Mumbai, November 13: Australia hosts Saudi Arabia in a crucial World Cup qualifier at Melbourne on Thursday while Japan and South Korea can take a big step towards North America in 2026 when the third round of Asian qualifying reaches the halfway stage. With only the top two teams from each of the three groups of six progressing automatically to the expanded 48-team tournament, Australia and Saudi Arabia both have only five points from four Group C games, five behind leaders Japan. Australia National Football Team Faces Tough Challenge Against Dominant Japan in FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers.

The sputtering form of the two teams has already resulted in coaching changes since the third round began. Graham Arnold stepped down as Socceroos head coach in September and was replaced by Tony Popovic while Saudi Arabia fired Roberto Mancini in October after a 0-0 draw with Bahrain in Jeddah.

Renard Returns to Riyadh

Herve Renard is back in Riyadh to take over the Saudi team for a second spell. 슬롯사이트œI believe we can qualify; otherwise, I wouldn't be here,슬롯사이트� Renard, who left Riyadh in March 2023 to take over the French women's national team, told local media. 슬롯사이트œI know the players well. We're not in an ideal situation, but it's far from hopeless. We still have six games remaining, four of them away.슬롯사이트�

Renard led Saudi Arabia to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, topping a qualification group above Japan and Australia. It then defeated eventual champion Argentina 2-1 in its opening game in Qatar before losing its next two games and finishing last in its group, failing to qualify for the knockout rounds.슬롯 머신 사이트 추천Herve Renard Back To Coach Saudi Arabia National Football Team After Roberto Mancini Exits (Watch Video).

슬롯사이트œMany of these players were part of the squad that qualified for the 2022 World Cup,슬롯사이트� Renard said. 슬롯사이트œThey must draw on that experience, keep their spirit high, and do everything necessary to reach the 2026 World Cup.슬롯사이트�

Saudi Arabia is hoping that a coaching change can produce the same upturn in results that Popovic delivered for Australia in his first two games in October, with a win over China at home followed by a 1-1 draw in Japan.

Japan Favored in Two Away Matches in Indonesia, China

Those were the first points that Japan, which has appeared in every World Cup since 1998, dropped in qualification. The Samurai Blue is expected to beat Indonesia despite playing in front of an expected 78,000 fans in Jakarta, before traveling to China. Roberto Mancini Leaves Saudi Arabia National Football Team by Mutual Consent.

슬롯사이트œIf you look at the FIFA rankings and the games in the World Cup qualifiers so far, you might think that the advantage is with Japan,슬롯사이트� said coach Hajime Moriyasu. 슬롯사이트œBut we are playing both games away and I think it will be tough.슬롯사이트�

South Korea to be Cautious With Son Heung-Min

In Group B, leaders South Korea has recovered from a disappointing opening-game draw with the Palestinian team to win three consecutive games. Victory in Kuwait will see the South Koreans go five or six points clear of third place.

Captain and star Son Heung-min missed the victories over Jordan and Iraq due to a hamstring injury and has been short of minutes for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

슬롯사이트œAt this point, I have absolutely zero plans to push him hard,슬롯사이트� South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo said. 슬롯사이트œI will figure out ways to use him efficiently. As soon as he joins the team, I will sit down with him and discuss his playing time. It's really important for us to see a healthy version of Son Heung-min.슬롯사이트�슬롯 머신 사이트 추천Australia Appoint Tony Popovic As New Head Coach for Men슬롯사이트™s Football Team.

Iraq and Jordan are level in second place in Group B 슬롯사이트� three points behind 슬롯사이트� and meet in Basra. In Group A, Iran and Uzbekistan are six points clear of the rest of the group and face respective away games against North Korea and Qatar.

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