It means Arnold has to consider the possibility that,should he select young stars such as Nestory Irankunda,Garang Kuol and Nectar Triantis for the Asian Cup,clubs may not be willing to release them to the Olyroos so soon after. Sandwiched between the two are the Socceroos’ next World Cup qualifiers in March,home and away to Lebanon.
“I’m working very closely with Tony to get everything right in terms of player selection for both,” Arnold said. “Because this Asian Cup was meant to be over six months ago,and obviously the Olympic qualifiers have been moved from January back to April,so it’s important that we get our planning and our preparation right.”
Nestory Irankunda may not get a call-up to the Asian Cup if Graham Arnold prioritises his presence with the Olyroos.Credit:Getty
The problem would not exist had it not been for COVID-19,concerns over which prompted China to relinquish hosting rights,which were snapped up by Qatar. The tournament was rescheduled for January-February – in the middle of the European season,where many of the current Socceroos play.
“It suits the Middle East nations but I can imagine[Hajime] Moriyasu in Japan and Jurgen Klinsmann at South Korea are probably having the same issues we’re having with clubs at the moment because all of our boys are playing in Europe,” Arnold said. “A lot of our boys,if they do come for the Asian Cup,they can miss eight club games,so it’s quite a period there.”
But the Asian Cup is important,and not just because Australia would like to emulate their 2015 home triumph under Ange Postecoglou. The 25th-ranked Socceroos have been gradually climbing the FIFA rankings since their World Cup round-of-16 appearance against eventual champions Argentina,and earning rankings points from a big tournament could play a crucial part in the third round of qualifying.
The third round of Asian qualifying for the expanded 2026 tournament will,for the first time,feature three groups of six,to be drawn from pots that split up the best-ranked sides so they don’t have to play each other. The top two teams from each of the groups will qualify directly for the 2026 finals.
Australia are Asia’s fourth highest-ranked side behind Japan (17),Iran (21) and South Korea (23),meaning they would not be the top seed in their group.
“With the way the World Cup qualifiers will be,at this moment we will be in pot two,” Arnold said. “One,two and three are all[pot] one,and then we are the best-ranked second-pot team. So it’s important,if we can,to do really well and get up to pot one.
“If you do well at the Asian Cup and your ranking goes up,it makes our World Cup qualifiers and draw better for us. That’s the message to the players.”
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In terms of who he selects,Arnold said:“The time of giving chances is pretty much over – that’s what the last seven months have been all about.”
He will be without striker Brandon Borrello (foot) and defender Ryan Strain (groin),while midfielder Riley McGree (foot) is racing the clock. But Arnold would not be drawn on specifics,including naturalised Uruguayan Bruno Fornaroli’s revival as the A-League Men’s top goal scorer with Melbourne Victory.
“I’ve known Bruno and what he can do for a long,long time,” he said. “I don’t think they’re at their best at the moment,the A-League players,because they’ve only had four or five games. I think the best is still yet to come for the A-League players.”