Socceroos face injury crisis as World Cup qualifer win over Lebanon comes at a cost

Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold expects to be without two creative players as he continues to search for the key to unlocking opposition defences.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 21: Kye Rowles of Australia celebrates scoring a goal with team mates during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Australia Socceroos and Lebanon at CommBank Stadium on March 21, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The Socceroos are facing an injury crisis ahead of their World Cup qualification rematch with Lebanon after being hit by a double blow in the first half of their 2-0 victory at Commbank Stadium.

Keanu Baccus put Australia in command with a screamer in the fifth minute before midfielder Riley McGree rolled an ankle shortly afterwards on Thursday night.

McGree ended the match with his foot in a moonboot after being replaced by Jordan Bos in the 16th minute, but the winger also had to be pulled from the action just before half-time due to a knee injury.

Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold expects to be without the creative duo as he continues to search for the key to unlocking opposition defences before taking on Lebanon again on Tuesday.

“I’d say both are out,” Arnold said of hopes that McGree and Bos might make a quick recovery.

Riley McGree is set to miss Australia’s World Cup qualification rematch with Lebanon. Picture: Getty Images

“Both late arrivals. I think they arrived about 1am Wednesday morning, and it was a bit tough to take for them early on in the game.

“Obviously I used two sub windows in the first half, so I only had one left in the second half, so it was making sure that we got that sub right.

“But at the end of the day, it was a good performance, but we can do better, and we must do better.”

The Socceroos started with in-form A-League striker Adam Taggart returning to the line-up for the first time in more than two years and partnering the emerging Kusini Yengi up front.

Veteran Mitch Duke sat among the substitutes with minimal game time in his legs even as the J-League gets under way in Japan.

Arnold explained that fitness as much as form was behind his decision to play two up top, in a shift away from his preferred formation with a single centre-forward.

“The only reason really is because of the injuries to all the wingers. If I had the wingers, then maybe I wouldn’t have done it,” Arnold said of the change in formation.

Graham Arnold faces some selection issues ahead of next Tuesday’s meeting with Lebanon. Picture: Getty Images

“But the fact that I’ve got more number 10s and number 8s… I think we needed the two 9s because of the lack of wingers.”

Baccus will also miss the return leg against Lebanon after scoring his first international goal but later picking up a booking that cost him a suspension.

The Socceroos will be able to call on Craig Goodwin, with the winger recovering from an illness that ruled him out of the first clash.

The 23rd-ranked Socceroos can seal their spot in the third and final round of Asia’s World Cup qualifying pathway with two matches still to play with another victory over Lebanon.

“(Goodwin) is so good he’s already down in Canberra waiting for us,” Arnold said.

“He’ll be available on Tuesday.”

MATCH REPORT: HOME-TOWN HERO SPARKS SOCCEROOS

Hometown hero Keanu Baccus has sparked the Socceroos to a 2-0 triumph over Lebanon with a stunning first international goal on his return to Commbank Stadium.

But Australia’s third consecutive victory of their World Cup 2026 qualification campaign appears to have come at a cost with first-half injuries to midfielder Riley McGree and substitute Jordan Bos.

Baccus curled in the wonder goal when floating a cross from outside the right corner of the box in off the far post to open the scoring for the Socceroos in the fifth minute on Thursday night.

The former Western Sydney starlet continued to make his presence felt at the venue where he made his name before moving to Scottish Premier League side St Mirren in 2022.

The combative midfielder almost added a second goal just five minutes later with a thunderbolt from a more central position but will miss the rematch with the Cedars on on Tuesday after picking up a late yellow card.

The Socceroos continued to threaten without finding the back of the net again until Kye Rowles was quickest to react to a second ball off a corner in the 54th minute to ease the nerves of 27,026 fans.

The 23rd-ranked Australia can now seal their spot in the third round of World Cup qualification with another victory over Lebanon in Canberra.

Australia’s Keanu Baccus celebrates his screamer of a goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier against Lebanon. Picture: Getty Images

INJURY STRIKES SOCCEROOS

Australia had Lebanon on the ropes during a frenetic opening until their attacking intent was disrupted when McGree slumped to the turf in the 13th minute.

McGree went to ground when looking to collect a simple pass in the middle of the pitch and immediately looked to the surface for an answer.

The creative midfielder has returned to form with English Championship club Middlesbrough after a foot injury limited his impact at the Asian Cup last year, but the Socceroos will now be hoping McGree has avoided a similar concern.

Bos replaced McGree but the emerging winger also had to be substituted in the 42nd minute due to a knee issue.

Socceroos star Riley McGree leaves the field injured during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier against Lebanon. Picture: Getty Images

FORWARDS DUKE IT OUT

In-form A-League striker Adam Taggart was preferred to Socceroos veteran Mitch Duke as head coach Graham Arnold continues to reward form and regular game time.

Taggart has the equal-most goals in the A-League this season with 15, while Duke has made three substitute appearances as the J-League is only just getting started in Japan.

The 30-year-old Taggart was busy in his return to the Socceroos lineup for the first time since October 2021 until replaced by Duke in the 66th minute as both forwards battle it out for a starting spot.

Kye Rowles scored his maiden international goal for Australia. Picture: Getty Images

DEFENDERS AT BOTH ENDS

Australia have now kept eight clean sheets in their past 10 internationals as player of the match Rowles and towering centre-back Harry Souttar marshal the defence.

But the Socceroos are also continuing to rely on the towering centre-backs to find a breakthrough when the opposition set up with a low block.

Souttar has become a critical weapon for the Socceroos but this time it was Rowles who got a foot to the ball from the edge of a packed six-yard box for a first international goal.

Originally published as Socceroos face injury crisis as World Cup qualifer win over Lebanon comes at a cost