meant Bos was thrown into the fray after just a quarter of an hour. Arnold, for what it’s worth, explained the omission by saying the talented flyer had flown into camp late and arrived only on Wednesday at 2am.
Bos was his typically exuberant self in a bright start, only to suffer a left knee injury in the first half, forcing the Socceroos into a second substitution before the break.
Ajdin Hrustic: 7.5
It was a hugely impressive return to the international fold for Hrustic after 18 months of pain at club level. Hrustic played just 45 minutes in the green and gold in 2023, but a January transfer has reignited his career – and the Socceroos look set to be the big winners.
His range of passing was excellent, while his creativity and unpredictable flair – what Arnold called ‘X-Factor’ before the game – was a reminder of what the Socceroos were lacking at the Asian Cup. It didn’t always come off – a neat backheel for example, or a through ball where the strikers didn’t time their run to beat the off-side trap – but there were plenty of promising signs.
Hrustic was excellent on his long-awaited return to the national team.Source: Getty Images
Mitch Duke: 4
Had a negligible impact after coming on, though he pushed hard and presented a target up front.
John Iredale: 4.5
Fast and powerful, Iredale came off the bench for his debut and was instantly in the thick of the action, showing off his acceleration and nearly winning a corner in his first involvement in the game. Didn’t influence proceedings too frequently from there, but ran nice channels and pressed well from the front.
John Iredale finally earned his debut.Source: Getty Images
An illness to veteran forward Craig Goodwin and a host of injuries has forced a Socceroos shake-up as the Australians face Lebanon in World Cup qualifying (8.10pm AEDT).
Australia are back in action for the first time since their disappointing quarter-final exit at the Asian Cup, with focus turning now to world No. 115 Cedars.
The Socceroos are targeting a pair of victories when they face Lebanon tonight in Sydney and in Canberra on Tuesday – the latter officially a Lebanon home game that was moved down under due to instability in the Middle East.
Two wins would guarantee the Socceroos a place in the third stage of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with two games in hand.
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The Socceroos beat Bangladesh 7-0 and Palestine 1-0 in their first two World Cup qualifiers – and still have to play those two teams again – while Lebanon drew 0-0 against both nations.
Lebanon are expected to set up defensively and try to hit the Socceroos with rapid counter-attacks, with Socceroos coach Graham Arnold hoping his side can show their offensive weaponry in the final third.
“What I want to see and expect to see is some positive things in the final third … and the boys going for it,” Arnold said yesterday.
“That’s important for me. I feel in that middle third, we’re very good, then we get in the final third, and a lot of it’s down to the individual, and that’s what I expect.”
The two teams have faced off twice in friendly matches, with Australia winning both 3-0.
Craig Goodwin has been ruled out due to illness.Source: Getty Images
But it’s not going to be an easy test.
Jackson Irvine said: “These games just continually get harder as the competition in Asia gets more difficult. I think the standard is getting higher across the Confederation. All the way through, we’ve been tested more and more in these games as time has gone on.”
Should the Socceroos win both matches and book their place in the next stage of qualifying, they will be one of 18 teams split into three groups of six. Each team plays the others in their group at home and away, with the top two teams from each group directly qualifying for the World Cup jointly held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The third and fourth-placed teams continue to a fourth stage of AFC qualifying – but the Socceroos will hope to avoid the kind of last-ditch qualification journey that saw them book their place in Qatar 2022 only in an intercontinental playoff against Peru.
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TEAM NEWS
The Socceroos have been struck down by a wave of injuries, with three forced changes to the starting team followed by a fourth for form reasons.
Winger Martin Boyle is absent after recently suffering a sickening head knock for his club Hibernian, while Marco Tilio, Aziz Behich, and Awer Mabil are all injured.
Aiden O’Neill is suspended after being sent off in the Asian Cup quarter-final, a 2-1 extra time loss to South Korea – but an ankle injury would have ruled him out regardless.
And right-back Lewis Miller was called up to the squad only to suffer a hamstring injury while playing in Scotland that has now ruled him out.
Meanwhile, veteran winger Craig Goodwin (of English second-tier team Middlesbrough) came down sick while flying home and did not link up with the squad as he recovers. He will not play tonight but the Socceroos are hopeful their regular set-piece taker will return for Tuesday’s match.
Fans will have to wait for the substitions to see a long-awaited return for ‘X-Factor’ playmaker Ajdin Hrustic, who was stuck in club limbo for nearly all of 2023 before securing a move to the Netherlands where much-needed match minutes earned him a recall to the national team.
He played just one of the Socceroos’ 14 matches since the start of 2023.
Arnold said: “I think it’s great to see [Hrustic] back playing. I have been watching him play in Holland, but yesterday was probably the first time I’ve seen him live since, doing the training session, to see the 11 v 11. But it’s great to have him back, he brings that X factor for us that can change games and that’s important.”
Ajdin Hrustic had a nightmare stint at Hellas Verona in Italy, but is back playing … and back in the Socceroos.Source: Getty Images
Perth Glory striker Adam Taggart’s rich vein of scoring form earned him a first start since September 2022, alongside in-form Portsmouth forward Kusini Yengi.
He replaces Duke in one of four changes from the Socceroos’ last match – with the ruled-out trio of Behich, Boyle, and Goodwin forcing Arnold’s hand.
Kye Rowles will deputise at left-back for the injured Aziz Behich, with young gun Jordan Bos having mostly been used as a winger under Arnold instead of his natural left-back role. But Bos was left out of the starting line-up completely, with Riley McGree set to start at winger.
Meanwhile 21-year-old midfielder Patrick Yazbek – a Lebanese-Australian – will be hoping to make an emotional debut, while fellow midfielder Josh Nisbet, striker John Iredale, and goalkeeper Thomas Glover are also potential debutants this series.
CONFIRMED STARTING XI (Possible line-up 4-3-3, L-R)
Mathew Ryan (GK, C)
Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess, Nathaniel Atkinson,
Jackson Irvine, Keanu Baccus, Connor Metcalfe,
Riley McGree, Adam Taggart, Kusini Yengi.
FULL SOCCEROOS SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Maty Ryan (captain), Thomas Glover, Joe Gauci
Defenders: Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles, Cameron Burgess, Nathaniel Atkinson, Jordan Bos, Thomas Deng, Gethin Jones,
Midfielders: Jackson Irvine, Keanu Baccus, Ajdin Hrustic, Craig Goodwin, Connor Metcalfe, Riley McGree, Patrick Yazbek, Josh Nisbet
Forwards: Mitchell Duke, Adam Taggart, Kusini Yengi, John Iredale, Bruno Fornaroli, Brandon Borrello, Sam Silvera
The Socceroos are preparing to take to the field for the first time since their heartbreaking Asian Cup quarterfinal defeat to South Korea, with attention now fully focused on the road to the 2026 World Cup.
And as Arnold looks to the future, three potential debutants could get their shot.
Here are the big talking points from today’s announcement.
Arnold has had plenty of selection headaches to deal with.Source: Getty Images
ARNOLD WHACKS EURO CLUBS
Arnold has been forced into a difficult balancing act in selecting this squad – just as he did in the Asian Cup in January – over whether or not to select under-23 players.
The U23 Asian Cup next month will decide which nations qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris. Yet next month’s tournament is not held during a FIFA window, meaning clubs are not obligated to release players to compete for the Olyroos.
Arnold has tried to convince them to let talented youngsters players play for the Olyroos by omitting them from his Socceroos squads.
That was the case for 20-year-old centre-back Alessandro Circati, who was left out of the Asian Cup squad and is again absent this time around.
Parma is hunting promotion to Italy’s Serie B, making it understandable they are reluctant to lose any players in the closing stages of the season.
But if he hoped leaving Circati out of the Socceroos team would mean Parma let him play for the Olyroos, those hopes are fading fast.
“That’s to be determined. But I have to say, I’d be doubtful about that,” Arnold said.
Circati debuted in a friendly against New Zealand last year.Source: Getty Images
He slammed European clubs for pressuring players to turn down international call-ups and focus on their domestic careers.
“Tony Vidmar [Olyroos coach] at the moment is getting quite a number of overseas-based clubs refusing to release players in April. I spoke to [Circati] and I think it’s one thing a lot of people need to understand: the pressure that kids get put under from their clubs overseas to [not] play for Australia is a lot.
“Alessandro and even [uncapped 20-year-old] Cristian Volpato, exactly the same. They just want to focus on their club careers at this moment in time. I do believe that Alessandro, especially, will play for Australia, and I do believe Cristian will want to play for Australia. It’s just at the moment, the timing is probably not right for them – especially with Alessandro; they’re going for promotion with Parma to get up in Serie A.”
Arnold is well-placed to comment on the plight of the Olyroos, having led them to both the 2008 and 2020 Olympics.
Selecting a squad is difficult enough. It’s made even harder when balancing the needs of the under-23 team – and when clubs don’t play ball.
Standard’s Aiden O’Neill is missing due to injury and suspension.Source: AFP
INJURY CRISIS PROVIDES BIG CHANCES
Two of the Socceroos starting XI from their last match – the Asian Cup quarter-final against South Korea – have been ruled out of this squad.
Winger Martin Boyle suffered a nasty concussion playing for Hibernian, while veteran left-back Aziz Behich, a teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, has suffered an ankle injury.
Behich played every minute of the Socceroos’ five Asian Cup matches, while Boyle started all five matches and scored two goals.
But the list of injured players is much longer – “12 or 13” in total, Arnold says.
Wingers Marco Tilio (on loan at Melbourne City, hamstring injury) and Awer Mabil (Grasshopper FC in Switzerland) are both injured.
Midfielder Aiden O’Neill is battling an ankle injury, but would have been ruled out regardless after picking up a red card against South Korea. Highly touted 21-year-old midfielder Alex Robertson is out with a torn thigh muscle.
Meanwhile, there’s an added worry for Arnold after Lewis Miller – who was named in the squad – hobbled off with injury this morning.
“He called me straight from the dressing room this morning, it’s too early to rule him out,” Arnold said.
“He’s going to have scans and get checked on and then we’ll deal with that in the next couple of days.”
Australia’s defender #19 Harry Souttar consoles Australia’s defender #20 Lewis Miller after their defeat in the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Australia and South Korea at Al-Janoub Stadium in al-Wakrah, south of Doha, on February 2, 2024. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)Source: AFP
It means the Socceroos have been forced into a number of changes, but also provides a significant chance for players to stake their claim in the starting side.
That is particularly the case for wingers – with nailed-on starter Boyle a key absentee. Jordy Bos (more on him below) and Craig Goodwin (32) are the likely first-choice starters, though Middlesbrough’s Sam Silvera (23) could get his shot.
Brandon Borrello (28) has recovered from the ankle complaint that ruled him out of the Asian Cup and has been recalled, with the Western Sydney Wanderers attacker hoping his versatility can give him a greater opportunity at the national team level.
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Kusini Yengi, the 25-year-old striker for Portsmouth in England’s League One, also looms as one to watch this window. He was deployed on the right side of the attack this week against Burton. After missing a wide-open goal, the Aussie gun recovered to score a panenka penalty and turned it into a brace in the second half.
He now has 10 goals and two assists in 23 appearances in all competitions – but his surprise start at right-wing could convince Graham Arnold he can perform in a wider role rather than just as a striker, where there’s plenty of competition for places.
Besides Yengi, there’s veteran Mitchell Duke, uncapped John Iredale, and the A-League trio of Bruno Fornaroli, Brandon Borrello and Adam Taggart.
“All of them bring something different,” Arnold said.
Kusini Yengi missed a sitter – and ended up caught in the net!Source: Getty Images
BIG QUESTION OVER LONG-TERM PROBLEM POSITION
With Aziz Behich injured, the Socceroos are left with just one specialist left-back in the squad: 12-cap Jordy Bos. The 21-year-old left-back is enjoying a stellar season at KVC Westerlo in Belgium, scoring a sublime long-range strike on the weekend.
But at the Asian Cup, he played exclusively as a winger – and scored his maiden Socceroos goal just moments after coming off the bench in the opening match – with Arnold repeatedly stating that he believes the youngster is more suited to an attacking position.
Yet Behich is 33 years old, and it is unclear whether he will be capable of playing in the next World Cup in 2026.
It means the Socceroos have a big question mark over the future at the position.
Bos’ undoubted potential has led many to believe he could lock down the role for the foreseeable future.
In the Asian Cup warm-up match against Bahrain, Bos delivered a faultless performance in that position, and he previously impressed in the left-back role against Bangladesh last year.
But Arnold is likely to stick to his guns and deploy Bos as a winger this time around, especially with the absence of Boyle leaving the frontline a little lean.
Bos is more suited to the left flank, but Craig Goodwin could be deployed on that side with Bos shifted to the right.
South Korea’s midfielder #26 Yang Hyun-jun is marked by Australia’s defender #16 Aziz Behich during the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Australia and South Korea at Al-Janoub Stadium in al-Wakrah, south of Doha, on February 2, 2024. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP
Assuming Arnold does deploy Bos in attack, Kye Rowles is most likely to deputise on the left.
Arnold said: “Kye Rowles can also play there, it’s a good thing what we did last year in some friendlies, trying different ways (of lining up).
“Jordy’s obviously playing that role at Westerlo, it’s a familiar role for him.”
The left-footer is typically deployed as a left-sided centre-back and has formed what is clearly Australia’s first-choice partnership with Harry Souttar.
The pair played together in four of the five Asian Cup matches, with Souttar partnered by Cameron Burgess in the other.
Rowles has been used at left-back before, notably in back-to-back games against Mexico and England late last year.
It appears the most likely option for the upcoming pair of matches against Lebanon, which would give Burgess a chance to nail down a position alongside Souttar in the heart of defence.
Souttar, of course, remains in virtual exile at club level, having made just four appearances for Leicester all season in all competitions (not due to any fault of his own, but rather that Leicester’s other centre-backs have been outstanding).
But Souttar’s performances at the Asian Cup proved that despite his lack of match minutes he can be relied upon to deliver for the national team – and means that Rowles could be forced to play at left-back whenever Behich is absent.
Arnold said his lack of game time was a concern but added: “The way he plays for us, the goals he scores – he’s probably our leading scorer in my reign!”
“I know he’s working extremely hard and I know he’s ready for these games.”
23-year-old Sydney FC fullback Joel King has been viewed as a long-term prospect at the troubling left-back position after impressing at the Tokyo Olympics and in four Socceroos appearances.
He was an unused substitute at the 2022 World Cup but has fallen down the pecking order since then. All four of his Socceroos appearances came in 2022, and missed out on this window due to only just having recovered from a toe injury.
29-year-old Callum Elder at League One side Derby County could have been in the mix for a recall, only to suffer an ankle sprain a fortnight ago.
Outstanding 21-year-old Jacob Farrell of the Central Coast Mariners could be the next in line. He will feature this window for the Olyroos (U-23s) at the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U-23 Championship in Saudi Arabia, a crucial preparation for the Olyroos ahead of the U23 Asian Cup which doubles as Olympic qualifiers.
Graham Arnold will certainly be keeping a close eye on Farrell – and many other Olyroos stars – as he looks to build his squad for the future with the World Cup firmly in mind.
For now, however, Arnold faces a conundrum over whether to stick with Bos as a winger or shift him to left-back, where he has both the potential and the opportunity to be the long-term answer to a major selection problem.
Tom Glover (R) could be in line to debut.Source: Getty Images
THREE POTENTIAL DEBUTANTS
Behind captain Maty Ryan, there are two young goalkeepers: Joe Gauci of Aston Villa and Tom Glover of Middlesbrough. The highly talented duo headline the list of potential replacements for 31-year-old Ryan, though the Socceroos’ first-choice number one shows no signs of slowing down.
Glover has been in Socceroos camps multiple times – most recently in October in London – but has not yet debuted. The 26-year-old has played 20 times for second-tier Boro this season and could well earn his first cap should Arnold look to blood the next generation.
23-year-old Gauci has not yet debuted for Premier League club Aston Villa after his groundbreaking move in the January transfer window, but has two caps for the Socceroos already and is perhaps already ahead of Glover in the pecking order.
On the other end of the pitch, Germany-based striker John Iredale would be a shock debutant given his patchy form in the Bundesliga 2 this campaign, with three goals and an assist in 16 appearances in all competitions.
The striking position is an area where the Socceroos are struggling for depth, particularly in the younger generation, and the 24-year-old boasts plenty of physicality – which could help his case for a debut.
Perhaps the most intriguing decision among the selections was that of defensive midfielder Patrick Yazbek.
The 23-year-old has been absolutely stellar for Norwegian side Viking FK this campaign and certainly deserves to be in the Socceroos. With Aiden O’Neill and Alex Robertson both ruled out, he is more than capable of stepping up as Keanu Baccus’ back-up in the defensive midfield role.
Yet questions have been raised over whether he would be better off playing with the under-23s in Saudi Arabia, where he had been called up before being poached by Arnold’s Socceroos.
Graham Arnold has named an extended 25-man Socceroos squad to face Lebanon in World Cup qualification, with a number of stunning recalls amid an injury and suspension crisis.
Australia face Lebanon in Sydney (March 21) and Canberra (26th), where a pair of wins would book the Socceroos’ place in the next stage of Asian qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
24-cap playmaker Ajdin Hrustic is undoubtedly the biggest inclusion in the squad for Australia’s first matches since a disappointing quarter-final exit at the Asian Cup.
The creative midfielder was a standout in Australia’s qualification journey to the 2022 World Cup, only to be restricted to just a handful of minutes during the tournament proper due to an ankle injury.
He underwent surgery after the tournament before being sent into virtual exile at Serie A club Hellas Verona. His lack of game time meant he played just once for the Socceroos in 2023 – a 45-minute appearance last May.
But in February, the 27-year-old finally sealed an exit from Verona, joining Eredivisie relegation battlers Heracles Almelo. He has subsequently played five straight games, picking up a goal.
His return to form is a huge boost for a Socceroos team that has often struggled to break down organised, packed defences – while his set-piece ability provides another valuable weapon to the Socceroos’ offensive arsenal.
Ajdin Hrustic endured a nightmare run at Serie A side Hellas Verona.Source: Getty Images
Perth Glory striker Adam Taggart also earns a recall as Arnold searches for depth up front – what has become something of a problem position for the green and gold.
Taggart has 14 goals in 18 appearances in the A-League Men’s this season, and scored twice for Glory in a 2-2 draw with Newcastle on the weekend in front of a watching Arnold.
The 30-year-old has not appeared for the Socceroos since September 2022.
Western Sydney Wanderers striker Brandon Borrello has also been recalled after recovering from an ankle injury that saw him miss the Asian Cup.
Martin Boyle will be absent after suffering a sickening head knock for his club Hibernian, while Marco Tilio, Aziz Behich, and Awer Mabil are all injured.
Aiden O’Neill is suspended after being sent off in the Asian Cup quarter-final, a 2-1 extra time loss to South Korea – but an ankle injury would have ruled him out regardless.
Right-back Lewis Miller was named in the squad, just hours after suffering an injury while playing for Scottish club side Hibernian. Miller was forced from the field in the first half of Hibs’ 2-2 draw at Ross County and is now in doubt.
The raft of injuries and unavailability has seen 21-year-old Patrick Yazbek promoted from the under-23s Olyroos team, after being initially named to play for that side in a tournament in Saudi Arabia this window.
The Viking FK defensive midfielder is one of three potential debutants, alongside striker John Iredale (SV Wehen Wiesbaden in Germany) and gloveman Thomas Glover.
“As a group we took a lot away from our time in Qatar and I’ve got no doubt that we’ll be better for the experience as we work towards World Cup qualification,” Arnold said in a statement.
“We selected a number of younger, inexperienced players for the Asian Cup with the view of giving them more opportunities at international level as well as exposing them to tournament conditions.
“It’s part of our continued regeneration of the senior national team squad, ensuring that in two years’ time we have the depth and experience required to succeed on international football’s biggest stage.”
“We’ve gone with a similar squad to the one we took to the Asian Cup, and they’ll be prepared to face a side in Lebanon that have a lot to play for,” added Arnold.
“It’ll be a great test for the group and one I know they’re very much looking forward to,” Arnold concluded.
There is no room for 33-year-old Mathew Leckie, whose international future appears set to be over with Arnold turning to the future. His Melbourne City teammate Jamie Maclaren is also absent.
The Socceroos currently sit top of Group I in the AFC’s second round of World Cup qualifiers with two wins (six points) from two matches.
Lebanon is in second with two points, while Palestine and Bangladesh each have one point.
The top two nations progress to the third round, where 18 teams are split into three groups of six.
FULL SQUAD
Nathaniel Atkinson, Keanu Baccus, Brandon Borrello, Jordy Bos, Cameron Burgess, Thomas Deng, Mitchell Duke, Bruno Fornaroli, Joe Gauci (Gk), Thomas Glover (Gk), Craig Goodwin, Ajdin Hrustic, John Iredale, Jackson Irvine, Gethin Jones, Riley Mcgree, Connor Metcalfe, Lewis Miller, Kye Rowles, Mathew Ryan (Gk) (C), Sam Silvera, Harry Souttar, Adam Taggart, Patrick Yazbek, Kusini Yengi
The Asian Cup has ended and the Socceroos are back at their clubs – although for some of them, the January transfer window saw them secure major transfers.
Now, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold can turn his full focus to World Cup qualification, with the Aussies resuming their road to the 2026 tournament next month.
Here’s the situation for every Socceroo – and a couple of other guns who are knocking down the door for international selection.
This mega Roo Radar begins with Socceroos who featured in the Asian Cup squad sorted by position, before including a number of other notable names.
The Socceroos skipper recovered from a fractured cheekbone in time to play in all five of the Socceroos’ Asian Cup games and was a calming presence throughout.
With Ryan between the sticks the Socceroos conceded just three goals all tournament long, one of which was a penalty and another an unstoppable free-kick from South Korean star Son Heung-Min.
Ryan kept up his trend of clean sheets in his first game back for AZ Alkmaar as they drew 0-0 with Almere City.
Ryan needed to wear a face mask for some Asian Cup games after surgery on a fractured cheekbone.Source: Getty Images
Joe Gauci
Gauci travelled to Qatar as the clear back-up to Ryan but he did earn a start in the final warm-up match against Bahrain which the Socceroos won 2-0.
Despite not playing, Gauci generated plenty of headlines in Australian football after he completed a switch from Adelaide United to Premier League outfit Aston Villa for up to $2.5m
Emi Martinez, the latest recipient of the Yashin Troph for the best goalkeeper in the world, is Villa’s clear number one as Gauci will compete with Swedish veteran Robin Olsen for the back-up role.
Gauci has already been heavily involved at the Birmingham outfit and was a part of the warm-up drills prior to his new side’s fixture against Manchester United at Villa Park.
The 23-year-old has also been registered in Villa’s squad for the remainder of the Europa Conference League.
Could we see Gauci in the Premier League this season?Source: Getty Images
Lawrence Thomas
Although Thomas didn’t see a single minute of action for the Socceroos, he was thrust straight back into action for the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Thomas was included in the Wanderers’ extended squad for the fixture against Macarthur on February 4 but came on at halftime in place of Daniel Margush.
Unfortunately for Thomas, there was little he could do to prevent Valere Germain’s winner in the 93rd minute as Macarthur sealed a highly controversial 4-3 victory that sparked a furious rant from Wanderers boss Marko Rudan in his post-match press conference.
DEFENDERS
Nathaniel Atkinson
The 24-year-old right back made three Asian Cup appearances for the Socceroos, but faces a tough task to regain his place in the starting XI for Scottish side Heart of Midlothian. Hearts signed 20-year-old Jamaican talent Dexter Lembisika on loan from Premier League side Wolves in mid-January, and he’s impressed in six appearances since the move. Atkinson came off the bench to replace Lembisika in a Cup game on the weekend but will be desperate to earn his place back in the starting side.
Aziz Behich
33-year-old Behich sealed a massive loan move to Saudi club Al-Nassr – joining the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo – after playing every minute of the Socceroos’ five Asian Cup matches at left back. He debuted in an Asian Champions League clash, playing the full 90 minutes, in a promising sign he’ll be in the starting XI for the Saudi giants for the remainder of the season.
Behich in the yellow and blue of Al-Nassr.Source: Getty Images
Jordy Bos
The supremely talented 21-year-old locked down the left wing-back role at Belgian club Westerlo this season after joining from Melbourne City last July (for a fee that was at the time the Australian record). Since returning from the Asian Cup, where he made five appearances (three starts) and scored a goal off the bench against India, he’s immediately regained his starting spot at club level.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold prefers to use him as a left winger, but Bos has typically been used as a fullback by Westerlo who sit 11th in the Belgian Pro League.
Cameron Burgess
The Scottish-born 28-year-old is right back in English Championship team Ipswich Town’s starting XI after returning from the Asian Cup, where he started one game and came off the bench in the quarter-final defeat.
Ipswich sit fourth in the Championship with a game in hand as they chase promotion to the Premier League, and Burgess looks set to add to his 24 league appearances already this season – remarkably, he has never been substituted in those matches.
He plays alongside Aussie midfielder Massimo Luongo, who turned down an Asian Cup call-up and retired from international duty to focus on the club’s promotion push.
Thomas Deng
The 26-year-old didn’t get onto the field in the Asian Cup – and hasn’t played for the Socceroos since March last year – but he’ll be eagerly anticipating the start of the new J-League season next weekend. The versatile centre-back started most matches for Japanese top-flight club Albirex Niigata last season as they finished tenth, and he’ll hope to retain his role this time around.
Gethin Jones
The 28-year-old is back in the starting line-up at League One club Bolton Wanderers after three starts for the ‘Roos in Qatar – and he’s even worn the captain’s armband in both games since his return. And this week, the right-back scored his first league goal of the season with a looping set-piece header in a 2-1 win for the third-placed side. With games in hand, Bolton are well in contention for automatic promotion that would see Jones reach England’s second tier.
Lewis Miller
The 23-year-old right back played less than 50 minutes across two Asian Cup games, but he’s another Aussie to return straight to the starting line-up at club level. Miller made his 16th start of the Scottish Premiership season (plus one bench appearance) in Hibernian’s 2-1 defeat to heavyweights Celtic, then backed up on the weekend with another start in a cup win.
All up, he’s played 41 times for Hibs since joining in July 2022, and shows plenty of promise as a long-term Socceroos prospect despite struggling in the Asian Cup.
Kye Rowles
Rowles started every single league game for Hearts (in Scotland) before the Asian Cup, and came right back into the side in a cup win on the weekend. The 25-year-old was a standout in the Asian Cup, playing every minute in four of the five matches, and is contracted with Hearts until 2028 – showing just how much they value the cool, calm, and collected centre-back.
Harry Souttar
Souttar is in a dire position at his Championship club Leicester, with the 200cm centre-back in virtual exile. He’s played just four appearances (two starts) this season for a total of 188 minutes. A strong Asian Cup performance put him in the shop window in the January transfer window, with Scottish giants Rangers and Celtic both interested in a loan move – but a deal to join brother John at Rangers fell through on deadline day. Saudi side Al-Nassr were also interested.
Souttar has vowed to fight for minutes at Leicester, but is unlikely to feature unless a starting centre-back is injured.
“I know obviously to continue to be in the national team, I’ve got to be playing club football – but we’ll cross that bridge when it comes,” Souttar told AAP during the Asian Cup.
“He’s got to sort out his club career, he really does,” coach Graham Arnold told AAP. “This can’t go on forever.”
For now, Souttar will be waiting desperately for the season to end and the next transfer window to offer him a way out of his nightmare.
Souttar kept up his incredible scoring record by pitching in at the Asian Cup.Source: Getty Images
MIDFIELDERS
Keanu Baccus
After playing all five matches at the Asian Cup, Baccus returned to Scottish club St Mirren with a half-hour bench appearance before a 90-minute effort against Celtic in the Cup. He’s started most games this season – and come off the bench in the handful where he’s started from the pine – and looks a crucial player in St Mirren’s run home. 25-year-old Baccus is also off-contract at the end of the season, so the next few months will be crucial for his future.
Jackson Irvine
The midfield maestro is back at German second-tier club FC St Pauli, where he wears the captain’s armband – but missed out on playing on the weekend after being “quite sick” and having a “really bad week”. He’s back at training with the team now, who are three points clear at the top of the table despite suffering their first league loss since April 2023. 19-year-old Aljoscha Kemlein (on loan) has been excellent in filling in for Irvine in recent weeks, but the 30-year-old Aussie is nailed-on to get back into the starting team and push for promotion to Germany’s top flight in the next few months.
Irvine was devastated after Australia’s Asian Cup exit.Source: AFP
Riley McGree
McGree started six of the first ten Championship matches for Middlesbrough (and came off the bench in the other four) before suffering a foot injury that ruled him out for two months.
He returned for just a handful of bench appearances before jetting off to the Asian Cup, where he made two starts and three substitute showings. Those handy minutes put him in good stead upon his return to club football, where he came back with a bench appearance before playing the full 90 minutes yesterday – but at attacking midfield rather than his usual left wing role. That’s because Middlesbrough signed 23-year-old talent Finn Azaz from Championship rivals Plymouth Argyle in early January. He had seven goals and five assists before the move, and has nabbed a goal and an assist in five appearances for his new club since then. McGree has a tough battle on his hands to unseat Azaz, but could be
Connor Metcalfe
The 24-year-old has appeared in every match for the Socceroos since the start of 2023, and continued that run with three starts and two sub appearances at the Asian Cup. Since then, he’s returned to FC St Pauli alongside Irvine, and played 28 minutes off the bench upon his return. Overall, he’s made 21 appearances this season with 12 starts and nine substitution efforts – so will be looking to press his case for a locked-down starting berth in the final months of the season.
Aiden O’Neill
The defensive midfielder has been sensational for Belgian club Standard Liege this season, and took things to another level last weekend with a sensational goal in a 1-0 win over OH Leuven.
On the edge of the area, O’Neill chested the ball down before slamming a half-volley into the net, his first goal for the club after joining last July.
“To be honest, there is a bit of luck in this goal,” the Aussie told DH Les Sports+. “I was in a good position and I said to myself ‘why not take my chance?’.
“I had already dreamed of scoring a goal like that but, to succeed in doing it, especially in such an important match, is something else. It means a lot.
“I had already scored goals from outside the box but, yes, I can say that this one is probably the best of my career. And it brings three super important points for the team.”
O’Neill had started six-straight league matches before the Asian Cup and looks to be back in the first team.
Aussie returns from Asian Cup in style | 00:41
FORWARDS
Martin Boyle
Having missed the 2019 Asian Cup and the 2022 World Cup through injury, Boyle finally got to represent the Socceroos at an international tournament.
The 30-year-old winger even got his first tournament goals, scoring a penalty against Uzbekistan and one of Australia’s four against Indonesia.
Boyle has wasted little time in returning to form for club side Hibernian since returning, scoring once and assisting another in the club’s 3-1 win over Inverness CT in the fifth round of the Scottish FA Cup.
He also played the full match as a right winger in a 2-1 defeat to Celtic on February 7 as Hibernian remain in eighth in the Scottish Premiership.
Sammy Silvera
Since moving to Middlesbrough from the Central Coast Mariners last summer, Silvera has largely been used as an impact substitute, coming off the bench 13 times prior to the Asian Cup.
Silvera enjoyed a similar role for the Socceroos in Qatar whenever Arnold sought out a fresh injection of pace and trickery but struggled to find his groove.
The Aussie youngster has once again reprised his role as an impact sub upon returning to Middlesbrough, coming off the bench in Boro’s last three Championship fixtures against Sunderland, Bristol City — where he scored a 91st-minute consolation goal — and Preston North End.
With 15 game left in Middlesbrough’s season, Silvera will hope to earn some regular starts as he looks to prove he belongs at the Championship level.
Bruno Fornaroli
Fornaroli entered the Asian Cup on the back of some scintillating form for Melbourne Victory, scoring 13 goals in 10 games.
A first start in Qatar for Fornaroli didn’t arrive until the Round of 16 clash against Indonesia as a result of Mitchell Duke’s injury-enforced absence, with the Victory man consigned to cameos off the bench in the Socceroos’ other games.
Fornaroli fired a blank in his first game back for Victory (1-0 defeat to Macarthur), when he suffered a fractured hand – but still played the entire game. He has since undergone surgery but could still play this weekend, and it’d be silly to bet against the 36-year-old enjoying another rich vein of scoring form.
After all, he’s still tied first for the golden boot race alongside Newcastle’s Apostolos Stamatelopoulos despite missing five games.
’El Tuna’ may be 36 years old, but he’s in vintage scoring form.Source: Getty Images
Kusini Yengi
Yengi took major strides in staking his claim to be the Socceroos’ next long-term option up front, starting the group stage clash against Uzbekistan in place of an injured Mitchell Duke, with Arnold describing his performance as “outstanding.”
He may not provide the same relentless pressing as Duke does up top, but Yengi’s physicality and ability to hold the ball up certainly caught the eye.
Yengi earned his call-up thanks to a strong debut season for League One promotion hopefuls Portsmouth with seven goals in 17 appearances prior to the Asian Cup.
And the former Western Sydney Wanderers man didn’t need to wait long to make an impact on his return at Fratton Park, scoring the first of Portsmouth’s three in a win over Cambridge United.
Marco Tilio
Having secured a dream move from Melbourne City to Celtic last summer, Tilio’s endured a Glaswegian nightmare.
The 22-year-old had clocked 28 minutes all season long under Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers but was still included in Arnold’s Asian Cup squad due to his ability to “bring that bit of difference as an impact player” and to “get that smile back on his face.”
Tilio appeared just once for the Socceroos in Qatar — five minutes off the bench against Uzbekistan — but has since secured a loan move to Melbourne City for the remainder of the season.
He made his return in the 5-1 humiliation against Brisbane in a 32-minute appearance off the bench and one would imagine it won’t be long before he’s back starting games again.
It is a loan move that must work out for Tilio in a bid to force his way back into Rodgers’ Celtic plans.
Otherwise his time with the Hoops could be over as quickly as it began.
Mitchell Duke
Duke remains Arnold’s first choice at striker, although the two group stage fixtures he played in didn’t exactly play to his main strengths of stretching opposition backlines.
The 33-year-old also had a golden chance to send Australia into the semi-finals against South Korea but flashed his header wide.
Duke is now gearing up for the 2024 J1 League season with Machida Zelvia having helped the team achieve promotion last year.
At his age, it’s likely Duke has just one more World Cup cycle left in him as Arnold must eventually turn to the next generation.
But as long as Duke has plenty of running left in him, he won’t give up his starting spot without a fight.
Craig Goodwin
Goodwin continues to age like a fine wine and richly deserved his spot in the AFC’s Asian Cup 2023 team of the tournament.
However, Goodwin cannot let his performances for club or country dip knowing Jordan Bos is breathing down his neck as his replacement at left wing, even though the latter has made his name predominantly as a left back.
The 32-year-old last featured for Saudi Pro League side Al-Wehda on December 31 before the league took a brief pause, but has started 13 of the 14 league games he’s played in this season.
Goodwin will most certainly have a vital part to play in the Socceroos’ road to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and will hope to feature at the tournament.
Goodwin’s outstanding performances at the Asian Cup saw him named in the team of the tournament.Source: Getty Images
John Iredale
Iredale represented somewhat of a surprise inclusion in Arnold’s Asian Cup squad, although the Aussie boss revealed the forward was a player he’d “admired for a long time.”
The 24-year-old, who plies his trade with 2. Bundesliga side Wehen Wiesbaden, didn’t see a minute of action in Qatar but earning a call-up is no easy feat.
In his return to action for Wehen Wiesbaden, Iredale came off the bench against FC Nuremberg for a brief cameo.
However, should Iredale start to receive more regular starts, expect him to figure in the conversation for Socceroos inclusions for several more international windows to come.
OTHERS — NON ASIAN CUP
Calem Nieuwenhof
The 22-year-old centre midfielder (well, he turns 23 tomorrow!) was one of the standouts in the last A-League season before moving to Scottish club Hearts in July. Since then, he’s come along in leaps and bounds – so much so that his coach is confident he’ll lace up his boots for the Socceroos soon.
After a slow start to the season, Hearts are third in the league with eight wins in a row in all competitions, and their Aussie foursome of Nieuwenhof, Kye Rowles, Nathaniel Atkinson and fellow young midfielder Cameron Devlin have been crucial to their success.
He’s played 25 times in all competitions, scoring two goals in his last five games and picking up an assist. His most recent goal was an absolute stunner.
Crucial to his rise has been an increased physicality and toughness in the midfield scrap – with the Scottish league the perfect place for the youngster to grow in that regard.
“The character he is, he’s a reserved person and is really chilled out,” coach Steven Naismith told The Scotsman. “That probably went against him in his first few months when he was finding his feet, but in training you can see his quality – his calmness in possession, his understanding of the game, his range of passing, and he is a goal threat as well.
“He’s one of the fittest players at the club. What he brings on and off the ball is really important. He’s consistently improving and becoming more dominant in games, which is why we signed him. We knew he was a good player, he’s a really good player.
“He’s got a desire to get into the international team and I don’t think that’ll be too far away if he continues in the same vein of form.”
Nieuwenhof said his manager was ‘not wrong, for sure’ about being chilled out – but added: “You need to go into every game with that mindset that you are going to have to get stuck in and get involved. Cammy’s great to learn from. He’s a real dog and a really aggressive player. For sure that is something I can take from his game. That’s something I have really learned across the last few months and brought it into my game and just trying to get consistency into that side of my game, the physical aspect.”
For now, he looms as a crucial member of Australia’s Under-23 Olyroos squad who will compete in the U-23 Asian Cup in April-May in a bid to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. But he’s building a compelling case to join the Socceroos’ stacked midfield ranks.
Two-cap Socceroo Cameron Devlin, meanwhile, was ruled out for around six weeks after an ankle injury which cost him a place at the Asian Cup. The 25-year-old has been on the bench for the last two games for Hearts but has not yet played.
Alessandro Circati
Circati’s stock continues to rise with every game for Serie B side Parma and it’s only going to strengthen the case for his inclusions in future Socceroos squads.
The 20-year-old was left out of the team that went to the Asian Cup as Arnold felt it was better for his development to keep playing at club level rather than warm the bench in Qatar.
Since Serie B resumed from the winter break, Circati has started three of the five games, with one draw and two wins in that time with Parma losing one of the games he was benched for.
Circati has plenty of years on his side and, crucially, the benefit of regular game time.
Additionally, Parma are six points clear at the top of Serie B and are no doubt the favourites for promotion, meaning Circati could very easily be lining up in Italy’s top flight next season.
If Parma go up and Circati starts Serie A games, the noise will only grow louder for his inclusion in Socceroos line-ups – and the rumours of Premier League interest will only grow stronger.
Ajdin Hrustic
Hrustic has rapidly fallen from his status as one of the Socceroos’ key creative outlets to the international wilderness, but a January switch could provide the spark needed to get his career back on track.
The midfielder’s move from Frankfurt to Serie A side Hellas Verona has been an unmitigated disaster, failing to even make the bench for any of their league games this season.
But Hrustic sealed a loan switch to Dutch side Heracles Almelo and earned a start in just his second match, helping the club to a 3-2 win over Vitesse. It was his first top-flight start in over a year.
It’s a much-needed move for Hrustic if he is to force himself back into Arnold’s thoughts ahead of World Cup qualification.
Hrustic has not appeared for the Socceroos since a 45-minute showing in the 2-0 friendly defeat to Argentina in China last June.
Given the Socceroos’ struggles when it came to unlocking deep-lying defences at the Asian Cup — a problem the Aussies will encounter throughout the road to the 2026 World Cup — Hrustic’s return would be a welcome one.
Hrustic finally ended a year-long nightmare at Verona.Source: Getty Images
Cristian Volpato
Until Volpato makes his international future clear, there’s still a chance he could be capped for the Socceroos in the not-too-distant future.
Speaking to ESPNprior to the Asian Cup, Arnold revealed he had been in constant communication with Volpato but the talented midfielder “wants to just focus on his club career” for now.
Since moving from Roma to Sassuolo last summer, Volpato has largely been consigned to appearing off the bench and only just made his first start of the season against Bologna.
But Volpato made full use of the opportunity, scoring a stunning goal to give Sassuolo a 2-1 lead in the 34th minute as they went on to record a 4-2 victory.
With the 2026 World Cup cycle about to begin, could Volpato’s interest in international football be piqued?
Nestory Irankunda, Garang Kuol and Awer Mabil
And what of the Socceroos’ attacking trio of Nestory Irankunda, Garang Kuol and Awer Mabil?
Mabil has been a mainstay of the Socceroos set-up and loomed as a likely inclusion for the Asian Cup squad, but he picked up an injury in Grasshopper’s 1-0 win over Basel on December 10 and has not been sighted since.
Prior to the injury, Mabil had been in solid form throughout the season and started eight out of 12 games he appeared in, with four goals and three assists to boot.
At 28 years of age, expect Mabil to be in and around Socceroos squads for the next World Cup cycle.
Popular figure Awer Mabil missed the Asian Cup with injury.Source: Getty Images
On the other end of the age spectrum is Kuol and Irankunda.
Kuol burst onto the scene for the Central Coast Mariners and earned a move to Premier League side Newcastle United, but from there his club journey hasn’t gone as he’d have hoped.
He moved to Eredivisie side FC Volendam on a season-long loan but they sit in 17th place, nine points away from safety.
Kuol himself has struggled to hold down a starting spot as well, clocking just 55 minutes of action since December.
It’s important to remember he is just 19 years of age and there’s plenty of time on his side, but as it stands, he’s behind in the pecking order of Socceroos’ wingers.
Garang Kuol scored his maiden Socceroos goal last March.Source: Getty Images
Then there’s Adelaide United winger Irankunda, who recently turned 18 and is headed for Bayern Munich at the end of the season.
The teenage sensation turned heads with blistering power in his shots and silky runs down the right, breezing past defender with ease.
However, since his move was announced, Irankunda has often cut a frustrated figure on the field and Adelaide coach Carl Veart even said he doesn’t “see enough happiness” from the prodigy.
Irankunda was brought into the Socceroos fold as a train-on player for the friendlies against Ecuador in March last year and has also featured for the Joeys.
Should Irankunda continue his remarkable upward trajectory with Bayern, a full Socceroos call-up is not out of the question and he could loom as a major game-changer for the upcoming World Cup cycle.
In his first appearance without his protective mask, Socceroos skipper Ryan was colossal.
Ryan was rarely called into action during the first half but in the second, he made vital saves to keep South Korea at bay.
He bravely put his body on the line to thwart Lee Jae-Sung in the 78th minute too given he was coming back from a fractured cheekbone.
Unfortunately there was little the skipper could do to prevent South Korea’s two goals, with one coming from the penalty spot and another being an unstoppable free kick from Son.
Even after the Socceroos’ hopes had all but vanished, Ryan still popped up with superb stops deep into extra time.
Nathaniel Atkinson – 6.5
Had a very difficult task in trying to nullify star winger Hwang Hee Chan, but Atkinson stood up to the task.
Korea did try and target the space in behind the Aussie right back, yet he remained wary.
Atkinson’s driving runs forward also provided a vital outlet for the Aussies and it was he who delivered the crucial assist for Goodwin’s goal.
Came off in the 73rd minute for Lewis Miller.
Kye Rowles – 7
An assured performance from Rowles at the heart of defence, rarely putting a foot wrong.
Operating as the left-sided centre back, Rowles was solid alongside Souttar and distributed the ball well.
Harry Souttar – 8
Souttar was once again at his brilliant best throughout, thwarting several South Korean attacks with his gangly legs and snuffing out crosses with excellent blocks.
Unsurprisingly he made several headed clearances to give the Socceroos some breathing space at the back.
The Leicester City man ended the game up front as the Socceroos chased the equaliser that never came.
Had the Aussies made the semi finals, Souttar would have missed it having picked up a booking during first half stoppage time.
Souttar made countless blocks to deny South Korea. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)Source: AFP
Aziz Behich – 7
It was a gutsy performance from Behich who formed a solid partnership with Goodwin on the left.
Behich delivered an all-action display, flying up the touchline and providing a useful outlet.
He also performed his defensive duties with aplomb, with one big moment coming in the 51st minute as he made a crucial clearance to deny Korea at the back post while they chased an equaliser.
Behich put in an incredibly gutsy shift at the back end of the contest as well, defying severe cramp to play until the final whistle.
Keanu Baccus – 7
Knowing he’d be tasked with stopping South Korea’s forays into the final third, Baccus had to be on point with every tackle and pass he made.
The St. Mirren man had a few shaky moments and helped spring Korea’s counter attacks when he lost a handful of individual battles.
However, Baccus made several crucial interventions to deny Korea’s stars from making the impact some outsiders anticipated they would have made.
Came off in 70th minute for Aiden O’Neill.
Jackson Irvine – 8
He may not have found himself on the scoresheet, but this was one of Irvine’s best games for the Socceroos.
The St. Pauli man was here, there and everywhere in the middle of the park to break up play and drive the ball forward.
His passing was on point, switching the play at the perfect time to advance the Socceroos into dangerous positions.
Even deep into extra time, Irvine showed off plenty of heart to keep running until the final whistle and should be proud of his performance.
Connor Metcalfe – 6
Metcalfe wasn’t as anonymous as he had been in the group stage fixtures and helped out his teammates with intelligent positions to present himself as a passing option.
He had the first shot of the game in the 18th minute but could only drag his effort wide of the post.
Metcalfe also could and perhaps should have scored the opener for the Socceroos when a rebound from a Craig Goodwin shot fell straight to him, but it was an awkward chance to bury on his weaker foot.
Came off in the 70th minute for Riley McGree.
Metcalfe missed a golden chance to give the Aussies the lead. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)Source: AFP
Martin Boyle – 6
The industrious Boyle flew up and down the right flank as he largely was forced to help out Atkinson with defensive duties.
Boyle’s rapid speed was a major aid in helping Australia transition from defence to attack.
He’ll be frustrated not to have gotten on the scoresheet when a Behich cross found him unmarked at the back post, but Boyle could only direct his header straight at the goalkeeper.
Even when the rebound fell straight to his feet, he couldn’t find the back of the net.
Came off in the 87th minute for Cameron Burgess.
Mitchell Duke – 6.5
Despite carrying a hamstring injury, Duke managed to play the entire period of regular time but had it not been for his misfires, the Socceroos could have saved themselves an extra 30 minutes of effort.
Duke volleyed wide over the bar from just a few metres out early in the second but his worst miss was yet to come.
A cross from Bos on the left took a deflection and popped up into the air, but Duke steered his header wide of an open goal.
Although he fired a blank in front of goal, Duke’s off-ball work was heroic to the Socceroos’ efforts, constantly chasing lost causes and harassing opposition defenders.
Came off in 93rd minute for Bruno Fornaroli.
Craig Goodwin – 9
There’s a reason why commentator Andy Harper described Goodwin’s showing as “superb” and “one of the great Socceroo performances.”
The left winger earned a recall to the team after scoring a goal and assisting another in the space of four minutes against Indonesia and he was by far the Aussies’ most dangerous outlet.
Goodwin fashioned space to fire off a strike that almost led to the Socceroos’ first goal, but Metcalfe fired the rebound wide.
However, Goodwin would make no mistake when he thumped home a floated cross from Atkinson to hand the Aussies the lead.
Goodwin also showed off his remarkable engine, tracking back when the Socceroos didn’t have the ball.
Came off in the 73rd minute for Jordan Bos.
Goodwin was the Socceroos’ best. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SUBSTITUTES
Riley McGree – 5.5
Came on in 70th minute for Connor Metcalfe.
McGree had a chance to score Australia’s second when he tried to lob the goalkeeper with a first time effort, but it went over the bar.
That was perhaps McGree’s most notable contribution to the game as he struggled to find the pockets of space in which he has been so dangerous previously for the Aussies.
McGree did show some needed hustle during extra time, using his pace to help track back and defend for the Aussies despite being a goal down.
Aiden O’Neill – 4
Came on in 70th minute for Keanu Baccus.
O’Neill looked solid at first when replacing Baccus, but things quickly unravelled in extra time as he had a yellow card upgraded to a red in extra time for a nasty challenge on Hwang Hee Chan.
Lewis Miller – 2
Came on in 73rd minute for Nathaniel Atkinson.
Miller earned the ire of many when deep in second half stoppage time, he decided to go to ground in an effort to win the ball off of Heung Min Son.
However, Miller collected none of the ball and all of the man, giving the referee an easy decision to award a penalty which Hwang Hee Chan converted.
Miller’s second brainfade ultimately led to the winner as he fouled Chan on the edge of the box, leading to a free kick for South Korea.
Son made no mistake with the set piece and compounded Miller’s woes even further.
Jordan Bos – 6
Came on in 73rd minute for Craig Goodwin.
Bos made important clearances not long after entering the contest as the Aussies looked to clear their lines.
He should have had an assist late in the second half, but Duke fired his header from Bos’ cross wide.
Bos ended up having to play a dual role as the left winger and left back when Behich struggled badly with cramp.
The former Melbourne City man desperately tried to link up play with his teammates but it was to little avail.
Cameron Burgess – 5
Came on in 87th minute for Martin Boyle.
Thrown on late with the pure intention of keeping South Korea out, there was little Burgess could do when Miller brought down Son.
He remained at centre back in extra time as Souttar got thrown forward, but the Ipswich Town star soon joined the towering defender up top in a desperate late gamble from Arnold.
Bruno Fornaroli – N/A
Came on in 93rd minute for Mitchell Duke.
As much as Fornaroli tried to find his feet in the game, he ultimately had little impact as the 10-man Socceroos chased an equaliser.
History will show it was the Ange Postecoglou-led Socceroos who emerged victorious, with a James Troisi strike in extra time proving the difference.
It was the first continental triumph in Asia for the Socceroos and a landmark moment in Australian football.
For South Korea, the defeat meant its agonising wait for a first Asian Cup triumph since 1960 — a tournament which featured only four teams and 80-minute games — rumbled on.
In the early hours of Saturday, the two nations will collide for the 29th time in the quarterfinal of the 2023 Asian Cup, as South Korea looks to banish the demons of 2015.
And, in a cruel twist for the Socceroos, one of their own could be the architect of its downfall in Qatar.
The Socceroos will take on South Korea in the quarter final of the Asian Cup. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WILD CONTRAST IN PATH TO ASIAN CUP QF AS ARNIE’S TROOPS SHOW UP WORLD NO. 23
South Korea’s road to the final eight at this Asian Cup has been far from smooth.
Jurgen Klinsmann took over managerial duties from Paulo Bento last February but his tenure has been dogged by large swells of criticism from South Korea.
The German great quickly found himself offside when he elected to remain living in the United States once appointed to the role, relying on his assistants to attend K-League matches and report back to him.
It is in complete contrast to Klinsmann’s predecessors, who all made the move to South Korea after earning the job.
Klinsmann’s early results did not help either, failing to win any of his opening five matches before finally achieving his first victory as South Korea boss after beating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in September.
Drawn in Group E alongside Bahrain, Jordan and Malaysia, nations ranked 86th, 87th and 130th in the world respectively, it represented a golden chance for Klinsmann and his troops to make an early statement at the Asian Cup.
But if pundits thought a cruisy 3-1 win over Bahrain was a sign progression to the knockout stages would be a breeze, how wrong they were.
Klinsmann hasn’t exactly won over Korean fans since his appointment in February 2023. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
South Korea were bailed out by an own goal in second half stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw against Jordan and conceded in the 15th minute of second half stoppage time against Malaysia to draw 3-3.
Klinsmann was even seen sporting a smile after the draw against Malaysia, a gesture that gave his most vocal detractors even more ammunition.
The two draws meant South Korea, rather embarrassingly, finished second in their group behind Bahrain.
In a twist of fate, not topping Group E meant the Taegeuk Warriors avoided a clash against fellow Asian heavyweights Japan, as a Round of 16 fixture against the Roberto Mancini-led Saudi Arabia beckoned instead.
Yet again, South Korea were rescued by stoppage time heroics as Cho Gue-Sung scored the equaliser in the 99th minute after Abdullah Radif put Saudi Arabia ahead almost as soon as the second half began.
Neither side could find the winner in extra time, forcing the contest into a penalty shootout in which South Korea prevailed to seal a quarterfinal showdown against the Socceroos.
In contrast to South Korea’s journey, the Aussies were rarely troubled by their Group B rivals.
Graham Arnold’s side kept clean sheets in wins over India and Syria but once again, a perceived lack of inventiveness in the final third was the main talking point from the first two games.
Struggling to break down teams who defend in deep, low blocks has been a constant criticism throughout Arnold’s tenure, although the Aussie boss has passionately argued it is results rather than style that matter most in tournament football.
Arnold has been criticised for a lack of creativity in the final third. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Former Socceroo Robbie Slater also defended the team’s tactical approach in the Asian Cup, reiterating the need to “build” as the tournament goes on.
“I spoke to Arnie about it, and he doesn’t like to get too much into it but I can tell his disappointed … I think (the criticism) is unfair,” Slater told SEN.
“We’re in a tournament (where) we’ve conceded one goal, we’ve scored eight. Have we played like Brazil at their best? No, but it’s a tournament and you build.”
A controversial penalty helped the Socceroos seal top spot in Group B with a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan and was followed by a comfortable-yet-feisty 4-0 victory over Indonesia in the Round of 16.
Given South Korea have a day less to recover from the draining 120-minute encounter against Saudi Arabia, it is a huge bonus for the Socceroos, even if Klinsmann suggested a penalty shootout win “gives the team an enormous amount of energy.”
Couple that with the Socceroos’ propensity to perform with reduced possession against better teams and it’s as good a chance as ever for the Aussies to make the semi finals.
A win for either nation would lead to a semi final against Jordan or Tajikistan, who are ranked 106th in the world.
It would be too dismissive to suggest the winner between South Korea and Australia would go on to a spot in the Asian Cup final, but an easier ride to the last stage might not present itself ever again.
The Socceroos will face either Tajikistan or Jordan should they beat South Korea and qualify for the semi finals. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP
THE TRIO OUT TO VANQUISH DEMONS OF 2015 … AND HOW ANGE HAS PLAYED A HELPING HAND
Few in South Korea have forgotten what happened in the final of the 2015 Asian Cup.
That day, a 22-year-old Heung-Min Son scored a stoppage time equaliser in the second half to cancel out Massimo Luongo’s sizzling strike and send the contest to extra time.
But, as then-Socceroos boss Postecoglou was at pains to point out during his team talk prior to extra time, Son and his South Korean teammates had exhausted every ounce of energy they had while the Aussies appeared fresh as a daisy.
The Socceroos soon found the winner courtesy of James Troisi in a moment etched into Australian football folklore, but for South Korea it represented yet another Asian Cup heartbreak.
Of that Socceroos team that started in the final, only Mat Ryan and Aziz Behich remain.
As for South Korea, the trio of Son, Kim Young-Gwon and Kim Jin-Su are the sole survivors.
Having come agonisingly close to ending the nation’s wait for a first Asian Cup since 1960, the trio’s desire to vanquish the demons of 2015 will burn deep.
Much has changed since that day at Homebush, especially for Son.
It was only a few months after the 2015 Asian Cup he moved from Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham Hotspur for $AUD42 million, where he remains today.
In the near-decade he has spent in north London, Son has established himself as one of the Premier League’s deadliest wingers.
Heung-Min Son was left devastated after losing the 2015 Asian Cup final to Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Whether it be burning defenders for speed or producing Houdini-like escapes to wriggle out of tight spaces with the ball, the South Korean has constantly dragged Tottenham out of several holes.
Although Son suffered a dip in form last season under Antonio Conte and scored only ten league goals — his lowest tally since the 2015/16 season — the 31-year-old is back to his brilliant best.
Behind Son’s resurgence this season has been former Socceroos boss Postecoglou, who took over from Conte as Tottenham manager.
It was Postecoglou who named Son as Tottenham’s new captain in the wake of Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich and it is a role in which he has embraced and subsequently flourished.
Even though some pundits anticipated Son to struggle without Kane, he has stepped up in the latter’s absence with 12 goals and five assists from 20 league games.
Despite entering the Asian Cup as the most dangerous player across the entire competition, Son has been largely nullified by weaker opposition.
But it didn’t stop Arnold from cracking a joke about how he plans to stop the rampant Spurs winger.
“I rang Ange and asked Ange if he can take him back,” Arnold said during a press conference.
Ange Postecoglou has got Heung-Min Son firing. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Although Arnold publicly took a humorous stance on the matter, privately he will have been intensely plotting on how to prevent Son from running riot.
But it’s not like the Socceroos boss will need to draw up a blueprint from scratch.
After all, the Socceroos defenders have come up against the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jack Grealish and Lionel Messi twice in the space of just over a year.
Son isn’t the only attacking threat the Socceroos must plan for, with Wolves forward Hwang Hee-Chan and Paris Saint-Germain winger Lee Kang-In also presenting major defensive headaches.
However, the Socceroos are one of the strongest teams defensively at the Asian Cup having faced just four shots on target throughout the entire tournament.
It’s why Behich is not losing sleep about what South Korea’s forwards are capable of.
“We don’t focus on individuals in teams,” Behich said, per ESPN.
“Yeah, you have to be careful, it’s obviously in the back of your mind as a player when you’re on the pitch that these types of world-class players can change a game in a moment.
“But it’s all about us and what we can do as a team.”
Socceroos gear up for South Korea clash | 01:27
Given South Korea’s short turnaround from their Round of 16 fixture, the deck is heavily stacked in the favour of the Socceroos when it comes to the physical battle.
But, much like the Socceroos against higher ranked opponents, beware the team that is ready to run itself ragged for the cause.
Couple that with a trio, led by talismanic skipper Son, desperate to avenge the 2015 Asian Cup final defeat, and Arnold will be in for one of the toughest tasks of his managerial career.
But if he passes the test, the case for Arnold as one of the Socceroos’ greatest coaches will be significantly strengthened.
Socceroos defender Aziz Behich is set to play alongside Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo after he secured a loan deal to join Al-Nassr until the end of the season, while another A-League Men’s player could be on the move to the EPL.
And a former Socceroos midfielder Jimmy Jeggo is back in Melbourne after an eight-year stint in Europe.
The 33-year-old is currently with Melbourne City but will move to Saudi Arabia when the Asian Cup wraps up.
It’s a huge move for Behich, who will link up with Ronaldo as well as former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, with Al-Nassr in second spot in the Saudi Pro League, seven points behind Al-Hilal.
Fellow Socceroos veteran Craig Goodwin also plays in the SPL with Al-Wehda.
Aziz Behich will play for the same team as Cristiano Ronaldo. Picture: AFPSource: AFP
Behich has played every minute of the Asian Cup so far and his speed could come into play against a Korean side that will be physically exhausted after a taxing comeback in the round of 16.
The Aussies have conceded just one goal so far in the tournament, but questions remain over their attacking fluency that hasn’t been as smooth as fans would like.
Joe Gauci is on the verge of joining Aston Villa in the EPL. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Behich isn’t the only local player set to leave Australia, with Adelaide goalkeeper Joe Gauci tipped to join Aston Villa before the transfer deadline.
Gauci is with the Socceroos and would be behind Emiliano Martinez at Villa, with the shot-stopper crowned the best keeper at the 2022 World Cup after helping Argentina win the final.
But going the other way is ex-Socceroos midfielder Jimmy Jeggo, wh ohas returned to the A-League to join Melbourne City.
Jeggo, 31, has spent the past eight years plying his trade in Europe for clubs in Austria (Sturm Graz and Austria Vienna), Greece (Aris), Belgium (Eupen) and in Scotland, where he was a teammate of Socceroos pair Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller at Hibernian.
However, after a year with Hibs, Jeggo has returned home after signing a deal set to keep him at City at least until the end of next season.
“I am thrilled to be joining Melbourne City for the next couple of seasons,” said Jeggo, who has had previous stints in the A-League with Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United.
“This is a club that has had great success in recent years, it’s professionalism and facilities are second to none in the country, and I want to play my part in adding more silverware to the cabinet.
“I’ve absolutely loved my time overseas and I still feel like I’ve got a lot to give, and if I came home, I really wanted to get stuck into something, and City is the perfect club to do that.”
City were quick to pounce on the services of Jeggo – who earnt the most recent of his 15 Socceroos camp in March 2022 – following Moroccan midfielder Hamza Sakhi’s decision this month to leave the club for personal reasons.
City director of football Michael Petrillo said Jeggo’s “considerable experience in Europe and with the Socceroos” would add “significant depth” to the club’s midfield stocks.
“He’s a highly skilled footballer who will further strengthen our squad as we embark on the business end of the season,” Petrillo said,
“Not only will he bring an abundance of experience both in Australia and abroad, he’s a player that will suit our style of play and one that City fans will enjoy watching over the coming seasons.”
Indonesia was better value than their lowly ranking of 146th in the world, and the scoreline flattered the Australians, who again struggled for fluency in possession and creativity or incisiveness in attack.
The two-goal half-time advantage came from just one shot in the first 45 minutes – the other via an own-goal – before the Socceroos ran over the top of a flagging Indonesia side in the dying stages of the match, the underdog’s plucky resistance fading.
Now they will face either Saudi Arabia or South Korea in Saturday morning’s quarter-final (2.30am AEDT). The two Asian heavyweights face off on Wednesday morning at 3am AEDT, giving the Socceroos a couple of additional days of rest which could prove “crucial”, according to coach Graham Arnold.
“I can’t answer that question on which one I would prefer to play against, but we will go and watch Saudi against South Korea,” he said in his post-match press conference.
“We get a couple of days off now to rest and recover which is crucial but overall, we’re just focused on ourselves, the most important thing is that we get our games right and our brains clear, our brains ready.
“The boys know their jobs and they can go out there and get it done.”
Son Heung-min of South Korea. Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
WHY BRUTAL QUARTER-FINAL TEST LOOMS
But it will not be an easy task. Both teams have aspirations for the title and are well in contention, boasting superstar players like Tottenham attacker Heung-min Son and Bayern Munich centre-back Min-jae Kim for South Korea, or Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal duo of veteran winger Salem Al-Dawsari and impressive wing-back Saud Abdulhamid. They both also boast renowned coaches: Jurgen Klinsmann manages South Korea, Roberto Mancini oversees Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia have been excellent in defence, not conceding in their last 256 minutes of regulation time after an early goal to Oman in their opening game. And Korea boasts a very impressive attack, though they have not yet hit their stride this tournament after arriving as co-favourites alongside Japan.
Regardless of who wins, the Socceroos know they’ll face a brutal test in the quarter-finals, with Arnold acknowledging his team has “got the job done” so far but has plenty of room for improvement across the park.
Roos top group after Uzbekistan draw | 02:14
“We can do better in every aspect,” he said. “We’ll review what we can do better… but again I give great credit to Indonesia for the way that they are coached but also the way that they played. Their style was very good.”
But Arnold did see improvements in his side’s attacking output, having had just one shot on target in both of their previous matches. This time around, they scored twice from open play – an area in which they have particularly struggled so far in the tournament.
“The improvements today were I think the individual belief, and some of the actions the boys were doing, in a lot of ways it was more freedom and more relaxed from them, and that’s what I want,” he said.
“I want them to show their individual qualities. It’s good to have a great system of play and it’s good to have great attacking patterns but I’d rather see these boys relax and show their skills and imagination, I saw that growing today.”
STARTING LINE-UP SQUEEZE
All four of Australia’s goals came from crosses from the right wing, including one from full-back Gethin Jones who suffered a groin injury and was taken immediately to hospital for scans. His participation in the remainder of the tournament is under a cloud, but the Socceroos were boosted by the return of veteran striker Mitch Duke and particularly Craig Goodwin.
The winger delivered a masterful eight-minute cameo, scoring a volley from close range before a set piece cross was headed home by Harry Souttar two minutes later.
No player created more scoring chances or had more passes into the penalty area than Goodwin in the group stage (per Opta), despite missing the final game with a knee injury. His creativity and influence is among the very best in the tournament, and he is particularly dangerous with set-piece deliveries aimed at Harry Souttar (11 goals in 26 games) and the other tall targets.
Jordan Bos of Australia. Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
But rising star Jordy Bos, who normally plays as a left-back at for his Belgian club Westerlo, has been deployed by Arnold as a left-winger in the green and gold.
It means that there’s no space for Goodwin in the starting line-up, with Martin Boyle having locked up the right-wing spot.
Bos, 21, is technically gifted and physically strong, and has plenty of attacking potential. But against Indonesia he lacked end product in the final third – which is exactly what Goodwin regularly provides from both open play and set pieces.
Yet Arnold appears set to stick firm with the youngster, undoubtedly a top long-term prospect for the side, even if it means keeping 32-year-old Goodwin on the bench.
“I know there are people back in Australia asking for or wanting to see where an impact player is off the bench and maybe that’s a good role for Craig Goodwin as well,” Arnold said.
“I thought Jordy Bos did a very, very good job. Jordy’s got that physical power but also with what we’re doing here and where we’re playing him, it’s a different role. He’s just got to get that end product right and we’ve found another really, really good left winger.”
‘THAT ROLE MIGHT SUIT HIM EVEN MORE’
Speaking to Channel 10 immediately after the game, Arnold similarly said: “`Goody’ is getting to the age now where that role might suit him even more.
“I thought Jordy Bos was excellent (against Indonesia). If one of them gives me a good 60 or 70 minutes and then (the other) has that type of impact off the bench, it’s fantastic.”
Goodwin, who has been in strong for Saudi club Al-Wehda, said he was happy to contribute off the bench but does want to regain his starting berth.
Craig Goodwin of Australia celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal against Indonesia. Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“Of course, I want to start, I want to always want to start games, that’s what every player is striving for, you never sit there and say, I want to be on the bench,” he said.
“If that’s the role that I have to do for now, because Jordy Bos has come in and he’s done really well, whatever Arnie does and whatever role he puts on me that’s what I’ll do to the best of my abilities.
“But of course, I want to start every game and that competition is what’s going to get the best out of us players as well because we’ll go away to the training track and be pushing ourselves and we’ll get better performances from that.”
There is still an opportunity for Arnold to field both players on the left flank by dropping Bos back to a left-back position in place of Aziz Behich.
It would mean – for this tournament anyway – pausing the long-term plan to convert Bos into a full-time winger, but could provide additional firepower if the Socceroos are struggling for creativity.
Arnold rejects Socceroos lack of flair | 01:08
Given the Socceroos will have a couple of additional days of rest compared to their next opponents, they will be hoping to use that physical boost to finish the game strongly – just as they did against Indonesia.
Substitutes could prove decisive in the latter stages, and Goodwin proved he can deliver an immediate impact of the pine.
So far, Arnold has been willing to gamble on a 21-year-old’s potential instead of a tried and tested veteran. What happens next could make or break the Socceroos’ dreams of just a second-ever Asian Cup crown.
The Socceroos are through to the Asian Cup quarterfinals after a 4-0 win over Indonesia on Sunday night. The scoreline may have flattered the Australians who struggled at times, but there’s no doubting the excellent performances of some players.
Here’s how every Aussie performed in our Player Ratings!
Faced just one shot on target in the match (and that was a simple catch), but nevertheless had a busy afternoon. Ryan was often called into action to rush out and stifle long balls, while he was often passed back the ball under pressure. But he never panicked and distributed the ball well.
Gethin Jones: 4.5
Produced an inch-perfect cross for Martin Boyle’s headed goal to double the advantage on the stroke of halftime. It was just reward for Jones’s tireless attacking runs up the line … except he gave away the ball too often by running straight into packs of defenders. Made a few dubious decisions in defence, especially in the first half. And Jones almost lost his head when he lashed out at an opponent after being fouled. If the incident had been any worse, he would have seen a red card instead of yellow – but he lasted just three more minutes anyway before being taken off with an apparent groin injury.
Harry Souttar: 7
It was a sloppy start, and he was guilty of misreading a long ball into the box in the 16th minute that could have proved costly if not for some smart work from Ryan. But Souttar calmed those early nerves and was reliable from there out, before capping off the win in the 91st minute with a trademark header. He won all of his aerial duels in another commanding performance.
Kye Rowles: 5.5
He’s often overshadowed by his centre-back partner in the green and gold (literally as well as figuratively). But he made a number of crucial interventions to stifle the Indonesian forays into the area including a team-high four clearances and was an assured presence at the back.
Aziz Behich: 5
Had a nervy start but settled into the game. The Socceroos needed calm heads in the second half and he contributed to a more stable, disciplined defensive unit after the break. No Aussie touched the ball more, and he passed well, but couldn’t find a target on any of his crosses.
MIDFIELD
Jackson Irvine: 7
Irvine has been excellent so far this tournament, and he continued his strong run of form with another influential performance. No Socceroo was up for the fight in the early minutes as much as Irvine, who set up the opening goal with a barnstorming run past a pair of defenders. He wasn’t at his best in terms of passing – completing a lowly 63% of his passes – but Indonesia’s hard-pressing defence deserves credit for breaking up so many attacks. He won’t get that opening goal credited to his name, since it was a cross deflected into the net, and he was also extremely unlucky not to score the third Socceroos goal – which was well saved but fell straight to Craig Goodwin to finish off.
Keanu Baccus: 5
Baccus was overrun in the midfield in the first half as Indonesia dominated that area, but he worked as hard as ever and made a number of tackles and interceptions. Improved markedly after the break and became more influential with his passing. Taken off in the 86th minute.
Riley McGree: 3.5
McGree and Bruno Fornaroli were meant to provide the creativity and attacking impetus that the Socceroos have lacked so far this tournament, but it was another very quiet performance. He couldn’t build the kind of connected, smooth-flowing passing moves that he often orchestrates at his best, gave the ball away frequently, and was subbed off after 61 minutes.
ATTACK
Martin Boyle: 7
Boyle was switched on from the opening kick-off, and was willing to take on defenders from the first minute until the last. Boyle’s dangerous dribbling was on full display, completing six of seven dribbles (a game-high). He also won a remarkable 10 of his 11 ground duels, which are battles for the ball with a defender. His goal sums up everything we love about Boyle – a well-timed run that caught out a defender, followed by a desperate body-on-the-line dive for the ball. It was his second goal in as many games.
Jordan Bos: 5
Graham Arnold sees Bos as a winger rather than a left-back, but this was not the young gun’s best attacking performance by some distance. He played just one ball into the final third, despite getting into some excellent positions and showing off great technical ability. The potential is clearly there for him to be a dangerous attacking threat, and Arnold praised him after the game, but he lost possession in good positions when he could have done more to create effective chances. Defensively, however, he tackled well and made five recoveries.
Bruno Fornaroli: 5
The 36-year-old was brought in for his ability to control the ball in tight areas and create chances – an especially valuable skill against packed defences.
And he started well, fighting hard for the ball and even attempting an acrobatic bicycle kick that instead earned him a yellow card.
He didn’t have the kind of creative input Arnold would have hoped for, made some poor tackles and lost the ball a bit too frequently, but there were promising signs.
He faces a tough battle on his hands to retain the position for the tough quarter-final ahead, with Arnold often preferring Mitch Duke in big games. Fornaroli was replaced after 61 minutes.
SUBSTITUTES
Mitch Duke: 4
Like Fornaroli, he struggled to get on the ball, but made a number of good runs off the ball to create space. He made a horrible mess of a great opportunity to chip the keeper and seal the game when it was 2-0 soon after coming onto the park. It was a quiet day for the dependable veteran, but he’ll be buoyed after getting through half an hour on his return from a minor hamstring niggle.
Connor Metcalfe: 4
He hardly saw the ball in his half an hour on the pitch, and started slowly before settling into the rhythm of the contest. There were no major mistakes, so it perhaps seems harsh to give him just a four – but there was also little of note from the talented midfielder, besides a couple of nice driving runs into space.
Nathaniel Atkinson: 6
Having lost his spot to Gethin Jones after replacing him for the Uzbekistan game, Atkinson was forced into action when Jones went down with injury in the 69th minute. Atkinson showed good intent with a couple of nice dribbles and a long-range shot that drifted wide. He also delivered an excellent cross into the box to set up the third goal. Didn’t need to do much defensively, but Arnold will trust he can replace Jones for the next match if the new recruit can’t overcome what looked like a groin injury.
Craig Goodwin: 9
Goodwin delivered one of the all-time cameos off the bench, scoring then assisting in the space of just over two minutes. His volley was clinical and coolly-taken, before he delivered a perfect set piece ball for Souttar to head home in the 91st minute. His set pieces were very poor in the opening game of the tournament – and he hadn’t played since then – so it was the perfect reminder to Graham Arnold of what he can do.
Aiden O’Neill: N/A
Only had a handful of minutes and didn’t have much of an impact.
