Summary Right, that’s all you need from me for one night. I’ll hand you over to Joey Lynch’s speedily filed match report. Stay tuned for more reaction and analysis during the week. Cheerio. Next up for the Socceroos is a trip to Kuwait on Tuesday to face 96th ranked Palestine. After that, qualifiers go on hiatus for January’s Asian Cup in Qatar. Then a double-header with Lebanon in March should confirm the Socceroos’ progress to the third round later in 2024. What did we learn? Jordy Bos has only just turned 21 but he is the present and the future. He’s got it all – strength, pace, technique, and superb execution – and promises to be a decade-long presence on Australia’s left. Nothing new, but Harry Souttar is a threat from set-pieces – especially when the delivery from Craig Goodwin is so accurate. Lewis Miller has got something. He’s only 23 and this was just his third cap, but there’s some mongrel that Arnold will enjoy, and he stuck to his task for 90 minutes, scrapping for possession, taking on his man on the outside, and whipping in crosses. Very promising performance. Against better teams there’s an absence of control in the middle of the park. Without Aaron Mooy or Tom Rogic Australia lacked a calming presence on the ball in midfield. It didn’t matter tonight because the Socceroos were able to pass and move so quickly and overload with the inverted fullbacks, but against better teams they will need to figure out how to control the pace of a game or risk becoming exclusively a counterattacking side. Finally, we didn’t learn as much about the fringe players as you might have hoped – especially for a team 4-0 up at half-time. The substitutions were largely senior players, apart from 20 minutes at the end to Kusini Yengi. A satisfying night for Graham Arnold as he celebrates becoming the longest-serving Australian head coach. He got his tactics and selections spot on, doing what was required on the night and opening the door to what’s to come later in this qualification campaign. Full-time: Australia 7-0 Bangladesh Job done for the Socceroos who get their 2026 World Cup campaign up and running in emphatic fashion. 90+2 mins: Another lovely switch from the centre to the right. Miller again does what he has to, getting an early cross over, but this time Maclaren hooks over the bar from six-yards out. Missed Penalty Australia (Luongo) Comical stuff from Sahil after getting robbed by O’Neill’s press. He tries to obstruct the Australian, then fails to pull him back, and eventually, after riding so much pressure, the Socceroo accepts being hacked down in the box. Luongo is handed the opportunity from the spot but his tame effort is saved smartly low to his right by 19-year-old Mitul Marma. GOAL! Australia 7-0 Bangladesh (Maclaren, 84) Maclaren does get his hat-trick! And just like his previous efforts it’s a tap in. The hard work was done by O’Neill finding Miller on the right. His cross to the near post was perfect for the sharp run of the No 9, and he was perfectly placed to glance the ball into the back of the net. 80 mins: The referee has blown his whistle at every opportunity tonight but keeps his air in his lungs when Behich goes down in the box for what looks like a nailed on spot-kick. Classic performatively bad refereeing. Still I’ll take this any day over VAR. 78 mins: Maclaren should have a hat-trick but he drives Bos’ pullback into Yengi on the goalline. Maclaren had time to pick his spot there but rushed the finish after yet more excellent work from the youngster Bos down the left. 74 mins: Miller has been waging a one-man war against Bangladesh down the Australian right, and his industry drives Saad Uddin to concede a frustrated yellow card. Bos heads narrowly wide from the resulting set-piece. 73 mins: It’s a debut for Kusini Yengi with the Portsmouth striker replacing Brandon Borrello for Australia. 72 mins: Another excellent Bos cross, but this time Maclaren can’t finish from point blank range. GOAL! Australia 6-0 Bangladesh (Maclaren, 70) Bangladesh just about clear the initial delivery, but Bos returns it with interest, bursting on to the loose ball and slaloming past defenders like George Best. By the edge of the box a shooting chance opens up for Luongo but his angled drive is saved – only as far as Maclaren who taps in his second of the night from a combined distance of about four yards. 68 mins: Lovely interplay from Miller and Luongo on the right and the latter’s cutback to Borrello is inch perfect but the shot is blocked behind off the boot. From the corner… 67 mins: The umpteenth cross of the night from the right by Miller is deflected behind for a corner. Burgess heads the resulting set-piece over. 65 mins: Baccus makes way for O’Neill as Australia make their fourth change of the night. 64 mins: Australia have a free-kick in a situation similar to a corner. Both Burgess and Souttar are double marked in the box, so the rolled pass to Luongo is smart, but he’s also smothered before he can pull off a shot in anger. 62 mins: The first audible organised chant of the night comes through the TV coverage, and it’s the local anti-Sydney FC number. Not a great look at a half-full stadium. 59 mins: Triple change for Bangladesh. The skipper Bhuyan, along with the two men on yellow cards, Tipu and Hossain make way for Islam, Hasan, and Mohammed Shakil Hossain. 58 mins: Another ball intot he box goes begging. First Maclaren, then Luongo, fail to connect cleanly after good work from Miller on the right. 56 mins: Now Baccus is booked for a needless challenge in midfield. It wasn’t a yellow card though. This referee has not impressed me tonight. 55 mins: Brilliant from Bos again. Too quick and too strong down the left, causing havoc. His feed into the box should have been tucked away but the golden jerseys were running away from the ball, not to it. 53 mins: Another excellent save from the Bangladesh goalkeeper, keeping out Borrello’s fierce hit from the edge of the box. 51 mins: Good hustle from Maclaren and Borrello forces a turnover in Bangladesh’s half. As Australia counter Tipu makes a dreadful challenge for which he is deservedly booked. GOAL! Australia 5-0 Bangladesh (Maclaren, 49) And right on cue, there is Bos, accepting the pass from Behich, and crossing square along the ground for Maclaren to tap home from two yards out. Another Plan A goal from the Socceroos. Arnie will be thrilled. 47 mins: Two of those changes are like-for-like, but the arrival of Behich pushes Bos into a more advanced left-wing role. 46 mins: Three changes at the interval for Australia. On come Luongo, Maclaren and Behich, for Duke, Irvine, and Goodwin. A quick reminder that James Paraskevas’ pre-match prediction of 6-0 with Mitch Duke scoring four (including a hat-trick of headers) is still on! “Australia 4-0 up at half time, in the cricket Australia have South Africa at 44-4 going into a rain delay,” emails Phil Withall. “An unusual sporting symmetry. Could be worth keeping an eye on (or may be a pointless exercise in nothingness).” Let’s check in at 8-0 and see if the Proteas are 88-8? Half-time: Australia 4-0 Bangladesh Everything going according to plan for the Socceroos as they begin their 2026 World Cup campaign in style. 44 mins: Nearly five! Bos gets two bites of the cherry down the left, and from the second his cross is delightful. There’s almost a header near the penalty spot, then Metcalfe smashes the loose ball goalbound but there’s a smart save on the line. 42 mins: Miller again drops his shoulder and earns a corner by going around the outside heading for the byline. The delivery is again wicked from Goodwin but this time Marma gets a solid fist to the ball and punches clear. 41 mins: Now Irvine goes close but his effort from the edge of the box is deflected and pushed behind for a corner. The set-piece is menacing once again but Burgess cannot get enough on his effort under pressure. GOAL! Australia 4-0 Bangladesh (Duke, 40) Duke has a quickfire double! Bos is the instigator on the left. His cross is headed clear, but only as far as Borrello, who lashes a rasping volley against the foot of the post. The rebound lands fortunately at the feet of Duke who does just enough to deflect the ball into the unguarded net. GOAL! Australia 3-0 Bangladesh (Duke, 37) A third goal was inevitable, and it’s another header. Metcalfe dinks over a hopeful cross but Duke turns it into an assist by bullying the defender in front of him, and whipping a powerful header that screams over the flat-footed goalkeeper. That was like an Australian Rules full-forward bullying his direct opponent with body strength. Excellent old-fashioned striker’s goal. 37 mins: It’s now become a bit of an exhibition match with Australia dominating the ball and Bangladesh getting increasingly ragged trying to keep up… 35 mins: So many of Australia’s promising moves begin with Bos on the left finding a yard of space with his strength and quick feet. He is a serious talent, and now he’s filled out he looks an imposing footballer. 33 mins: And from Goodwin’s beautiful inswinging delivery Baccus should score, but he glances a free header a fraction over the apex of bar and post. 32 mins: Another Miller cross is bundled out for a corner. 30 mins: Miller drops a shoulder and goes around the outside of the Bangladesh fullback near the touchline but his cross is blocked desperately before it could cause trouble. He has impressed me down the right. He’s hard as nails and backs himself on the ball. 27 mins: Should be three! Lovely ball between the lines by Baccus for Goodwin. The cross is begging to be thumped home at the far post but Borrello can only divert his header straight at the keeper who makes a reflex save. 23 mins: Another clear set play from the Australian coaching staff is making use of the left boot of Burgess to ping crossfield passes from left centre-half to the right wing. You can see its value against stronger opponents but tonight it serves only to slow play down and allow Bangladesh to close down the intended recipient. 22 mins: Bangladesh make another break down the left, but as soon as Mat Ryan claims the cross easily he frees Craig Goodwin with space to run into. The home side have the game entirely on their terms now. GOAL! Australia 2-0 Bangladesh (Borrello, 20) That’s more like it. Lovely from Miller on the right, dinking a ball in the channel for Metcalfe to gallop on to, hold off the defender, get his head up, and square the ball across the six-yard line for the onrushing Borrello to smash home from close range. That is Graham Arnold’s Plan A executed to perfection. 18 mins: Not for the first time tonight Australia are caught offside with the runner – this time Borrello – setting off before the throughball is delivered. It’s very bitty so far, crying out for an Aaron Mooy figure to dictate the tempo. 16 mins: And now a counter attack through the pacy Fahim, but after dashing down the left he can’t get any power behind his speculative shot from the edge of the box. 15 mins: This time Australia free the overlap runner on the left, and it’s Goodwin. His cross is hard and low and causes panic in the Bangladesh defence, but a ricochet falls kindly into the keeper’s arms. 14 mins: Soft yellow card for Rakib, Bangladesh’s No 10, after Baccus made the most of some contact in a contest on halfway. 12 mins: Australia back in possession in midfield but without a cutting edge. The strategy is smart – interchanging positions in wide areas to create an overlap in the channel – but the key pass through to Bos from Metcalfe misses its mark. 10 mins: A deflected cross down the right after Burgess conceded possession leads to the first corner of the night to Bangladesh, but Australia deal with it comfortably. 9 mins: Australia have looked bright and busy but apart from the goal there’s been no cutting edge. Everything is being funnelled wide with Duke used as a target to play off in the middle. As yet, nothing in open play has been returned centrally to finish. 7 mins: Just the start Graham Arnold was looking for. It gives his side the freedom to play to the plan they have designed and forces Bangladesh to come out of their low block. 5 mins: That’s Souttar’s ninth international goal in just 20 appearances. He now has as many strikes as Jackson Irvine and Mitch Duke. His height is such a weapon. GOAL! Australia 1-0 Bangladesh (Souttar, 4) Textbook set piece. Goodwin curls over an inch-perfect cross. The giant Harry Souttar is unstoppable in the air and he meets the free-kick with a firm forehead, planting the ball decisively into the back of the net. There’s the early settling goal. 4 mins: Bos is lively early on, operating as an inverted fullback, providing an overload on the left side of midfield while Goodwin pulls wide. The latter is eventually hacked down, creating a decent crossing opportunity…. 2 mins: Australia straight into possession, passing the ball slowly in midfield, looking for openings. The back four is already camped on the halfway line as Bangladesh drop into a low block on the edge of their own box. Kick-off! Australia’s 2026 World Cup campaign is under way… Anthems sung, pennants exchanged, 12 minutes late we’re almost ready for kick-off. I could have been watching the cricket. The smoke machines are doing a lot of heavy lifting for the atmosphere at a half-full full AAMI Park. Plenty of folk digging their hands deep into their pockets regretting not putting on a warmer jacket. The contrast with the euphoria accompanying recent Matildas fixtures is striking. Three minutes after the advertised kick-off time the two sides are lined up in the AAMI Park tunnel. Australia are wearing gold shirts, green shorts and white socks. Bangladesh are in white jerseys, white shorts, and red socks. So, according to the countdown clock on the host broadcaster, the 8pm kick-off time was a bold-faced lie. We’re looking at 8.10pm at best. One of my pet peeves that. And I’m looking at you NRL, with your hypothetical State of Origin timelines. The home team will be wearing gold this evening. It’s been a classic spring day in Melbourne. Showers earlier, fine thereafter, and a cool breeze keeping temperatures in check. Should be perfect footballing conditions under lights. The Socceroos are unbeaten at AAMI Park since the venue opened in 2010. There remain myriad problems with the domestic scene, but the bigger picture is also starting to emerge there as well, principally the imminent national second division, and the strategic commercialisation of young assets (AKA the A-League figuring out how to prosper as a feeder competition). These are interesting times for the Socceroos, and in a major deviation from the usual script, for positive reasons. The last world cup was a roaring success. The coach is settled long-term. The squad is at the youthful start of a cycle that appears well-planned. Preparation for qualifying has included marquee friendlies against Mexico, Argentina and England, as well as the introduction of a neighbourly competition with New Zealand. I’m sure we’ll find plenty of things to moan about in time, but credit where it’s due. Another Paraskevas has logged on, Chris this time. “What a position for Graham Arnold to be in: he can really “Get his Pep on” and start tinkering with all manner of formations and systems tonight - and presumably for the next four (thousand?) years - with *check notes* all 211 nations guaranteed a place at all subsequent World Cups, to be held annually. Having said that, things will get a little awkward if Arnie’s Subway Roos repeat their diabolical 2019 Asian Cup display again in January (which he could easily have been sacked for). Or if our creaking style of play is exposed by our rapidly improving Asian opponents (both the minnows, and the big boys). It’s hard to gauge where his legacy sits as Australia manager: I don’t think the World Cup captured hearts and minds quite like the Guus’ 2006 Brigade. Ange, meanwhile, has the Asian Cup, despite his own questionable track record in qualifying. Perhaps Arnie is the great survivor: hung out to dry by his own players and Federation in 2007, an unfashionable throwback to the graft of the 80s and 90s.” Plenty to unpack there. I’ll focus on Guus quickly: first cut is the deepest. As for Arnie, I wrote this nearly six years ago, and it still holds up. He may not be a sexy modern sophisticate, but is he the best Australian football manager available to do the job? Probably. Bangladesh XI Captain Jamal Bhuyan is the only man over 30 in Javier Cabrera’s starting line-up. Bhuyan is also the only player signed to a club outside Bangladesh. Australia XI Graham Arnold has a callow squad at his disposal, so it’s little surprise to see a starting XI containing plenty of experienced heads. 30-somethings Craig Goodwin and Mitch Duke will be under pressure to unlock the Bangladesh defence early on and settle the nerves, while Jackson Irvine patrols the midfield. There’s still room for 21-year-old Jordan Bos to add to his growing reputation at left back, with 23-year-old Lewis Miller earning just his third cap on the opposite flank. James Paraskevas is tuning in. “I had to make sure I was emailing in the right thread for a second. Bangladesh? Soccer?” That’s right. The cricket against Bangladesh was last week – and tonight it’s against South Africa for much higher stakes. ”Hopefully the boys can put on a cricket score. I’m predicting 6-0 with Mitch Duke scoring four goals (three headers).” A hat-trick of headers! Some cursory research suggests it’s only been accomplished twice in the history of the English Premier League (Duncan Ferguson and Salomon Rondon, in case you were wondering) so it would be a treat to see one in the wild tonight. It will be a landmark occasion in Melbourne tonight as Graham Arnold becomes the longest serving coach in Australian history, taking charge of his 59th ‘A’ international. Portsmouth forward Kusini Yengi and Charlton goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer are the new faces in Graham Arnold’s latest squad. But they are only fractionally newer than most. Of the 23 players called up 11 have fewer than 10 caps for the senior national team. Preamble Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v Bangladesh from AAMI Park. Kick-off in Melbourne is 8pm AEDT. The road to the 2026 World Cup starts here for the Socceroos. It’s a road less fraught than any Australia have embarked on previously, with the tournament in North America the first to feature a mammoth 48 teams. As a consequence the Asian Football Confederation now receives eight direct qualification places, and one play-off spot if required. Even the Socceroos, notorious for making life difficult for themselves, would have to go some way to ballsing this up. Tonight marks the beginning of stage two of the qualification process. Stage one already eliminated the 10 weakest of the continent’s 46 member federations. The surviving 36 include the top 26 ranked teams for the first time, and they have been drawn into nine groups of four. The top two in each group progress to stage three, as well as qualify directly for the 2027 Asian Cup. Stage three, which will begin in September next year, will feature three groups of six teams, with the top two in each group qualifying for the finals. There is a stage four, five, and a possible intercontinental playoff should stage three go awry, but that is numberwang for another day. Back to the matter at hand, it’s 27th ranked Australia at home to 183rd ranked Bangladesh. When these sides met at this stage in 2015 the Socceroos won 5-0 at home and 4-0 away. There is no evidence to suggest a similar scoreline should not be expected again. I’ll leave it there for now, but if you’d like to get in touch while I’m on, please fire all communication to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.