Match Preview: Bahrain v Australia | International Friendly

The Subway Socceroos face Bahrain in the early hours of Sunday in the precursor to their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ campaign.

Bahrain rounded out 2023 in strong form, winning three of their last four games coming into this Australia clash.

The side started their World Cup Qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win against Yemen before losing 2-0 to Asian powerhouses United Arab Emirates late last year.

Juan Antonio Pizzi’s team boasts several attacking weapons, including creative frontman Komail Al-Aswad.

The three-time Bahraini Premier League winner has two goals and two assists in the AFC Cup this season, helping his team top their group and get through to the knockout phase.

Ali Madan is another in the attack who is enjoying a productive season with five goals and four assists in the United Arab Emirates for Ajman Club.

Mohamed Marhoon offers further quality with his versatility across midfield and upfront.

The 25-year-old was on the scoresheet in the Yemen victory in November and will be eager to inflict more damage against Australia.

The Socceroos announced a competitive team ahead of the Cup, with just 12 of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 squad called up again.

Among the new players Socceroos fans will get a first look at is Bolton Wanderers defender Gethin Jones, confirming he would start.

Jones has been a mainstay in the Wanderers backline in their hunt for promotion to the EFL Championship, currently sitting second place.

Tweet: https://twitter.com/Socceroos/status/1742747717900939677

Exciting forward John Iredale could also get his first taste of Socceroos action, following some promising performances for Wehen Wiesbaden in the 2. Bundesliga.

Iredale scored in his final game before flying to Qatar, netting the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe’s St. Pauli.

There is plenty of other competition in the striker position, with the in-form Bruno Fornaroli scoring 13 goals in 10 A-League Men’s Games.

While Mitchell Duke comes into the game off the back of lifting the J-League 2 trophy in 2023.

Keanu Baccus and Aiden O’Neill are options in midfield, having earned extended minutes for their respective European club sides, St. Mirren and Standard Liege.

Graham Arnold confirmed in his squad announcement Maty Ryan should recover in time for the Cup opener, but will miss the Bahrain clash.

This means one of A-Leagues duo, Joe Gauci and Lawrence Thomas, will play in between the sticks on Sunday.

Sunday is an important test for Australia as they look to put the finishing touches on their plans before they compete for the Asian Cup.

Current FIFA Rankings

Australia: 25
Bahrain: 86

Head-to-Head vs Bahrain

Played: 5
Wins: 5
Draws: 0
Losses: 0
Goals scored: 9
Goals conceded: 1

• READ MORE: Our History vs Bahrain

Insights

Insights courtesy of Jack George

• Bruno Fornaroli has scored an astonishing 13 goals in 10 games this campaign - an average of 1.35 per game, while eight of his goals have come from two separate four-goal hauls
• Fornaroli has scored his 13 goals from just 37 shots - a conversion rate of 35.14%, and has overperformed his expected goals by 5.07
• Martin Boyle has created 1.82 chances per 90 for Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership, while completing 1.88 successful dribbles and succeeding in 1.25 crosses per game
• Craig Goodwin has seven goal involvements in his 14 Saudi Pro League games in the 2023/24 campaign - an average of a goal or assist every other game
• Jordan Bos has completed 1.83 successful dribbles per game for Westerlo in Belgium this campaign, with a high success rate of 57.1%
• In the Scottish Premiership, Lewis Miller is top compared to other fullbacks for duels won (128), interceptions (27), successful dribbles (17), and fouls won (35)
• Lawrence Thomas has kept five clean sheets in nine A-League Men matches, whilst conceding just ten goals throughout the season

What They Said

Graham Arnold on team selection against Bahrain

I think I can be open honest and tell you straight away that I probably will start Gethin Jones because I need to see him in a game where he needs to connect with the players. Obviously, he hasn't played with the boys before. But I will say that playing him in his role that he plays at his club will make things much easier for him. We did 11 v 11, yesterday at training two times 15, 16 minutes, and he was very good. So that'll probably be the only real surprise that you'll you will see if I say that as a surprise. So there's a few players obviously that need some match minutes and haven't played for the last couple of weeks like a Mitchell Duke in Japan where the J League stopped and finished at the end of November. But I've got 26 very, very good players here and already getting headaches on who to start and who not to start and everyone's turned up, fit and ready to go. It's going to be fun selecting not only the side for this one against Bahrain, but in the future of the Asian Cup.

Graham Arnold confirms Maty Ryan will miss friendly

Maty is out for this one. But he's doing full training. But again it's a question of what happens if Maty gets sick. Or if something happens to Maty injury wise, and what's next? Who's next?... As I said, we've got one training session left today and the discussion today, obviously, will be about the starting eleven with the staff. And as I've always said, John Crawley has a big role to play on that side of it and who plays in goals. 

Graham Arnold on Riley McGree and Marco Tilio's fitness

Seeing him (Riley McGree) yesterday, probably the last six to seven weeks since he's had that injury has probably freshened him up. He looks in great shape. Again we've got competition for those places. And you know it might be a matter of sharing those match minutes tomorrow with with another player, but at the end of the day, he's in fantastic shape. Tilio looked extremely sharp yesterday and he's come in with a lot of motivation, which I expect

Sam Silvera

I think the first couple days has been just getting amongst the boys and having a good laugh and getting the camaraderie going. But I think we have an amazing squad here, and I think with the talent that we have in this squad, we can do really well in this tournament.

• READ MORE: Silvera feels 'privileged' to represent Socceroos in Asian Cup

Gethin Jones

I've known Arnie (Graham Arnold) and (Rene Meulensteen) have been coming to the games at Bolton for quite a few months now. It was a few months back, where Rene contacted me after a game, and I met up with Rene and then all of a sudden, I got the phone call from Arnie asking if I wanted to play for the Socceroos.

In terms of position, Jones has said he is best is at right back, however he has experience across the backline and is willing to step in wherever he is needed. Over the years I have played multiple positions, especially at Bolton, I have played left wing back, left back, right centre back in a back three, and of course at right back as well, so, I'm versatile,” he said. But obviously my main position I'd say is right back, but as long as the manager puts me on the pitch, wherever he wants me to play I will give my 100%.

• READ MORE: Jones hoping to bring leadership qualities to Socceroos

Craig Goodwin

When we come into these camps, everyone says the similar thing, it's like a second family coming in here. It's very easy to get along with everyone and to feel very comfortable, so I think that's really important to keep that kind of environment, especially for new players coming in.

We have aspirations to win the Asian Cup, and to do that, we've got to have a ruthless mentality and to be focused on what's coming next. Although we're very happy with what we've done here in the past (Qatar), that is in the past, and we've got the here and now to focus on to be able to try and bring the Asian Cup back to Australia.

• READ MORE: Goodwin believes this squad can produce something special at Asian Cup

How to Watch

Every AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 match will be live on Paramount+