(Reuters) – Australia coach Graham Arnold examined positive for COVID-19 for the second time in as many months, Football Australia mentioned on Friday, ahead of two essential World Cup qualifiers over the following two weeks.
The 58-year-old returned the positive end result after present process a test on Thursday as per workforce protocols earlier than his deliberate arrival on the Australian camp in Sydney and is now isolating at dwelling.
In late January, Arnold examined positive to the virus within the build-up to Australia’s World Cup qualifier in opposition to Vietnam in Melbourne. Arnold was unable to return to the camp in time for the match, which his workforce received 4-0.
“Arnold will stay related to Australia’s squad and employees digitally, as he efficiently did in January when Australia performed Vietnam in Victoria,” Football Australia mentioned.
Australia will play Japan in Sydney on Wednesday earlier than taking up Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on March 29, and must win each matches to make sure automated qualification for this 12 months’s World Cup finals in Qatar.
Arnold’s facet are in third place in Group B, three factors adrift of second-placed Japan whereas leaders Saudi Arabia are an extra level ahead.
(Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Chopra)
