Much has been made of the Socceroos’ difficult qualification for the World Cup in Qatar, when the global pandemic saw them travel huge miles and ultimately qualify for the tournament without home advantage.

There are no such problems this time for Tony Popovic’s team. Saudi Arabia meet in Melbourne for what seems to be, for the moment, the decisive vote between the two teams left a little in the wake of Japan. They are level on five points, with one win and two draws and are five points behind Samurai Blue with just one game remaining before the halfway point of the campaign.

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Things are on a knife-edge and we won’t know the final fate of the Australians until June 2025, after the team has completed difficult trips to China and Saudi Arabia. In the shorter term, there is another tricky match on the way against Bahrain next Wednesday and if results go the Socceroos’ way in those two matches, a giant step towards automatic qualification to the third round will have been made.

Last time out, the Australians held Japan by the scruff of the neck thanks to a deflection and a somewhat lucky goal in Saitama. The quality Japanese found their way to the Australians in the 76th minute to equalize, once again, thanks to the foot of a defender rather than an attacker.

Four years ago, in another topsy-turvy campaign that touched the Australian heartland in typical fashion, the team continually headed to the Middle East and searches of temporary homes made the campaign difficult , but also served them well in the long run.

This time around the Socceroos are in their wheelhouse, playing at home in front of a packed crowd at Melbourne Rectangular AAMI Park (hard to know what to call it these days) and the Saudis won’t be looking forward to this occasion. . Sometimes it’s important to put ourselves in the minds of the opponents, the Socceroos’ excellent historical record when playing at home and ignore the heartbreaking stress of supporting the Socceroos and the potential permutations of wins, draws and defeats.

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So far in the campaign, the Saudis have given the Australians a chance to stay in the race. After early errors against Indonesia and Bahrain, the Socceroos looked in big trouble, but the men in green failed to capitalize after drawing with Bahrain after doing the same against Indonesia to start the campaign .

These results all now lead to a boiling venue, a massive match destined to go down in Socceroo folklore, win, lose or draw, and a chance to completely right the ship that many thought was sinking after the team didn’t take anything from September. 5 clash with Bahrain on the Gold Coast.

(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

How Popovic approaches the contest will be an interesting watch. Common sense says that anything less than one point will be acceptable. Still, the idea of ​​these three teams and the resulting chance to clinch second place before the team meets Saudi Arabia for a second time next year will be enticing.

Three points tonight, a similar result against Bahrain on Wednesday and wins against Indonesia and China next March would only lock up second place unless the Saudis manage to run the tables and do the same.

The way the group has performed so far and the unexpected results suggest this is unlikely. But therein lies the opportunity for the Socceroos; the chance to jump flawlessly and relieve a lot of pressure.

The positive point for Popovic is the solidity he seems to benefit from in defense. Jason Geria, Harry Souttar and Cameron Burgess look likely starters, while Jordan Bos and Lewis Miller work on the flanks and create the required attacking threat against a well-drilled and defensively engaged opponent.

Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree and Ajdin Hrustic should be backed up again after doing little harm against Japan, while Patrick Yazbek looks a likely replacement for Luke Brattan, who failed to make the squad this this time. It remains to be seen whether Mitchell Duke is Popovic’s preferred option from the start, with Kusini Yengi and Nishan Velupillay pushing hard for selection; but their involvement depends on the configuration the coach chooses to run with.

Craig Goodwin has not been the star of the campaign many expected him to be and is another option Popovic will consider ahead of the clash. The same could be said of Martin Boyle, as the Hibernian striker becomes available again after injury and Sydney FC’s Anthony Caceres will be dreaming of making his Socceroo debut at home.