By David Wiseman
October 25th 2008 @ 1:38am
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Australian football is finally on a level playing field
Despite the current financial situation, Australian soccer is in the midst of a huge bull market. Adelaide United qualifying for the final of the Asian Champions League is the icing of a very tasty cake.
Before the Socceroos moved to the Asian Confederation, they were irrelevant and too far away. So no one wanted to venture down under to play them.
The World Cup qualifying process was a sham and typically ended in heartache, while the domestic scene was a mess.
Fast forward to today.
The Socceroos have regular meaningful competition. They play in World Cup qualifiers, which mean something, and they can even afford one or two slip-ups along the way.
Because of the lengthy qualifying process, the team gets far more exposure than they ever had. Add in qualifying (and hopefully finals) matches for the Asian Cup, and it means national team games become a usual suspect on the sporting landscape, as opposed to the twice every four years occasion they used to be.
While the Socceroos have done well since the transition, the junior teams haven’t fared as well.
The Joeys (Under 16) recently missed out on a place in the U17 World Cup. The top four went through to the tournament in Nigeria, but the Aussies were eliminated courtesy of an UAE injury time goal.
This is the second straight time they have missed the World Cup – something which never happened when they were in Oceania.
The Young Socceroos are about to play in the AFC U-19 Championships with a place in the U20 World Cup going to the top four. They too missed out on qualifying for the last World Cup.
The only Australian men’s side to qualify for a FIFA tournament since the move to Asia is the Olyroos, and they didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory once they got to Beijing.
There is, of course, a huge irony to this.
Even though each of the FIFA youth tournaments is smaller than the World Cup, they allow direct qualification for a team from Oceania. And because of this, Australia had quite an impressive youth record while in the OFC.
But since the move to Asia, the Socceroos look like making it to the big dance without even breaking a sweat, while the juniors are struggling in their brave new world.
The Socceroos final two World Cup qualifiers, which will be a week apart in Sydney and Melbourne, should be a celebration with a carnival atmosphere as opposed to the finger-biting which we used to associate with them.
Until the broom was finally allowed to go through it, Australian domestic soccer was a mess.
The only time it made headlines was for the wrong reasons. The mainstream community had no connection with the ethnic clubs and the games didn’t mean anything.
Not so with the A-League, and especially not with the Asian Champions League.
There is no marketing formula as good as winning games and trophies. Who would have thought that something as amazing as this would have emerged from something as horrible as this?
As long as level heads remain, one can only see football in this country going from strength to strength. The success of the domestic game will feed into the international side and vice versa.
For a sport which was used to kicking own goal after own goal, it’s good to see it finally kick a few in the right direction.
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Rowdy said | October 25th 2008 @ 1:50am | Report comment
So your definition of a level playing field is playing against the likes of Indonesia, malaysia, Thailand etc rather than serious South American countries ? As you say, qualifying for the WC should now be a cakewalk, bearig in mind that all but one or two of the Aus players play in Europe.
Not very level at all, really, and it won’t be until the majority of your players actually play in a proper football league in Australia.
Wallythefly said | October 25th 2008 @ 8:40am | Report comment
What he meant by a level playing field wasn’t the one-off (well two games) against the South American team, which was tough, he meant the scores of games we played against American Samoa, Tahiti, Solomon Islands etc before we even got to the South American game, which were hugely imbalanced and got barely any media attention.
Now when Australia play in a qualifer say against China, its played in front of 78,000 at Homebush!
You’re right David, instead of every four years for the two matches and you start thinking ‘please don’t lose’ its a Socceroos team that are much more used to playing high quality matches together playing great football and it seems with a lot of confidence.
Alan Nicolea said | October 25th 2008 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Rowdy
I agree with you mate, enough said.
itoldyouso said | October 25th 2008 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
Wallythefly has a point. Bit of difference in playing crappy teams and then playing one good team from South America.
In Asia, teams like South Korea, Japan,Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the Uzbeks are miles from the poor competition of Oceania. I don’t think some of the comments here are from people who are too familiar with Australian football or Asia.
Joe FC said | October 25th 2008 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
nice article David. Joining the AFC has been wonderful for football in this country. My only note of caution is that we can’t yet say that the final two qualifers will be a carnival atmosphere, but lets hope you’re right.
etat said | October 25th 2008 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Australia can be beaten by any number of teams in Asia. On their day Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia can all offer very competitive competition. And let’s not forget Iran. That’s one well remembered whipping. That Australia is doing so well through the current World Cup Qualifying can, in part, be traced back to the drubbing that we received at the Asian Cup. What a humiliation that was. I think the players and the administration were so embarrassed by that capitulation that they’ve really tighted up their approach to the WCQ.
In the real world of football broadcasting deals it makes much more sense that Australian football administrators focus on international matches that fit with the entertainment schedules of the big markets. China, India, Indonesia are all massive football markets. The are also in our timezone. Basically, we all sit down to dinner around the same time. Makes for big viewer numbers and more broadcast dollars in the development kitty. The dollars from broadcasting means that Australian administrators can better prepare the team for long international campaigns. Clearly, a big factor that got Australia over the line and into the last World Cup was a better level of administrator. Dollars mean you get better admin.
Not only that, but to win the world cup, consistent (i.e. level), competition is needed to keep the team on balance and well connected. Membership in the AFC, where Australia does need its best players to make absolutely sure it wins its games, is a master stroke that has meant that each new squad selection is similar to the last and that players meet more frequently and understand each other better. If you play any kind of team sport then you know the advantages of frequent training and playing together. Familiarity breeds instinct. Instinctive football, built on a base of sound knowledge and solid skills will see Australia through to the ultimate prize in sport.
dasilva said | October 25th 2008 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
You could also add Iraq to that list etat. From an Iraqi prospective it’s probably there most intense rivalry in Asia after Iran and Kuwait. They may struggle against other oppositions but whenever the meet Australia they are absolutely motivated and psyched to beat Australia (politics unfortunately) and all matches so far between the two teams have been competitive slog between two evenly match side.
About south america
I don’t think anyone minds about Australia playing against South American opponents. If Australia was place in South America qualification (and our country somehow shifted to become close travelling distance to South america) and had an extensive 20 match compaign to be the top 5 to qualify to world cup then no one would complain as it is completely meritocratic. THe problem is not that we play against South American opponents but our qualification is determine by a single play off and the only competitive match we play is against the oceania minnows while the other side is match harden by tough WCQ programme. It’s a giant leap. So even if Australia doesn’t qualify we still can’t actually say we were not good enough as no fair WCQ system is based on two matches to prove your good enough for the World Cup. Playoff should only be done to punish teams who weren’t good enough to top the group andnot be the whole basis of qualfication.
In Asia it is a series of match between poorer sides who are step below Australia but a step above the oceania minnows and then matches against sides who are at equal level to Australiaand that our qualification is based on a series of match instead of one off. Its fairer and more compettiive.
Midfielder said | October 25th 2008 @ 3:06pm | Report comment
Rowdy
Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia , China, Iran, Iraq on there day could beat us plus a heap of quickly developing nations……Ubecks, Qatar, Bahrain, Indonesia, Malaysia
Just to give a better understanding about what David was talking about these are the nations in the Asian Football Confederation. Also and althrough not mentioned these countries help woth government support and spomsors.
The AFC site Rowdy http://www.the-afc.com/eng/index.jsp.html shows the size of this but just to put you in the picture.
West Asia
Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabai, Syia, United Arab Emirates, Yeman
East Asia
China PR, Chinese Taipei, APR Korea, Guam, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea Republic , Macau, Mongolia.
Central & South Asia
Agghanistab, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, IR Iran, Kyrqyzstan, Maldives Republic, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
Asean
Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lasos. Malaysia, Myanmar, Phiippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leaste, Veitnam.
peter_ga said | October 25th 2008 @ 5:53pm | Report comment
Etat,
When was the whipping of Australia by Iran? The last two times they played, in 1997, both games were draws.
Billo said | October 26th 2008 @ 1:07am | Report comment
It’s funny that we can talk about ‘the global game’, but I’ve just watched a match in the Rugby League World Cup - definitely not ‘the global game’ - between England and Papua New Guinea that has put all the soccer I’ve seen over the last 12 months to shame for its commitment, skill and sheer excitement.
David Wiseman said | October 26th 2008 @ 3:22am | Report comment
Rowdy - I didn’t use the words ‘level playing field’ - they were in the headline which I didn’t write. Notwithstanding, I fail to see your point. There is no reason for us to be playing South American countries - this is only due to politics so CONMEBOL gets an extra half place. One which they don’t deserve or need.
Joe - Thus far we have 6 points. I’m confident we will have the points we need by those last two games, especially if the other results continue to go our way.
Etat - I agree with what you say. Because of the new qualifying campaign, the players are responding and want to be a part of it. That creates cohesion in the side.
dasilva - good point. Our first chance shouldn’t be someone else’s second chance.
Billo - Id be happy to watch a football game of Mexico against Germany or Nigeria against Japan. You could say the same about Rugby League? There are only about 6 decent countries international league teams.
Midfielder - Thanks for that. Impressive research
etat said | October 26th 2008 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
peter_ga
Good point. We were undefeated but I don’t know any Australian who came away from watching the final qualifying match without feeling like they’d been flayed with a cat o’ nine. After the unscheduled 2/3rds time break Iran were able to take back two away goals from the MCG. I know I felt like a loser on the day. Worst “defeat” in Australian sport for the last 20 years I think. Maybe longer.
Midfielder said | October 26th 2008 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Billo
Good for you …….. support your code …….. but I think you have caught a dose of the Paul Keatings (Gild the Lilly) that England V PNG is better than any football match this year …….. but its a free country so each to his own opinion.
True Tah said | October 26th 2008 @ 4:24pm | Report comment
Midfielder,
So you are saying that every single HAL game this year was supreior to the PNG V England game?
PNG gave their guts and I was certainly entertained by the game…the people of PNG have a right to be proud of their boys after giving the Poms an almight scare. Given the disunity in PNG, the RL is probably the only uniting factor in the nation.
Midfielder said | October 26th 2008 @ 5:10pm | Report comment
TT
No way ….. I was refering to Socceroos in my reply to Bilo ….. All international games have something a little special and for the people of PNG given RL is their national game it must be something very special to wear the national shirt.
But Bilo said that RL match had more in his words “commitment, skill and sheer excitemen than any football match in the last 12 monthst”. Just silly most players who put on a national shirt of any kind feel something special ……. thats why I reacted to imply that football and thereby Socceroos have not been as committed or shown skill as good RL players have shown ….. well it a endless and pointless arguement
Dave said | October 26th 2008 @ 6:04pm | Report comment
Dillo
Pity there was hardly anyone there to watch a World Cup match!! Tried to watch some of the Scotland/France WC match, not many there either. Looks like its just you and a few others bothering!
Obviously havent seen much Soccah this year have we?
Michael C said | October 26th 2008 @ 8:57pm | Report comment
David - I recognise the theRoar editors are agenda driven on the ‘football’ vs ’soccer’, it’s ironic that they inserted “Australian Football” into the headline, and your second line of the article reads Australian soccer is in the midst of a huge bull market.
one comment you make though:
As long as level heads remain, one can only see football in this country going from strength to strength. The success of the domestic game will feed into the international side and vice versa.
We’re still yet to see a strong association of socceroos with HAL. And, we’re still yet to see the HAL attain a true position of strength. presently, a lot of dice have been set rolling.
However, a position of strength isn’t founded upon a ‘great’ weekend seeing about 65,000 attendance over 4 matches across 4 cities (including windy Wellington in NZ).
Maybe, in 10 years time a statement like that can be made, but, for now……there’s a few variables yet……and a few too many dice rolling that saying “one can only see” seems a little optimistic.
We’ve seen bull markets in this country before for ‘new’ ‘events’……..but, in such a crowded sports market…..some things start to wear a bit thin. Basketball, F1 care races,….HAL??
David W said | October 26th 2008 @ 9:17pm | Report comment
Michael C - I thought saying ‘as long as level heads remain’ was enough of a caveat? Having a World Cup/Asian Cup every two years plus the qualifying that comes for them plus the A-League plus the ACL means that there is always going to be something happening or around the corner but yet there are enough breaks that people aren’t worn out.
Michael C said | October 27th 2008 @ 5:25am | Report comment
david -
Probably you’re right.
Rowdy said | October 27th 2008 @ 10:50pm | Report comment
Okay, okay, I’m probably a tad bitter that our own very wonderful England team have a generally harder route to the World Cup - not that we don’t usually make it even harder for ourselves.
But seriously, when will Aus get a proper football league going, i.e. one that keeps the top Aus players at home and maybe attracts foreign talent too ? That would at least grow the game a bit.
itoldyouso said | October 30th 2008 @ 2:34pm | Report comment
Rowdy - are you kidding me about the Aus football league? You’ve got to remember that this is only the 4th year of what has come to be Australia’s first real professional football league. In other words, England has had many many decades head start on us. In my view, just in the short time the A-League has been running, the standard has lifted, and will keep lifting. Just look at what Adelaide has done in the AFC Champions League against competition spending 10 times the amount. It’s a bit hard to get EPL level players in with a 2.5m salary cap (and I agree with the salary cap by the way). We now have a youth league (again, something taken for granted in Europe) and the FFA is talking about a relegation/promotion system. Again, all things that will lift the quality and support here. With support comes money, and with money a more healthy competition. Don’t forget also, we have the AFL and the NRL to compete against for fans, TV rights and sponsorship. Give us time and we’ll get there. Making the world cup is just the first stage for us. I share the great JW’s optimism in saying one day we’ll win it.