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While the end-game tonight is ultimately qualification for a third consecutive World Cup, a feat not to be scoffed at, many Socceroos fans will be looking for Holger Osieck and his men to do it by building on an encouraging past fortnight.
To that end, here are five pointers for tonight to indicate the Roos continue to take steps towards representing Australia well in Brazil.
1. They start well and stay pro-active
It has been a big week of off-field commitments for the majority of the squad, and the hope is this doesn’t have any negative effect on how the team starts.
Indeed, if anything, the response the Roos received at an open training session on Thursday at Kogarah Oval, at an autograph signing session at Pitt St Mall the next day and at school visits throughout the week should be a huge lift.
Knowing direct qualification is at stake and that they’ve sold out the Olympic Stadium on the back of two vastly improved performances should provide the team with the motivation they need to start well.
With the crowd being encouraged to get in early and get loud, there’ll be no excuse for Osieck’s men not to be primed for kick-off.
What no Socceroos supporter will want to see is the type of the flat start they dished up in March against Oman, and certainly the team are in a far better head-space right now.
Indeed, with greater exposure thanks to coverage on free-to-air television, there is a sense that Australia is falling in love with its Roos once again.
But they can’t afford to take anything for-granted, and starting at a high tempo and staying there is the best way for the Roos to control their own destiny.
2. There’s better connection on the flanks
While Tommy Oar and Matt McKay did well in Saitama, and Robbie Kruse lit up Docklands a week ago, so far we are yet to see the type of connection we’d hope for on the flanks.
Despite the comprehensive win over Jordan last week, both fullbacks would have been disappointed with their contributions.
What Roos fans will be hoping for is that the combinations between Luke Wilkshire and Kruse down the right, and Oar and McKay on the left, are more seamless than they have been.
Oar and Kruse have generally provided some good width, but there is certainly scope, when drifting inward, for the fullbacks to get forward and integrate more productively with the attack.
With the likes of Adama Traore on the left and Ryan McGowan on the right likely to keep knocking on the door, tonight is an opportunity for McKay and Wilkshire to reminder everyone they still have a big role to play.
3. Neill and Ognenovski get high and stay there
While there were some better signs at Docklands last week, there were still times where our two central defenders, Lucas Neill and Sash Ognenovski, almost by default, would retreat towards Mark Schwarzer.
Of course, at home, it wasn’t as profound as it was in Saitama, where the formation sat deep, but it was still there.
Often Neill and Ognenovski were helped out by the terrific screening work of Mark Milligan, who gave Jordanian skipper Ameer Deeb a night to forget, breaking up many an attempted counter.
Iraq too have plenty of pace and pose a threat in transition, and the fear is that by leaving too much space between the lines, the Roos could be picked off.
What Roos fans hope to see is a compact unit that moves forward and back as one, and the position of the central defenders plays a big part in dictating this shape.
4. Tom Rogic is given more game-time
After his cameo off the bench last week drew much adulation, it feels like Tom Rogic is ready to explode as a Socceroo, just as Kruse did last week.
Certainly the FFA, in plastering he, Kruse, Oar and James Holland on the front page of yesterday’s Daily Telegraph seem happy enough to play along, even if their manager mightn’t necessarily approve.
What fans will be hoping is that Osieck is in a position to introduce Rogic as early into the second half as possible, and that he doesn’t need to call on him late to ignite or rescue the team.
Graham Arnold has been on the record in describing Rogic as a player who thrives on the big occasion, saying you can see it in his eyes as soon as he comes into the dressing room.
Meanwhile, Tim Cahill spoke glowingly this week about how special Rogic has looked in camp, backing him to have a huge career in green and gold.
The hope is that Australia, tonight, gets further insight into what all the fuss is about.
5. There’s a humble and honest reaction to qualification
Perhaps this is the key point. If the Roos do get all three points against a fairly decimated Iraq and qualify directly for Brazil, the reaction should be honest.
The fact the Roos under Osieck were even in a pickle, with little margin for error, heading into the final three qualifiers, tells its own story.
Experienced midfielder Mark Bresciano hit the nail on the head on Sunday when he suggested it wasn’t good enough, and anyone rushing to paint Osieck as some kind of genius should remember where the team was just over two weeks ago.
Certainly he deserves credit for getting his selections and most of his strategies right in the past fortnight or so, but the truth is it should never have been this tight.
If the Roos can over the line, without the need for play-off, fans are entitled to celebrate, but should remain humble and realistic.
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