Latest news with #MitchDuke
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scottish envy as Australia clinch World Cup joy of six - and tiny nation named after Scotland could join them
Several countries already home and hosed for 2026 tournament Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The hand went up, as we have seen so many times at Hibs. And then Martin Boyle delivered a free-kick with unerring accuracy on to the head of Mitch Duke, whose neat glance put Australia in front against Saudi Arabia in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier. It was, to all intents and purposes, the clincher. The one that made it six in a row. Six World Cups. SIX. The Joy of Six. You can imagine the fun newspapers are having in Australia and the fun papers in Scotland would be having if Scotland ever managed to string together such a run of successes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In Australia's case, it stretches back to 2006. Maybe Scotland should do what Australia did just prior to that World Cup and apply to join another confederation. Hibs winger Martin Boyle (left) celebrates Australia's win over Saudi Arabia and subsequent qualification for the 2026 World Cup with teammates Connor Metcalfe and Aiden O'Neill at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. (Photo by) | Getty Images Scotland were one of the reasons why the Australia Football Federation petitioned Fifa to leave Oceania and move to the Asian Football Confederation. Alex Ferguson's side beat Australia in a two-legged play off for Mexico '86. The winners of the Oceania qualifying group were bound to play another team from either Europe or South America and invariably came to grief. Australia did overcome Uruguay in 2005 to punch their ticket, as Fifa like to call it, for the finals in Germany the following summer but had already been accepted into the diocese of the Asian Football Confederation. That was described by Frank Lowy, the chairman of the Australian Football Federation at the time, as 'the most significant decision ever in the history of Australia football'. It was certainly transformative. They have not missed out on a World Cup since. Even Tuesday's victory over Saudi Arabia was lacking any real jeopardy. They simply had to avoid losing by five goals, although the hosts did cause some mild panic my taking the lead in Jeddah after 19 minutes. In truth, Australia had done the hard work when beating Japan 1-0 in Perth a few days earlier with a goal from former Dundee United full back Aziz Behich. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hibs duo Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller are front and centre as the Australia squad pose for a picture after securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup. (Photo by) | Getty Images This week's confirmation of their place at world football's top table next summer means they have exceeded Scotland's five successive World Cups between 1974 and 1990. As with Scots in that era, Australians now in their mid-twenties to early 30s will have known nothing else other than their country qualifying for World Cups. They will need to be in their 60s to remember the only other time the Socceroos qualified, in 1974. It's getting this way for Scotland – 1998, the last time the Scottish men's team qualified, is receding deeper and deeper into the past. Those now in their mid-30s might just about recall Scotland players walking about the Stade de France in kilts before taking on Brazil in the tournament's opening game. Of course, qualification for the next one in USA, Canada and Mexico remains firmly in Scotland's own hands, as it does for all of Europe's teams. The qualification path has already started for some European teams, while others, like Scotland, will begin a short, intense campaign in the Autumn. In the meantime, slots are filling up. Uzbekistan, currently ranked 57 in the world, have just qualified for the first time since independence in 1991. It's fun – up to a point - to savour the joy of others. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Uzbekistan are the first team from central Asia to qualify for a World Cup, where they will be joined by Jordan, Japan, South Korea and Iran as well as old staples Brazil, who secured qualification under the Ancelottis - Carlo and his recently Rangers-linked son Davide are now in charge of the Selecao - with a 1-0 win over Paraguay. Ecuador have also qualified from South America, as have holders Argentina. New Caledonia players pose before the 2026 World Cup Oceania qualifiers group final match against New Zealand at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on March 24, 2025. (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images New Zealand have already qualified from the Oceania Confederation having been the beneficiaries of Fifa's decision to finally grant an automatic place to the top team from this region. The All Whites won a third-round play-off against New Caledonia earlier this year. Intriguingly, New Caledonia have a second chance at qualification through the Fifa Play-Off tournament in Spring next year, when six teams will fight it out for two places at the World Cup. The group of islands in the south-western Pacific Ocean, with a population of just 270,000, could become the smallest and lowest ranked nation to ever qualify for the tournament. What a dull one that would be if a country named after Scotland by explorer Captain Cook, who thought the mountains of Grande Terre, one of the islands, reminded him of the Scottish Highlands, made it to the biggest sporting party on earth while the actual original Scotland remained at home. Steve Clarke will be ensuring his team strain every sinew in an effort to get there over the course of six games later this year.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Socceroo silences 'keyboard warriors' with heroics
Mitch Duke wasn't even supposed to be a part of the Socceroos' past two World Cup qualifiers. Then he sealed Australia's sixth consecutive World Cup finals appearance. But his teammates never doubted his value, or ability to step up. Duke, who for a second consecutive window was left out of Tony Popovic's squad only to earn a late reprieve, is soaking it all in. The veteran striker came off the bench in the 1-0 win over Japan that effectively sealed automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament. Then Popovic called on Duke to start against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, where Australia only needed to avoid defeat by less than five goals. Australia conceded the opener but in the 42nd minute, Duke teed up Connor Metcalfe to score the equaliser. Three minutes after halftime, the much-maligned striker glanced home a header to put Australia in front with his first goal since January 2024. "I wasn't even supposed to be here, to be honest," Duke said. "Mat Leckie got injured, and I was a late call-up.'' He joked: "Got the voodoo doll out and maybe injured Leckie. Nah, kidding, sorry, mate. "But it feels good, and probably a good way to silence some of the keyboard warriors as well. Feels good." Duke had previously been open about critics on social media coming for him after he missed chances in Australia's Asian Cup quarter-final exit last year. Winger Martin Boyle was singing the praises of hard-working Duke, one of the heroes of Australia's golden run at the 2022 World Cup. "Absolutely delighted for him," Boyle told AAP. "Obviously, as footballers, you're open to a lot of criticism, but for Dukey, he just powers through. He comes up with some massive goals. "Obviously he was disappointed not to be selected in the initial squad. But he's also come back, he's kept his head down, and he's changed the game against Japan. "He took his chance and his opportunity tonight with a goal and an assist. "I love playing with him, and I have done for many years, and everything that he's given for the country. He's a top-class striker and hopefully he can keep going." Duke relished Australia's turnaround in qualifying after Popovic took over from Graham Arnold, who resigned after a loss and draw in his first two games of the campaign. "It feels damn good," Duke said. "Not the best start (to qualifying) to be honest, and to get us here, into automatic qualification, we haven't done that for a while, just feels unbelievable." Now 34, Duke knows he will have to kick up a gear to retain his spot ahead of next year's tournament in north America, especially with young strikers like Mo Toure waiting in the wings. "All I can do is take the opportunities when they're presented to me, do well at club football, and hope I just keep doing well," he said. Mitch Duke wasn't even supposed to be a part of the Socceroos' past two World Cup qualifiers. Then he sealed Australia's sixth consecutive World Cup finals appearance. But his teammates never doubted his value, or ability to step up. Duke, who for a second consecutive window was left out of Tony Popovic's squad only to earn a late reprieve, is soaking it all in. The veteran striker came off the bench in the 1-0 win over Japan that effectively sealed automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament. Then Popovic called on Duke to start against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, where Australia only needed to avoid defeat by less than five goals. Australia conceded the opener but in the 42nd minute, Duke teed up Connor Metcalfe to score the equaliser. Three minutes after halftime, the much-maligned striker glanced home a header to put Australia in front with his first goal since January 2024. "I wasn't even supposed to be here, to be honest," Duke said. "Mat Leckie got injured, and I was a late call-up.'' He joked: "Got the voodoo doll out and maybe injured Leckie. Nah, kidding, sorry, mate. "But it feels good, and probably a good way to silence some of the keyboard warriors as well. Feels good." Duke had previously been open about critics on social media coming for him after he missed chances in Australia's Asian Cup quarter-final exit last year. Winger Martin Boyle was singing the praises of hard-working Duke, one of the heroes of Australia's golden run at the 2022 World Cup. "Absolutely delighted for him," Boyle told AAP. "Obviously, as footballers, you're open to a lot of criticism, but for Dukey, he just powers through. He comes up with some massive goals. "Obviously he was disappointed not to be selected in the initial squad. But he's also come back, he's kept his head down, and he's changed the game against Japan. "He took his chance and his opportunity tonight with a goal and an assist. "I love playing with him, and I have done for many years, and everything that he's given for the country. He's a top-class striker and hopefully he can keep going." Duke relished Australia's turnaround in qualifying after Popovic took over from Graham Arnold, who resigned after a loss and draw in his first two games of the campaign. "It feels damn good," Duke said. "Not the best start (to qualifying) to be honest, and to get us here, into automatic qualification, we haven't done that for a while, just feels unbelievable." Now 34, Duke knows he will have to kick up a gear to retain his spot ahead of next year's tournament in north America, especially with young strikers like Mo Toure waiting in the wings. "All I can do is take the opportunities when they're presented to me, do well at club football, and hope I just keep doing well," he said. Mitch Duke wasn't even supposed to be a part of the Socceroos' past two World Cup qualifiers. Then he sealed Australia's sixth consecutive World Cup finals appearance. But his teammates never doubted his value, or ability to step up. Duke, who for a second consecutive window was left out of Tony Popovic's squad only to earn a late reprieve, is soaking it all in. The veteran striker came off the bench in the 1-0 win over Japan that effectively sealed automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament. Then Popovic called on Duke to start against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, where Australia only needed to avoid defeat by less than five goals. Australia conceded the opener but in the 42nd minute, Duke teed up Connor Metcalfe to score the equaliser. Three minutes after halftime, the much-maligned striker glanced home a header to put Australia in front with his first goal since January 2024. "I wasn't even supposed to be here, to be honest," Duke said. "Mat Leckie got injured, and I was a late call-up.'' He joked: "Got the voodoo doll out and maybe injured Leckie. Nah, kidding, sorry, mate. "But it feels good, and probably a good way to silence some of the keyboard warriors as well. Feels good." Duke had previously been open about critics on social media coming for him after he missed chances in Australia's Asian Cup quarter-final exit last year. Winger Martin Boyle was singing the praises of hard-working Duke, one of the heroes of Australia's golden run at the 2022 World Cup. "Absolutely delighted for him," Boyle told AAP. "Obviously, as footballers, you're open to a lot of criticism, but for Dukey, he just powers through. He comes up with some massive goals. "Obviously he was disappointed not to be selected in the initial squad. But he's also come back, he's kept his head down, and he's changed the game against Japan. "He took his chance and his opportunity tonight with a goal and an assist. "I love playing with him, and I have done for many years, and everything that he's given for the country. He's a top-class striker and hopefully he can keep going." Duke relished Australia's turnaround in qualifying after Popovic took over from Graham Arnold, who resigned after a loss and draw in his first two games of the campaign. "It feels damn good," Duke said. "Not the best start (to qualifying) to be honest, and to get us here, into automatic qualification, we haven't done that for a while, just feels unbelievable." Now 34, Duke knows he will have to kick up a gear to retain his spot ahead of next year's tournament in north America, especially with young strikers like Mo Toure waiting in the wings. "All I can do is take the opportunities when they're presented to me, do well at club football, and hope I just keep doing well," he said.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mitch Duke dreaming of going to another FIFA World Cup after helping seal Australia's qualification
If Mitch Duke needed reminding that he was the latest of late call-ups to the Socceroos squad for the matches against Japan and Saudi Arabia, it came last week when he walked into his Perth hotel room. Duke was a last-minute inclusion in the squad after an injured Mathew Leckie withdrew following the A-League grand final on May 31. However, the late nature of the squad change seemed to catch Socceroos and hotel staff off guard, with Duke understood to have been greeted by a message along the lines of 'Welcome Mr Leckie' when he got to his room. Not that it bothered veteran marksman Duke, who, having been given a selection reprieve, was desperate to make the most of it. And that he did. After coming on as a second-half replacement in Australia's 1-0 win over Japan last Thursday in Perth, Duke started on Wednesday morning (AEST) against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah and secured man-of-the-match honours with a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win that sealed 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification for the Socceroos. 'I wasn't even supposed to be here,' a delighted Duke said after the win. 'Mat Leckie got injured and I was a late call-up … but it feels good and is probably a good way to silence some of the keyboard warriors as well. Duke, 34, has often been a target of unruly fans despite his tireless work as a centre-forward for the Socceroos. 'A personal triumph feels very good, but I'm more happy just for the boys, honestly,' he said after helping Australia qualify. 'Everyone stepped up when they needed to.' Duke, whose 13 goals for Australia includes one at the 2022 World Cup, remains hopeful of also playing at next year's edition of the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. 'All I can do is take the opportunities when they're presented to me, do well at club football and hope I just keep doing well – that's all you can do,' said the experienced striker, who has struggled for significant game this season at his Japanese club Machida Zelvia. 'There are a lot of young players up and coming (for the Socceroos). There are exciting prospects.' For Socceroos boss Tony Popovic – who took over from previous coach Graham Arnold in September last year at a tough stage in qualifying – the chance to go to another World Cup, this time as a coach after being part of Australia's squad at Germany 2006, will be a 'privilege'. 'It is special,' said Popovic, who is yet to taste defeat as coach of the national team, having a record of five wins and three draws from eight games in charge. 'I know my parents are very proud and my sister as well. It's not something you see happening. When you're young, you dream of these things. 'We've done the first part, qualifying automatically, and now the next part is to be bigger and better for the World Cup.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Today's Karl Stefanovic and Sara Abo claim there's a BIG problem with the Socceroos' World Cup win
The Socceroos have officially qualified for a sixth consecutive World Cup after beating Saudi Arabia, yet Melbourne's Federation Square remained unusually quiet on Wednesday morning. After their upset 1-0 win over Japan, the Socceroos only needed to avoid defeat by less than five goals in Jeddah to seal automatic World Cup finals qualification for the first time in 12 years. Australia eventually outclassed Saudi Arabia with a 2-1 victory to book their ticket to next year's World Cup. The Today Show highlighted the unusual absence of celebrations at the iconic Victorian landmark - a stark contrast to some of the scenes that have marked past triumphs. Nine reporter Isabel Quinlan was at Federation Square - typically a buzzing hub for Aussie soccer fans during big games. Today host Karl Stefanovic joked about the absence of people anywhere near the reporter. 'You've just got to celebrate on your own sometimes,' he remarked. Quinlan fired back: 'I know! These are all my friends. Look at us - woohoo!' As the live cross returned to the studio, Stefanovic noted how dire the turn-out was. 'It's Fed Square, Sez. C'mon,' he said. Co-host Sara Abo replied: 'Yeah, exactly. Most people forgot it was on, I reckon Karlos.' Just hours before Today's live cross, Mitch Duke sealed the win even though he wasn't even supposed to be a part of the Socceroos' past two World Cup qualifiers. Duke, who for a second consecutive window was left out of Tony Popovic's squad only to earn a late reprieve, is soaking it all in. The veteran striker came off the bench in the 1-0 win over Japan that effectively sealed automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament. Then, Popovic called on Duke to start against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, where Australia only needed to avoid defeat by less than five goals. After conceding the opener, things looked dangerous for Australia. Then, in the 42nd minute, Duke teed up Connor Metcalfe to score the equaliser. Three minutes after halftime, the much-maligned veteran striker glanced home a header to put Australia in front with his first goal since January 2024. 'I wasn't even supposed to be here, to be honest,' Duke said. 'Mat Leckie got injured, and I was a late call-up.'' He joked: 'Got the voodoo doll out and maybe injured Leckie. Nah, kidding, sorry, mate. 'But it feels good, and probably a good way to silence some of the keyboard warriors as well. Feels good.' The veteran striker had previously been open about said keyboard warriors and critics on social media coming for him after he missed chances in Australia's Asian Cup quarter-final exit last year. He also relished Australia's turnaround in qualifying after Tony Popovic took over from Graham Arnold, who resigned after a loss and draw in his first two games. 'It feels damn good,' Duke said. 'Not the best start (to qualifying) to be honest, and to get us here, into automatic qualification, we haven't done that for a while, just feels unbelievable. 'Personal triumph feels very good, but I'm more happy just for the boys. 'It's a game of big moments as well, and everyone stepped up when they needed to.' Duke knows he will have to keep kicking up a gear to retain his spot ahead of next year's tournament in north America. 'Mate, all I can do is take the opportunities when they're presented to me, do well at club football, and hope I just keep doing well, and that's all you can do,' he said. 'And to be fair, there's a lot of young players up and coming. 'Mo Toure when he came on, he's an absolute beast.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Special Socceroos show yet more resilience, with FIFA World Cup hopes simmering nicely
Amidst the steamy euphoria of the Socceroos' direct qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, coach Tony Popovic allowed himself a smile. And my word hasn't he earned it! But barely hidden in that smile was another layer of steely resolve that suggested this special Socceroos team was not done yet. "We've done the first part, qualifying automatically," Popovic told Paramount+ at full time of the Socceroos' come-from-behind 2-1 victory in Jeddah. "Now, the next part is to be bigger and better at the World Cup." Better may be subjective — personnel is unlikely to change dramatically in the next 12 months or so before the tournament kicks off — and in some regards, there is little to improve. World Cups are, of course, hard-won by some of the greatest names in world football with the sort of depth that Australian fans can only dream of. But tournaments are not the places to be flashy. Character matters almost as much as skill. The ability to respond to setbacks and bounce back from adversity is as prized as the mazy dribbling skills of Europe's best. Goal scorers Mitch Duke and Connor Metcalf both praised the character of the Socceroos in their post-match interviews, and it is that character that has managed to see them home and through to a sixth-successive final. "That's the mentality the boss has created within us, we didn't get phased by the one-goal deficit and we bounced back," Duke said. "This group is so special and so mentally tough," Metcalf added. "It's hard to beat us." "I think that's been a characteristic since the first day I arrived," added Popovic, who saw his charges come from a goal down in his very first game in charge against China, hold Japan to a draw in his second, rescue a point from a goal down in Bahrain in his fourth, and then record back-to-back wins over two of Asia's biggest teams in Japan and Saudi Arabia. "To show that character, resilience, to come back and win the game…" he added. "We've built a good foundation now." Popovic has every reason to be happy. He is now eight games unbeaten since taking over the job and has a sixth-consecutive World Cup qualification assured, turning a floundering ship away from the troubled waters they found themselves in at the start of qualification. Of course, not many of these matches have been of the free-flowing style that some may prefer. Indeed, of the eight matches Popovic has presided over, just three have seen the Socceroos hold the majority of possession, both home and away victories against China and the 2-2 draw in Bahrain in November. And yet, only twice have the Socceroos allowed more shots on target than they have managed themselves: In the 1-1 draw against Japan in Saitama — Japan had three shots on target to Australia's zero — and in Wednesday's victory over Saudi Arabia, when the Green Falcons managed six shots on goal to Australia's three. Indeed, the Socceroos have had fewer shots in total than their opponents in five of their eight matches under Popovic (with one level). But they've still not been beaten, their conversion rate is superb. After some wayward shooting in the first three matches under Popovic, when just six of the 32 shots the Socceroos had were on target for four goals, in the five matches since then, Australia has had 20 of its 35 shots on target and scored 12 goals. The six shots on goal that they conceded against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah was the same number as the previous three games combined. In short, the Socceroos are limiting guilt-edged chances for their opponents, and making the most of theirs. That's perfect tournament football. While the victory over Japan in Perth defined the very meaning of smash and grab, this victory over Saudi Arabia in the stifling humidity and heat of Jeddah was a triumph of planning and execution. Sure, Saudi Arabia dominated possession, and territory, and had twice as many shots on target as Australia, but given they needed to win big, that was to be expected. The Green Falcons needed goals, five of them to be exact, to knock Australia out of second spot on the table and steal the second direct qualification spot. And Popovic knew this — a resolute back five created a defensive shield that no manner of sprightly Saudi attacks could breach with the frequency they required, with Nashville midfielder Patrick Yazbek handed a first start to sit in front of that five in a defensive role to stymie the hosts' inventiveness. In the end, Yazbek was simply one member of a four-man midfield that, without the ball, sat deep and added another rampart to the Roos defence. Saudi Arabia was not to be denied, the brilliant Salem Al-Dawsari creating magic and dragging the Green Falcons into the lead early enough in the piece to create a murmur of concern through the Socceroos ranks. Conceding, given the situation, was not unexpected, but fighting back and taking the chances that came their way shows resilience and character in this team that proves it is capable of doing great things. "It's exciting," Popovic said. "We want to really get better, kick on and try and do something special at the World Cup. That should not be beyond the realms of possibility. With a solid foundation and a year of international windows for Popovic to trial new combinations without the pressure of needing wins, is another fairytale run in North America really beyond reach? The Socceroos are likely to be written off by the rest of the world. But as Japan and Saudi Arabia will tell them, this Socceroos team are far from being pushovers. Nobody is suggesting that the Socceroos head to this bloated, 48-team World Cup among the favourites. But football is a funny beast, and stranger things have happened, and few would relish the challenge of dismantling a defence that is likely to be bolstered by Harry Souttar's immense presence when he recovers from his Achilles tear. Dare to dream? That's the whole point, isn't it?
