Socceroos coach Graham Arnold says ‘all the pressure’ is on Japan

Having set a record for consecutive wins in a single World Cup qualifying campaign, the Socceroos are aiming for 12 in a row with a victory over Japan.

The Socceroos side that started in a 3-1 win over Oman. Picture: Mohamed Farag/Getty Images

Record-breaking Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has piled the pressure on a struggling Japan ahead Tuesday night’s World Cup qualifier between the Asian Football Confederation heavyweights in Saitama.

The Socceroos are well and truly on the road to Qatar 2022 after becoming the first team to win 11 successive matches in a single World Cup qualifying campaign with Friday morning’s 3-1 win over Oman in Doha.

The win kept the Socceroos on top of Group B in the third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers.

The top two teams from groups A and B will automatically qualify for next year’s World Cup.

Australia’s perfect form is in contrast to Japan, who were beaten 1-0 by Saudi Arabia in Friday’s earlier match.

It was the Samurai Blue’s second loss in three Group B matches and left them six points behind not only Australia, but also the second-placed Saudi Arabians, who only trail the Socceroos on goal difference

If Australia can beat Japan on Tuesday, it would put a massive dent in the Blue Samurai’s hopes of automatic World Cup qualification.

The Socceroos celebrate Awer Mabil’s goal against Oman. Picture: KARIM JAAFAR / AFP

“The Japanese no doubt have all the pressure on them because they have only won one game out of three,” Arnold said.

“Every time we step out on the field we expect to win the game.

“We will do that again on Tuesday.”

Arnold said he would reflect on the Socceroos’ record-breaking run of wins in future years.

Australia’s 11th straight win in the race to reach Qatar surpassed the 10-game single qualifying campaign record they had shared with Germany (Russia 2018), Spain (South Africa 2010) and Mexico (Germany 2006).

“It’s something we’ll probably reflect on in the future and what a great feat it has been, especially playing 10 out of 11 games away from home, but to me it’s all about going to Japan and getting ready for Japan in Japan and making it 12 (wins),” Arnold said.

Goals to Awer Mabil, Martin Boyle and substitute Mitch Duke secured the Socceroos’ victory over an Oman side that troubled Australia in the first half.

“Probably in the first half we got dragged into an erratic game. It was very end to end and very open, and that was probably not what we wanted,” Arnold said.

“But at half-time when I could get the players in and calm them down, we focused on a few of the weaknesses from Oman and I thought in the second half we did exceptionally well.

“Making them chase the ball, I felt that we took over the game.”

Mabil said the Socceroos’ “game at a time” attitude would continue in their quest to qualify for a fifth successive World Cup.