Given that the top two go through automatically, my thinking is that we're better off with the strongest team Japan in our group as they're more likely to take points off the rest of the group in their away games, leaving a path for us for second place.

It's been that way for 3 phases already. Gladly do it again. Perhaps getting Japan would see a hub there with better pitches. Iran had to play in Bahrain. 

We’ve overtaken Korea in the FIFA rankings thanks to our recent winning spree.

https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-asian-cup/news/asia-world-cup-qualifying-what-s-next

Obviously doesn’t change our Pot allocation, but still nice to see progress.

Surprised to see that Syria haven't rocketed with their results. 

I know we got souttar and that but gee it would have been nice to have dykes. We lack that decent CF with some height. 

Thought he was going to get on to something late tonight. Shocking game between England Scotland. 

Yea agreed. We just don’t have that big CF anymore. Hence why arnie called giannou up to the hub in Kuwait. 

He looked decent, but yeah terrible game.

Cahill was ‘short’ for his ability at 178cm. Josh Kennedy 194cm - height not always crucial for striker success. Kuol 180cm. if he kicks on he might be our brightest future hope up front?

Giannou & Dykes are similar players, they don't score goals 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0LWRHDHYX8

Lots of Arab cup qualifiers full length here. Oman vs Somalia.

If the final round of qualifying is home and away we probably will qualify. If it's in a hub in the middle east or if we can’t play our home games in Aus then we probably wont qualify.

Watching Uruguay v Chile in the Copa and reflecting on the difference between the way some Australian fans are opposed to capping Souttar, Boyle, etc. compared to how Chilean football has embraced Ben Brereton.

Born in Stoke to an English dad and a Chilean mum, plays in the Championship for Blackburn Rovers having debuted for Nottingham Forrest, had several caps for England U19 and U20 with whom he won the 2017 U19 Euros and cannot speak Spanish.

Called up by Chile to debut for them in the Copa, where he set foot in the country for the first time since he was a baby in preparation for the tournament, playing all three games for them so far coming off the bench against Argentina, starting and scoring the winning goal against Bolivia and starting today against Uruguay, assisting the first goal. Their coach is singing his praises and says he can understand the football even if he can't understand the language, and even a former Chile player tweeted that he'll name his son Ben.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-19/one-english-player-scored-today-for-chile-in-the-copa-america/100228258 

https://www.fotmob.com/news/dtcnj0wdob5m1nyj2wnaoawl1-England-born-Brereton-showing-language-isn%27t-a-barrier-after-first-Chile-goal?fbclid=IwAR1WZqN7eeVA_XAwT7VIEYe89IW2I4IpQECjaPPTQ5oa1nC3PmXW5H6ZLso

https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/who-is-chile-hero-ben-brereton-the-englishman-clashing-with-mess-/ooordp0zvk571h8vt1nngxyn0

September 2 - Home China (4),
September 7 - Away Vietnam (6)

October 7 – Home Oman (5), 
October 12 - Away Japan (1)

November 11- Home Saudi (3), 
November 16 - Away China (4)

Jan 27 - Home Vietnam (6)
Feb 1 - Away Oman (5)

Mar 24 - Home Japan (1)
Mar 29 - Away Saudi

Vietnam away would be a frickin fantastic spectator trip, COVID aside.

Enjoying this story. Breretonmania apparently. Also playing in the rough tumble of Blackburn going to the grace of South America. 

Just said this to my wife. Damn covid. So glad we got them in our group 

COVID has me regretting not travelling to the Thailand away game during the 2018 qualifiers.

Agreed that Vietnam away would have been great this time around too.

For now I will settle for a home Socceroos match which (based in Hobart) means a trip for me in any case, hopefully I/we get the opportunity.

So we have had Japan since we joined Asia, they always been in our group in a way I think we got the good group, group A looks alot more tougher.

Making the World Cup is a must here, too much at stake with alot of recent changes happening to our sport so we cant afford to slip up and lose momentum.

Juric if he can get over injury woes

Have the Socceroos ever even played an A international match in Tasmania?

Think it came up last cycle. No, they haven't. It'd be something worth doing one day.

Adam Peacock said on the Fox podcast that Australia should consider hosting home qualifiers in the UK. That would be so good and is a real novelty. Fat chance the AFC will grant this but it's probably against the rules hosting qualifiers outside the confederation. Craven Cottage was suggested then Dodd said Stoke.

Article 4.5 of the AFC's special covid rules says that the host association is responsible for arranging a neutral venue if required, but the AFC retains the right to approve or reject the venue at its sole discretion. Doesn't say anything about the neutral venue having to be inside the AFC, but I wouldn't count on it.

I'd fear it would send a bad message that we don't see ourselves as part of the AFC, especially after having pulled out our teams in the ACL.

For the reasons you mention I would say it is more likely we end up with a Singapore or Malaysia situated neutral base than anywhere outside the AFC.

Good point.

After Aus losing C Vieri, Craig Johnston,  Tony Dorigo, Bobo ?, Joey Didulica, Joe Siminic,  Ante Seric  overseas, I'm keen to recruit anyone for Aus, even with tenuous links!

Don’t forget Lyndon dykes too. Fair striker 

I think the UK option is quite interesting.. it could work for one of the japan vs aus games as most would be euro based players possibly in october during the small fifa window japan might be keen...