Australia v Nepal: World Cup 2022 qualifier – live! | Football

2 min: Oh my! Almost the worst possible beginning for Nepal, as the skipper Chemjong drove a clearance into the back of his own defender, and the ball almost ricocheted over the ‘keeper’s head!

1 min: And we’re off! Australia with the ball. Almost a comical beginning as the big countdown to kickoff signed on the board, but the Nepalese team were still in a group huddle. Thankfully Australia elected to play backwards and give their opponents a chance at regathering.

Ooph. The recording of the Nepalese anthem sounds like it’s been played on a Casio MT 68. Not that the players appear to have minded or taken any disrespect. It’s followed by a gorgeous a cappella rendition of Advance Australia Fair. Nice.

The word from the touchline is that Nepal could line up in a 4-5-1, so between that and a Swedish coach, expect it to be a reasonably defensive looking approach from the visitors.

A fair smattering of the distinctively shaped Nepalese flags inside Bruce Stadium. Let’s hope there’s something to enjoy tonight for Nepalese fans, on an otherwise chilly night in Canberra.

And our players are out onto the pitch, kickoff won’t be too far away.

“It’s an important qualify, my expectations are certainly very high” coach Graham Arnold said pre-game.

He’s increasingly looking like a Wes Anderson character actor, the 54-cap former Socceroo, sporting a salt-coloured grey beard and increasingly weathered air. Let’s hope his team don’t play tonight with the sense of ennui of a retired ship’s captain.

So – without further ado, to team news – and the headline story is a full Socceroos debut for young defender Harry Souttar. The 6 ft 6 in centre back will partner Bailey Wright in the centre of the park. A great occasion for the 20-year-old.

Jamie Maclaren gets the nod ahead of Adam Taggart up front, while skipper Mark Milligan returns to anchor the midfield, and Craig Goodwin gets an opportunity to impress from wide left.

Assistant coach Rene Meulenstein told media pre-game the staff are very happy with the state of the playing surface:

“The pitch is in really good condition. I expect that we can see some really good, attacking quality football tonight in these great conditions.”

It’s a game that Graham Arnold and his staff will Expect To Win (TM). But when the opposition is relatively unknown it does always float some interesting question marks over a match.

Nepal’s Swedish coach Johan Kalin has an association with football in the tiny Himalayan nation going back 7-8 years, so he should know his squad and the landscape pretty well. Nepal’s technical director is a man reasonably familiar with Australia n football as well – look out for some Sydney Olympic flags in the crowd tonight – hopefully Gary Phillips hasn’t passed on too many intimate trade secrets.

Hi all! G’day and Namaskār to you, from wherever around the world you’re following our coverage today.

If its from Canberra, get off your phones for Pete’s sake, and get down to Bruce Stadium and enjoy it all, live. Although, a public service announcement for any off-duty intelligence officers, maybe don’t log on the free wifi – the Five Eyes network will thank you for it later.

As always we love to hear from you ahead of kick off – fire me an email or tweet with your predictions or insights ahead of this one.

These two nations have never met at international men’s level – we could be in for a big score tonight. But Canberra fans, don’t hold your breath if you don’t see six again.. (too soon?)