The Socceroos need a win against Japan in Sydney on Thursday night to keep their hopes of qualifying directly for the 2022 World Cup alive.
Australia sit third in their qualifying group with two games remaining and are three points behind their opponents, who are second.
Japan started the group in shaky fashion but it's the Socceroos who have failed to hold their nerve lately.
Recent draws against China and Oman mean Graham Arnold's side need to win their last two games if they are any hope of avoiding the play-offs.
Socceroos vs Japan match details: Kick-off time, stadium and broadcaster
| Game | How to watch | Venue | Date (AEDT) | Time (AEDT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia vs Japan | Channel 10, 10 Bold (in Perth), 10 Play, Paramount+ | Stadium Australia | Thu Mar 24 | 8.10pm |
Japan claimed a crucial 2-1 win the last time these two sides met in October 2021.
A late own-goal from Aziz Behich saw Australia slip up with Japan subsequently finding real momentum in qualifying and are currently on a five-game winning run.
The Socceroos, meanwhile, have struggled since, claiming just one victory from their last four qualifiers.
Japan have had the edge over Australia in recent meetings with the Blue Samurai last losing to the green and gold in 2009 - a run of eight undefeated matches.
How to watch Socceroos vs Japan in Australia
The Socceroos' game against Japan will be broadcast on television via Channel 10 (10 Bold in Western Australia) and streamed online via 10 Play and Paramount Plus.
10 Play is available via the App Store and Google Play with the platform also accessible via Apple TV, Android TV, Freeview, Fetch, Samsung and Telstra TV.
Paramount+ meanwhile offers free seven-day trials with monthly subscriptions costing $8.99 and A-Leagues' clubs offering yearly discounted deals as part of membership packs.
Commentary duo Simon Hill and Andy Harper are expected to be calling the action.
Socceroos squad, team news and predicted starting side
| Name | Team | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awer Mabil | Kasimpasa, Turkey | Fran Karacic | Brescia, Italy |
| Aziz Behich | Giresunspor, Turkey | Connor Metcalfe | Melbourne City, Australia |
| Martin Boyle | Al-Faisaly, Saudi Arabia | James Jeggo | KAS Eupen, Belgium |
| Milos Degenek | Columbus Crew, USA | Bruno Fornaroli | Perth Glory, Australia |
| Gianni Stensness | Viking FK, Norway | Alex Wilkinson* | Sydney FC, Australia |
| Mitch Duke | Fagiano Okayama, Japan | Jamie Maclaren* | Melbourne City, Australia |
| Marco Tilio | Melbourne City, Australia | Mathew Ryan (GK) | Real Sociedad, Spain |
| Ben Folami | Melbourne Victory, Australia | Trent Sainsbury | KV Kortrijk, Belgium |
| Rhyan Grant | Sydney FC, Australia | Ryan McGowan** | Kuwait SC, Kuwait |
| Ajdin Hrustic | Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany | Nicholas D'Agostino | Melbourne Victory, Australia |
| Kenneth Dougall | Blackpool, England | Andrew Redmayne | Sydney FC, Australia |
| Joel King | OB, Norway | Danny Vukovic (GK) | NEC Nijmegen, Netherlands |
| Mathew Leckie | Melbourne City, Australia | Nathaniel Atkinson | Hearts, Scotland |
| Denis Genreau | Toulouse, France |
*Only available for Japan game
**Only available for Saudi Arabia game
Both Craig Goodwin and Jackson Irvine were withdrawn from the original squad and replaced by Ben Folami and Kenneth Dougall on March 20 due to Covid-related issues.
On March 22, Kye Rowles and Tom Rogic were also forced out with Alex Wilkinson and Ryan McGowan brought in.
Predicted Socceroos XI: Ryan; Behich, Sainsbury, Degenek, Grant; Genreau, Jeggo, Hrustic; Boyle, Mabil, Maclaren.
Japan squad, team news and predicted starting side
Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Strasbourg), Shuichi Gonda (Shimizu S-Pulse), Schmidt Daniel (Sint-Truiden VV), Kosei Tani (Shonan Bellmare)
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Maya Yoshida (Sampdoria), Sho Sasaki (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shogo Taniguchi (Kawasaki Frontale), Miki Yamane (Kawasaki Frontale), Naomichi Ueda (Neem), Ko Itakura (Schalke04), Yuta Nakayama (Zwolle), Shinnosuke Nakatani (Nagoya Grampus)
Midfielders/Forwards: Genki Haraguchi (Union Berlin), Gaku Shibasaki (Leganes), Wataru Endo (Stuttgart), Junya Ito (Genk), Takuma Asano (Bochum), Takumi Minamino (Liverpool), Hidemasa Morita (Santa Clara), Kaoru Mitoma (Union Saint-Giroise), Reo Hatate (Celtic), Ayase Ueda (Kashima Antlers), Ao Tanaka (Dusseldorf), Takefusa Kubo (Mallorca), Daichi Hayashi (Sint-Truidense)
Yuya Osako and Hiroki Sakai were named in the original squad but were forced out with injury. Daichi Hayashi and Shinnosuke Nakatani were called up to replace them.
Daizen Maeda was also withdrawn on Monday with no replacement as yet named.
Predicted Japan XI: Gonda; Nagatomo, Taniguchi, Yoshida, Yamane; Morita, Endo, Tanaka; Ito, Minamino, Ueda.
Socceroos vs Japan past results
| Date | Match | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 2021 | Japan 2-1 Australia | World Cup qualifier |
| Aug 21, 2017 | Japan 2-0 Australia | World Cup qualifier |
| Oct 11, 2016 | Australia 1-1 Japan | World Cup qualifier |
| Nov 18, 2014 | Japan 2-1 Australia | International friendly |
| Jul 25, 2013 | Japan 3-2 Australia | East Asian Cup |