Only three matches are left in the Olyroos’ qualification campaign for the 2012 London Olympics, and only three points separate the Group B leaders Uzbekistan and fourth-placed United Arab Emirates.
Two of those matches are away, with the most difficult being playing in Tashkent in potentially sub-zero temperatures.
If the Olyroos play those two matches like they have been playing all campaign – no goals scored…no goals conceded…then the final match against Iraq will be absolutely crucial.
In the most likely scenario that the Olyroos finish second, they will take part in a play-off system against two other second-placed teams in Groups A and C, at this stage most likely. The winner will then play against a CAF nation for a spot in the Olympics.
In the event that the Olyroos do qualify for Olympics, who does coach Aurelio Vidmar to take to London? Does he keep faith in those domestic players in the A-League who toiled long and hard in the qualification campaign? Or does he call-up players from Europe who played absolutely no part in the final phase of qualification?
Tommy Oar, Kerem Bulut, Chris Herd, Mitchell Langerak, Luke DeVere (Korea), Brent McGrath, Matthew Leckie are all players that are good enough to play for the team, but are powerless against their European club emloyers to release them for Olympic qualification.
In my opinion, there are some domestic-based players in the current squad (Nichols, Dugandzic) who are good enough to hold their spot for the Olympics.
But it would seem extremely harsh on the remaining dozen or so players, that ran their guts out in qualification matches, for Vidmar and his coaching staff to thank them for their efforts and then turn their attention to European-based players who haven’t even trained with the Olyroos squad.
If they end up qualifying for the Olympics, then the European-based players would have only played with each other for a few games.
Of course, Vidmar will ultimately judged by the footballing public on his results, and if that means calling up a host of players from abroad, then I’m sure he will do that.
But it would be a huge blow to the next generation of local players who hold aspirations of playing at the Olympics.
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