Italy's Euro 2020 winning coach Roberto Mancini will now be under intense pressure to turn around the nation's fortunes after an underwhelming start following his departure from the Azzurri last year.

The AFC qualifying section has been expanded along with the World Cup itself, with the continent's top nations expected to avoid the fourth round and play-offs.

The top two finishers in each group progress directly to the fifth round, but the Saudis face tough opposition in the form of Japan and Australia in their group.

After losing in the last 16 of the Asian Cup and finishing runners-up to Jordan in the group stage of the previous round, the Green Falcons' ranking has taken a knock, with a home defeat to the Jordanians and a draw in Tajikistan costing them dearly.

Winning none of his first four games in charge was hardly the ideal start, but that will all be forgotten if Mancini can lead the country to North America in two years' time.

Three points are all but guaranteed against the section's outsiders, Indonesia, who are the only nation to have made it this far after starting in the first round of qualifying.

After beating minnows Brunei 12-0 on aggregate at that stage, Indonesia got the better of Vietnam and the Philippines to make it this far, finishing second behind Iraq in the previous round.

The side ranked 133rd in the world have only reached the World Cup once, 86 years ago when they competed as the Dutch East Indies, and they will be looking to stun Bahrain and China to claim fourth place in this group which would see them advance.

A 3-0 success in Vietnam was critical, and Team Garuda sealed their progression with a 2-0 victory over the Philippines in the last international break.

Against tougher opposition though, Indonesia will be tested to their limits, as a 4-0 defeat to Australia in the round of 16 of the Asian Cup in January shows the gulf in class.

The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams gives nations like Indonesia the chance to dream, but this will be a huge ask for them, and bottom place in this section is the most probable outcome.

Saudi Arabia possible starting lineup:

Al Owais; Hamidou, Lajami, Al Bulayhi; Abdulhamid, Al Khaibari, Kanno, Al Juwayr, N Al Dawsari; S Al Dawsari, Al Brikan

Indonesia possible starting lineup:

Paes; Ridho, Idzes, Hubner; Mangkualam, Ferdinan, Haye, Tjoe-a-On, Verdonk; Struick, Oratmangoen

Prediction:Saudi Arabia 4-0 Indonesia

Saudi Arabia VS Indonesia stream and TV listing

International：Holasports