It felt like another small step in the right direction. But in reality, the Socceroos haven’t moved forward at all: their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup are still resting on a knife’s edge, just as they were before Thursday night’s scoreless draw with Saudi Arabia.

It wasn’t great. It also wasn’t a total disaster. It was actually very nearly both of those things.

Riley McGree’s face says it all about the Socceroos’ clash with Saudi Arabia.Credit: Getty Images

Had Riley McGree’s bicycle kick in the 97th minute flown past the other side of the right post at AAMI Park’s northern end, he would be an international viral sensation. And not for the first time in his career.

“Almost, almost,” McGree said, neatly capturing the essence of the whole contest.

“I saw the flight of the ball come, and I knew pretty early what I was going to try and do. I think it was a bit shinny ... if it comes off my foot, I’d say it should have, could have, would have gone in.”

McGree’s near-miss came just moments after another at the southern end. Saudi Arabia had a free kick in a very dangerous position on the left flank. The ball came into the box, spilled out at the back post and rolled into the path of Sultan Al-Ghannam. He took one touch to steady it, and with his second, slapped it into the bottom corner.

As players and substitutes mobbed together to celebrate in front of a rowdy corner of Saudi fans, they were confronted by the heartbreaking sight of the assistant referee raising his flag. Because........

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