[ad_1]
MELBOURNE : Australia coach Graham Arnold has challenged his players to eclipse the nation’s record 11-game winning streak in World Cup qualifying to ease their passage to the 2026 finals in North America.
Australia thrashed Palestine 5-0 in Perth on Tuesday to finish Asia’s second phase of qualifying with a perfect 6-0 winning record.
The Socceroos racked up 11 wins in succession during qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but lost their way in the third phase and ended up having to win two single-match playoffs to reach the global showpiece.
The last playoff saw Australia emerge with a tense penalty shootout win over Peru, something Graham hopes to never repeat.
“When we went through the last campaign we won the first 11 (matches),” Arnold told reporters.
“It’s another goal that I’ve set the boys to achieve something special – winning more than 11 games straight.
“I have high expectations all the time and I drive those high expectations to the boys and I don’t want to go through another Peru game. That’s the last thing that I want.”
Australia reached the last 16 at Qatar and won two World Cup matches for the first time but Arnold said the Socceroos should aim higher for 2026 and have the players to do it.
“(Alessandro) Circati was incredible against Palestine, and he’s so mature for his age – 20-years-old,” Arnold said of the Italy-born defender.
“Next year he’s going to be playing in Serie A in Italy against some incredible strikers, so he’s going to get better and better.”
Nestory Irankunda, the 18-year-old Bayern Munich-bound winger, tucked away a penalty for his first international goal after coming on as a second-half substitute against Palestine in his second Socceroos appearance.
Arnold said Irankunda had matured since last year’s under-17 Asian Cup when he “wasn’t as disciplined as he should have been”.
“I had a good sit-down chat with him the other day about going to Bayern and what it means,” added Arnold.
“It’s not like because you’ve gone to Bayern, it’s all done. This is the start. It’s all about hard work and passion and drive.
“He’s an exciting talent, but there’s a long way to go.”
[ad_2]
Source link
