Socceroos determined to maintain ‘high standards’ against minnows

The Socceroos will take nothing for granted on the qualifying road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Socceroos left-back Aziz Behich is ready for another World Cup qualifying campaign. Picture: Paul ELLIS / AFP

Experienced left-back Aziz Behich has promised the Socceroos won’t become complacent during a round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers they are expected to dominate against three of Asia’s lower ranked nations.

The Socceroos’ qualifying road to the next World Cup starts on Thursday night with a game against Bangladesh at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.

Sitting at No.27 in the FIFA world rankings, Australia should have little trouble in disposing of Bangladesh (183) and its other Group I opponents Palestine (96) and Lebanon (104) to progress to the next round of Asian Football Confederation World Cup qualifiers.

However, the Socceroos – who have this year met the likes of Argentina, Mexico and England – won’t just expect Group I wins to come their way.

“We don’t look if we are an underdog or favourite,” Behich said.

“Internally, we know what we can produce on the pitch and what we expect from ourselves, and that’s high standards.

“It’s going to be no different if we (play against) a lower ranked nation or a higher one – it’s an international football game.

“We just want to get better every camp and every game.”

Aziz Behich and the Socceroos are set to start their qualifying journey to the 2026 World Cup. Picture: Ryan Pierse – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Behich said Graham Arnold had “set the bar high” since taking charge of the Socceroos after the 2018 World Cup.

“It’s going to be no different (on the road to the 2026 World Cup),” the 32-yead-old Melbourne City star said.

“We’re expected to qualify, and that’s our main goal.

“The culture (Arnold) has put in from day one has made it easy for players to just slot straight into our environment.

“He set the bar high for us, and we do that on the pitch as well and every day at training.”

The chance to play more qualifiers on home soil after Covid-19 restrictions led to the Socceroos playing a host of “home games” in the Middle East during the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign also excites Arnold’s men.

“It was difficult for us (with) no home games pretty much,” Behich said.

“We’re excited that the first game is at home in front of our fans. We’re all raring to go.

“Now countries have to come to play in Australia, and we’re always confident at home.”

Following Thursday night’s match, the Socceroos will head to neutral Kuwait to meet Palestine next Wednesday morning (AEDT).

The Socceroos’ World Cup qualifying campaign will then resume in March next year with back-to-back games against Lebanon.

In between, Australia will travel to Qatar for the January 12-February 10 AFC Asian Cup.