The Australian coach was infected with Corona within two months and days before the matches between Japan and Saudi Arabia

Australia's national football team coach Graham Arnold has tested positive for the coronavirus for the second time in two months, the Football Association of Australia said today, as his team prepares for two crucial 2022 World Cup qualifiers over the next two weeks.

Arnold, 58, underwent a test yesterday, Thursday, before heading to the national team camp in Sydney, and is currently undergoing home isolation after testing positive.

And the tests revealed that Arnold was infected with the virus in late January, while preparing to face Vietnam in the World Cup qualifiers in Melbourne, and he was unable to attend the match that ended with Australia winning 4-0.

"Arnold will remain in digital contact with the Australian national team and his coaching staff as he did so successfully in January when Australia played Vietnam in Victoria," the FFA said.

The Australian team will meet its Japanese counterpart in Sydney next Thursday before facing the Saudi team in Jeddah on March 29, and it needs to win both matches to ensure its automatic qualification for the world finals to be held in Qatar.

And before the last two rounds, Saudi Arabia is at the top of the standings in the second Asian group with 19 points, followed by Japan with 18 points, and Australia, which collects 15 points.

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