2021 Australia national soccer team season

Last updated
Australia
2021 season
ChairmanChris Nikou
Manager Graham Arnold
  2019
2020
2022  

This page summarises the Australia men's national soccer team fixtures and results in 2021.

Contents

Summary

The 2022 World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification matches were postponed from 2020 to 2021 as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. [1] Australia had also accepted an invitation to participate in the 2020 Copa América as a guest nation, [2] but this competition was also postponed to 2021, [3] and Australia subsequently withdrew. [4]

Australia played half of the qualifiers in the second round of the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup in 2019. Following these four matches, they sat first place in the group having won all the matches, scoring 16 goals and conceding only one goal to Chinese Taipei. [5] [6] The remaining matches were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia and rescheduled to be played in June 2021 in Kuwait as a centralised venue. [7] [8]

On 3 June, Australia played their first match after 567 days without playing, beating Kuwait 3–0 in the Asian qualifiers. Acting captain Mathew Leckie headed in the opener, Jackson Irvine scored the second from a rebound of a saved penalty, and Ajdin Hrustic scored the third from a free kick. The game also had 3 national team debutants, with Fran Karacic starting the match and Kenny Dougall and Riley McGree being substituted on from the bench. [9] [10] Four days later, Australia beat Chinese Taipei, marking six consecutive victories for the first time in 20 years. In the first half Harry Souttar and captain Trent Sainsbury headed goals either side of Jamie Maclaren's penalty and Mitchell Duke scored a brace in the second half either side of Chinese Taipei's goal, scored by Gao Wei-jie. In the game Denis Genreau, Connor Metcalfe, and Ruon Tongyik were handed their international debuts. [11] [12] Four days later, Australia extended their winning streak to seven consecutive victories, marking the first time in 24 years, beating Nepal 3–0 and securing the top place in their group. In the first half Leckie scored a header before assisting Karacic's maiden international goal and in the second half Martin Boyle scored the third goal before Lawrence Thomas was substituted on to make his international debut. [13] [14] After another four days, Australia beat Jordan 1–0 thanks to a header by Souttar. This win marked the first time in history that they won eight consecutive matches in a World Cup campaign. [15] [16]

After finishing top of the group in the second and qualifying for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, in the last few months of the year, Australia began the third round of the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup. [17] On 2 September, Australia "hosted" China at a neutral venue in Qatar due to quarantine restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. [18] They won the match 3–0, with Awer Mabil, Boyle, and Duke scoring, while Callum Elder made his international debut. [19] A few days later, Australia travelled to Vietnam where Rhyan Grant scored his first international goal to give Australia a 1–0 victory. [20] It was their tenth consecutive win, which broke the record of the best run of form in the Asian Football Confederation. [21] One month later, on 7 October, Australia beat Oman at a neutral venue in Qatar due to the quarantine restrictions. Mabil, Boyle, and Duke scored for Australia while Rabia Al-Alawi scored for Oman. It was their eleventh consecutive victory, breaking the world record for a run of form in World Cup qualification. [22] A few days later, Australia's winning streak was broken when Japan beat them 2–1 at Saitama Stadium 2002. Ao Tanaka scored early for Japan, Hrustic equalised from a free kick, and Japan won due to an own goal by Aziz Behich near the end of the match. [23] In November 2021, Australia played their first home game in over two years and were held to a scoreless draw by Saudi Arabia. [24] Five days later, Australia played China again at a neutral venue in the United Arab Emirates with China the "host". [25] In this fixture, the teams drew 1–1, with Duke heading home Australia's goal in the first half before Wu Lei equalised from the penalty spot during the second half. [26]

Record

As of match played 16 November 2021
TypeGPWDLGFGA
Friendly 000000
World Cup & Asian Cup qualifiers 10721215
Total10721215

Match results

World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers

3 June 2021 Round 2 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg3–0Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Kuwait City, Kuwait
21:30  UTC+3
Report Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Attendance: 0 [note 1]
Referee: Jumpei Iida (Japan)
7 June 2021 Round 2 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg5–1Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei Kuwait City, Kuwait
19:30  UTC+3
Report Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Attendance: 0 [note 1]
Referee: Saoud Al-Adba (Qatar)
11 June 2021 Round 2 Nepal    Flag of Nepal.svg0–3Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Kuwait City, Kuwait
19:30  UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium
Attendance: 0 [note 1]
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
15 June 2021 Round 2 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg1–0Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan Kuwait City, Kuwait
21:30  UTC+3
Report Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Attendance: 0 [note 1]
Referee: Kim Woo-Sung (South Korea)
2 September 2021 Round 3 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg3–0Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Doha, Qatar
21:00  UTC+3
Report Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium
Attendance: 0 [note 1]
Referee: Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea)
7 September 2021 Round 3 Vietnam  Flag of Vietnam.svg0–1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Hanoi, Vietnam
19:00  UTC+7 Report
Stadium: Mỹ Đình National Stadium
Attendance: 0 [note 1]
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)
7 October 2021 Round 3 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg3–1Flag of Oman.svg  Oman Doha, Qatar
21:30  UTC+3
Report Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium
Attendance: 0 [note 1]
Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)
12 October 2021 Round 3 Japan  Flag of Japan.svg2–1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Saitama, Japan
19:14  UTC+9
Report
Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002
Attendance: 14,437
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)
11 November 2021 Round 3 Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg0–0Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia Sydney, Australia
20:05  UTC+11 Report Stadium: Western Sydney Stadium
Attendance: 23,314
Referee: Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea)
16 November 2021 Round 3 China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg1–1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
19:00  UTC+4
Report
Stadium: Sharjah Stadium
Attendance: 1,050
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)

Player statistics

Correct as of 16 November 2021 (v. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China ).
Numbers are listed by player's number in last match played

No.PosNatPlayerTotalFriendliesWorld Cup qualifiers
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Mathew Ryan 800+008+00
12 GK Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Andrew Redmayne 100+001+00
12 GK Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Lawrence Thomas 100+000+10
18 GK Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Danny Vukovic 100+001+00
2 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Milos Degenek 500+004+10
3 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Brad Smith 100+001+00
3 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Callum Elder 100+000+10
4 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Rhyan Grant 810+007+11
5 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Fran Karacic 610+003+31
5 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Ryan McGowan 100+001+00
8 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Bailey Wright 000+000+00
14 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Connor Metcalfe 200+001+10
16 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Aziz Behich 900+008+10
19 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Harry Souttar 820+008+02
20 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Trent Sainsbury 810+008+01
23 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Curtis Good 100+001+00
23 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Ruon Tongyik 200+000+20
5 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS James Holland 200+001+10
7 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS James Jeggo 600+002+40
10 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Ajdin Hrustic 1020+009+12
13 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Aaron Mooy 400+001+30
14 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Brandon Borrello 100+001+00
14 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Kenny Dougall 400+002+20
17 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Denis Genreau 100+001+00
21 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Daniel Arzani 000+000+00
21 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Riley McGree 700+002+50
22 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Jackson Irvine 910+009+01
23 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Tom Rogic 400+004+00
23 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Gianni Stensness 000+000+00
6 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Martin Boyle 830+008+03
7 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Mathew Leckie 420+004+02
9 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Jamie Maclaren 410+002+21
9 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Adam Taggart 500+004+10
11 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Awer Mabil 920+005+42
13 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Nikita Rukavytsya 300+000+30
15 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Mitchell Duke 950+003+65
17 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Andrew Nabbout 100+000+10
17 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Chris Ikonomidis 300+000+30

Notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Cornthwaite (soccer)</span> Australian former soccer player

Robert Richard Cornthwaite, nicknamed "Cornflakes", is an Australian former soccer player. Alongside Eli Babalj and Sasa Ognenovski, Cornthwaite, at 1.95 m is the joint third tallest player to have represented the Australia national association football team, behind Zeljko Kalac and Harry Souttar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graham Arnold</span> Australian soccer player and manager (born 1963)

Graham James Arnold is an Australian soccer manager and former player. Arnold was first appointed to work as a head coach of the Australian national soccer team in 2000. After head coach Frank Farina was sacked in 2005, Arnold worked with Guus Hiddink for the 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign, in which they made the second round of the finals. After Hiddink left, he became interim coach of the Socceroos. Arnold went on to qualify Australia's U23 men's national soccer team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Arnold then went on to assist Pim Verbeek for qualification of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Arnold's next move was to take the manager role at struggling A-League club the Central Coast Mariners between 2010 and 2013, where he guided the club to a Premiership and a Championship. He is a member of the Football Federation Australia Football Hall of Fame. Arnold went on to win two Premierships, one Championship and an FFA Cup with Sydney FC. In August 2018, Arnold was appointed head coach of the Socceroos - Australia's senior men's national soccer team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia men's national soccer team</span> Mens national association football team representing Australia

The Australia men's national soccer team represents Australia in international men's soccer. Officially nicknamed the Socceroos, the team is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia, which is affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the regional ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sasa Ognenovski</span> Australian footballer

Sasa Ognenovski is an Australian retired soccer player who played as a central defender, who played for the Australia national team on 22 occasions, and who last played for Sydney FC in the A-League. He is currently work as director of football at Preston Lions.

The Australia national under-20 soccer team, known colloquially as the Young Socceroos, represents Australia in international under-20 soccer. The team is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia (FA), which is currently a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the regional ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) since leaving the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in 2006. The team's official nickname is the Young Socceroos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia men's national under-23 soccer team</span> National under-23 soccer team representing Australia

The Australia national under-23 soccer team represents Australia in international under-23 soccer and at the Olympic Games. The team is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia (FA), which is currently a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the regional ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) since leaving the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in 2006. The team's official nickname is the Olyroos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mathew Leckie</span> Australian soccer player (born 1991)

Mathew Allan Leckie is an Australian soccer player who plays for A-League club Melbourne City and the Australian national team. Leckie, being a quick and agile player, is usually placed on the wing. However, he has previously been deployed as a midfielder, striker/second striker and even as a wing-back.

Eli Babalj is a footballer who plays as a striker. Born in Yugoslavia, he has represented Australia at international level. Alongside Robert Cornthwaite and Sasa Ognenovski, Babalj, at 1.95 m is the joint third tallest player to have represented the Australia national association football team, behind Zeljko Kalac and Harry Souttar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Sainsbury</span> Australian association football player

Trent Lucas Sainsbury is an Australian professional footballer who most recently played as a centre-back for Qatar Stars League club Al-Wakrah and the Australia national team.

The Australia women's national soccer team is overseen by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia, which is currently a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the regional ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) since leaving the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in 2006. The team's official nickname is "the Matildas" ; they were known as the "Female Socceroos" before 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Australia men's national soccer team</span>

The Men's Australia national soccer team played their first international match in 1922. They have won four Nations Cup titles, in 1980, 1996, 2000 and 2004 and one Asian Cup in 2000 . However, they have never won the FIFA World Cup, with their best performance being a finish in the Round of 16 in 2006 and 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riley McGree</span> Australian footballer

Riley Patrick McGree is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder for EFL Championship club Middlesbrough and the Australian national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Souttar</span> Soccer player (born 1998)

Harry James Souttar is a professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Leicester City and the Australia national team.

This page summarises the Australia men's national soccer team fixtures and results in 2019.

Joel Bruce King is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a left back for Sydney FC.

The fourth round of AFC matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification consisted of a single match that determined the AFC representative in the intercontinental play-offs against the CONMEBOL representative. This round was originally scheduled as a two-legged tie for 11 and 16 November 2021, but the dates and format were changed in November 2020 in response to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia.

Patrick Yazbek is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Eliteserien club Viking FK and the Australia national team.

This page summarises the Australia men's national soccer team fixtures and results in 2022.

This page summarises the Australia men's national soccer team fixtures and results in 2023.

This page summarises the Australia men's national soccer team fixtures and results in 2024.

References

  1. "Update on upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Asia". The AFC. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  2. "Caltex Socceroos to participate in Copa America 2020". Football Federation Australia. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  3. "Comunicado Oficial". CONMEBOL. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  4. "Football Australia confirms Socceroos' withdrawal from Copa America". Football Australia . 23 February 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  5. "Socceroos likely to complete World Cup qualifiers in overseas hub location". The Guardian . 3 March 2021.
  6. Curulli, Chris (15 April 2021). "Ultimate Guide: Socceroos' June FIFA World Cup Qualifiers". My Football. Football Australia.
  7. "Centralised venues for Asian qualifiers confirmed". Asian Football Confederation. 12 March 2021.
  8. "Kuwait to host Socceroos' May/June FIFA World Cup Qualifiers". My Football. Football Australia. 15 March 2021.
  9. Curulli, Chris (4 June 2021). "The Socceroos overcome Kuwait on international return". Socceroos . Football Australia.
  10. Rayson, Zac (4 June 2021). "Sizzling Socceroos run riot in dream return from 567-day exile". Fox Sports.
  11. Curulli, Chris (7 June 2021). "Duke strikes double as dominant Socceroos defeat Chinese Taipei". Socceroos . Football Australia.
  12. Rayson, Zac (8 June 2021). "20-year-first as perfect Socceroos crush minnows Chinese Taipei to reach next stage". Fox Sports.
  13. Comito, Matthew (11 June 2021). "Socceroos defeat ten-man Nepal to advance to third round of FIFA World Cup qualifying". Socceroos . Football Australia.
  14. Monteverde, Marco (12 June 2021). "Socceroos soar into next round after sealing epic 24-year-first". Fox Sports.
  15. James, Euan (15 June 2021). "Harry Souttar heads Socceroos to victory over Jordan". Socceroos . Football Australia.
  16. Rayson, Zac (16 June 2021). "Socceroos sweep: Perfect Roos claim eighth win as ugly send-off mars 41-degree war". Fox Sports.
  17. Curulli, Chris (2 September 2021). "Ultimate Guide: Everything you need to know about September's Round 3 Qualifiers". Socceroos . Football Australia.
  18. Larkin, Steve (2 September 2021). "Socceroos coach plays Chinese mind games". FTBL.
  19. Rayson, Zac (3 September 2021). "Cloud NINE: Sizzling Socceroos batter China in dream World Cup qualifying start". Fox Sports.
  20. Rayson, Zac (8 September 2021). "'I'm so grateful': Incredible sacrifice behind Rhyan Grant's maiden Socceroos goal". Fox Sports.
  21. Lynch, Joey (8 September 2021). "Socceroos equal World Cup qualifying record with gritty win over Vietnam". The Guardian .
  22. Rayson, Zac (8 October 2021). "Socceroos pass tough test to clinch record 11th-straight win on road to Qatar WC". Fox Sports.
  23. Rayson, Zac (13 October 2021). "Socceroos' record run ends in cruel Japan defeat after star's two-goal nightmare". Fox Sports.
  24. Smale, Simon (11 November 2021). "Socceroos held to 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in sodden World Cup qualifier". ABC News .
  25. Monteverde, Marco (3 November 2021). "The Socceroos' road to next year's World Cup will take them to Sharjah to meet China". news.com.au .
  26. Lynch, Joey (16 November 2021). "Socceroos' blunt performance against China leaves World Cup hopes on knife edge". The Guardian .