When he was first introduced as the coach of the Socceroos, just days after Graham Arnold’s decision to step down and with just weeks to prepare for his first qualifiers in charge, Tony Popovic was adamant there was enough time to right the ship and qualify automatically for the World Cup. Now, as Australia’s men prepare to meet Japan in Perth, knowing that a win will all but guarantee them a place in North America, the coach has the chance to deliver on that promise.
Numerous permutations will govern what could happen in Group C of Asian qualifying in the coming days – there still exists a scenario in which Indonesia could qualify automatically – but the straightforward scenario for the Socceroos is to just beat the Samurai Blue. Do that, and they will ensure they’ll enter the final matchday a minimum of three points clear of the Saudis and be able to count on a goal difference cushion that currently, largely thanks to the Green Falcons’ remarkable profligacy in their eight games, sits at nine.
