Last night, after the completion of the draw for the final round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the Socceroos captain Lucas Neill expressed his confidence that Australia will qualify.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “As predicted no easy opponents but a kind group as far as travel goes!! I am confident we will get to Brazil!!”
And why shouldn’t he be confident.
According to FIFA he is the captain of the highest ranked nation in the Asian Football Confederation.
Tetsu Hirai, the Japanese team manager, was similarly confident. “It’s definitely a good draw and there is the expectation for us to win in this group and we will happily work hard to meet this expectation.”
Along with the Japanese, this should also be the expectation of all Socceroos fans.
There will be two races in Group B. The race for first place between Australia and Japan, and the race for the third placed play-off spot between Iraq, Jordan and Oman.
This is not showing disrespect to our other worthy opponents, but a reflection of current football realities. Apart from the talented Omani and Wigan goalkeeper, Ali Al-Habsi, no other player from these three west Asian nations is currently plying their trade outside the Middle East in an elite competition.
With the Socceroos having to play three of their first four matches away from home, the pressure will be on manager Holger Osieck to start the final phase of qualifying on the right foot.
Even allowing for the odd bad result, Australia will have the insurance of their final two games being played at home in June 2013 against Jordan and Iraq.
Unless you are a glass-well-below-half-full Socceroos fan, the final game against Iraq on June 18 2013 will not be a nerve-fraying fight for second place and qualification.
At the very latest, I expect our golden ticket to Brazil to be presented to us after the penultimate match against Jordan.
It is the two matches against the Samurai Blue that have Socceroos fans salivating, as the heavyweights in the group square off for the first time since the Asian Cup final in January 2011.
Japan’s participation in the Confederations Cup in June 2013 caused a re-jig with their match schedule. Rather than being given the fixtures of Team 2 as per their seeding in Group B, they were given the fixtures of Team 5.
This means that we won’t have to wait until the very last match to watch two already qualified teams like we did last time at the MCG in 2009. The Socceroos will now meet Japan at home in three months’ time in what will be a searching early examination of their World Cup credentials.
Osieck let slip on television last night that the match will be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The return match on June 4, 2013 could very well be the title fight where Samurai Blue team manager Tetsu Hirai and football manager Alberto Zaccheroni hope to land the knockout blow and finish top of the group on their way to Brazil 2014.
Group A
Korea Republic (ranking: 30)
Iran (51)
Uzbekistan (67)
Qatar (88)
Lebanon (124)
Group B
Australia (20)
Iraq (76)
Jordan (83)
Oman (92)
Japan (33)
2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers – Fourth Round fixtures
Sunday, 3 June 2012 Australia – Bye
Friday, 8 June 2012 Oman v Australia
Tuesday, 12 June 2012 Australia v Japan
Tuesday, 11 Sept 2012 Jordan v Australia
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2012 Iraq v Australia
Wednesday, 14 Nov 2012 Australia – Bye
Tuesday, 26 March 2013 Australia v Oman
Tuesday, 4 June 2013 Japan v Australia
Tuesday, 11 June 2013 Australia v Jordan
Tuesday, 18 June 2013 Australia v Iraq
Athas Zafiris is on Twitter @ArtSapphire
Nathan of Perth
Guest
A rule mandating a number of U21s would drive Ian Ferguson to jump off a bridge... But the idea has a lot of merit.
jbinnie
Guest
Cattery - An interesting offering.You do broach subjects like mental toughness,which would,or should, have been sorted out in the early stages of advanced junior coaching. You mention a "rule "about having 3 locals in the squad,I can do better than that, in 1980, 32 years ago, the NSL club I was attached to had such a rule though it was not official. When the club played in the national cup final there were 3 local youngsters in the run on team and the 3 substitutes on the bench,who did take part,were also local boys.That team won the cup winning 3-1. All six were products of a youth policy in place at the club at that time.That policy later produced at least 2 Socceroos and at least 5 or 6 under age Socceroos. The system in vogue actually employed 3 coaches,the first sorting out talented "colts",the aim being to see if they were open to suggestion and thus education& discipline..Having that job done they advanced to another coach,a real "brotherly type" who concentrated on skills and technique,and this was followed by a year or two under a coach who had had senior NSL experience,and it was his job to get them ready in all aspects of playing the game at the highest level.Some fell by the wayside of course but always their feelings were protected and help given to the rejects to get clubs that played at their potential level. It's not rocket science and if treated properly the incumbents will bear no grudge. I should add that this was operated under what only could be described as a minimal budget, probably what a good HAL player earns in 2 weeks.I cannot say whether that same system would work today but I think I would have enough faith in human nature to think it would have a chance.Was it elitist?,no,every boy who approached us was treated and assessed in the same manner. JB p.s Alan Hunter (Sydney United),Danny Wright,(South Melbourne) and Stephen Jackson (Heidelberg) were all products of that same system. Cheers,jb
The Cattery
Roar Guru
jb these questions are complex, I'm not sure it's that easy to nail down. Perhaps it was an historic fluke that we had so many quality Socceroos at the one time? It can happen that way. One thing we do know is that from the late 80s to the early 90s the underage NTs had great success, and that has died off completely. We do know that right through that period the best young players got senior games in the NSL as teenagers before heading overseas to try their luckj, and those that ultimatley succeeded often had to endure years in lower divisions and clubs - in fact many in that team from 2006 spent years working their way through lower divisions - working their asses off, gritting their teeth and overcoming adversity time after time. Has the mentality of players changed since that time? there's an argument that it has The other thing that has changed is the expectation of many fans that better players should stay in the A-League into their 20s where they can then transfer to a big club overseas - but we have talented youngsters spending far too much time in the youth teams, not getting enough games in the senior teams - I think that's the key. Also this idea that it all boils down to focusing on technique - but there's no focus on the psychological aspects of the game - the menal toughness demanded at the highest levels - you know from your own experience - you have to be willing to eat your own young to be successful at the highest levels. The big successful youth academies overseas are constantly pitting hundreds of kids against each other to weed out the weak, and force the cream to the top - but it's not just the most technically proficient that are forced through the sausage factory - it's also the mentally tough. You would know that the SPL has a rule that you have to have a minimum number of U21s in the match day squad, and I would like to see the same rule in the A-League - helps keep costs down, and forces clubs to develop youngsters, throw them in the deep end as early as possible - playing youth league, against players going nowhere, does little for the best of the best.
Realfootball
Guest
Driving directions maps.google.com.au - Print Helensvale QLD Brisbane QLD 45 mins 63.4 km - Pacific Motorway/M1 from Google maps 100kms is not quite accurate.
jbinnie
Guest
Cattery - Your facts from 2006 (6 years ago) are all correct and you rightly point out that the comparison with our football at that time and Japanese football today appears to have reversed,but that in turn poses the question ,"Why is that so"? With the increase in investment dollars being poured into our "new" coaching scheme as compared with expenditure back in 2004 and the establishment of a full - time professional league at the same time, you ask the reader to accept the fact that our player talent standard has reversed behind the Japanese standard in 6 years. Forget stating that 2 qualify for the next stage of the World Cup,we all know that,but might I suggest,and you seem to agree,there is a far greater problem facing our game if what you assert has happened in 6 years, ( this Bolton winger and FC Tokyo's recent performance at Suncorp certainly appear to bear out your observation), is spot on. jb
Bondy
Guest
I think there's the right type of atmosphere between national players, coach and supporters everybody's quitely very confident .The permutations of the uncertainty of qualifying also could have us playing the final game against Iran at home and needing to win to get us to the world cup, it's a delectable scenario just waiting to play out .
Greg
Guest
I know the talk is Brisbane but you would think that with the glamour match up first rather than as a dead rubber Melbourne or Sydney could still be a chance - RL state of origin 2 is apparently is on the next night so may or may nor rule out sydney
The Cattery
Roar Guru
jb when we met Japan in 2006 in the WC, we were the ones with players in the Premier League, Serie A and Bundesliga - these days, that situation is completely reversed vis-a-vis Japan. But top two go through, so as far as qualifying goes, it's not really an issue - the other teams are ranked something like 73, 82 and 90.
jbinnie
Guest
Athas - Have just watched Bolton playing QPR and was amazed at a little Japanese winger they have playing with them (he appears to be on loan from Arsenal) and if this guy is a sample of what Japanese football is turning out then we have a fight on our hands especially with our left fullback position in the condition it is in.If you get a chance have a look at this guy he reminds me of Arshavin when he first went to Arsenal. jb
Clayton
Guest
We could be first. We could be fourth (less likely, but still possible). Will we be using a lineup with 5 centrebacks on the pitch during the qualifiers? Again? Hope not. Oh well, whatever happens, exciting times ahead : ) Gotta love going through a proper qualification campaign.
Kasey
Guest
I believe Herr Osieck let the cat out of the bag last night(not sure if he was supposed to) but I'm pretty sure the first Home game is in Brisvegas against the Samurai Blue on June 12th. I hope you QLDers round up a large contingent of fans, cos I can't make this one with it being on a Tuesday night. would have to take 2 leave days to fly up from rAdelaide and back.I'm saving my leave for the away game in June 2013 and optimistically Brazil in 2014.
eric
Guest
Athas, where can I get a good yeeros in Sydney?
Midfielder
Guest
Art Problem when do you blood and test the new players.... caught between giving the squad a run and trying new players .. not easy I know...
Athas Zafiris
Roar Guru
Can't see that happening this year Mid with 3 qualifiers being played away from home. Hopefully, we'll see some exciting new blood come thru in the next few years.
Athas Zafiris
Roar Guru
Haha, thanks Roarchild. I very much hope this piece is not a kiss of death. Having lost to Oman the first time round in qualifying, I won't allow it to happen again ;-)
Midfielder
Guest
Art Time for the new players to step up... I wonder aloud whether some of the young one from the Gold Coast ... also Musty & Tomas as number tens are worth considering ....
AGO74
Guest
I agree with you striker. That and the quality of our players isn't as strong as last qualification campaign.
Roarchild
Guest
I was secretly confident until you went ahead and jinxed it! It's a long campaign and last time we were quite lucky and always looked comfortable. If we have a slip up early and are chasing a spot it could be a tough 12 months on the nerves. 3 points from Oman first up, pretty please. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
My first thought when I heard that Japan were going to meet Australia I immediately thought of how wonderful it would be to see them play at Suncorp. I will definitely make the 100klm journey up to Brisbane to see that one. How about it Ben Buckley do something positive for us expat NSW, Queenslanders for a change.
Matt F
Roar Guru
It's a reasonable draw, though I don't think that there's too much difference between the two groups. I'm pleased to avoid Uzbekistan and I'm glad we've drawn Japan again. I think that they're far more likely to take more points off teams 3, 4 and 5 then Iran would have been in this group. This will help us finish top 2 which is all that matters (I still want to finish first but there's no real difference between finishing first and second in the end.) I don't mind having the bye first up. It means that we can get to Oman early and get acclimatised better rather then having to race to Oman after a game on June 3rd. Having most of our home games at the end of the campaign means that we should finish very strong as well.