It wasn’t exactly a magnificent seven as Tajikistan was put to the sword by a second-gear Socceroos side in South Australia.
Coach Ange Postecoglou had called for an intimidating atmosphere but really, it was not what he wanted.
There are only a few countries that can produce an intimidating atmosphere against lowly opposition and I don’t think Australia is one of them.
It tends to stem from the tension of a clash where the stakes are high and/or there is the presence of a rival or a strong team. A hint of intimidation against Tajikistan would only come if the Socceroos suddenly did not look like winning. And that was never on the cards.
The atmosphere will be different for games against Japan, South Korea and Iran in the next stage of qualification.
Talking of Iran, Harry Redknapp will be the cheekiest cockney in an Australian dugout since a certain Terry Venables but while the former Spurs boss may make the pre-match build-up more interesting, he will have his work cut out turning a Jordan team into one that is prepared to take on the Aussies in Sydney.
But even Redknapp and his easy media manner and comments that make for better copy than not taking things lightly, will not be able to make these next two games exciting.
As Asian champions at home, there should be little question as to Australia getting the points it needs for top spot even after Jordan’s 8-0 dismissal of Bangladesh in Amman.
What is up for debate is whether playing teams like Tajikistan or Bangladesh is a good idea. I saw some on social media questioning – mostly rhetorically – whether both nations were getting anything out of the game. There were more last September when the Socceroos thrashed the Bengal Tigers.
This is an issue that basically depends on your opinion. For me, what Australia gets are three points after a scheduled game against fellow Asian opposition. Australia knew after leaving Oceania, where such results were commonplace, that Asia is the world’s most diverse continent in many fields, including football.
For every Korea, Japan and Iran offering the kind of tough tests that the Socceroos craved, there are others that offer less of a challenge. It was ever thus and ever thus will be.
But it is in the interest of everyone that there is as much engagement between the top and bottom as possible. It will help some start to challenge and all, hopefully, to improve.
I talked with the (then) Bangladesh coach after the 5-0 thrashing in Perth last year. Sure, he said, it was not nice to lose by such a scoreline but the experience something his players would never forget.
As the sadly late but very great Johan Cruyff once said: “”Winning is an important thing, but to have your own style, to have people copy you, to admire you, that is the greatest gift.” That is an example Australia can aspire to set on the pitch.
Off it, it is even more important. Games against AFC giants give players, officials and coaching staff from smaller football nations the opportunity to see the facilities and set-ups that are a world apart. Going to Australia, one of the most successful sporting nations in the world, shows what just may be possible.
It also gets the media back home excited and this all helps the game grow and it is the same with Tajikistan. And if there is one player who can catch the eye of an A-League coach and get called for a trial, it gives the whole country a boost.
Nobody would argue that there is not a huge divide between the best and worst of Asia. That is exactly why the big boys need to help the minnows.
There are plenty of precedents. I remember England thrashing Turkey at almost every meeting, it took South Korea decades to win a first World Cup game and the same with Japan in rugby. What is the case now, will not be forever.
It is true that only some countries have the potential to challenge in years and decades to come but even those who are destined for an eternal destiny of fifth-seed pot placements can improve. And if they do, then so does Asia, and then so does Australia.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Whilst the home games do tend to blow out, many of the minnows put up stiff resistance on their home turf. Indeed Kyrgyzstan outplayed us for most of the game in Bishkek. That, a long with the experience of preparing to play in such varied terrain, places some real value on these types of games. For the return legs the lower draw types sides offer the FFA a chance to showcase the Socceroos around the country. The chances of getting 35,000 against Tajikistan in Sydney/Brisbane/Melbourne is minimal at best.
Paul
Guest
All based on results from 2 or 3 ago with wins and weighting. It's probably all the friendlies we lost in the lead up to the World Cup and the Saudis winning the friendlies in the same time frame. The results of the last 12 months are averaged and weighted at 100%, the results of the previous 12 months are averaged and weighted at 50%, the results of the previous 12 months are averaged and weighted at 30% and the results of the previous 12 months are averaged and weighted at 20%. The averaged and weighted results of 4 years are then added together to give the points. I just checked and the result of a game against Saudi Arabia have just been excluded as it was played on the 29 February 2012 and it was a win. So we need Saudi Arabia to draw with United Arab Emirates and for the Socceroos to beat Jordan in any way possible to be seeded in the next qualification round. We need to be seeded in the top 4, currently Iran, Japan, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia so that we only have one country seeded above us.. UAE are breathing down our necks also. The top 2 countries from each group qualify for Russia 2018. The best 3rd place team has a playoff with CONCACAF country to qualify for Russia
SM
Guest
The Saudis being ranked higher is certainly a head scratcher. Why do they have so many points?
SM
Guest
You've have a shocker here Tom.
Paul
Guest
Any country with a higher rank than 150 would help the points because of the FIFA formula where the strength of the opponent is used. When a nations ranking is 150 or less they are considered equal.
JR Salazar
Guest
Higher rank, like the Philippines?
Paul
Guest
We still have Iran, Japan, Korea Rep and and Saudi Arabia ahead on ranking after the first matches. We need UAE to draw or beat Saudi Arabia and for Australia to beat Jordan to be seeded in the next round of WC Qualication. There are minnows and minnows. If we had played a minnow with a higher rank than Tajikistanwe would have had more points.
Dasilva
Guest
Yep miss the point. in the past these sides had to do extra pre qualifying phase to be able to reach the group stages to get the opportunity to play against the like of Australia, Japan, South Korea, Iran Only this World Cup qualifier this was expanded to give more opportunities for minnows to play against the established nations. So yes there are alternatives to playing them, such as putting numerous hoops for the minnows to jump over to reach the group stage. For example in Oceania after Australia trashed American Samoa by a world record number, people were questioning the value of playing this side. They didn't exclude them from World Cup qualifying (as every side is eligible to qualify to the World Cup) but they added a pre-tournament to weed out the minnows before they match up with New Zealand and Australia
Marc
Guest
Agree with you Freddie ...
Freddie
Guest
Well he is in good company then Tom, because yours is surely the silliest reply ever posted on the site. Completely missing the point on almost every topic. Congratulations.
Tom
Guest
"Win against a minnow is still worthwhile for the Socceroos" Yeah thanks captain obvious its a world cup qualifier. "What is up for debate is whether playing teams like Tajikistan or Bangladesh is a good idea." What are you smoking. It's a world cup qualifier, if we didn't play them we wouldn't make the world cup. Everyone gets to try and qualify for the world cup haha, we can't just say "nah we're better than you sorry guys we'll just go to world cup don't worry about trying" LOL! How is whether its a good idea that we play them up for debate? how? you want to go back to oceania hahaha give me a break. And why would we want to help our opposition haha?! would you rather tough qualifiers than make the world cup?! This is the silliest article i've read on theroar.com.