Australia

Japan v Australia: World Cup 2022 qualifier – live!

12-Oct-2021 09:37:34 | Guardian

• Updates from the Socceroos’ qualifier at Saitama Stadium
• Kick-off tonight is 7:14pm local time, 9:14pm AEDT
• Any thoughts? Email or tweet @mike_hytner

The Socceroos are a perfect 11 from 11 so far on the long (and, dare I say, seemingly never-ending) road to the World Cup. They can make it a dozen tonight at Saitama Stadium, and if they do manage to extend their record World Cup qualification winning streak, they can take a big step towards reaching next year’s tournament in Qatar.

Arguably, there has never been a better time to face their old foes Japan. A solitary point from their three outings so far in this stage of qualification - and just a single goal scored, against China - has ramped up the pressure on coach Hajime Moriyasu who, as John Duerden points out in his match preview below, may well not be in gainful employment come Japan’s next match against Vietnam should his side fall to another defeat tonight.