Slow start continues for Socceroos
Australia fired long-time manager Graham Arnold on 20 September after failing to win either of the Socceroos’ first AFC World Cup qualification third round matches.
Football Australia appointed Tony Popovic just three days later. Unfortunately for Socceroos fans, things have not gone much better under the new boss.
Australia picked up their first Group C win in Popovic’s first match. That was a 3-1 win against China at the Adelaide Oval in October. The Socceroos have not won a competitive match since. They drew their next match 1-1 with Japan in Saitama at the Saitama Stadium 2002.
Catastrophic window for the Socceroos
Some took solace in Popovic’s first window as Socceroos boss and assumed that Australia were on the brink of turning things around. We now know that this could not be further from the case.
Australia took on Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in this international window. Experts and the soccer betting sites had the Socceroos as clear favourites for these matches. Six points were up for grabs. Instead, Australia picked up two points.
Popovic’s team played to a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia at the AAMI Park in Melbourne. Then, Australia nearly lost to Bahrain.
Socceroos striker Kusini Yengi scored just 38 seconds into the match, their fastest goal since 2013. Australia collapsed from there.
Mahdi Abduljabbar stunned the Socceroos in the second half with two goals scored in two minutes. The first was a stellar 40-metre strike, while the second was a point-blank tap-in.
It looked like Australia were going to get nothing from the match until Kusini Yengi scored a scrappy goal in the 96th minute to salvage a goal.
Paramount+ commentator Simon Hill described the match as a catastrophic affair for the Socceroos.
“Absolute catastrophe,” Hill said, “What an absolute disaster for Australia.”
SMH journalist Vince Rugari echoed Hill’s sentiment. “Disaster with a capital everything,” he said on Twitter, “This one’s on the players. Just should not be in this position in a million years.”
Socceroos World Cup betting odds take a hit
As catastrophic as Australia’s November international window was, almost all Australian betting sites still give the Socceroos a good chance of finishing in the top two of their group and securing. However, their overall World Cup betting odds have taken a massive hit.
Australia were always outsiders, with odds ranging from $251 to $301. After this window, the Socceroos odds have gotten even worse. The consensus odds to win are now closer to $361, with some betting apps going as far as giving Australia $401+ chances.
The Socceroos are currently second in Group C with 7 points, 9 points fewer than Japan in first and just one point ahead of China in 6th.
Finishing second guarantees a spot in the 2026 World Cup. Third or fourth will send Australia to the fourth round of qualification. A fifth or sixth place finish eliminates the Socceroos from qualification altogether.
Australia’s next World Cup qualifying match is in March 2025. The Socceroos will host Indonesia on 20 March, before heading to China on 25 March. Like in this window, Australia will be betting favourites to win both those matches.
