The most important three weeks of Australia’s World Cup qualifying bid get underway tomorrow night as the Socceroos travel to a sold-out Saitama Stadium to take on already qualified Japan, live from 8.30pm AEST. Join us then for live scores and commentary of the action.
To say the Socceroos’ campaign had been disappointing so far would be a gigantic understatement.
After an insipid performance back in March at home to Oman, Australia sit just outside the automatic qualification spots with Jordan a point clear, albeit having played an extra game.
And due to Jordan not playing tomorrow, a point could be enough to catapult Australia back into the top two.
However on the other side of the coin, a loss for our boys would mean that regardless of the result between Jordan and Iraq, Australia would drop to fourth in the group with just two games to play – a catastrophic position considering our stature.
The public opinion of Holger Osieck has been turning steadily for the better part of the last year, with more and more people loathing the ageing line-ups that have been trotted out while promising youngsters get left on the sideline.
Hopefully we see a nice mix tonight, and the rumours are that Josh Kennedy and Timmy Cahill will work up front together, an aerial combo that would give any defensive unit nightmares!
Japan have nothing to play for and are coming off a 2-0 friendly loss to Bulgaria, but there is absolutely no way they should be underestimated.
For starters, they’d love to prove themselves the dominant force in Asia by making an example of one of the other heavyweights.
I’m sure they also remember that that 1-1 draw in Brisbane earlier in the campaign was the only blemish on their perfect qualifying record (before losing to Jordan after having already punched their ticket).
It’s never a good sign when people are less concerned with winning than with merely turning in a solid performance, but that’s what we’re looking at here.
Hopefully despite recent results, the boys can turn it around and steer us back towards Brazil.
And regardless, it’s going to be a very tense home stand in the two following Tuesdays.
Join us here on The Roar from just before 8.30pm AEST for all the team news, line-ups and formations.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Professor Rosseforp, Schwarzer as always was great, but he was only really called upon twice from what I recall. All others were straight at the body and I felt the other players provided vast improvements on previous outings compared to Schw... No point in my saying he plays great all the time and picking him because then I wouldnt be addressing those that actually improved and could improve...
Cameron
Roar Guru
And yet his selection over NEILL???
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Football history is replete with examples of fans that sing que sera, sera far too early.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Yeah, flying over for that one as well.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Yeah that was pointless except for disrupting Japan's play for a late win.
SlickAs
Guest
I've done the calculations for you on excel, the Iraq-Japan game is irrelevent, and this assumes that Australia maintains its lead with Oman and Jordan on goal difference: There are 27 different permutations. In total it looks like this. The number means the amount of scenarios. So essentially there are 7 different scenarios where Australia gets Automatic qualification, 12 where it reaches the playoffs and 8 where we are eliminated. Automatic Playoffs Eliminated Oman 11 8 7 Australia 7 12 8 Jordan 8 7 12 So how important is the Jordan game ... here it is: Australia wins then the scenarios look like this (Jordan no chance of automatic qualification): Automatic Playoffs Eliminated Oman 3 2 3 Australia 5 4 0 Jordan 0 3 6 Jordan wins, the scenarios look like this (Australia no chance of Automatic qualification). Automatic Playoffs Eliminated Oman 3 4 2 Australia 0 3 6 Jordan 6 2 1 Draw, the scenarios look like this (Australia needs to win the Iraq game and have other results go our way and same for Jordan): Automatic Playoffs Eliminated Oman 5 2 2 Australia 2 5 2 Jordan 2 2 5 So Jordan will come to Australia to win. No parking the bus and rolling around on the ground like they have been shot.
Zaccaaa
Guest
:(
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Put Archie Thomson on -- at least he knows what the back of theopposition net looks like-- and don't save him for the last 6 seconds of extra time.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Not Schwarzer in your top players?
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Well, my apologies -- Schwarzer had one of the best games I have seen, and really asserte himself around the goal. Well done!
dasilva
Guest
The last permutations that I forgot A victory against Jordan, lost against Iraq, If Iraq draw/loses to Japan, oman draw against jordan, Oman and Australia tied at 2nd spot determine by goal difference A victory against Jordan, lost against Iraq, If Iraq draw/loses to Japan, oman defeats jordan, Australia 3rd spot A victory against Jordan, lost against Iraq, If Iraq draw/loses to Japan, Oman loses to Jordan, Australia will be tied at 2nd spot determine by goal difference A victory against Jordan, lost against Iraq, If Iraq defeats Japan, Oman draw against Jordan, goal difference for 3rd spot with Oman A victory against Jordan, lost against Iraq, If Iraq defeats Japan, Oman defeats Jordan, Australia are eliminated A victory against Jordan, lost against Iraq, If Iraq defeats Japan, Jordan defeats Oman, Australia are tied with Jordan at 3rd spot decided by goal difference
dasilva
Guest
Sorry I made a mistake before especially with the two draws This should be the correct permutation Australia two wins, Australia qualifies so this is completely in our hands. Australia two loss - Australia is eliminated Australia loses to Jordan - Australia can not gain automatic qualification Australia loses to Jordan and draws to Iraq - Australia is eliminated Australia loses to Jordan, defeats Iraq, 3rd spot playoff A draw to Jordan and Australia will require a victory against Iraq and Oman drawing with Jordan for automatic qualification. A draw against Jordan and Australian victory against Iraq and Jordan defeating Oman will result in Jordan and Australia being tied for 2nd spot and will require goal difference to separate the two team. Howeer Jordan has to overcome a 6 goal deficit behind Australia so this would be a lkely Australia grabbing 2nd spot A draw against Jordan and Australia victory over Iraq but Oman defeating Jordan will leave Australia at 3rd playoff spot. A draw against Jordan and Australia lost with Iraq will eliminate us if jordan defeats Oman and/or if Iraq defeats Japan and/or Iraq defeats Australia by a two goal margin A draw against Jordan and Australia lost with Iraq, Australia will get 3rd spot if jordan draws/lose to Oman and Iraq lose to Japan. If Oman Jordan draw it will go by goal difference. A draw against jordan and Iraq, australia can't qualify automatically A draw against jordan and Iraq If Iraq lose/draw to Japan Australia finish 3rd A draw against jordan and Iraq and if Iraq defeats Japan, Oman draws with Jordan Australia,Iraq and Jordan will be tied for 3rd spot determine by goal difference A victory against Jordan but a draw against Iraq, Australia can qualify automatically if Oman fail to beats Jordan (a draw or a defeat by Oman will be sufficient) A victory against Jordan but a draw against Iraq, Australia will be forced into playoffs if Oman defeat Jordan.
dasilva
Guest
So some permutations Two wins and Australia are through so this is completely in our hands. A lost to Jordan will mean Australia can not qualify to the world cup automatically and have to beat Iraq to secure third spot. Two lost and Australia are eliminated Lost against Jordan and a draw against Iraq, Australia are eliminated A draw to Jordan and Australia will require a victory against Iraq and Oman drawing with Jordan for automatic qualification. A draw against Jordan and Australian victory against Iraq and Jordan defeating Oman will result in Jordan and Australia being tied for 2nd spot and will require goal difference to separate the two team. Howeer Jordan has to overcome a 6 goal deficit behind Australia so this would be a lkely Australia grabbing 2nd spot A draw against Jordan and Australia victory over Iraq but Oman defeating Jordan will leave Australia at 3rd playoff spot. A draw against Jordan and Australia draw with Iraq will eliminate us if jordan defeats Oman. A draw against Jordan and Australia draw with Iraq and Australia will be eliminated if Iraq defeats Japan by a 2 goal margin. Otherwise Australia will get 3rd spot if jordan loses to Oman. If it was a draw it will go by goal difference. A victory against Jordan but a draw against Iraq, Australia can qualify automatically if Oman fail to beats Jordan (a draw or a defeat by Oman will be sufficient) A victory against Jordan but a draw against Iraq, Australia will be forced into playoffs if Oman defeat Jordan.
dasilva
Guest
I'll be there as well Me and my brother are taking a plane trip to Melbourne to see the Socceroos. After all we are never going to see them in a WCQ in Adelaide
dasilva
Guest
Yeah I was hoping for a draw as it would have left the possibility of drawing one of those two matches and still qualify to the world cup but now that is pretty much improbable now (completely reliant on Oman losing to Jordan) THat win for Oman removes any sort of breathing room for Australia No room for slip up now A draw with Jordan will mean that qualification will be out of our hands and dependent on the Oman vs Jordan match on the last day. THis will be nerve wrecking stuff Actually the Oman result shows how crucial Australia draw with Japan was. If Australia lost that match, it could potentially be a goal difference shoot out with Oman for 2nd spot.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Not so clear cut Johnno. Group A 3rd vs Group B 3rd Sept 6 & sept 11 Then the winner gets to verse a South American team.
Johnno
Guest
Just finished watching Oman VS Iraq. Bad news for the aussies, Oman wins. Oman now in 2nd on 9 points, socceroos and Jordan on 7 points. But aussy and Jordan have , 1 extra game. But now next week do or die for aussies and Jordan. everything to play for in Melbourne. Oman's last match is in 2 weeks away in Jordan, so still aussies in the box seat but only just. If Jordan pinch a draw vs the aussies next week that will help vs a desperate Oman. But Oman should feel happy they will most likely get 3rd spot and a play off spot vs south american qualifier . Aussies VS Jordan next week, c'mon aussys.
The Football
Guest
What a surprise, Australia get lucky and fluke a goal. Screw this "determination and grit" crap.
Johnno
Guest
If Oman win tonight. Next week Socceroo's VS Jordan is gonna be massive, do or die basically winner takes all.
Football United
Roar Pro
This, then again Holger would probably put a a donkey there before actually considering someone who actually plays at LB