When Ivan Franjic walks down the tunnel at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday night, he should pause and take a look around. The Brisbane Roar utility man is living out more than just a personal dream.
When Franjic first kicked a ball around as a kid, he probably didn’t set out with the goal of making the Socceroos in mind.
But there can be few young boys and girls across Australia who don’t one day imagine themselves in national team colours, even if for many of us it’s a fleeting fantasy at best.
Franjic is one of the privileged few for whom a combination of raw talent, physique and sheer determination have combined to help forge a career in the rarefied air of professional sports.
Yet even Franjic – who barely four years ago was combining life in the Victorian Premier League with his day job as a carpenter – must be pinching himself at his meteoric rise from the humble Oakleigh Cannons to the Australian national team.
Drink it in Ivan, for you are living the dream of virtually every football fan in this country.
And that, essentially, is what Australia’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan boils down to.
When the Socceroos run out against the deafening din created by Japan’s indescribably loud support, they do so as ambassadors for some 23 million Australians.
From the most dedicated of fans to the bloke who checks the results in the paper the next day, the Socceroos mean different things to different people – but they should always represent the nation with passion and pride.
Perhaps that’s why there’s currently a bit of an image problem surrounding the national team, with recent performances leaving much to be desired.
A nadir was reached in the 2-2 draw with Oman at a half-full ANZ Stadium back in March, when not even a Tim Cahill-inspired fight-back from two goals down could convince anyone the Socceroos are on the right track.
Now Japan stand in our way and for the millions of fans who support the national team, another insipid performance simply won’t cut it.
Holger Osieck knows Japanese football better than most, but is he still the right man to coach the Socceroos? Time will tell.
But what will be just as telling is that without our ageing back four finding some cohesion, without our holding midfielders actually linking up with the attack and without our strikers putting away what chances come their way, we’ll be lambs to the slaughter against a Japanese side stinging from their overnight friendly defeat to Bulgaria.
That’s not to say the Socceroos should fear the Samurai Blue. Their squad is nothing to write home about and routinely features a couple of starting members currently bumbling around in J2.
They rarely play their best football as favourites and while the Australian press is rightly focused on Osieck, the media glare in Japan is increasingly on Alberto Zaccheroni and his struggles to mould an effective unit from an undoubtedly talented group of players.
Which means unknown quantities like Franjic could make a world of difference.
The versatile Roar defender made his Socceroos debut during last year’s East Asian Championship qualifiers – but this is the big time; a World Cup qualifier on foreign soil.
His first taste of a ferocious Saitama Stadium atmosphere will almost certainly come from the bench, however Osieck could do worse than throw Franjic into the fray – not least because the Japanese will know next to nothing about him.
But win or lose in Saitama – and a loss could prove fatal to Australia’s chances of reaching Brazil – it is incumbent upon Osieck and his players to remember the bigger picture.
When you pull on the Socceroos jersey, you are not just representing yourself, you are representing an entire nation.
And after a series of decidedly underwhelming performances, it is time to restore some pride to the national team jersey.
Midfield general
Guest
This side doesn't compare with the class of 2006 but there is enough talent there to do ok in Brazil should they get that far, names have been mentioned elsewhere. We just needed a coach who can put together a side that's more than the sum of its parts, through superior tactics and fitness. And send them out of the dressing room wanting to run through a brick wall for their country. Right now they just seem like a bunch of insecure individuals lacking confidence and fearful of making mistakes. My predictions: 1. Will lose to Japan 2. Scrape through vs. Iraq and Jordan 3. Gallop will sack Holger anyway, Arnie will lead the team in Brazil
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Who said anything about AFL or rugby.? Keep to the subject
Titus
Guest
Its still going to be longer than the best international AFL goals video......even if you include the best behinds.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Why 6 mins? 45sec would cover the decent goals
Griffo
Roar Guru
When the Socceroos run out against the deafening din created by Japan’s indescribably loud support, they do so as ambassadors for some 23 million Australians. Can't remember if it was Lucas Neil or some Telstra ad during 2006 World Cup that said that the Socceroos know they don't just run out on the field in the green and gold alone, they run out knowing there are 20-odd million Australians in the stadium, around the world, and at home who are running on the field with them. I do remember Neil saying in an interview before the 2006 tournament that Guus was flogging them on the training pitch - they were barely able to drag their carcasses off the field at the end of every day. Neil said something along the lines that it was a dream that they were at the World Cup, and that they we're in agony, but they just thanked him and couldn't wait to do it all over again because they knew how special and important it was for the whole country (being at the World Cup). They did not want to let us down. You could just tell that Neil could collapse dead in a heap on the training pitch and die a happy man, because he was giving more than he thought he could ever give for his country and was honoured and privileged to do so. Passion might not be the most important issue facing our team right now, but the above should be remembered by some in the team and be used to fire up and make Japan earn any point on offer. No mercy, no quarter given, no half-chance 50-50 balls, no rest or moments for Japan to catch their breath until the ref blows the whistle for full time!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
My mistake, our u20 lads were playing GER u23 .. their Olympic team! So, some GER opponents would've been 3-4 years older than our lads. AUS was leading 1-2 & GER equalised in the 85'.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Post Jordan game I think it was Holger indicated the players were too fatigued from the friendly leading up to the match. No friendlies since then. As you say how that is reflected with cohesion and match fitness will be interesting...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Just in on Twitter: Australia U20s drew 2-2 with Germany U21. Goals to Jamie MacLaren & Ryan Williams (Rhys Williams's younger brother) ---- Very impressive!
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
"Celebrations!?!" "Tell the wife I won't be home tonight" "Just book an ambulance for me" :D
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Is that man behind the goal at 3:30 rubbing his nipples?,great finish but geez.
Meh
Guest
While I love Broich, I don't think we're that desperate to have to reach for him for NT selection. He plays LW for the Roar. The NT already has Tomnmy Oar as a long term solution for this position.
Meh
Guest
I strongly disagree with you, striker. Franjic was THE form player at the end of the A League Season. Wouldn't be surprised to see him move abroad this winter if he auditions well for the Socceroos in these next 3 games.
Midfielder
Guest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwddcl4YDeY
Franko
Guest
The U20's played Holland last Friday in prep for their World Cup, they play Germany tonight. Surely a match against the full NT at some point would have been great for both. Holger seems to prefer camping.
Me Too
Guest
A local coach may get us playing with the passion that saw us competitive against teams well above us in the past. I think back to the soccerroos team that beat argentina 4-1 and pushed brasil, and did us proud in confederation cups. But in the end we didn't have the talent to take the next step and qualify for the world cup. It took an experienced international coach and a team brimming with talent and experience in european leagues. Sadly all this team has is the coach, and that seems to be in debate.
realfootball
Guest
I'd like to be behind Holger, approaching at speed in a B double.
1860melbourne
Guest
I have to question the way Holger approaches these qualifiers. No practice matches to try new formations or to give game time to players such as Lucas and Holman who has been warming the benches or not playing at all. Our approach against Japan seems similar to the Oman game where 10 days in camp is all that is required these days. Look how well that worked for us. If I were Japan I would be licking my lips at the prospect Neil and Og defensive pairing. I hope I am wrong but this could be the final nail in the coffin. Holger should have gone by now.
realfootball
Guest
I'm interested that the Japanese expect endless long balls from the Roos. Lucas Neill, this your life. How depressing that our NT has this kind of rep. I am unnerved by the level of enmity I feel for Holger Osieck, a man I've never met. As I hold out no hope of a win against Japan, I find myself in the strange position of hoping we lose by 3, because that will surely mean the end of Osieck right then and there. The only thing Holger the Incompetent has in his favour is that the game means nothing to the Japanese beyond pride, which means the Roos may be hungrier for the result.
fadida
Guest
There are better players than Holger picks, therefore it is his problem
Philip
Guest
The comments are generally fair criticisms of what most of us can see of the current situation. I think we all want the team to win and as supporters we will all start the match full of hope and best wishes for the team - but results over time don't lie it's up to the team to do better than 1 win in 5 matches which is where we stand at the moment.