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Swedish tactician Johan Kalin was in charge when the two teams last met in October 2019 when the Socceroos, currently on top of Group B with a maximum 12 points from four games, ran out 5-0 winners in Canberra.
Almutairi, a Kuwaiti coach appointed earlier this year, claims the Gorkhalis are a different beast these days.
“I have changed the system from the former 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 system and we are changing our style of play too,” Almutairi told The World Game.
“We were playing with a defensive mentality but now we will have a more balanced approach between attack and defence. We need to attack sometimes to give our defenders some rest.”
Almutairi takes inspiration from events in Europe.
“I believe in one thing - if North Macedonia can beat Germany then we can attack Australia,” he insisted.
“Maybe we will not beat them but we will try to play football. If we stay in our box, then it is not a solution and we will lose.
"There is no shame in losing to Australia but the shame is not trying to play football.
"If both teams do that then everyone will enjoy it. Some people have said I am crazy but this is what we will do.”
After analysing Graham Arnold’s men, the coach knows what his team needs to do.
“Rhyan Grant, Jackson Irvine and Milos Degenek are the players we have to watch as they are key in the way the system works. We can reduce the danger by trying to control them.
"Of course, we know it is hard but everything is possible. In the first five minutes one red card and things change.”
Nepal are currently fourth in Group B, above Taiwan but behind Jordan and Kuwait who are both on ten points, two behind Australia who have a game in hand, and while reaching the third round of World Cup qualification is not a possibility, there is still hope of reaching the 2023 Asian Cup and doing well in the South Asian Cup (SAFF) that is due to take place in Bangladesh in September.
“We want to stay in fourth and continue along the road to the Asian Cup. We are also aim to reach the SAFF Cup final.”
“We will have one friendly game with Iraq on May 29. The Nepal Super League has just finished and the players are looking good. We are looking forward to the big games in June.”
