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).
Australian Rules
Guest
"People like you don’t represent modern Australia." Woah...that's heavy. Jokes aside though, if you asked 100 people in Australia what they call the sport, I reckon 10 would call it "football"...the rest "soccer". People that are offended by that (like Fuss is above) really need to get out more.
Ballymore
Guest
Protectionism has no place in football.
Bondy
Guest
AR, Why are you trying to tell us what to do, you say its up to the individual as to what they call the sport in Australia, is it ? Doesn't the governing body of this sport in Australia want you and me to call the sport football ? I thought they did. People like you don't represent modern Australia.
Bondy
Guest
AR, That's where your wrong ,you say it will always be known as the Socceroos, I bet the next gen change it in 20 years time and remove it.
Bondy
Guest
I cant stand it Tamlin too. Why not Australia vs Iraq I bang on about it here almost weekly.
Bondy
Guest
One thing that should be remembered is no other sport we contest as Australians gives this nation such a a true and International presence as to what football does.Its just a fact.
Stevo
Guest
It's quite simple. If it is demanded that we call it soccer, then all of the handball codes should be collectively referred to as rugger.
Wat Le Fark
Roar Rookie
I agree we've done this topic to death stretching back to 2004 and the start of the A-League and the formation of the Football Federation of Australia. Australian Rules Football http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_rules_football "Gradually the game—known at first as "Melbourne rules" became "Victorian rules" and then "Australian rules" or "Australasian rules" gained roots in other Australasian colonies"
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Gee. Debates on the names of different codes complete with jibes back on forth about what body parts can be used in the game. What an original and refreshing concept for a debate. This is nothing at all like all those other debates about the name and origins of the code which have been flogged so hard that if we were to go with the flogging a dead horse metaphor the horse in question would have long ago been splushed into glue. Really, it's totally different. Lemmings.
The Pivotonian
Guest
Please cite your source of "Melbourne Rules" being used in 1908 and "Victorian Rules" being used in 1958. PS. "Association Football" is still the official name of your code today!
Wat Le Fark
Roar Rookie
Then there are a lot of liars out there. Enjoy your Melbourne Rules. Football has never been called Soccer, its always officially known as football and Rugby as Rugby which split into rugby Union and rugby league. Where's your evidence?
The Pivotonian
Guest
Last time I checked you can use your head, shoulder, chest, backside, thigh, knee and shin in soccer too. Oh, and 9% of players can use any part of their body, including their hands. Except for a throw in, when 100% of players can use their hands.
The Pivotonian
Guest
Shhh, don't tell the phoodball fanbois!
The Pivotonian
Guest
Haha that is a complete lie! Yes the game was first known as Melbourne Rules and then Victorian Rules, but became Australian Football far before the 100th year. In 1908 for example the Jubilee Australasian Football Carnival was held (note: here "Australasia" was used as it included ALL of Australia, and New Zealand!). Secondly, the term "soccer" was first used in England in the 1880s to differentiate the game from rugby football (or "rugger"). Your game is Association Football. Our game is Australian Football. Both equally legitimate codes of football.
Fred
Roar Rookie
agree zip, end of argument, there can only be one football
matt h
Guest
+1. The amount of time replies in football articles descend to insults without addressing the issues is a bit silly. Adn re the "socceroos". I played "soccer" as a kid. My son does now. We enjoy the game. We call it soccer becasue we grewq up that way. Who cares? It's our dialect. It's like rugby vs. rugger or automobile vs. car. motor vehicle. It's language. It's LOL vs. hilarious. Please try not to be so precious. The FFA are not so precious otherwsie they would have changed the "Socceroos" monikor previously. So why are fans?
Jacques
Guest
Why are you even on a football thread David Lord? Your comment " lock in Brazil or the round ball game will be set back for years " just shows you already are preparing yourself for anti football and anti A league articles if the Socceroos don't qualify. Please stick to your eggball games David Lord
nordster
Guest
Yes and no. In the case of the absolute cream of our os players, yes. But most of them dont fit that label. Some of the 'best players available' may not even be playing these days. Or are better off focusing on club football and not the NT. Tommy Oar as an example of one who has done well at Utrecht possibly partly due to lack of NT distraction.
nordster
Guest
True yes...Ron Paul's my favourite codger...doesnt wisdom skip a generation anyway. The young should reach out to the codge and bypass those washed up middle agers
Australian Rules
Guest
Another triumph for irony: "What gives you the right to tell ME, what I find offensive?" Brilliant.