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Australia’s World Cup qualifier against Iraq on Thursday is about more than just Perth being handed the chance to host the Socceroos again.
After years of missing out on fixtures, Western Australia plays host to the national team for the second time within a year on Thursday night.
It comes in the wake of a respectable crowd of just under 20,000 turning out last September at nib Stadium – or Perth Rectangular Stadium to use its naff FIFA-approved name – to witness the Socceroos hammer Bangladesh 5-0 in the second phase of qualifying.
Iraq should provide a sterner test this time around, even if the Lions of Mesopotamia are forced to play their ‘home’ fixtures in the Iranian capital Tehran for security reasons.
Getting fans through the gates is important, if only because state governments that fail to pony up when Socceroos games are being shopped around are clearly going to being seeing less of the national team. Just ask Queensland.
For coach Ange Postecoglou, the game offers the opportunity to not only collect another three points on the road to Russia, but also to run the rule over some key personnel.
While Aaron Mooy has been earning rave reviews at Championship side Huddersfield and Tom Rogic scored a belter of a free-kick for Celtic at the weekend, others may be feeling the heat.
Skipper Mile Jedinak made a much-publicised move from Premier League battlers Crystal Palace to recently relegated Midlands giants Aston Villa, and judging by the Birmingham Mail’s weekend assessment of the combative midfielder, he may come into the camp somewhat underdone.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Mat Ryan has endured a difficult start to the new La Liga season, with his Valencia side losing twice at the same time that Mitch Langerak has been starting in goal for 2.Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart.
It’s hard to see Postecoglou overlooking current incumbent in Ryan, however the former Central Coast Mariners shot-stopper must be cursing the lack of defensive cover on offer at his embattled Spanish club.
Elsewhere the likes of Jackson Irvine – who scored the winner for Burton Albion against Derby on Friday – Milos Degenek and a rejuvenated Tomi Juric will all be looking to stake their claims, and perhaps the best thing about Postecoglou’s reign so far is that the Socceroos now boast some genuine depth across the park.
That means there’s likely to be less reliance on Melbourne City recruit Tim Cahill, and since he barely touched the ball in a brief cameo in the FFA Cup last week, that’s probably a good thing.
Cahill features heavily in various Fox Sports promotions at the moment, and given how much money Foxtel has invested in both the A-League and the Socceroos over the years, it’s not hard to see why they’d be keen to strike up a deal with the A-League’s most marketable player.
Fox has only recently struck an in-principle deal with broadcast rights holders Lagardere Sports (formerly World Sports Group) to show the final round of World Cup qualifiers, and the protracted negotiations are perhaps a salutary lesson in being careful what you wish for.
Plenty of fans online – including here on The Roar – have welcomed Optus’ entry into the sports broadcast market.
But with the telco copping another weekend of relentless criticism for their struggles to broadcast the English Premier League, perhaps it’s better the devil you know when it comes to football coverage.
There’s no telling what Optus’ exclusive coverage will look like by the time the 2018 World Cup rolls around, but fans across Australia will hope to see Postecoglou and his team there.
They face two tough encounters within the space of a week – it’s off to Abu Dhabi to battle a skilful United Arab Emirates next – and even bigger challenges await further down the line.
For now, the road to Russia resumes in Perth – and it’s a test both the team and venue will hope to pass with flying colours.