Popovic vows Socceroos will embrace Saudi challenge
Excited and ready to embrace the challenge.
That was the message from Australia coach Tony Popovic and cult hero Aziz Behich as the Socceroos prepare to clear the final hurdle in achieving automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup finals.
After the 1-0 win over Japan last week even a modest defeat in Jeddah will take Australia to North America, but Popovic insisted the team will be aiming to win, not just defend for 90 minutes and aim to keep the score down.
"We have put ourselves in a very good position and we have the chance to finish the job against a tough opponent," said Popovic.
"We understand how difficult it will be but we are confident we can win the game.
"We have to have the attitude - and I know we will - the mentality, the approach, to win the match. It won't be easy, Saudi Arabia are a good side and at home with their support it will be more difficult. But these are the moments you want as a footballer, that you want as a nation.
"We are in a very good position. We understand we have to work extremely hard but we are confident we can finish the job."
Australia's superior goal difference means the Saudis need to win by five goals to leapfrog them and join Japan as the automatic qualifiers from Group C in Asian Zone qualifying round three.
It does not seem likely. In nine games in the group so far Saudi Arabia have scored six goals and Australia conceded six.
Moreover the teams have played three times in the last five years, all in World Cup qualifiers, and only one goal has been scored, by the Saudis in a 1-0 win in 2022.
Behich, who sent Australia into raptures with his 90th-minute winner against Japan in Perth, echoed Popovic's words.
"We have worked hard to put ourselves in this position," said the Melbourne City defender.
"We know it will be a difficult game but we have prepared really well and we are are very confident with the ability and the squad we have that we can get the job done.
"We know what is up for grabs and we can't wait to kick off."
In an effort to create a full house and a partisan atmosphere tickets are being given away, but Behich, who had a loan spell with Al Nassr in the Kingdom last year, said he relished the prospect.
"I'm expecting a great atmosphere," he said.
"This is what we play for. Japan was a hostile environment but the boys embraced that. You don't want to play in empty stadiums.
"It is exciting, you get that extra buzz, playing for your national team in a full stadium, and on top of that qualifying for a World Cup automatically, which we haven't done for a while.
"You can see the excitement in the boys and I am looking forward to it."
Popovic, who stressed the need to play the match, not the occasion, added: "These are the challenges you must face at this level of football.
"We have faced many together since I became the coach, starting with China - needing to win the first game to get off to a good start. Then all along the journey. We had one against Japan a few days ago, big pressure, a full stadium. We overcame that. I'm sure the young boys will embrace it.
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