DOHA: Australia will meet China in their opening AFC Asian Qualifiers Group B fixture at the Khalifa International Stadium on Thursday.
For the first time since joining the Asian Football Confederation in 2006, the Socceroos will play a competitive home match at this stage of the Asian Qualifiers on foreign soil, with quarantine restrictions forcing the Matchday One clash away from their preferred venue of Sydney.
That means that Australia final lap on the Road to Qatar will begin at the destination itself, with Khalifa International Stadium to serve as the venue for a clash that could shape both sides’ World Cup ambitions.
“I have great trust in my staff everywhere,” coach Graham Arnold on Wednesday.
“They are both working still for me by remote, on the Zoom calls and we’re still communicating with each other in coming up with a game plan, but the only difference is this time is I’m doing everything on the ground here.
“They’re in great spirits. That’s the most important thing.”
Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Chris Ikonimidis are just three of the players who won’t feature in the matches against China PR and Vietnam, with Sydney FC’s Rhyan Grant committing to more than a month overseas between the September and October windows in order to retain his role at right-back.
The pandemic has also cost Australia the services of assistant coach Rene Meulensteen, who tested positive to COVID-19 in London last week, while another member of the technical staff, Tony Vidmar, didn’t travel from Australia after spending four weeks in quarantine following the Tokyo Olympics.
China are aiming to return to the Finals for the first time since their only prior qualification way back in 2002.
The pandemic has impacted almost every nation on the Road to Qatar, and it has been no different for Li Tie’s side, the vast majority of whom play their club football in the Chinese Super League which has operated under strict bubble protocols.
(Source: AFC)
