In less than a month’s time, the Socceroos will be back in action with a friendly in Edinburgh, Scotland.
For all Socceroos fans this will be an important test with two enormously crucial World Cup qualifying matches coming up in the Middle East against Jordan and Iraq.
Armchair fans will look at our group and assume that, besides Japan, it’s an easy group. In case you haven’t figured it out by now, it certainly is not.
As it stands, the Socceroos have earned two points from as many games in their qualifying group, which is decent considering the conditions in which they were forced to play in Oman, and the obvious quality of a Japanese side which would give any team in the world a tough game.
The game against Scotland is the perfect chance for coach Holger Osieck to throw in some of the future mainstays of the national team. Anyone who won’t take the game against the Scots seriously can forget about Brazil 2014 now.
By the end of the games against Jordan and Iraq, the Socceroos will have a fair idea of what it’s going to take to confirm their place at the World Cup. It is vital that we take maximum points from these two games to avoid a heart racing finish to our qualifying campaign.
In the game against Scotland, Holger should also be looking to blood some of the up and coming players that will be the main core for Brazil 2014. I can’t stress enough the importance of mixing Chris Herd into the squad unless injury gets in the way.
At still only 23, the ever versatile Herd, who can play as a right back or anywhere in the midfield, will be a much needed addition to our ageing team. Apart from a couple of exceptions, we have a very old and slow backline.
Holger must have in his mind that Sasa Ognenovski and Lucas Neil will most certainly not be the centre back pairing at the next World Cup. The fact that they are still playing for the Socceroos regularly concerns a few. Both must step down somewhere along the track to allow the likes of Devere, Williams, Spiranovic or even Lowry to come through. Take your pick.
We could have a disaster worse than against the Germans in 2010 if we draw Brazil in the group stages and Neil and Ognenovski come up against the pace of Neymar. Now that’s a worrying thought.
An interesting dilemma Holger must have on his mind will be whether to call up Australian born Uruguayan Richard Porta. He may not be able to speak English but he could be a handy acquisition to have upfront, having spent years banging in the goals at club level in Uruguay.
With Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani ahead of him in the national team it is fair to say he won’t be getting picked for Uruguay anytime soon.
With only one goal in our two qualifying games, most Socceroos fans would have to think why not? He has recently stated his desire to put on the green and gold and surely he is worth a shot.
Throw in a couple of players such as James Troisi (who may be playing in Serie A next season – only time will tell) and Nikita Rukavytsya who seems to be finding his pacey feet in Germany, our chances of attending Brazil don’t seem too bad.
Our goalkeeping stocks seem healthy for the next 15 to 20 years with Federici, Langerak and Mathew Ryan all coming through nicely.
There are plenty of other names knocking on the door that could have a good part to play on the road to Brazil 2014, but the main thing for us Socceroos fans is to not hit the panic button just yet and have faith in Holger and the boys to get the job done.
Nick
Guest
I have, actually. I've seen enough to know it's a far better competition than the HAL. Porta is very very high quality. And at least spell his name correctly. Lol. Porta's worth a couple of million nowadays. He's priced out of the HAL, sadly. To compound matters, Porta is the same age as McDonald - yet Porta is peaking while McDonald is languishing. I'd wager he'd have scored more goals in the national set-up after 25 appearances than McDonald's grand total of zero. So, he failed, did he? You assume too much. He just knocked back an offer in England to put himself in contention for a Socceroos spot. In my opinion, he fully deserves one. What makes you prop up someone like Herd yet blatantly disregard the pedigree Porta has exhibited in front of goal?
Chips Rafferty
Guest
Half decent article there young Tommy. No way will holgah's team be taking them kilt wearing tartans lightly jock. Jus' 'cos we're higher ranked shows them rankings is done by FIFAs clueless muppets. Them tartans cattle got more quality than us.
jack
Guest
I guess u have seen a lot of football in Montivideo. Very very high quality lol. Agree with you about herd though he is in a truely high league. Porter at 28 failed in europe and is now back home playing in a comp which would rival our local comps, should player that top score in the victorian premiur league get a run for the national team ?
Nick
Guest
Porta is not a joke. 17 goals in 14 appearances this season. He is a two-time golden boot winner. I'd wager he's found the back of the net more times than you. How can you begin to think he's not a top striker? Are you the Department of Immigration or something? Who are you to say he's never been back? Porta has been banging on the Socceroos door since '04. The current Socceroos are about as dangerous as a cotton-tip. Additions like Porta and Herd would allow the veterans like Kewell, Cahill, Emerton and Wilkshire to revert to their true midfield positions. You are an ignoramus.
Stevo
Guest
#%^@*# ?????? :)
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
I think japan is developing quicker than the Australians. I think we don't need to worry we are arguably the best Asian side ( apart from Japan) but i understand where you are coming from with the challenges that lie ahead- even if all does not go well- we can take it as a learning experience Australia should play well in the 2014 world cup... should they qualify
jack
Guest
fyi th e Porte argument is a joke> He has never made it, his playing in local league over there, he is a very long way down the pecking order. Not even top 10 strikers, over there anyone who is any good at all goes to either Argentina or Chile. He has done netiehr and failed in second div in Portugul. He is no prospect and not been to this country since he was one.... the argument is a dead one he will never ever represent our country. I would prefer to see someone like Inman or Leckie
Johnno
Guest
To say scotland are not a world power or have fallen from grace is nonsense. They still scotland have an impressive record for England and always lift vs England who are a world class side.
jack
Guest
Yes friendlies against Scotland and Lebanon are importnat. To me Lowry,Mgowan Devere and Herd need to be looked at. Then after this securing 3 points against Jordan is absolutely essential we need our strongest team. If people like Harry wants to play for us he has to work his ass off not just fall over and complain to refs........
dasilva
Guest
I think Brazil broke their WCQ hoodoo in Uruguay ion the 6 June 2009/ Brazil defeated Uruguay 4-0 away from home
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Its all upstairs,if the Scots had our mentality they'd be a lot stronger side,you could say the same for the Welsh,on paper even they are a stronger side than us(i'd love to have Bale,Bellamy,Ramsey etc in our side)but we battered them.Its sad to see a Nation like Scotland who live and breath the sport suffer the way they are.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
TomC With international football, the great equaliser can be the away games. In South America, for instance, Bolivia is not considered a power football nation. However, the Bolivians play their international matches at very high altitude (I think it's the highest altitude football venue in the world) and, during the WCQs for the 2010 WC, Bolivia smashed ARG (Messi, Tevez, Zanetti, Heinze, Maxi Rodriguez, Macherano, etc.) 6-1. I'm pretty sure mighty BRA has never won an away WCQ in Uruguay. And, these are countries in relatively close proximity! So, yeah, JOR, OMA & IRQ may not seem formidable on paper but, in 40C temperatures, I reckon even the world's power football nations would struggle to find their rhythm & could easily slip up in a 90' game.
Jock
Guest
Sadly, playing Scotland will be no test at all for the Socceroos. Scottish football is now in a sad sad state and a mere shadow if its former greatness. The recent hammering inflicted on the Scots by the USA is a case in point. Jim Baxter will be rolling in his grave!
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
While our cupboard is a little bare at the moment in terms of socceroos playing at big european clubs we can still put a decent team on the park. The gap between us, Japan and Korea is paper thin though at the moment and especially in regards to Japan, as their teams matures more in the next two years they could break away from the pack. We have some potential match winners coming through but I see a 3-5 year gap ahead where the old guard retires and the youngsters are still developing. But regardless australia will always put a competitive team on the pitch we just may not be the "big cheese" in Asia for a little while. We won't be far off the pace either though.
TomC
Roar Guru
To be honest, I think it is a pretty easy group besides Japan. Not only is there a big gulf in quality between Australia, and Iraq, Jordan and Oman, but the fact that there's not a standout amongst those three teams makes it unlikely that anyone will rack up enough points to pressure Australia for second spot. That's been shown by the results between them so far: Japan are the only team to take maximum points from any match. Of course, this all assumes that the Socceroos hold their nerve and win the games they should win. Unless something drastic happens, if we can take nine points from the three remaining home fixtures we should qualify.
Johnno
Guest
-Bozza was good at a young age.
Midfielder
Guest
Australian footballers have traditionally matured slower than those in other counties ... aside from Harry & Duke its hard to think of anyone under say 22 / 23 who has been a standout... I get the feeling we have some players moving into decent leagues and clubs with a need to break into the top team... if they can our stocks maybe raising...