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.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Moss, as you say it would suck if it turns out he isn't eligible but you've quoted only a part of section 8 'Change of Association' of FIFA Statutes document, which relates to 'A' internationals (ie: senior squad, non-friendlies). He hasnt played (or been capped) for the senior squad, for any game. The key part of section 8.1 is ...if a Player acquires a new nationality,.... Section 7 deals with a players request to change/acquire a new nationality, and needs only one of four conditions to be met, which for Traore will be: D) He has lived continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 on the territory of the relevant Association. It is all dependant on Section 5, p. 64 to Section 8, p. 66 of this: http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/generic/01/66/54/21/fifastatutes2012e.pdf Of course it is all dependent on when Traore applies for citizenship, how well he playes this coming season, when his eligibility date is depending on the date of first residency here after his 18th birthday, and if he does not elect to represent Côte d'Ivoire senior squad in a non-friendly before then. I'm holding out hope but we won't know for sure until he's an Aussie putting his hand up for 'roo selection, tearing up the left flank for MVFC, and the FFA apply for confirmation of selection by the national coach ;-) http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2010/07/31/243755_gold-coast-soccer.html The above article states his desire for 2014 World Cup way back in 2010 for Australia...
TK
Guest
Made it to Sydney after delay on tiger airways. Sitting on a bus on the way to the ground slight showers falling here at Ryde. Sydney traffic sucks. C'mon ppl get out of the way - bus full of Socceroos fans coming through.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Waiting is awful...work output decling.......
Titus
Guest
It looks like there will be a few showers at the very least....and don't forget to take a jumper.
JAJI
Guest
I have great views from Sydney CBD looking towards the Blue Mountain and its looking pretty good over Homebush at present This is so different to 2009 and watching a 0-0 against Qatar in Doha at 3.00am to qualify
Australian Rules
Guest
Socceroos 2-0
nachos supreme
Guest
60% according to the BOM. Looking out the window to the east it looks pretty cloudy....Lucky my tix are undercover. Can't hack this waiting though.
Stevo
Guest
Completely agree re giving the ball away.
Punter
Guest
NZ draw with Italy was HUGE in NZ, ask any Kiwi & they will tell you, only team that went undefeated in WC10. Ranks with the Rugby WC win in 2011. Remember Italy WC10 was a poor team, Italy WC06 went on to win the world cup.
Moss
Guest
Incorrect. Fifa: 1. If a Player has more than one nationality, or if a Player acquires a new nationality, or if a Player is eligible to play for several representative teams due to nationality, he may, only once, request to change the Association for which he is eligible to play international matches to the Association of another country of which he holds nationality, subject to the following conditions: a) He has not played a match (either in full or in part) in an official competition at “A” international level for his current Association, and at the time of his first full or partial appearance in an international match in an official competition for his current Association, he already had the nationality of the representative team for which he wishes to play. So, he is eligible if A) he hasn't played for the senior team of Ivory Coast AND B) if at the time he played for the Ivory Coast youth team in an official competition, he was already an Australian national. It sucks, it would have warmed the cockles of my heart to have seen him in the green and gold...
Kasey
Guest
Don’t forget the (Left footed) defender son of Socceroo great Alan Davidson(Jason - 21) . One o.g.(v SCO ) should not end a promising career. Beats me why there was a story of trying to shoe-horn McKay into the LB slot? JD's currently at Heracles (eredivisie) I think, should only get better. Heracles sounds a bit like Damocles doesn't it if I'm pronouncing it all correctly?
Griffo
Roar Guru
Urgh! How likely is the rain tonight? :-( http://www.weatherzone.com.au/nsw/sydney/sydney Although could be all part of Holger's plan considering he left the roof open in Melbourne and had the pitch watered a bit before kick-off...
Griffo
Roar Guru
Regardless of passports, a player is ellegible at senior level for non-birth country if and only if they haven't played a meaningful match (ie: non-friendlies) for another country at senior level, and have lived in their adopted country for 5 years, and have been ratified by FIFA Player's Status Committee prior to being capped by their adopted country. They can swap around to any number of different nations youth teams for any matches (under-21 is considered youth) regardless of match status.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Precisely! Season Den membership coming up :D purchasing around tax time :P
Cameron
Roar Guru
How proud should NZ be then? They Drew 1 all with Italy...
Ian
Guest
Kellet - ha ha - yes you have been to one game. you just saved your cash to spend on the Brisbane Roar instead.
Punter
Guest
Just really shows how close we were to an upset against Italy!!! Something as a nation we should be very proud of.
Moss
Guest
No, he won't ever be eligible, as he played in a youth tourney for Cote d'Ivoire which contributed to the u21s WC qualifier without holding an Australian passport at that time.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Probably easier on him since Iraq can't qualify.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Ian - yes I remember that interview. He is class and thoughtful, and didn't answer in the way some of the media pack were expecting. I don't think the game was easy for them. We didn't make it easy for them that is for sure - the way it should be. I remember Hiddink saying post-match that we, as a football nation, hadn't yet developed the skills to unlock a defence like that - or at least, we still had an air of naïvity about tactics. Also remember Neil commenting when he got home a few days later that the team had some of their eyes on the Ukraine game that would have followed, and how we would have taken them...and who knows after that. What might have been... ...which I think that and Iran are at the front of their minds for the game tonight. There is no tomorrow until it is won, and they have to earn it, and they know it. All good signs.