“You’d like to see it [the A-League] go from 10 clubs to 12 clubs, to 14, to 16, to 18, and give more opportunities to players, to kids. The domestic leagues in Saudi Arabia, look what they’re doing now. Look at the Middle East, the way they’re improving in Qatar [who have] just won the Asian Cup. We’re playing a world sport … we’ve got to compete at junior level in Asia and senior level, and it’s getting tougher and tougher.

“There’s a lot of work to be done.”

Putting those off-field concerns aside, the Socceroos are warm favourites to account for world No.115-ranked Lebanon in what will be their first match since being knocked out of the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup by South Korea, and only their fifth in Sydney in the past six years. The 30,000-seat CommBank Stadium in Parramatta will be close to full, and Tuesday night’s rematch in Canberra – nominally a “home” game for Lebanon – is also nearing a sellout, with the Lebanese communities in both cities expected to come out in force.

Lebanon coach Miodrag Radulovic was highly complimentary of Arnold’s Socceroos, saying they played “the most offensive football” at the Asian Cup and were unlucky to have given up a 1-0 lead at the death against South Korea, who were dragged over the line by the brilliance of Son Heung-min.

“We play against a team I appreciate a lot; individually and as a team,” Radulovic said. “High-quality players, they have experience in major competitions … this team will be a great motivation for my team.”

Only three members of Australia’s squad – skipper Maty Ryan, Jackson Irvine and Craig Goodwin – were involved the last time they met Lebanon in Tim Cahill’s farewell match at Accor Stadium in 2018. Goodwin is the Socceroos’ only fitness concern for the two matches and has already been ruled out of Thursday night’s encounter due to illness.

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Lebanon’s squad includes a local in 21-year-old forward Jackson Khoury, who was born and raised in Sydney, played for Sydney United 58 in the NSW NPL and then spent time in the academy of the Central Coast Mariners. Khoury signed for second-tier American side South Georgia Tormenta FC last year and qualifies for “the Cedars” through his father’s heritage.

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