Popovic believes Socceroos can qualify for World Cup despite chaotic draw with Saudi Arabia

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic remains confident his side can automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park on Thursday night.

The Socceroos still have five games to go, including an away clash with Bahrain in the early hours of Wednesday morning AEDT with star attacker Craig Goodwin set to return to the side after being suspended for too many yellow cards for the Saudi Arabia game.

Jackson Irvine of the Socceroos controls the ball.Credit: Getty Images

Popovic said the 27,491 fans would be a little disappointed but his side was well-placed.

The Socceroos are tied with Saudi Arabia on six points but finished the game in second place on goal difference, Bahrain and China were due to play overnight which could see Bahrain jump ahead with a win.

Japan leads the group with 10 points, the top-two teams directly qualify for the World Cup.

“It’s not the same going home after a draw compared to a win,” Popovic said.

“I think they saw their team do really well in the second half. And probably go home thinking it was just an opportunity maybe missed.

“But we have put ourselves in a position that we still can get that automatic spot which is important.”

Thanks so much for joining us as the Socceroos and Saudi Arabia played out a chaotic 0-0 draw at AAMI Park, Melbourne.

We will have more Socceroos and Matildas coverage in the coming days, so please keep checking out sport pages.

For now, it’s bye for now from AAMI Park.

Jackson Irvine of the Socceroos thanks the crowd.Credit: Getty Images

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic remains confident his side can automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park on Thursday night.

The Socceroos still have five games to go, including an away clash with Bahrain in the early hours of Wednesday morning AEDT with star attacker Craig Goodwin set to return to the side after being suspended for too many yellow cards for the Saudi Arabia game.

Jackson Irvine of the Socceroos controls the ball.Credit: Getty Images

Popovic said the 27,491 fans would be a little disappointed but his side was well-placed.

The Socceroos are tied with Saudi Arabia on six points but finished the game in second place on goal difference, Bahrain and China were due to play overnight which could see Bahrain jump ahead with a win.

Japan leads the group with 10 points, the top-two teams directly qualify for the World Cup.

“It’s not the same going home after a draw compared to a win,” Popovic said.

“I think they saw their team do really well in the second half. And probably go home thinking it was just an opportunity maybe missed.

“But we have put ourselves in a position that we still can get that automatic spot which is important.”

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic said he subbed Aydin Hrustic out as a tactical decision, not because of injury while the team will wait and see how Nishan Velupillay comes up after his ankle injury.

Hrustic did go down late in the first half and grab for his groin but in the post match press conference, Popovic said his attacking midfielder wasn’t injured.

Nishan Velupillay of the Socceroos is challenged by Ali Al Bulayhi, Abdullah Al Hamddan and Hassan Al Tambakti of Saudi Arabia.Credit: Getty Images

“It was just a knock and he didn’t come off because of it, it was just a change,” Popovic said.

“I haven’t checked on Nish yet but he came off with an ankle injury - it’s a shame for Nish and hopefully it is not too serious.”

Popovic said he had yet to consider if he would call up a replacement player for Velupillay for the trip to Bahrain for another World Cup qualifier in the early hours of Wednesday morning AEDT.

“I haven’t thought that far ahead to be honest,” Popovic said.

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic wants his side to cut out the sloppy defending which almost resulted in an injury time loss to Saudi Arabia in tonight’s World Cup qualifier.

The Saudis scored a late goal but it was ruled out for offside after the foot of one of their players was beyond the last defender.

Tony Popovic head coach of the Socceroos on the sidelines against Saudi Arabia.Credit: Getty Images

“We gave them a chance at the end, the free kick was probably due to fatigue,” Popovic said.

“I was worried. These things are always a fine line but our defenders pushed up, credit to them.”

Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard wants to see the replay after his side was denied an injury-time goal against the Socceroos tonight.

“I just saw the action,” Renard said.

“We have to give the confidence to the ref but I have to see once again to be sure they made the best decision.”

Herve Renard, Head Coach of Saudi Arabia.Credit: Getty Images

I don’t remember a more chaotic injury time period than that. What a mad finish to this game.

That’s as entertaining as a0-0 draws get.

Riley McGree of the Socceroos attempts a overhead kick.Credit: Getty Images

Bottom line: the Socceroos should have won, they had enough chances to do so, but lacked the requisite quality in those vital moments.

Could you imagine if Riley McGree had scored that bicycle kick though?

Could you imagine?

That last few minutes was chaos and a group of Saudi players are in deep discussions with the referee but it matters not.

It’s finished 0-0. Neither the Saudis or the Socceroos will take full points from this match and everything remains to play for in this group.

Abdullah Al Khaibari of Saudi Arabia is challenged by Brandon Borrello of the Socceroos.Credit: Getty Images

Riley McGree gave us a last moment of chaos attempting a bicycle kick from the top of the box that rolled just past the post. It would have been an all-time goal if it went in.

The picture for the Socceroos will be clearer in the morning after Bahrain and China have played their match.

It’s a missed opportunity but not a terminal one, if the Socceroos are good enough, they can win their remaining games and have a strong chance of directly qualifying.

“We were very lucky to escape tonight,” former Socceroo Archie Thompson said on Ten’s coverage.

The trailing foot of a Saudi player was offside and that denied the goal.

Massive moment in this match and this whole group.

It remains 0-0.

The Saudis won a late free kick, it was headed out but fell to Sultan Al Ghannam who smashed a shot to the left post and it went in.

The visitors exploded in celebration but the linesman immediately put up his flag for either offside or interference.

Have the Saudis all but won it or will it remain 0-0?

VAR is deciding now.

Kusini Yengi has come on for the final minutes.

There is five minutes of injury time to come.

Now or never for the Socceroos.

AUS 0, KSA 0 after 90 minutes.