Socceroos’ road to Qatar still pockmarked with potential potholes | John Duerden
02-Jul-2021 20:00:33 | Guardian
There is a sense in Saudi Arabia and China that Australia, who were not really tested in the second round, are vulnerable
A long-awaited rematch with Iran would have been more fun but Australia’s draw in the final round of World Cup qualification means a fourth straight meeting with Japan. Yet there is uncertainty among the familiarity, and it could get a little messy in more ways than one.
Not for Japan though. The clinical Samurai Blue are clearly the No 1 team in Asia at the moment, with a strength in depth that would be welcomed by most nations around the world. It would be a major shock if the Socceroos’ biggest Asian rivals failed to end up as one of the two automatic qualifiers from Group B.
Related: Socceroos drawn with Japan, Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifiers
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