Australia has entered the knockout stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. In the final and decisive match of the group stage, Australia secured its place in the last 16 by defeating the strong competitor Denmark by 1-0. With this, Australia has also become the first Asian team to enter the knockout stage in the ongoing World Cup. A decisive 60th minute goal from Matthew Lecky made the difference for Denmark on Wednesday night.
Nepal's encounter with Australia in the AFC Asian Qualifiers
Out of the three games, Australia payed 2 wins & a defeat to secure their spot in the last 16 with 6 points as a runner up. Australia lost to France 4-1 in the opening match, and Tunisia 1-0 in the second round. On Wednesday night after defeating Denmark by 1-0, Australia has repeated their history after 16 years reaching the knockout stage twice after 2006 German World Cup. From the same group D last night the defending champions though after loosing against Tunisia after 51 years with equal 6 points reached the last 16 as the group winner based on goal difference. Australia, as a Group D runners-up, will play Group C winners, Argentina, while Group D table topper France will play Group C runners-up Poland.
This success of Socceroos' in a sense, is associated with the Nepal's National Men's football team as throughout the World Cup and Asian Cup qualification matches, Nepal twice faced off against the very Australian squad. Both team shared a group in the second round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Winning all 8 of their games against the other four countries in Group B, Australia advanced collectively to the third round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifications & 2023 Asian Cup finals.
Australian Coach Graham Robert's praise on Nepalese bravery
On October 10,2019 Nepal and Australia played each other for the first time at Geo Stadium, Canberra as a away fixture. Here the home team thrashed Nepal by 5-0 . The second encounter as a home fixture which was originally slated to take place in Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu was ultimately moved to Kuwait due to the Covid pandemic. In the match played at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium on 11 June ,2021 Nepali national men's football team lost against Australia by a score of 3-0. In contrast to the previous encounter, Nepal made Australia's task much harder this time with 10 men. Graham Arnold, the Australian coach, commended the Nepali squad after the game for their hard fight.
"The most pleasing aspect was the amount of chances we created," Arnold, whose side had 28 shots with 12 on target, said. "You have to give credit to Nepal, they fought and fought and fought. They didn't stop running and fighting." said Graham Arnold after the match.
Australia's road to Qatar FIFA world cup 2022
The same Australia, which qualified for the third round of the Asian qualifications as the Group B winner to the second round, finished third in the group. Then they faced UAE in the fourth round, who also did finished third in the opposite group. Australia won that game 2-1, securing a matchup with Peru in the inter-confederation qualifiers. Australia became the last team likely to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after defeating Peru by 5-4 in the tie-breaker after a goalless draw at scheduled time.
The former head coach of the Nepali national football team, who closely observed the game of Socceroo has suggested that the success of Australia have shown a positivity on Nepali football for the future. Following Australia's victory on Wednesday night going to the round of 16 in the ongoing 2022 World Cup, he said on his social media account .
" Australia in Round of 16 in FIFA World Cup 2022
Before 18 months we face them , with 10 players for 45 minutes we fight hard , we lose 3-0
this the words of Australian coach Graham Arnold about our Gokhali be proud to be Nepali .. Nepal's time is coming."