The Socceroos’ hopes of direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup have taken another massive hit after being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against Indonesia, increasing the pressure on coach Graham Arnold and his underperforming players.
The blowtorch was on the national team after last week’s shock 1-0 defeat to Bahrain on home soil, but for the second successive match to start the third round of Asian World Cup qualifying, they were held scoreless by a relative minnow of the confederation.
Awer Mabil cuts a picture of frustration.Credit: Getty Images
The result leaves them flagging in fifth position in Group C, already three points adrift of current leaders Saudi Arabia, who staged a come-from-behind 2-1 win over China after being reduced to 10 men.
And it sharpens the scrutiny on Arnold, his tactics and his selections, with the national team clearly struggling to function in attack against teams like Indonesia and Bahrain who sit back in numbers and defend – and while he is often criticised for his pragmatic, fairly rudimentary style of play, the coach was also clearly let down by a lack of quality from his players on the night.
This match was more open than the Bahrain clash, with Indonesia showing a little more dare, but still the Socceroos were dominant in all facets except for the one that matters: the score. They had 63 per cent of possession, 15 corners to three, and generated 19 shots on goal with five of them on target, all for naught in the end. Most of their play was again based on long balls, crosses and set pieces, but the delivery from dead-ball delivery men Craig Goodwin and Sam Silvera left plenty to be desired.
Australia’s best chance of the first half fell to Nestory Irankunda, who was handed a start by Arnold as one of five changes to the team that fell to Bahrain. Like he did so often for Adelaide United, Irankunda took a long-range shot from distance which rocketed into the right post and nearly deflected into the goal off the back of Indonesia’s goalkeeper Maarten Paes, who knew little about it.
Graham Arnold has some serious thinking to do.Credit: Getty Images
Adam Taggart also had a golden opportunity moments after he was introduced in the second half but directed his shot straight at Paes from almost point-blank range.
This is only the second time in their past 10 meetings that the Socceroos have dropped points to Indonesia. Ranked 133 in the world, the hosts were backed by a ferocious crowd of nearly 80,000 fans at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, and rode their support right to the end.
Next month, the Socceroos face China at Adelaide Oval and then travel for a daunting showdown with rivals and likely group pacesetters Japan. Anything less than a win over China will further imperil hopes of a two-two finish in Group C and lead to further questioning on if Arnold is the right man to take them forward to the 2026 World Cup.
