After two draws to open the final group phase of their 2014 World Cup Qualifying campaign the Socceroos simply must return with all three points when they travel to Jordan. We’ll have live scores from 2.00am AEST.
It might not be panic stations yet, but successive draws against Oman and Japan have given Socceroos fans every reason to begin to nervously eye the remaining six fixtures of the qualification stage.
The Socceroos’ ageing squad seem to be creaking toward Brazil and listless performances in friendly losses to Denmark and Scotland haven’t done much to allay fears about the way the team is playing.
After beginning his tenure with a successful 2011 Asian Cup campaign, in which the Socceroos fell in extra time in the final against Japan, Holger Osieck’s goodwill is beginning to fade.
Against a relatively weak Lebanon side last week the Socceroos were able to temporarily right the ship with a 3-0 victory.
They’ll hope to be able to reproduce that form this morning against a Jordan side ranked sixty-two places below them in FIFA’s world rankings.
Jordan began their campaign with a credible 1-1 draw with Iraq at home, but were then given a 6-0 hiding when they travelled to Saitama to meet Japan.
The Socceroos come into this one with a relatively clean bill of health. Importantly, Osieck should be able to call on key players Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill and Brett Holman.
Jordan are certain to provide a more formidable test at King Abdullah International Stadium in Ammam than they will in the return fixture in Australia next June, but Socceroos fans will rightly be expecting maximum points here.
It is imperative that the Socceroos are able to negotiate these types of West Asian assignments that come with qualifying through the Asian Confederation and the reality is that if they can’t, they might not deserve to be there anyway.
Japan now sit eight points clear in Group B but the Socceroos could also steal a three-point march on the other three teams in the group should they win here.
In a great sign for Socceroos fans, SBS announced yesterday that they’ll be broadcasting the match on a one-hour delay (Coverage at 2.30am AEST, kick-off at 3.00am) and be replaying the fixture at 7.00am AEST.
Will Osieck be able to kick-start the campaign? Find out from 2.00am AEST as we cover the action with live scores.
MV Dave
Guest
So Barry you're a Lowy hater that's obvious...of those you have listed the WC bid turned out to be a major disappointment more so because of the effect on HAL. however don't forget England bid and received one vote also. The NC well at least there is one and it is being implemented...that would be a plus for me. Expansion clubs came at a time when the game needed to expand even though the. 2 clubs in question weren't successful l wouldn't lay that one on Lowy shoulders only. Pay TV deal...you are joking right? At a time when the game was on its knees and were getting around $700,000 per year $120million would have sounded pretty good. It allowed the local game to help get established. After 32 years with no WC qualification you want to bag Lowy because we have actually qualified for the last 2...you must be joking again. Plus we have moved into Asian qualification. Lowy has had a huge and positive impact overall on the recent development of the game in this country...the fact that you choose to ignore the good reflects more on your bitterness than anything Lowy has or hasn't done. The game is much the better for his involvement and l would shudder to think of what could have happened if the old NSL was allowed to linger on.
Me too
Guest
We've had our glory years - and could've made more from then but missed out on that bit of fortune all teams benefit from at times. If we'd been in Asia earlier we would've qualified for every world cup from 94 to 2010. In 96 an aging team went oh so close to reaching the quarter finals and who knows. But it's highly unlikely we'll ever see the same amount of quality in the same team as we've had. We can't expect to see us dominate our Asian rivals as we have done, from here on just qualifying will be a fantastic effort, not something to take for granted.
Roger
Guest
Oh no, you used caps. Now I know you are serious.... =/
TomC
Roar Guru
What a staggeringly bad performance. Passing and control were utterly woeful. Australians were lacklustre and sloppy. Have to wonder if there's some discontent in the squad.
Barry
Guest
1. W.C. bid disaster - The entire 'strategy' if such a word can be used to describe this debacle is100% his fault 2. National Curriculum - First the selection of the 'Dutch' system and then the implementation of that system has been a TOTAL disaster and is ENTIRELY his fault 3.Expansion Clubs - Initially all into the wrong areas before their collapse thus setting back the game for years and ALL his fault 4.Pay tv deal - Tied up the game over 7 years for ONLY $17M per year, which financially crippled the game AND almost caused its collapse on more than one occasion and is ALL HIS FAULT!!!!!!!!! 5. WC Qualification - The Smith Report guidelines were to explore WHY Football has been TOTALLY unable to leverage ANY long term finacial benefit from successive WC qualification campaigns BUT Lowy INTERVENED to create a whitewash to exonerate himself when it became clear that it would likely be highly critical of his INEPT leadership. I could go ON & ON & ON about the DISASTER that Frank Lowy has been! It is Football's GREAT TRAGEDY that we placed our faith in this CHARLETAN who lead us up the garden path and OVER A CLIFF into oblivion.
MV Dave
Guest
So qualified for the last 2 WCs and established a growing and quality domestic league are to be counted here Barry? Or are you just a Lowy hater? Let's have your list of epic failures then...
Barry
Guest
When are you Frank Lowy apologists going to understand that what we saw last night is his REAL LEGACY to Football in Australia. The list of his EPIC FAILURES is longer than the dole cues!
Griffo
Roar Guru
All is not lost but the Iraq game is now a must win affair to gain some much needed breathing space for 2013 home qualifiers.
Johnno
Guest
disgracful. Sack Holger and schwarcher
TC
Guest
Final whistle Jordan have done it!
justafan
Guest
No faith more blind hope, very disappointing no matter how u look at it
TC
Guest
4 min of inj time Aust with corner throwing everything at Jordan now
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Faith restored via ..... Archie Thompson ... who would have thought !!!!!
TC
Guest
ARchie scores! 85th min, and it was a very nice finish too.
TC
Guest
82 min still 2-0
qwerty
Guest
This group of players don't deserve to go to a World Cup.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Like I said, I'm not bored by any Socceroos game but by geez am I chucking a wobbly tonight!!!!!! Won't be able to get to sleep after this one.
TC
Guest
Jordan with a one on one on Schwarzer - onto the roof of the net - I thought it had gone in!
TC
Guest
It's quite unbelievable no one would have predicted this sort of score line not in a million years
justafan
Guest
there u go, goodnight no world cup this tine, started with Mile ended with old man Neill