Australia will host Saudi Arabia in the third round of World Cup Qualifiers on Thursday.
Venue: CommBank Stadium
Key Statistics
- The Socceroos had been unbeaten for 11 games before they suffered a defeat against Japan last month.
- Saudi Arabia top the Group B of Asian Qualifiers, having won all of their four games in the third round.
- The Socceroos trail them by three points at second in the table.
Head to Head record
Australia hold an impressive record against Saudi, winning five games out of eight they have played. Saudi has only one victory to their name while the two games have ended in draws.
Recent form
Australia: W W W W L
Saudi Arabia: W W W W W
Australia
The Socceroos will come into this game on the back of the 2-1 defeat to Japan last month, which ended their 11-match winning streak.
They will be up against an equally tough Saudi Arabian side, who have been clinical in their last five games.
It will be a crunch encounter as the Socceroos will be playing their first game on home soil after around two years.
Tom Rogic and Adam Taggart are sidelined due to injuries while Mitchell Duke and Mathew Leckie, who have been in impressive form for the Socceroos, are expected to bring their best on Thursday.
Possible line-up (Socceroos)
Matthew Ryan (GK); Aziz Behich, Harry Souttar, Trent Sainsbury, Rhyan Grant; Jackson Irvine, Ajdin Hrustic, James Jeggo; Awer Mabil, Mitchell Duke, Mathew Leckie
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia will look to extend their winning run when they lock horns with Socceroos on Thursday.
The Group B leaders are coming on the back of an impressive 3-2 win against China, where Sami Al-Najei scored a double.
Possible line-up (Saudi Arabia)
Fawaz Al-Qarni (GK); Sultan Al-Graham, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Mohammed Al-Breik, Saud Abdulhamid; Sami Al-Najei, Abdulellah Al-Maliki; Fahad Al-Muwallad, Salman Al-Faraj, Salem Al-Dawsari; Saleh Al-Shehri
Prediction
Australia 3 – 1 Saudi Arabia
