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These next few weeks are crucial for the Australian men’s national football team and their desperate need to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Desperate because not qualifying would be a huge blow for the FFA and football in this country and a big win for the enemies of reason.
Financially you’d get over 10 million US dollars just for qualifying, plus the increased sponsorships, kit endorsements, media revenue sharing and merchandising.
Not to mention the flow on effects for other Australian football teams and the boost for the A-League and the following of the sport in Australia.
The story so far in our Asian Football Confederation Group B FIFA World Cup Qualification Tournament is Japan are in first place in the group with 13 points from six games and look certain to finish top of the group and claim one of the two automatic qualification places.
Just two competition points separate the four remaining nations in the group of five, with Australia currently equal third on six points with three games to play.
The three most important Tuesdays coming up in June for the Australian national men’s football team are as follows.
Tuesday June 4, Australia versus Japan at Saitama Stadium Japan. Tuesday June 11, Australia versus Jordan in Melbourne. Tuesday 18 June, Australia versus Iraq in Sydney.
All three vital games will be shown live on Fox Sports Australia and delayed telecast on SBS television, broadcast live on SBS and ABC Radio and streamed live on the world wide web by the FFA, SBS and others around the world.
Things are getting so nail biting and desperate that commentators are calling for the recall of Harry Kewell to the Socceroos squad to rescue Australian football.
Here’s the evidence. Harry Kewell has been a vital member of the national team since 1996 and statistics reveal since the home and away qualifiers against Iran in 1997 up to and including the recent draw with Oman, the Socceroos are better off with Kewell in the side.
With Prince Harry playing they have won 62 per cent of their matches, without him that drops to just 43 per cent.
Why not gave it a crack? Lucas Neill is our captain isn’t he and the way we’re playing right now taking a chance on Kewell is better than serving up what we have of late.
According to Neill, part of the problem is lack of “active support” at home Socceroos games. Some people are even suggesting the Socceroos and the golden era have lost some of their appeal and we are more interested in the A-League these days.
The A-League is in mid winter hibernation, so why not get behind the Socceroos?
According to the new green and gold active supporters groups we should stop calling them the ‘Socceroos’ as well.
Socceroos is a throwback to ‘old soccer’. We are not old soccer, just say “We are football – we are Australia. We are the Football [insert new name here]!”
Given the history and the commercial backing and sponsorship of the Socceroos, I’m not sure how they can make it happen.
Anyway, if you support football and want to see Australia do well, we usually want anything in green and gold to win, then ask yourself if you support the Socceroos (or whatever new name they come up with).
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.