Socceroos v Jordan
Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
January 6 - 3pm kick-off (2200AEDT)
Australia
Coach: Graham Arnold
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Rank: 41
Jordan
Coach: Vital Borkelmans
Rank: 109
Head to head
Australia 2, Jordan 2, Draws 0
The lowdown
Graham Arnold leads Australia into a competitive match for the first time since the disastrous 2007 Asian Cup. In his second coming as national team coach the Socceroos have won three and drawn one of four friendlies including a 5-0 thumping of Oman last weekend. The Socceroos will be out to claim a comprehensive victory and set a marker for the defence of their Asian Cup title.
The team
An injury to Martin Boyle will open up a spot on the wing for either Awer Mabil or Chris Ikonomidis. Captain Mark Milligan played in midfield against Oman and is expected to stay there with Milos Degenek and Trent Sainsbury forming the central defensive pairing. Tom Rogic will start after sitting out the Oman friendly while Mathew Leckie is unlikely to feature until the group stages while he recovers from a hamstring niggle.
The opponent
Belgian Vital Borkelmans is Jordan's sixth coach in less than four years but The Chivalrous have shown solid form despite that upheaval. Borkelmans axed star striker Hamza Al-Dardour from the squad despite his 10 goals over the course of qualification for his country. A lot will rest on exciting 21-year-old winger Musa Al-Taamari, who is in red-hot form after a mid-year move to Cypriot giants Apoel Nicosia. Experienced goalkeeper Amer Shafi may find himself in for a difficult night if Arnold's team deliver on their promised attacking intent.
