Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold could not be happier to be back on home soil as the Green and Gold prepare to host a match for the first time in over two years.
Due to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Socceroos have not been able to play in Australia since October 2019 when the team defeated Nepal 5-0 at the start of the qualification campaign.
The side will relish the opportunity to take to the field in front of passionate home support on Thursday when FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualification resumes against Saudi Arabia at Western Sydney Stadium in Parramatta.
While last month saw the side make history with an 11th-straight win against Oman, Australia are now looking to bounce back from defeat following a narrow loss away to Japan in their last match.
A crowd of close to 15,000 fans witnessed Japan put an end to Australia’s 11-game winning streak at Saitama Stadium and Arnold believes it’s exactly what the Socceroos have been missing.
“One thing I did learn about Japan is the energy that the crowd has and brings to the game,” Arnold explained.
“They hadn't walked out in front of a crowd for a long, long time like our boys.
“During that game, the energy from the crowd helped Japan with their great start and by the time we got back into it, the crowd helped Japan again.
“I expect the same thing from our fans on Thursday night against Saudi Arabia here in Sydney.
The Socceroos have not played in Australia for a couple of years. We have played 13 out of 14 World Cup qualifiers away and we need our 12th man.
“Our 12th man is the fans and we need a full stadium to get behind these boys who have committed a lot to Australian football.
“Our 12th man will get us across the line and I’m appealing to all the fans here in Australia to get to the stadium because it's going to be a fantastic night. The Socceroos are back in town and we can't wait.”
While Australia will have the home support of fans for the first time in over two years, Saudi Arabia enter the match in red hot form.
The Middle Eastern nation has won their opening four matches which places them at the top of Group B. The Socceroos are second and can snatch top spot with a victory on Thursday night.
Arnold believes the side's free-flowing attacking form along with the support of the nation will be enough for Australia to return to the top of Group B.
"The Saudis are coming off a good run but they’ve had the luxury, if I can say that, of playing seven out of their eight games at home and in the Middle East, and we’ve played 11 out of 12 away from home," Arnold said.
“Our home crowd will bring a lot of energy onto the field, and I know that it might be small tactically but the energy that the crowd will bring to our players will be a huge addition.
“I always send the boys out onto the pitch expecting to win the game and to play on the front foot and get in the opposition's faces.
“I do believe that with the goals we've scored in the campaign and being up there as one of the leading goal scoring nations in Asia, we do put a lot of pressure on the opposition and don't let them get out of their half.
“You've seen me make changes many, many times to the front line to keep that pressure going, and we will do exactly the same here in Sydney and the energy will be huge.“
Following the match against Saudi Arabia, the Socceroos travel to the United Arab Emirates to face China PR on Tuesday the 16th of November.
Only the top two teams in each of Asia's two qualifying groups advance automatically to the finals, with the third-placed teams going into a series of playoffs for another berth.