Australia happy to reach World Cup finals 'the hard way'

Doha (AFP) – Coach Graham Arnold is counting on "Aussie mental strength" to see his side to victory over the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and through to another playoff battle for a place in the World Cup finals. Arnold said that Australia seem to like qualifying the "hard way" but insisted that they are […]

Saitama (Japan) (AFP) – Japan drew 1-1 with Vietnam on Tuesday to end their World Cup qualifying campaign on a flat note days after booking their place in Qatar. The four-time Asian champions fell behind to a 19th-minute goal by Vietnam's Nguyen Thanh Binh, leaving them trailing at half-time to a team that had taken […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Two-goal hero Kaoru Mitoma could be Japan's secret weapon at the World Cup and will also hope to eventually make his mark in the Premier League with a Brighton side crying out for firepower. The tricky 24-year-old winger sent Japan to the Qatar showpiece with a late brace in a 2-0 win […]

Sydney (AFP) – Coach Graham Arnold has urged a demoralised Australia to be positive as he came under mounting pressure Friday after their failure to automatically qualify for a fifth successive World Cup. The Socceroos needed to beat Japan in Sydney on Thursday and then win against Saudi Arabia next week to seal their place […]

Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) (AFP) – Saudi Arabia were held to a 1-1 draw by China on Thursday as they celebrated reaching the World Cup finals for the sixth time. Herve Renard's side went into the Asian third round qualifying game in Sharjah knowing that their ticket was booked when Japan beat Australia 2-0 earlier […]

Sydney (AFP) – Substitute Kaoru Mitoma scored twice in the dying minutes as Japan beat Australia 2-0 on Thursday to book their place at a seventh straight World Cup and in doing so also helped Saudi Arabia qualify. It was a crushing blow for an understrength Socceroos who now face a perilous play-off to keep […]

Sydney (AFP) – Depleted Australia called up veteran Uruguay-born striker Bruno Fornaroli on Thursday to potentially make a shock debut in their crunch World Cup qualifier against Japan — provided his paperwork is done in time. The 34-year-old was named in a 27-man Socceroos squad for their home clash against the four-time Asian champions in […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu told his players to finish the job and clinch qualification for the World Cup after naming his squad Wednesday for next week's clash against Australia. Japan can book their place at a seventh straight World Cup by beating the Socceroos in Sydney on March 24, having recovered from […]

Here in the United States, AFC Women's Asian Cup games on Paramount+ begin Thursday, January 20. China PR takes on Chinese Taipei in the opening fixture from India. CBS acquired the rights to broadcast Asian Football Confederation (AFC) tournaments up until 2024. This, of course, gives CBS exclusive rights to broadcast the tournament in the […]

Sydney (AFP) – Saudi Arabia dampened Australia's homecoming with a 0-0 draw Thursday in a top-of-the-table World Cup qualifying clash in Sydney — the Socceroos' first home game in more than two years. Defying a rowdy crowd of 23,314, the visitors spoiled the party in a bad-tempered encounter played in teeming rain. Saudi Arabia could […]

Sydney (AFP) – Saudi Arabia dampened Australia's homecoming with a 0-0 draw Thursday in a top-of-the-table World Cup qualifying clash in Sydney — the Socceroos' first home game in more than two years.    Defying a rowdy crowd of 23,314, the visitors spoiled the party in a bad-tempered encounter played in teeming evening rain.  Saudi Arabia […]