2023 Australia national soccer team season

2023 Australia national soccer team season
Melbourne Rectangular Stadium before the Australia v Bangaldesh match in November
Season2023
ManagerGraham Arnold
CaptainMathew Ryan
Matches played8
Wins4
Draws1
Losses3
Goals scored16 (2 per match)
Goals against8
Top goalscorerHarry Souttar (4)
Most capsConnor Metcalfe (8)
Players45
Goalscorers8
Debutants10
Biggest home winAustralia 7–0 Bangladesh
(16 November)
Biggest away winPalestine 0–1 Australia
(21 November)
Highest scoringAustralia 7–0 Bangladesh
(16 November)
Longest winning run3 (17 October – 21 November)
Longest unbeaten run3 (17 October – 21 November)
Longest winless run4 (28 March – 13 October)
Longest losing run2 (28 March – 15 June)
Highest attendance27,103
Australia 1–2 Ecuador
(28 March)
Lowest attendance20,668
Australia 3–1 Ecuador
(24 March)
Average attendance22,882
Home colours
Away colours
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2024 →

This page summarises the Australia men's national soccer team fixtures and results in 2023.

Summary

At the beginning of March 2023, Australia announced a two-game "welcome home" series, hosting friendly games against Ecuador in Sydney and Melbourne, to celebrate their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign, planning to call-up the majority of the squad.[1] Australia won the first match at CommBank Stadium 3–1, with Jackson Irvine scoring the first goal and assisting Awer Mabil for the second. The third goal was scored by Garang Kuol, marking his first international goal. During the match Aiden O'Neill and Alex Robertson made their international debuts.[2] Ahead of the second match, Graham Arnold made seven changes to the squad, including starting goalkeeper Joe Gauci for his international debut. Australia took the lead with Brandon Borrello scoring his first international goal, but eventually lost 1–2, with Ecuador's Pervis Estupiñán scoring a penalty and Willian Pacho scoring a header. Arnold also substituted on Jordan Bos for his international debut.[3] In mid-June, Australia played Argentina in a rematch of the World Cup Round of 16 match at Workers' Stadium in Beijing.[4] Despite playing an impressive game, Australia lost 2–0 with Lionel Messi opening the scoring early for Argentina and Germán Pezzella heading in the second goal in the second half.[5]

At the end of July 2023, the draw for the groups of the second round of the AFC 2026 World Cup qualifiers was conducted, with Australia drawn in Group I, together with Palestine, Lebanon, and the winner between Maldives and Bangladesh from the first round.[6]

In September 2023, Australia played a friendly game against Mexico in Arlington, Texas. The match ended in a 2–2 draw after Harry Souttar with a header and Martin Boyle with a penalty gave Australia a 2–0 lead which was equalised by a penalty by Raúl Jiménez and a goal by César Huerta.[7]

The following month, October, Australia played a couple of friendlies in London. The first one was in Wembley Stadium against England, a match they lost 0–1, with Ollie Watkins scoring the only goal.[8] In the game Lewis Miller and Mohamed Toure made their debuts for Australia.[9] The second match was the renewal of the Soccer Ashes against New Zealand.[10] Australia won the match 2–0, with Souttar scoring the first and Irvine scoring the second.[11] Despite being eligible for Italy and playing for them at youth level, Alessandro Circati made his debut for Australia, playing well and with composure.[12]

In November, Australia played their first games of the second round of the qualification path for the 2026 World Cup. In the first match, they beat Bangladesh 7–0 in Melbourne, with Souttar and Borrello scoring a goal each, Mitchell Duke scoring a brace, and Jamie Maclaren scoring his second hat-trick for the national team.[13] Also in the game, Kusini Yengi made his debut appearance for Australia.[14] In the second match, Australia beat Palestine 1–0, with Souttar scoring the only goal with a header.[15]

Record

As of match played 21 November 2023
Type GP W D L GF GA
Friendly 6 2 1 3 8 8
World Cup qualifiers 2 2 0 0 8 0
Total 8 4 1 3 16 8

Match results

Friendlies

This section is for matches confirmed by Football Australia, please do not add speculative fixtures.

24 March "Welcome Home" Series Australia  3–1  Ecuador Parramatta, Sydney, Australia
20:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Western Sydney Stadium
Attendance: 20,668
Referee: Kim Dae-yong (South Korea)
28 March "Welcome Home" Series Australia  1–2  Ecuador Melbourne, Australia
19:30 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Marvel Stadium
Attendance: 27,103
Referee: Chae Sang-hyeop (South Korea)
15 June Argentina  2–0  Australia Beijing, China
20:00 UTC+8
Report Stadium: Worker's Stadium
Attendance: 68,000
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
9 September Mexico  2–2  Australia Arlington, United States
21:00 UTC-5
Report
Stadium: AT&T Stadium
Referee: Rubio Vázquez (United States)
13 October England  1–0  Australia London, England
19:45 UTC+1
Report Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 81,116
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (France)
17 October Soccer Ashes Australia  2–0  New Zealand London, England
19:45 UTC+1
Report Stadium: Gtech Community Stadium
Attendance: 5,761
Referee: Stuart Attwell (England)

World Cup qualifiers

16 November Second round Australia  7–0  Bangladesh Melbourne, Australia
20:00 UTC+11
Report Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 20,876
Referee: Ahrol Risqullaev (Uzbekistan)
21 November Second round Palestine  0–1  Australia Kuwait City, Kuwait[a]
17:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Attendance: 14,537
Referee: Qasim Al-Hatmi (Oman)

Player statistics

Correct as of 21 November 2023 (v.  Palestine).
Numbers are listed by player's number in last match played

No. Pos Nat Player Total Friendlies World Cup qualifiers
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Australia AUS Mathew Ryan 7 0 5+0 0 2+0 0
12 GK Australia AUS Andrew Redmayne 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
12 GK Australia AUS Joe Gauci 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
18 GK Australia AUS Tom Glover 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
18 GK Australia AUS Ashley Maynard-Brewer 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
2 DF Australia AUS Miloš Degenek 3 0 2+1 0 0+0 0
2 DF Australia AUS Ryan Strain 4 0 1+2 0 1+0 0
3 DF Australia AUS Nathaniel Atkinson 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0
3 DF Australia AUS Cameron Burgess 3 0 2+0 0 1+0 0
4 DF Australia AUS Kye Rowles 6 0 4+1 0 1+0 0
5 DF Australia AUS Thomas Deng 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
5 DF Australia AUS Jordan Bos 6 0 2+2 0 1+1 0
8 DF Australia AUS Bailey Wright 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
13 DF Australia AUS Alessandro Circati 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
16 DF Australia AUS Aziz Behich 6 0 3+1 0 1+1 0
16 DF Australia AUS Joel King 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
19 DF Australia AUS Harry Souttar 7 4 5+0 2 2+0 2
20 DF Australia AUS Lewis Miller 4 0 1+1 0 1+1 0
7 MF Australia AUS Samuel Silvera 2 0 0+2 0 0+0 0
8 MF Australia AUS Connor Metcalfe 8 0 4+2 0 2+0 0
10 MF Australia AUS Ajdin Hrustic 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
10 MF Australia AUS Denis Genreau 2 0 0+2 0 0+0 0
14 MF Australia AUS Riley McGree 3 0 3+0 0 0+0 0
14 MF Australia AUS Aiden O'Neill 7 0 2+3 0 0+2 0
17 MF Australia AUS Cameron Devlin 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
17 MF Australia AUS Keanu Baccus 7 0 5+0 0 2+0 0
21 MF Australia AUS Alexander Robertson 2 0 0+2 0 0+0 0
21 MF Australia AUS Massimo Luongo 2 0 1+0 0 0+1 0
22 MF Australia AUS Jackson Irvine 7 2 4+1 2 2+0 0
22 MF Australia AUS Gianni Stensness 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
25 MF Australia AUS Patrick Yazbek 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
6 FW Australia AUS Marco Tilio 2 0 0+2 0 0+0 0
6 FW Australia AUS Martin Boyle 4 1 3+0 1 1+0 0
7 FW Australia AUS Mathew Leckie 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
9 FW Australia AUS Jason Cummings 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
9 FW Australia AUS Jamie Maclaren 3 3 1+0 0 0+2 3
9 FW Australia AUS Nicholas D'Agostino 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
10 FW Australia AUS Kusini Yengi 1 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
11 FW Australia AUS Brandon Borrello 7 2 1+4 1 1+1 1
11 FW Australia AUS Awer Mabil 2 1 1+1 1 0+0 0
15 FW Australia AUS Nestory Irankunda 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
15 FW Australia AUS Mitchell Duke 7 2 5+0 0 2+0 2
21 FW Australia AUS Garang Kuol 2 1 0+2 1 0+0 0
23 FW Australia AUS Craig Goodwin 6 0 3+1 0 2+0 0
26 FW Australia AUS Mohamed Toure 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0

Notes

  1. ^ Palestine played their home game at a neutral venue due to the Israel–Hamas war.[16]

References

  1. ^ Lewis, Samantha (1 March 2023). "Socceroos to host Ecuador in 'welcome home' series in Sydney and Melbourne as next FIFA World Cup cycle begins". ABC News.
  2. ^ Clarke, George (24 March 2023). "Two special debuts & a first goal for Garang Kuol as Socceroos upstage Ecuador". KeepUp.com.au.
  3. ^ Rugari, Vince (28 March 2023). "Youthful Socceroos slump to defeat as Ecuador spoil homecoming encore". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  4. ^ "Football Australia confirm Socceroos will play Lionel Messi's Argentina in Beijing in rematch of World Cup round of 16". ABC News. 22 May 2023.
  5. ^ Lynch, Joey (15 June 2023). "Early Lionel Messi strike helps Argentina see off Australia in friendly". The Guardian.
  6. ^ "Subway Socceroos' FIFA World Cup 2026 Second Round Asian Qualifiers confirmed". Socceroos. Football Australia. 27 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Socceroos draw 2-2 with Mexico in Dallas, with Jackson Irvine suffering ankle injury". ABC News. 10 September 2023.
  8. ^ McNulty, Phil (13 October 2023). "England 1-0 Australia: Ollie Watkins scores only goal in international friendly at Wembley". BBC Sport.
  9. ^ Lynch, Joey (13 October 2023). "Socceroos take heart from positive night despite Wembley defeat to England". The Guardian.
  10. ^ "Socceroos & All Whites to renew trans-Tasman rivalry in London". Keep Up. 11 July 2023.
  11. ^ Lynch, Joey (17 October 2023). "Jackson Irvine seals Socceroos win over New Zealand to claim 'Soccer Ashes'". The Guardian.
  12. ^ Monteverde, Marco (18 October 2023). "Alessandro Circati debuts in style for the Socceroos against New Zealand". news.com.au.
  13. ^ Lynch, Joey (16 November 2023). "Jamie Maclaren hat-trick finishes off Socceroos' rout of Bangladesh". The Guardian.
  14. ^ "Socceroos thrash Bangladesh 7-0 in first WC qualifier". ESPN. 16 November 2023. Striker Kusini Yengi debuted for Australia in the 72nd minute.
  15. ^ Lynch, Joey (21 November 2023). "Harry Souttar heads home to give Australia narrow win over Palestine". The Guardian.
  16. ^ "Australia, Palestine to face off at Jaber Stadium". Arab Times. 28 October 2023.