While the eyes of Asia are fixed on Australia’s looming World Cup qualifying heavyweight clash with Japan in Brisbane, Josh Kennedy is more worried about the Socceroos’ first-up challenge in Oman.
The final phase of Australia’s World Cup qualifying journey starts with travel to Muscat – and the peak of the Arabian summer – on June 8.
While lanky striker Kennedy, a standout with Japanese club Nagoya Grampus since 2009, is looking forward to taking on his J-League counterparts on Australian soil on June 12, the challenge of the Omanis is foremost in his mind.
Oman, buoyed by their first phase 1-0 triumph over Australia in November, will host the Socceroos in conditions that, at their worst, could reach 40C.
Kennedy warns that match will be a big challange for several reasons.
“I think we’ve seen that we can’t underestimate anyone,” said Kennedy.
“They (Oman) will think they can do the same thing (beat Australia) obviously, they did it last time.
“It’s going to be tough conditions as well with the weather, and a lot of the boys now, from Europe, are in an off-season.
“All these little things that we really need to concentrate on, we need to come together as a team and do it.”
Domestically, Kennedy has been making the most of a stop-start campaign in the J.League, where he has missed the odd game due to a back injury.
Now recovering from his early season ailment, Kennedy has been in sound goal-scoring touch for his club – netting three times this season – after slotting eight goals in green and gold throughout 2011.
One of the more prolific marksmen chosen by coach Holger Osieck in the 30-man Socceroos squad for next month’s matches, Kennedy will share goal-scoring responsibilities with experienced trio Tim Cahill, Brett Holman and Harry Kewell, along with emerging stars Robbie Kruse and Nikita Rukavytsya.
“I guess it gets down to the serious end of it all, every game counts and you can’t slip up,” said Kennedy.
“I definitely want to be a part of things and just like in the last round of qualification, help the team win games, score goals and get us through to Brazil.
“Obviously there is still a few old faces from when I was first involved. I also think there’s enough talent coming through to carry us on past this World Cup and the next one.
“It’s an exciting time.”
Since missing the 2011 Asian Cup through injury, Kennedy has regained his standing as one of the Socceroos’ cornerstone members under new boss Osieck.
After nine years playing in Germany, bilingual Kennedy has evidently struck up a good working relationship with German Osieck.
“I like it (working with Osieck) very much, to be honest,” said Kennedy, who has found the back of the net eight times from as many appearances under Osieck.
“I think I understand him maybe a little bit more than the others with his German, but he’s enjoyable to work under.
“He’s honest and he gets down to business and doesn’t muck around.”
the flattery
Guest
grosso would be a very bad choice. for starters he is a defender and an average one at that. he had one good tournament for italy and has basically done nothing since at club or international level. he hardly got on the field for juve. the money he would command would be better spent on attack minded player who will lift the standard of those around him. i'd be evry surprised if poppa gives this old hack a contract. he is obviously just looking for a paid holiday.
Realfootball
Guest
Absolutely - the run from Grosso was terrific. I'll never forget how he burned off Bresciano on the way through. It was tremendous stuff. I loved watching Grosso at his peak. And as you say, the kind of performance Australians pride our athletes on - in, as you quite corretly note, our self mythologising. Italy won that game because, with 10 men, they produced the moment of class and commitment that great teams have when it counts.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Agree 100%, you have to wonder what Neill was thinking, at that point, there was nothing Grosso was going to do except hope that Neill did something silly, which he did. The other reason why I don't mind Grosso is that in those dieing seconds, he displayed characteristics that we normally associate with Australians (in our mythologising): but it was Grosso who grit his teeth at the very end and went on a gut busting run when he already would have played to the point of exhaustion; he's the one who showed mental toughness; he's the one showed physical strength and a never-say-die attitude - it wasn't the aussies - it was the Italian!!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
That's absolutely right, why not indeed. Australia (and the A-League) is perfectly positioned to attract the very best professionals, finishing up around the age of 32/33, and who, like Grosso, will happily play out a couple of seasons in a good league (a bit less taxing maybe), in a wonderful place like Australia. Money won't be the attraction, if it is, you can take your pick of any $hithole on the gulf.
Realfootball
Guest
I don't blame Grosso. I blame Neill for being fool enough to drop to the ground full body length in front of a sprinting player in the 6 yard box. Schoolboy error idiocy. Even as he did it, I remember being utterly increduluous that he could be so stunningly stupid. Neill cost us that game, not Grosso.
Midfielder
Guest
TC If you were on Juve books you are a decent player .... even if you sat on the bench .... I have often wondered if the same line would work to a number of early 30 something players.... for example say you play for Man U take Giggs ... assume Sir Alex says sorry mate your time has come does he go Aston Ville or say I wants be remembered at Man U as a great player... I am not getting any younger I have 20 houses so I will try out a nice country and play there .... the water paradise of the CC is far better mind you than the cold, damp, glum, dim, dirty streets of Melbourne... but why not ...
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Pretty good analogy.
dasilva
Guest
Personally I don't think that Grosso did much wrong (Neill was blocking the path to the goal, he could dribble around him or run into him and he took the choice that most players in world football would have done) in the World Cup and I'm sure he is a decent bloke. Still, whether he is a good bloke or not and whether his status amongst Australian football fans is fair, he is an infamous figure in Australian football folklore. This is probably the modern Football equivalent of Harold Larwood moving and retiring in Australia after Bodyline.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Except he sounds like a nice bloke to be honest! (Fabio that is, although Muskie's bark was worse than his bite)
dasilva
Guest
I think it's a great idea. The A-league needs a villain to replace Kevin Muscat now he's retire and I can't think of a better player to fulfil the role .
The Cattery
Roar Guru
A good buy as in $$ or a good bye as in bye bye or a good bye as in give it a rest?
Midfielder
Guest
Could be a huge bye if fit..
The Cattery
Roar Guru
He's worth a roll of the dice - reckons he's happy to accept average payments to fit into salary cap - isn't seeking marquee status at all - wants to live a couple of years in Australia with young family, etc. MV probably needs a left back....
whiskeymac
Guest
i bet they are falling over themselves to sign him up
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Out favourite Italian, Fabio Grosso, sizing up some A-League clubs for a move to Australia: http://sportbizinsider.com.au/news/category/hr-and-appointments/fabio-grosso-wants-to-dive-into-a-league-under-the-salary-cap/
Jerome
Guest
Oman away then Japan at home. Would hope at least 4 points are obtained from those fixtures, 3 would be acceptable, 0-2 would be disastrous.
Midfielder
Guest
Agree will be a hard game especially if they play in the heat of the day...
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Fair call. Oman will be tough and points early are crucial for confidence.