Australians wary of Saudi 'games' ahead of crunch World Cup qualifier
HONG KONG: Australia's Connor Metcalfe has warned his teammates to avoid reacting to Saudi Arabia's gamesmanship when the nations face off in Jeddah tomorrow with automatic qualification for next year's World Cup finals on the line.
Tony Popovic's outfit go into the meeting at the King Abdullah Sports City with one foot on the plane to North America after a 1-0 win over Japan on Thursday bought the Socceroos breathing room in their quest for a place at the finals.
Despite that advantage, Metcalfe has sought to ensure the Australians do not allow their focus to slip ahead of a crucial 90 minutes that will be played out in front of more than 50,000 fans and in stifling heat.
"There's going to be a lot of diving, a lot of acting, but it's about just blocking the noise out, focusing on ourselves and doing the best we can," said the St. Pauli midfielder.
"You can't get affected by any of it, because 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."
Australia hold a three point lead over Herve Renard's side and a large enough goal difference to leave the Saudis needing to win by five goals to climb into second and claim the last automatic berth from the current phase of Asian preliminaries.
Japan have already secured top spot in Group C while Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea and Jordan have taken the other berths available to Asian nations at the expanded World Cup from the third phase of qualifying.
A further two spots will be up for grabs from a fourth round of qualifiers to be played in October.
Anything other than a significant win over the Australians would see Saudi Arabia finish third in Group C and enter that next phase, where they would join the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq and Indonesia.
Also battling for a place in the fourth round are Oman and Palestine, with the pair looking to secure either third or fourth place in Group B tomorrow.
The two countries face off against each other in Amman with the Palestinians needing to win to climb above Rashid Jaber's side and keep their World Cup qualification dream alive.
Neither nation has played at the World Cup and Palestine go into the meeting having handed Kuwait a 2-0 defeat on Thursday to stay in the hunt for a spot in the United States, Canada and Mexico. -AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
US begins uneasy World Cup countdown amid LA unrest
Los Angeles is one of several host cities for next year's World Cup in the US. (AFP pic) NEW YORK : US cities hosting next year's Fifa World Cup faced questions today about how to reassure international fans concerned by president Donald Trump's immigration crackdown and travel ban as the year-to-go countdown began. The US, along with Canada and Mexico, is set to co-host the finals, which will feature 48 teams and a record 104 matches in a tournament that Fifa boss Gianni Infantino said would usher in a new generation of football fans. Celebrities and football stars were due to walk the red carpet at the Fox Studio Lot in Los Angeles – one of the host cities – for the year-to-go event there, a day after president Trump deployed marines and the national guard to quell protests. California governor Gavin Newsom described the deployment as an 'unmistakable step toward authoritarianism', while Trump officials defended it and branded the protests as lawless, blaming local and state Democrats for permitting upheaval. Los Angeles is one of several host cities that will mark the year-to-go occasion, including New York-New Jersey, which will welcome fans at a waterside festival in Jersey City with the Statue of Liberty in view. 'If we look at American football as the US's sport, football is the world's sport and this is an opportunity for us to welcome people from all over the world,' Alex Lasry, the New York-New Jersey host committee CEO, told Reuters. Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said Fifa needed to work with the US government to ensure the rights of competitors, support staff, fans and media were protected regardless of their identities or views. 'Fifa should publicly acknowledge the threat US immigration and other anti-human rights policies pose to the tournament's integrity… (and) should establish clear benchmarks and timelines for the US policy changes needed to ensure respect for immigrants' rights during the 2026 World Cup and beyond,' she said. US Democratic leaders raised concerns over a national crisis yesterday as Trump moved US marines into Los Angeles to tackle civilian protests over his immigration policies. 'There are certainly things that are happening at the national level, the international level, there are going to be geopolitical issues that we don't even know right now that are going to affect the tournament,' Meg Kane, a host city executive for Philadelphia told reporters at a Paley Center event on Monday. 'So we recognise that we're planning within uncertainty.' Fifa did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Infantino confident Fifa president Gianni Infantino said last month after meeting Trump that he was confident the world would be welcomed in for the 2026 World Cup and this year's Club World Cup, which runs from June 14 to July 13. But the task of reassuring international fans was complicated by a travel ban that went into effect on Monday, cracking down on what Trump called 'foreign terrorists'. Of the 12 countries facing travel bans, Iran is the only one that has qualified for the 2026 tournament so far. Tehran said on Saturday that the ban showed 'deep hostility' toward Iranians and Muslims. European fans, supporter groups and former players contacted by Reuters said it was too early for anyone to be thinking about revising schedules or re-evaluating plans for attending the World Cup. Alina Hudak, the Miami host committee president and CEO, told Reuters she had been in touch with the local consular corps to address their concerns and to offer support. 'My responsibility is to make sure that we're ready, that we're safe, that we're coordinating logistically with all of our law enforcement agencies, that we've done everything we can to ensure that our mass transit system is ready and can handle the volume,' said Hudak. 'And so for me, you know, what's happening outside of that is something that we're monitoring, but not something that, quite frankly, I have an impact (on).'
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-England boss Tuchel interested in contract extension after 2026 World Cup
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - International Friendly - England v Senegal - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - June 10, 2025 England manager Thomas Tuchel before the match REUTERS/Paul Childs/File Photo NOTTINGHAM, England (Reuters) -Thomas Tuchel suggested he is tempted to seek a contract extension as England manager beyond the 2026 World Cup up to the 2028 European Championship, despite his team drawing criticism for recent poor performances. Tuchel, whose contract runs through the end of the World Cup, suffered his first defeat in four games as manager in a 3-1 loss to Senegal in a friendly on Tuesday, in which the Senegalese became the first African nation to beat England. "I will always be tempted to stay because I love the group and the opportunity, it's an honour to be England coach," Tuchel said in an interview with radio station Talksport on Wednesday. "I can tell you that even after the disappointment yesterday. "If you ask me today, yes. I am enjoying it, I feel the support, trust and respect of people in the FA. I wanted a new challenge and environment." The 51-year-old conceded to little enjoyment, however, in the hours after Tuesday's game at the City Ground where Senegal repeatedly punished England's lacklustre defence. "I'm not very good, I didn't sleep well after last night. I'm disappointed, it was a short night, we hate to lose," Tuchel said. "The way we lost, losing at home, didn't make me sleep well." The German said England lacked joy and energy, which was also evident in their 1-0 win over Andorra in World Cup qualifying on Saturday. "I am trying now and still we feel we are lacking the enthusiasm and joy consistently at international level," he said. "I think it's massively about connections that the team generates, that we have joy in playing together. "Senegal arrived with the objective to win and to make history. Would we have had the same joy as them if we won? I don't think so. "Celebrate the goals more, be more happy, create an environment where the players feel they can express their joy more lively. Or is it just not in us? Is it a way of lifestyle connected to different cultures?" Tuchel will travel to the United States next week to begin preparations for next summer's World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, looking at factors such as heat adaptation. (Reporting by Lori Ewing)
The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
Mexico prepares Azteca Stadium for historic 2026 World Cup
WITH a year until Mexico makes history as the first three-time World Cup host, the dream of a spectacular showcase is colliding with the practical challenges of modernising the iconic Azteca Stadium for global soccer's premier event. Beneath the imposing silhouette of Mexico's football cathedral - where Pele dazzled with Brazil in 1970 and Maradona's 'hand of God' propelled Argentina to glory in 1986 - construction crews tackle the formidable task of bringing one of the sport's most storied venues into the 21st century. The stakes are magnified as the 'Santa Ursula colossus' will host the tournament's opening match, a global spectacle that will focus the world's attention on Mexico from day one. Renovations will expand the stadium's capacity from 87,000 to 90,000, with upgrades centred on meeting FIFA standards through new changing rooms, enhanced hospitality zones, revamped VIP areas and additional seating in spaces previously occupied by boxes and lounges. While government officials and football administrators envisioned the project as a symbol of national pride, the renovation process has eroded trust between developers, local residents and other stakeholders. Stadium administrators announced in February that they had secured a 2.1 billion peso ($110.19 million) credit line from local financial group Banorte - along with a controversial new name: Estadio Banorte. FIFA regulations mean the stadium will be referred to as 'Estadio Ciudad de Mexico' during the World Cup, yet the rebranding has sparked a fierce backlash from some fans, who view it as sacrificing football heritage for commercial interests. HARSH REALITY The backlash over the stadium's new name represents only one facet of the mounting tensions. Box and suite holders - some with relationships spanning decades - have threatened legal action after FIFA announced it would commandeer their seats during the tournament, overriding established contracts. One member of the Mexican Association of Box Holders has already filed a legal challenge to defend access rights. Beyond the stadium walls, frustration runs equally deep. Residents of Santa Ursula and surrounding neighbourhoods fear that promised infrastructure improvements like pedestrian bridges and transit lines will fail to address fundamental issues including inadequate lighting, water shortages and persistent traffic congestion. 'We're not the stadium's backyard,' one local resident told Expansion Politica. 'But we're always treated that way.' By contrast, Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico's other two host cities, face fewer obstacles. Guadalajara's 48,000-seat stadium, opened in 2010, has already hosted major events including the 2011 Pan American Games, while Monterrey's 53,500-capacity venue, inaugurated in 2015, needs only minor upgrades - primarily new turf and a pitch ventilation system. 'We'll install a system to ventilate and oxygenate the pitch before replacing the grass,' said Alejandro Hutt, Monterrey's Host City Manager. 'That will be an important legacy from the World Cup and beyond.' As construction continues, Javier Aguirre's Mexico squad are building towards a crucial summer, with a Gold Cup title defence ahead and friendly matches against Turkey this week, followed by Japan and South Korea in September. After failing to advance beyond the group stage at Qatar 2022 - their worst World Cup performance since 1978 - Mexican fans crave more than just a well organised tournament. They want to see Mexico break the 'fifth-game' curse and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, the last time they were World Cup hosts. For a football-mad nation, pride will come not merely from hosting - but from delivering on all fronts. ($1 = 19.0578 Mexican pesos)
