On paper it’s a David vs. Goliath battle between two nations with starkly contrasting football landscapes. The stats alone highlight the gulf between the two nations.
On one hand, a nation of over 20 million with well over a million registered football players and a fully professional football league.
On the other, a nation of just 700,000 with only 4000 registered players and a semi-professional football league.
On paper it should be an easy victory for Australia, but as the saying goes – they play on grass, not paper.
And that is something Australia knows only too well from their last experience in Manama in November 2008.
Australia was comprehensively outplayed, and were it not for the wayward shooting of Jaycee John, would have been humbled by the tiny Gulf nation. As it were a Mark Bresciano strike in the 90th minute saved Australia’s blushes.
It’s an experience and a game that sticks in the mind of all Australians and one that will be recounted numerous times over in the lead-up to tonight’s clash.
It should be an experience that reminds the Socceroos that Bahrain are not to be taken lightly – after-all this is the team that has come agonisingly close to qualifying for the last two FIFA World Cup’s, falling at the last hurdle on both occasions.
They are a good side.
But they have had an unstable last few months, with Josef Hickersberger deserting his post as national team coach after just three months, with Salman Sharida taking over just months before the start of the Asian Cup.
And they come into this game missing a number of key players.
Faouzi Aaish, who has caused problems for Australia in the past, is suspended after picking up a stupid red card late in the game against India. Hussain Salman, a regular in previous squads, wasn’t selected in the 23-man squad due to injury, nor was captain Mohammed Salmeen due to a broken leg.
It is a situation that will test the depth of the Bahrainis.
Australia cannot afford to be complacent though, especially with the dangerous Jaycee John and the four-goal hero from their clash with India, Ismail Abdullatif, still in the line-up.
Australia has shown has a tendency so far to go direct, and with the aerial threat of Tim Cahill in the side, it is perhaps an understandable tactic.
And they would have taken comfort from the fact that Bahrain conceded their first goal to India from a set piece.
A free kick, taken from near the half way line, was whipped into the box and Yadav Abhishek out-jumped the Bahrain defence and headed the ball back across goal where Gouramangi Singh, who trialled for Melbourne Heart in the pre-season, was left free to tap in India’s first goal of the tournament.
If Bahrain allow Australia that much room in the box, they’ll eventually feel the wrath of a strike force containing a red-hot Cahill and Harry Kewell.
Australia also come into this game with players under a injury cloud, with Jason Culina and Luke Wilkshire ruled out and David Carney facing a late fitness test.
It has the potential to expose Australia’s weaknesses, especially given the lack of cover for Wilkshire and Carney, the only recognised right and left backs in the squad. It is an area that Bahrain will look to exploit if in fact Carney doesn’t get up, although it is looking increasingly likely that he will.
The stage is set, the stakes are high; all that remains to be seen is who will emerge victorious. David or Goliath?
Roarchild
Roar Guru
Simon Hill on Fox said South Korea had scored a 5th.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
SBS.... ??? Pretty sure at around 2:30 a.m. SBS TV broadcasts the Weather Watch ... and, here I was thinking you were actually watching the Game live on Foxtel! But, at least, if you were watching Weather Watch ... it explains a lot about your commentary. :-)
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Blame SBS - that's the last thing I heard before I flicked off the TV!
OzFootballSherrin
Roar Pro
I believe the 'registered' is a loose term in the Australian sense.
Tortion
Guest
I think it is amazing we have 1 million registered players when England has only 1.5 million. Go team.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
MLF, I'm afraid you are wrong. Australia tops the Group with a better Goal difference by virtue of their clean sheet against INDIA. Goal Difference: AUS: +5; KOR: +4 Sth Korea 4-1 India Australia 4-0 India Sth Korea 2-1 Bahrain Australia 1-0 Bahrain The only thing we know is we avoid IRAN ... but it could be any one else - UAE, PRK or IRQ. All will be revealed in 24 hours.
Walt
Guest
Sth Korea tops the group..... Check again. Good night....
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Ends 1-0 Sth Korea tops the group
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
70 min 1-0 another mix up, another turnover from Aust
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
66 min 1-0 a close range save from Schwarzer, pinged around the six yard box for an eternity
Walt
Guest
Pffft Sloppier than a drunk Oprah Winfrey. Australia really need one more to settle things.
luke
Guest
are Bahrain likely to score??
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
58 min 1-0 Fatadi just forced another save out of Schwarzer
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
53 min 1-0 a bit of sloppiness creeping into the Aust game
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
50 min Aust 1 Bah 0 I was about to say a slow start and nothing to note when Abdulatif forced a great save out of Schwarzer
Walt
Guest
Half time couldnt have come quick enough for Bahrain. OK - time to talk about 4 different nations First Korea - they are one goal behind Australia and I think they will get a couple more. They are in the box seat for top spot. Bahrain - they have done their homework. They know our left defense is weak and they are working it. Half time came at the right time and they will try to regroup and bring on another attacking option. The heavy turf could hurt their fitness. Australia - Decision time. Go for the soft win / draw and take second spot - possibly Iran? Emerton to miss the next so I sense they will want 2 more goals and get Iraq or North Korea. They know Bahrain has nothing to lose and that is very dangerous. Olsiek about to earn his paycheck. North Korea - Will be licking their starving lips knowing that Emerton will miss the next. They have no fear of Australia.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
HT Aust 1 Bah 0 Bahrain started really well, matched it for first 20 min or so, but Australia started getting on top after that, blokes like Valeri and Mckay settled down, had good possession, and Jedi was killing them in all departments, not just the goal, but around the ground he's doing his job plus some. You could see Bahrain maybe getting one goal, but not two. Australia through to the quarter finals.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
42 min Aust 1 Bah 0 Emo just picked up a yellow, means he'll miss the quarter final
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
39 min 1-0 Jedi tries another one from a free kick this time, well struck, skidding againg, forced good saver from keeper
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
37 min 1-0 Jedi again! smacked from about 30m, skidded past the keeper