A fairer World Cup qualifying campaign, but less exciting
Roar Guru By dasilva, 17 Feb 2009 dasilva is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- football, Socceroos World Cup 2010, World Football
Before joining Asia in 2006, our World Cup qualification pathway was done by sudden death playoffs, although the qualification pathway FIFA has given Australia has been inherently unfair and it probably cost us a lot of World Cup participation.
One of things that it did give us was two highly intensive, highly anticipated and nerve-wracking blockbuster matches.
Who remembers the bravery of Australia honourably matching a Diego Maradona led Argentina, the intensity of Australia trying to score against Scotland, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at them to overturn the 2-0 deficit, the heartbreak of Iran, and the grand moment where John Aloisi kicked “that” penalty that sent Australia to the World Cup, and the subsequent celebrations.
Those type of matches will live with every person who saw it for the rest of their lives.
Now, contrast this with our current campaign, and I’ll give you a scenario for how Australia could qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
It’s a common misconception that if Australia defeats Uzbekistan we will mathematically qualify to the World Cup 2010. It is not the case. It very much depends on other results.
Australia is on 10 points out of four games; Qatar and Bahrain are on 4 points out of four games.
There will be two World Cup qualifiers on March 28th, where Australia will have a bye. However, these two matches will have major implications for Australia’s hopes.
Qatar will travel to Uzbekistan and Bahrain will travel to Japan. If both Qatar and Bahrain fail to win the match by either losing or drawing, then this will set the scene for the WCQs on April 1st, where Australia will host Uzbekistan.
If Australia does its job and defeats Uzbekistan, the match that will determine World Cup qualification is the following match on the same day between Bahrain and Qatar.
If that is a draw, then Australia qualifies to the World Cup.
So we have a situation where we could have Australia securing its qualification by a match outside this country not involving Australia.
How many Australians would stay up to about 1 o’clock in the morning to see Bahrain play Qatar in Manama to see whether Australia secure its qualifications?
How many Australians will celebrate a nil-nil draw between those two sides in the streets at 3 o’clock in the morning?
Something tells me that the celebration of our qualification this time will be lot more dampened and somewhat anti-climatic.
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- Explore:
- football, Socceroos World Cup 2010, World Football
February 17th 2009 @ 10:11am
Towser said | February 17th 2009 @ 10:11am | Report comment
“Let me also say whilst on this subject that on another thread there was discussion about whether it mattered or was better that(because matches were on Fox not Free to Air) the general public did get to watch them”
Regarding above quote from previous post last bit should read “did not get to watch them”
February 17th 2009 @ 10:18am
dasilva said | February 17th 2009 @ 10:18am | Report comment
Towser
Can always count on you to knock the stuffing out of airy fairy, over-romanticising of the gam and put some reality to it.
Cheers
February 17th 2009 @ 10:20am
hazza said | February 17th 2009 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Its not just about qualification. The fact that FFA can make millions of dollars from world cup & Asia cup qualifiers puts the game in a better financial position.
February 17th 2009 @ 10:30am
dasilva said | February 17th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Let’s just say
Towser
From my prospective I became a football fan after watching Australia drawing with Iran and missing out the world cup. I had no interest in that sport before hand. I realise that a game that makes you feel so bad, makes you feel so angry and get you so emotionally involved (I haven’t watch many if any football match beforehand) must be a sport to keep a tabs on. Later on I became a regular follower of the Socceroos.
I realise this is very strange and different position to majority of football fans who rather forget that match and also how much a financial, political disaster that defeat was to our game. From a purely personal (and selfish) prospective – there’s a little bit of nostalgic lament about no more sudden death matches.
Then again we could slip – finish 3rd in our group – have a playoff with Iran in a blockbuster revenge match and then have the biggest trans-tasman derby of all time and the excitement will again be replicated.
February 17th 2009 @ 10:58am
Pippinu said | February 17th 2009 @ 10:58am | Report comment
Das
I have to agree with Towser on the Iran game – it was rivetting stuff – but it was the absolute biggest kick in the teeth I have ever experienced in my life (right up there with the bullies losing the prelim to Adelaide by 2 points after pretty much leading all day).
Funnily enough, it was the same year – 1997! Add to that that Chris Grant was disqualified from winning the brownlow (in very controversial circumstances) – and that 4 or 5 week period was pretty much the most miserable of my life!
February 17th 2009 @ 11:13am
Vicentin said | February 17th 2009 @ 11:13am | Report comment
My perspective on the Iran ga,e – absolutely gut-wrenching. Walked around in a semi-depressed (sometime full blown depressed) state for weeks/months. It still hurts now! But yeah anything that can get you that emotionally involved is going to suck you in for life …. did they play other sports that year too? I hadn’t noticed ;0)
February 17th 2009 @ 11:14am
Vicentin said | February 17th 2009 @ 11:14am | Report comment
My perspective on the Iran game – absolutely gut-wrenching. Walked around in a semi-depressed (sometime full blown depressed) state for weeks/months. It still hurts now! But yeah anything that can get you that emotionally involved is going to suck you in for life …. did they play other sports that year too? I hadn’t noticed ;0)
February 17th 2009 @ 11:21am
dasilva said | February 17th 2009 @ 11:21am | Report comment
Vicentin and Pip
Fair enough
The difference was this was my first experience of the game. I only suffered two heartbroken campaigns
you guys probably been following it for decades after watching near misses after misses after near misses that the lack of excitement and tension is probably a welcome relief.
February 17th 2009 @ 11:22am
Pippinu said | February 17th 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment
The memory is so vivid, you had to tell us twice!
I can’t remember the timing, but there was about a 4 or 5 week gap between the other events I mention, and you will just have to take my word for it that I found it very difficult to deal with all of it all at once! I think I had barely gotten over one when we failed to qualify for the WC, and the depression sort of continued for an additional month.
The key thread in both games is that about 20 minutes from full time I was celebrating inside at the prospect of qualifying for the grand final/WC – and then both just lost the plot, fell away and were completely over run when they had been completely in control (plus they both missed incredible opportunities to score) – the parallel is almost spooky – I’m thinking about it now for the first time ever (comparing both events).
February 17th 2009 @ 11:27am
Vicentin said | February 17th 2009 @ 11:27am | Report comment
Yeah it is much easier on the heart and general nervous system now. The good thing about the current qualifying route (and modern blogging technology) is that we can talk about the national team – good and bad – all year round, whereas to be honest I used to only get interested in previous campaigns once the games against New Zealand game around.
Sorry for posting twice earlier – I spotted a typo just after I’d hit the add comment button but I thought I’d recovered in time … I guess it was good for emphasis though in the abscence of the shouting option!