Socceroos recovery pic special

Australia will look back at Thursday night’s 2-0 loss to Japan as an opportunity missed as a win would have guaranteed qualification to next year’s World Cup.

The Socceroos need a heavy win against Thailand or they will rely on Japan to beat Saudi Arabia in the final game.

Australia are awkwardly placed in their group, sitting third on goal difference by two goals on goal difference behind the Saudis.

And despite Thailand drawing with Australia last year, Leckie was optimistic they could inflict pain in Melbourne.

“We know we’re strong at home so I think we’ll be very dominant,” Leckie told FourFourTwo.

“The problem now is we need more than a few goals and it’s not all in our hands, we have to rely on the other game as well. We need to go out and play our part and pray Japan can get a result.

“For me it’s not really pressure, I think we have the quality to score goals, playing at a high level for club and country.

“I’m used to it as well to the big games. We need to start well early, we need to win."

Leckie also felt the Japan game did not mean it was all doom and gloom and was taking positives out of their defensive display.

“Overall it’s disappointing, the game itself, up until their goal, the first could’ve come either way,” he said.

“It was quite an even game until then, we hit the post just before they scored, we knew Japan, and once they scored we knew it would be difficult because they played a very defensive game.

“It wasn’t our best game and we paid the price.”

Socceroos recovery pic special