‘Feels rattling excellent’: Socceroos lock in World Cup spot

The Socceroos have formally booked their spot within the 2026 males’s FIFA World Cup.

The Aussies beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 within the early hours of Wednesday morning to cement their place within the world match, to be hosted through Canada, Mexico, and america in June and July subsequent yr.

The Socceroos simplest needed to keep away from a five-goal defeat to Saudi Arabia to make it via, having crushed Japan final week to all however seal their destiny.

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It will likely be a 6th immediately World Cup for the nationwide males’s staff, a streak going again to the well-known 2006 qualification.

Saudi Arabia scored the primary target to head 1-0 up after 19 mins however then Connor Metcalfe and Mitch Duke scored both sides of part time to place the Aussies on best.

There was once elation when Duke were given his head to a Martin Boyle pass to seek out the again of the web within the 48th minute.

“Right on the button for Mitch Duke, who rises and glances with great expertise,” Andy Harper stated in statement.

“A beautiful touch from Mitch Duke who turns to watch the ball sail into the net and give Australia the lead.”

Saudi Arabia had a golden probability to sq. the ledger within the 84th minute when given a contentious penalty, however Aussie goalkeeper Maty Ryan made a shocking save diving to his left to prevent the shot.

“A game that had a bit of everything,” commentator Simon Hill stated when the full-time whistle blew.

Former Socceroos participant Luke Wilkshire labelled it “a professional performance”.

“We felt like we were going to qualify, but we still had to go there and do a job,” he stated on Paramount+.

Socceroos trainer Tony Popovic stays unbeaten within the process, after changing Graham Arnold in September.

“The impact he has had has been phenomenal,” Wilkshire stated.

“Full credit to him and the full squad, because you have seen the resilience and the character of the boys there.”

The trainer was once rapt when talking post-game.

“Very satisfying right now, I’m sure it will sink in as the days go by,” Popovic stated.

“It’s been a very intense period since I’ve joined and I’ve loved it so far.

“We have finished the primary section, qualifying mechanically, and the following section is being larger and higher for the World Cup.”

Goal scorer Duke was elated to get the result.

“It feels rattling excellent,” he smiled.

“We began the adventure with now not the most efficient get started, and to get us right here into computerized qualification, we’ve not finished that for some time both, it simply feels implausible.

“Honestly, Maty Ryan 100 caps, what a legend. Penalty save as well, I think he should have got man of the match to be honest.

“For me… I wasn’t even meant to be right here. Matt Leckie were given injured and I used to be a past due call-up. It feels excellent, an effective way to silence one of the most keyboard warriors.”

Former Socceroos player Craig Foster spoke to Nine’s Today, and pointed out the team was missing gun players Jackson Irvine, Harry Souttar, and Craig Goodwin, making the two wins in the space of a week even more impressive.

“You could not ask extra for from Tony Popovic,” Foster stated.

Japan completed best of Group C in qualifying, and the Socceroos end 2nd within the team to make it via.