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After 13 2014 World Cup Qualification matches, it all comes down to this. The Socceroos can book their place in Brazil with a victory over Iraq tonight. We’ll have live scores from 7.30pm AEST.
Despite what can only be described as a patchy qualification campaign, Holger Osieck’s Socceroos are in the box seat to get to Brazil.
Three points against the 98th-ranked Iraqis will guarantee the Socceroos second position, while a draw would also see Australia through should Oman fail to beat Jordan.
But should they lose and Oman win, the Socceroos will be forced into a two-legged playoff against the third-placed side in Group A – either Iran, Uzbekistan or Korea – before then facing the fifth-ranked South American qualifier in another two-legged playoff.
Regardless, in front of a full house at ANZ Stadium the home side will be determined to finish the job tonight and re-create the jubilant scenes observed after the Socceroos’ penalty shootout victory over Uruguay in 2005.
They’ve been boosted by several disruptions to the Iraq starting lineup for tonight, who travelled to Australia having had their own 2014 World Cup dream extinguished by Japan in Doha last Tuesday.
Both Younis Mahmoud and Nashat Akram have withdrawn from the game due to a dispute with the Iraq FA, while Alaa Abdul-Zahra will also be missing through suspension.
Osieck is expected to field an unchanged – or close to unchanged – lineup from the one that defeated Jordan 4-0 in Melbourne last Tuesday.
After polished performances Robbie Kruse, Tommy Oar and Mark Bresciano will almost certainly line up in their respective positions in Australia’s midfield, as will Brett Holman in behind Tim Cahill.
The only real question seems to be whether Mark Milligan retains his place as one of the two holding midfielders or whether Osieck opts to bring in Crystal Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak.
A quick glance at recent history between the two sides might make Socceroos fans slightly anxious and captain Lucas Neill might be feeling the same way having labelled Iraq a “bogey team” earlier in the week.
Iraq shocked Australia 3-1 at the 2007 Asian Cup before edging the Socceroos 1-0 in a 2010 World Cup Qualifer in Doha back in 2008, and the Socceroos required to late goals to record a come-from-behind 2-1 victory when the two sides met last year during this campaign.
In all likelihood this game should be decided in the opening half hour tonight.
If the Socceroos begin with the initiative and willingness to attack that they showed against Jordan, they could seal this game reasonably early and Iraq heads will drop if Australia score quickly.
But if they don’t, the visiting side will grow in confidence and it could be a nervous 90 minutes across the country.
Will the Socceroos book their place in Brazil tonight? Let us take you through the 90 minutes with live scores and commentary from 7.30pm AEST, and leave your predictions, thoughts and observations below as the action unfolds.
Photos: Paul Barkley / LookPro Photography
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