Socceroos with a 1-0 win over Jordan in their final game. 4 wins. Arnold picked his strongest team in this game. Two starters from the A League, Grant & MacLaren.
Apparently a fair amount of niggle as Jordan needed a win, to stay alive in qualifying. So useful hit out for Arnold given high stakes games that will exist in next qualifying round.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2021/06/15/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/australia/jordan/3079295/
https://www.socceroos.com.au/
Of interest, just in case OFC (0.5 spots) draws AFC (4.5 spots) for those intercontinental playoffs next June (33.33% chance of that), here are the 12 teams through to 3rd round AFC qualifying.
2 pools of 6 teams. Top 2 in each pool qualify for Qatar. 3rd placed teams each pool, playoff to grab the intercontinental playoff spot. Sadly no Bahrain!!
Lebanon
Syria
Iran
Iraq
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Oman
China
Japan
South Korea
Vietnam
Australia
North Korea withdrew from qualifying. Qatar of course already qualified as hosts.
Won't be easy for the Socceroos, who only qualified for Russia through the playoff route. Hence why FFA is pushing NSW Govt to relax 2 week MIQ requirement, so Socceroos can have benefit of home games in Sydney. Arriving football teams to train in controlled bio secure bubble environments, nets around the ground so spectators can't touch the ball etc etc.
But will be a lot of public outrage if this is allowed. 30,000 odd Australians still trapped overseas apparently.
Apparently a fair amount of niggle as Jordan needed a win, to stay alive in qualifying. So useful hit out for Arnold given high stakes games that will exist in next qualifying round.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2021/06/15/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/australia/jordan/3079295/
https://www.socceroos.com.au/
Of interest, just in case OFC (0.5 spots) draws AFC (4.5 spots) for those intercontinental playoffs next June (33.33% chance of that), here are the 12 teams through to 3rd round AFC qualifying.
2 pools of 6 teams. Top 2 in each pool qualify for Qatar. 3rd placed teams each pool, playoff to grab the intercontinental playoff spot. Sadly no Bahrain!!
Lebanon
Syria
Iran
Iraq
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Oman
China
Japan
South Korea
Vietnam
Australia
North Korea withdrew from qualifying. Qatar of course already qualified as hosts.
Won't be easy for the Socceroos, who only qualified for Russia through the playoff route. Hence why FFA is pushing NSW Govt to relax 2 week MIQ requirement, so Socceroos can have benefit of home games in Sydney. Arriving football teams to train in controlled bio secure bubble environments, nets around the ground so spectators can't touch the ball etc etc.
But will be a lot of public outrage if this is allowed. 30,000 odd Australians still trapped overseas apparently.