Australia vs Saudi Arabia

Australia and Saudi Arabia go head-to-head in a crunch World Cup Qualification Group B meeting at the Western Sydney Stadium.

Australia’s 2-1 defeat to Japan last time out hindered their three-game winning start to their World Cup Qualification Group B campaign, marking their first loss since June 2019. Indeed, the ‘Socceroos’ had been in a remarkable form prior to that reverse against Japan, putting together 11 consecutive triumphs, including friendlies. The Australians will need to reignite that form against Group B leaders if they are to keep their five-match unbeaten H2H run intact here (W4, D1). A run of seven straight home victories in World Cup qualifying games comes in handy, with Australia netting 3+ goals in all but one of those successes. Particularly prolific after the break, Graham Arnold’s men have registered three of their last four World Cup qualifying goals scored in the second half of play.

In the meantime, Saudi Arabia head into proceedings in the midst of a purple patch, having won all four Group B fixtures by an aggregate score of 8-3. Head coach Herve Renard has based his side’s away success on a water-tight defense that has kept a clean sheet in both Saudi Arabia’s third-round victories on foreign soil. Yet, the ‘Green Falcons’ have been nothing short of outstanding in the front third, scoring 3+ goals in seven of their last eight World Cup qualifying matches. That free-scoring form ties in well with their recent competitive away H2Hs, as both of their previous duels with Australia on the road have seen Saudi Arabia lose despite scoring twice.