Arzani keeps focus on World Cup as European move looms
Not easily or by coincidence has Daniel Arzani earned a second shot with the Socceroos.
And the Melbourne Victory A-League Men star won't squander his World Cup hopes as he weighs up chasing his European dream again.
Arzani is bent on helping Australia rubber stamp their path to the 2026 World Cup with a win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Wednesday (AEST).
After their heroic 1-0 win over Japan in Perth last week, only a highly improbable loss by five goals or more would condemn the Socceroos to ceding second spot and automatic qualification to the Saudis.
Arzani is backing himself to prove his mettle after working his way back to the national team.
"There's always been a little bit of self-doubt there, especially after the way things unfolded the last few years," Arzani said on Sunday.
"It changes very quickly - up and down, up and down; positive, negative.
"I'm happy to be in the situation that I'm in now. It hasn't come by easily, nor by coincidence.
"I've worked really hard to be here, and it's been a slow process.
"I feel like now I've got a good base to really show what I can do and to hopefully go even further."
Arzani had lit up the 2018 World Cup for the Socceroos at the tender age of 19.
Now 26, the winger is reasserting his case in the national team after losing time to injuries and ill-fated stints in Europe.
"It's actually a little bit more special, because for the first time, I'm involved in the qualification process as well," Arzani said.
"Being around such a good group of lads, really feeling that connection, everyone working towards one common goal, is always a special feeling.
"It's something that I never experienced before, a real eye opener, and one that I'm really enjoying."
Off-contract at Victory, Arzani is reportedly weighing a move to Scottish Premiership club Hearts.
He is no stranger to the Scottish league, having played for Celtic on a two-year loan from Manchester City in 2018.
But his stint was far from ideal, with the then 19-year-old tearing his anterior cruciate ligament on debut.
Arzani is well aware he'll need regular game time at club level ahead of the 2026 tournament as he weighs up a potential move.
"Any of the boys that are looking to move are off contract. I think that thought process will be in their head," Arzani said.
"It's a big deal, a World Cup. It's massive. Everyone wants to be a part of it. It's going to be very competitive.
"We know we've got a lot of talent as well coming out of Australia, so I think it's definitely important that if I go, I'll be playing weekly."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Arzani keeps focus on World Cup as European move looms
Not easily or by coincidence has Daniel Arzani earned a second shot with the Socceroos. And the Melbourne Victory A-League Men star won't squander his World Cup hopes as he weighs up chasing his European dream again. Arzani is bent on helping Australia rubber stamp their path to the 2026 World Cup with a win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Wednesday (AEST). After their heroic 1-0 win over Japan in Perth last week, only a highly improbable loss by five goals or more would condemn the Socceroos to ceding second spot and automatic qualification to the Saudis. Arzani is backing himself to prove his mettle after working his way back to the national team. "There's always been a little bit of self-doubt there, especially after the way things unfolded the last few years," Arzani said on Sunday. "It changes very quickly - up and down, up and down; positive, negative. "I'm happy to be in the situation that I'm in now. It hasn't come by easily, nor by coincidence. "I've worked really hard to be here, and it's been a slow process. "I feel like now I've got a good base to really show what I can do and to hopefully go even further." Arzani had lit up the 2018 World Cup for the Socceroos at the tender age of 19. Now 26, the winger is reasserting his case in the national team after losing time to injuries and ill-fated stints in Europe. "It's actually a little bit more special, because for the first time, I'm involved in the qualification process as well," Arzani said. "Being around such a good group of lads, really feeling that connection, everyone working towards one common goal, is always a special feeling. "It's something that I never experienced before, a real eye opener, and one that I'm really enjoying." Off-contract at Victory, Arzani is reportedly weighing a move to Scottish Premiership club Hearts. He is no stranger to the Scottish league, having played for Celtic on a two-year loan from Manchester City in 2018. But his stint was far from ideal, with the then 19-year-old tearing his anterior cruciate ligament on debut. Arzani is well aware he'll need regular game time at club level ahead of the 2026 tournament as he weighs up a potential move. "Any of the boys that are looking to move are off contract. I think that thought process will be in their head," Arzani said. "It's a big deal, a World Cup. It's massive. Everyone wants to be a part of it. It's going to be very competitive. "We know we've got a lot of talent as well coming out of Australia, so I think it's definitely important that if I go, I'll be playing weekly." Not easily or by coincidence has Daniel Arzani earned a second shot with the Socceroos. And the Melbourne Victory A-League Men star won't squander his World Cup hopes as he weighs up chasing his European dream again. Arzani is bent on helping Australia rubber stamp their path to the 2026 World Cup with a win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Wednesday (AEST). After their heroic 1-0 win over Japan in Perth last week, only a highly improbable loss by five goals or more would condemn the Socceroos to ceding second spot and automatic qualification to the Saudis. Arzani is backing himself to prove his mettle after working his way back to the national team. "There's always been a little bit of self-doubt there, especially after the way things unfolded the last few years," Arzani said on Sunday. "It changes very quickly - up and down, up and down; positive, negative. "I'm happy to be in the situation that I'm in now. It hasn't come by easily, nor by coincidence. "I've worked really hard to be here, and it's been a slow process. "I feel like now I've got a good base to really show what I can do and to hopefully go even further." Arzani had lit up the 2018 World Cup for the Socceroos at the tender age of 19. Now 26, the winger is reasserting his case in the national team after losing time to injuries and ill-fated stints in Europe. "It's actually a little bit more special, because for the first time, I'm involved in the qualification process as well," Arzani said. "Being around such a good group of lads, really feeling that connection, everyone working towards one common goal, is always a special feeling. "It's something that I never experienced before, a real eye opener, and one that I'm really enjoying." Off-contract at Victory, Arzani is reportedly weighing a move to Scottish Premiership club Hearts. He is no stranger to the Scottish league, having played for Celtic on a two-year loan from Manchester City in 2018. But his stint was far from ideal, with the then 19-year-old tearing his anterior cruciate ligament on debut. Arzani is well aware he'll need regular game time at club level ahead of the 2026 tournament as he weighs up a potential move. "Any of the boys that are looking to move are off contract. I think that thought process will be in their head," Arzani said. "It's a big deal, a World Cup. It's massive. Everyone wants to be a part of it. It's going to be very competitive. "We know we've got a lot of talent as well coming out of Australia, so I think it's definitely important that if I go, I'll be playing weekly." Not easily or by coincidence has Daniel Arzani earned a second shot with the Socceroos. And the Melbourne Victory A-League Men star won't squander his World Cup hopes as he weighs up chasing his European dream again. Arzani is bent on helping Australia rubber stamp their path to the 2026 World Cup with a win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Wednesday (AEST). After their heroic 1-0 win over Japan in Perth last week, only a highly improbable loss by five goals or more would condemn the Socceroos to ceding second spot and automatic qualification to the Saudis. Arzani is backing himself to prove his mettle after working his way back to the national team. "There's always been a little bit of self-doubt there, especially after the way things unfolded the last few years," Arzani said on Sunday. "It changes very quickly - up and down, up and down; positive, negative. "I'm happy to be in the situation that I'm in now. It hasn't come by easily, nor by coincidence. "I've worked really hard to be here, and it's been a slow process. "I feel like now I've got a good base to really show what I can do and to hopefully go even further." Arzani had lit up the 2018 World Cup for the Socceroos at the tender age of 19. Now 26, the winger is reasserting his case in the national team after losing time to injuries and ill-fated stints in Europe. "It's actually a little bit more special, because for the first time, I'm involved in the qualification process as well," Arzani said. "Being around such a good group of lads, really feeling that connection, everyone working towards one common goal, is always a special feeling. "It's something that I never experienced before, a real eye opener, and one that I'm really enjoying." Off-contract at Victory, Arzani is reportedly weighing a move to Scottish Premiership club Hearts. He is no stranger to the Scottish league, having played for Celtic on a two-year loan from Manchester City in 2018. But his stint was far from ideal, with the then 19-year-old tearing his anterior cruciate ligament on debut. Arzani is well aware he'll need regular game time at club level ahead of the 2026 tournament as he weighs up a potential move. "Any of the boys that are looking to move are off contract. I think that thought process will be in their head," Arzani said. "It's a big deal, a World Cup. It's massive. Everyone wants to be a part of it. It's going to be very competitive. "We know we've got a lot of talent as well coming out of Australia, so I think it's definitely important that if I go, I'll be playing weekly."
The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
Socceroos on verge of FIFA World Cup qualification
The Socceroos are bracing themselves for a hostile reception on and the off field in Saudi Arabia, where FIFA World Cup qualification will be up for grabs on Wednesday morning in Jeddah. The Australians are on the brink of reaching next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the Saudis needing to score at the least five goals against them to have any hope of securing guaranteed qualification at the expense of the Socceroos. As a result, Saudi hospitality is expected to be anything but forthcoming. 'I'm expecting delays at the airport, I'm expecting a really bad pitch to train on, I'm expecting … bus delays before the game,' Socceroos midfielder Connor Metcalfe said. 'They're probably just going to throw everything at us because they know what they need to do, and they're going to make it as difficult as possible.' And don't expect the Socceroos to take things lying down, with Metcalfe saying the Australians would be willing to display some gamesmanship of their own to frustrate the hosts. Connor Metcalfe and the Socceroos can guarantee themselves FIFA World Cup qualification in Jeddah on Wednesday morning (AEST). Picture:'We're going to have to play a little bit of their game as well,' he said. 'Whether we waste time and delay the game as much as we can, because it's going to be like that. 'There's going to be a lot of diving, a lot of acting, but we will block the noise out, focus on ourselves and do the best we can. 'If you get affected by any of their little games or noise or whatever it is, then it's just going to affect the game, and they're going to get that little advantage over you. 'We want to beat them on their home turf in front of all their fans.' Metcalfe returned to Socceroos duty last Thursday night in Australia's 1-0 win over Japan in Perth after missing the national team's previous seven matches following a series of injuries that restricted him to just 10 appearances for his German club St. Pauli in the 2024-25 Bundesliga season. 'It's been a long, long journey, (and a) tough ride, but it was amazing being back out there,' the former Melbourne City star said. 'Just being involved in a win as well in front of a home crowd was a special feeling.' Read related topics: FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. @marcothejourno Marco Monteverde
West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
Arzani keeps focus on World Cup as European move looms
Not easily or by coincidence has Daniel Arzani earned a second shot with the Socceroos. And the Melbourne Victory A-League Men star won't squander his World Cup hopes as he weighs up chasing his European dream again. Arzani is bent on helping Australia rubber stamp their path to the 2026 World Cup with a win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Wednesday (AEST). After their heroic 1-0 win over Japan in Perth last week, only a highly improbable loss by five goals or more would condemn the Socceroos to ceding second spot and automatic qualification to the Saudis. Arzani is backing himself to prove his mettle after working his way back to the national team. "There's always been a little bit of self-doubt there, especially after the way things unfolded the last few years," Arzani said on Sunday. "It changes very quickly - up and down, up and down; positive, negative. "I'm happy to be in the situation that I'm in now. It hasn't come by easily, nor by coincidence. "I've worked really hard to be here, and it's been a slow process. "I feel like now I've got a good base to really show what I can do and to hopefully go even further." Arzani had lit up the 2018 World Cup for the Socceroos at the tender age of 19. Now 26, the winger is reasserting his case in the national team after losing time to injuries and ill-fated stints in Europe. "It's actually a little bit more special, because for the first time, I'm involved in the qualification process as well," Arzani said. "Being around such a good group of lads, really feeling that connection, everyone working towards one common goal, is always a special feeling. "It's something that I never experienced before, a real eye opener, and one that I'm really enjoying." Off-contract at Victory, Arzani is reportedly weighing a move to Scottish Premiership club Hearts. He is no stranger to the Scottish league, having played for Celtic on a two-year loan from Manchester City in 2018. But his stint was far from ideal, with the then 19-year-old tearing his anterior cruciate ligament on debut. Arzani is well aware he'll need regular game time at club level ahead of the 2026 tournament as he weighs up a potential move. "Any of the boys that are looking to move are off contract. I think that thought process will be in their head," Arzani said. "It's a big deal, a World Cup. It's massive. Everyone wants to be a part of it. It's going to be very competitive. "We know we've got a lot of talent as well coming out of Australia, so I think it's definitely important that if I go, I'll be playing weekly."
