Craig Goodwin spoke to the press ahead of the Socceroos’ Pre-Asian Cup friendly against Bahrain.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Socceroos’ Pre-Asian Cup friendly against Bahrain on January 7 (AEDT).
The Socceroos’ final preparations for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup begin this weekend with a match against Bahrain in Abu Dhabi.
Graham Arnold’s 26-man squad descended on the Middle East last week, gearing up for their second ever Asian Cup title.
Prior to their conflict, warriors of dilmun Here’s everything you need to know on Sunday morning (AEDT).
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When is the game?
Bahrain v Socceroos
Saturday, January 6th
Baniyas Stadium, Abu Dhabi
kick off: 6pm local time / 1am AEDT (Sunday 7 January)
How can I watch it?
The match will be streamed live on Network 10, 10Play and Paramount+.
When do soccer players play in the Asia Cup?
Australia v India
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
kick off: 2:30pm local time (10:30pm AEDT)
broadcast: Network 10 and Paramount+
Syria v Australia
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
kick off: 2:30pm local time (10:30pm AEDT)
broadcast: Network 10 and Paramount+
Australia v Uzbekistan
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Al Janob Stadium, Doha
kick off: 2:30pm local time (10:30pm AEDT)
broadcast: Network 10 and Paramount+
team news
It will be an interesting game to see how Graham Arnold utilizes his team for the next game against Bahrain.
With the opening game against India coming up less than a week after the friendly, Arnold will likely want to know who is in his best XI of the tournament when he takes the field in Abu Dhabi. .
Goalkeeper Matthew Ryan is the only player heading into the tournament under an injury cloud, having suffered a fractured cheekbone during training last month.
Arnold confirmed at the team’s press conference that Ryan will likely miss this weekend’s games as he prepares for the first group stage game and will wear a mask to prevent injury.
This means either Adelaide United’s Joe Gauci or Western Sydney Wanderers’ Lawrence Thomas could start.
Midfielder Riley McGree also had fitness concerns, but recently returned to action for Middlesbrough, making three substitute appearances last month and is hoping to get more minutes against Bahrain. .
The uncapped trio of Gethin Jones, Patrick Yazbeck and John Airdale could also make their national team debuts before the tournament begins.
AFC Asian Cup Australia representative
Goalkeeper: Matthew Ryan, Joe Gauci, Lawrence Thomas
Defender: Harry Souter, Kai Rowles, Aziz Behic, Nathaniel Atkinson, Gethin Jones, Jordan Voss, Thomas Deng, Cameron Burgess, Lewis Miller
Midfielder: Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Aiden O’Neill, Keanu Backus, Connor Metcalf, Patrick Yazbeck
forward: Martin Boyle, Mitchell Duke, Craig Goodwin, Kusini Yengi, John Iredale, Bruno Fornaroli, Sam Silvera, Marco Tirio
opposition report
bahrain
world ranking:86
Sunday morning’s clash is not only an Asia Cup tune-up for the Socceroos, but also important for their opponents Bahrain, who are gearing up for their eighth appearance.
Bahrain qualified for the tournament in 2022 by winning all three matches against Malaysia, Bangladesh and Turkmenistan and finishing first in their group.
They then participated in the Arabian Gulf Cup, reaching the semi-finals before losing to Oman. In friendly matches throughout 2023, they had mixed results with three wins, one draw, and two losses.
The team, coached by former Saudi Arabian coach Juan Antonio Pizzi, most recently played the first two matches of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers in November, defeating Yemen 2-0, but the United Arab Emirates They lost to the Federation 2-0.
Bahrain have been drawn in Group E for the next tournament and will play South Korea, Malaysia and Jordan, who are among the favorites to win the tournament, hoping to advance to the round of 16 for the second year in a row.
The Socceroos and Bahrain have faced each other five times in history, with Australia winning all five meetings. The last time the two sides met was in the group stage of the Asia Cup in 2011, when the Socceroos won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Mile Jedinak, clinching a place in the knockout stages.
AFC Asian Cup Bahrain representative
Goalkeeper: Syed Mohammed Jafar, Ibrahim Lutfallah, Abdulkarim Fardan
Defender: Waleed Al-Khayyam, Mohamed Adel, Ahmed Bougammal, Saeed Baker, Amin Benadi, Hazza Ali, Abdullah Al-Kharasi, Hussein Al-Eker
Midfielder: Kamil Al Aswad, Jassim Al Shaikh, Mohamed Marhoun, Mohamed Al Hadan, Mohamed Abdulwahab, Jassim Khelife, Moses Atedeh, Ibrahim Al Wali, Mohamed Abdul Qayyum
forward: Ali Madan, Abdul Yusuf Helal, Mahdi Al Humaidan, Ibrahim Al Khatar, Abdullah Al Hashsa, Ali Hassan Isa