Australia’s World Cup qualifier against Iraq on Thursday is about more than just Perth being handed the chance to host the Socceroos again.
After years of missing out on fixtures, Western Australia plays host to the national team for the second time within a year on Thursday night.
It comes in the wake of a respectable crowd of just under 20,000 turning out last September at nib Stadium – or Perth Rectangular Stadium to use its naff FIFA-approved name – to witness the Socceroos hammer Bangladesh 5-0 in the second phase of qualifying.
Iraq should provide a sterner test this time around, even if the Lions of Mesopotamia are forced to play their ‘home’ fixtures in the Iranian capital Tehran for security reasons.
Getting fans through the gates is important, if only because state governments that fail to pony up when Socceroos games are being shopped around are clearly going to being seeing less of the national team. Just ask Queensland.
For coach Ange Postecoglou, the game offers the opportunity to not only collect another three points on the road to Russia, but also to run the rule over some key personnel.
While Aaron Mooy has been earning rave reviews at Championship side Huddersfield and Tom Rogic scored a belter of a free-kick for Celtic at the weekend, others may be feeling the heat.
Skipper Mile Jedinak made a much-publicised move from Premier League battlers Crystal Palace to recently relegated Midlands giants Aston Villa, and judging by the Birmingham Mail’s weekend assessment of the combative midfielder, he may come into the camp somewhat underdone.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Mat Ryan has endured a difficult start to the new La Liga season, with his Valencia side losing twice at the same time that Mitch Langerak has been starting in goal for 2.Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart.
It’s hard to see Postecoglou overlooking current incumbent in Ryan, however the former Central Coast Mariners shot-stopper must be cursing the lack of defensive cover on offer at his embattled Spanish club.
Elsewhere the likes of Jackson Irvine – who scored the winner for Burton Albion against Derby on Friday – Milos Degenek and a rejuvenated Tomi Juric will all be looking to stake their claims, and perhaps the best thing about Postecoglou’s reign so far is that the Socceroos now boast some genuine depth across the park.
That means there’s likely to be less reliance on Melbourne City recruit Tim Cahill, and since he barely touched the ball in a brief cameo in the FFA Cup last week, that’s probably a good thing.
Cahill features heavily in various Fox Sports promotions at the moment, and given how much money Foxtel has invested in both the A-League and the Socceroos over the years, it’s not hard to see why they’d be keen to strike up a deal with the A-League’s most marketable player.
Fox has only recently struck an in-principle deal with broadcast rights holders Lagardere Sports (formerly World Sports Group) to show the final round of World Cup qualifiers, and the protracted negotiations are perhaps a salutary lesson in being careful what you wish for.
Plenty of fans online – including here on The Roar – have welcomed Optus’ entry into the sports broadcast market.
But with the telco copping another weekend of relentless criticism for their struggles to broadcast the English Premier League, perhaps it’s better the devil you know when it comes to football coverage.
There’s no telling what Optus’ exclusive coverage will look like by the time the 2018 World Cup rolls around, but fans across Australia will hope to see Postecoglou and his team there.
They face two tough encounters within the space of a week – it’s off to Abu Dhabi to battle a skilful United Arab Emirates next – and even bigger challenges await further down the line.
For now, the road to Russia resumes in Perth – and it’s a test both the team and venue will hope to pass with flying colours.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Spot on Bob.
Post hoc
Guest
I actually see him as a deeper play maker, as Wanderers used him with Shinji in year 1
Sydneysider
Guest
No worries Hog. I'm a rugby fan as well, not as die hard as yourself or Sheek or TWAS but still enjoy the game. I reckon rugby could do it, they just need to start over again and clear the decks like what soccer/football did back in 2003-2005 with the Crawford Report and the A-League, and no the NRC isn't the answer either.
hog
Guest
Thanks Sydneysider maybe, i have always been of the opinion that rugby should be following a similar model to the A League, and I think funding should be relative to that level. Super rugby to me appears a very expensive model with dubious return to the local market. IMHO all of the current issue's surrounding the code her are really related back to this competition. Anyway sorry I know this is a football blog. PS just renewed my Pheonix membership(use to live there) and can't wait for them to reign supreme this year. :-) :-)
Mark
Guest
Do you have a link to show that those changes to the anti-siphoning list took effect? My understanding is Conroy introduced the changes into Parliament, but they were never passed, so they have no effect. In which case, Foxtel is perfectly entitled not to on-sell them to FTA.
Griffo
Roar Guru
2015/16 salary cap minimum spend (salary floor) was 87.5% of $2.60M. Not sure yet of 2016/17 at quick glance as I don't think this has been publically confirmed. There was also talk of making the salary of each A-League player transparent this season, similar to the MLS.
Sydneysider
Guest
Hi Hog depends on the team. For example SFC have an annual operating budget of around $12 mil to $14 mil per year. MV and WSW would probably have a higher budget as those two clubs have the highest membership and have strong financial backing. Other clubs would be lower eg. Mariners, Jets, Adelaide United. I reckon for clubs like the Mariners and Jets it would be around $6 million. The FFA covers the salary cap for each club eg. $2.85 million. Clubs have to spend the salary floor of 90% I think. You trying to see if that can be replicated in rugby union in Australia?
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Its great that the WC Qualification campaign kicks off this week. Keeps up the interest a couple of years out from the finals. The group looks as tough as ever and every game is very important, especially away games and goal difference, but we have a fantastic chance to kick off with a win against Iraq. Every game is a potential banana peel, but with Ange in charge and a group of young players keen to make it to a World Cup and Tim Cahill keen to break more Socceroos records, I'm sure we won't fail because of lack of trying. Game is another sell out so the atmosphere will be conducive to a great home effort. Iraq don't tend to travel well either. Socceroos 2-0.
hog
Guest
Hey Guys , question! can you give me a ball park figure for the yearly cost of running an A League team. What are we looking at $3million 4,6, for example how much was the budget for say the Perth Glory last year, Thanks
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
The Socceroos WC Qualifiers were placed on Tier 2 of the anti-siphoning list by Senator Conroy in 2013, which means they have to be shown on FTA, but they don't have to be live or shown at a reasonable hour. The rights for the WC Qualifier games were renewed by Foxtel only recently, so will have to see who will take them. The ABC and SBS were interested, but is there time to negotiate and come to an arrangement before Thurs. Wonder what punishment they face if Fox don't release them to FTA in time or if they have a valid excuse not to release this game to FTA.
AR
Guest
"why do Fox insist the HAL GF is transmitted on delay on FTA, what’s that all about?" Seriously Waz? It's about exclusivity. Foxtel don't shell out millions for exclusive content, only to then say "here everyone, you can all show it live too!" It's event TV, and it's the thing that gives the content value.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Waz, it wasn't Optus bashing, more a little dig at SBS in, as Mike has put it, horse trading one set of games over another. It sounds like SBS has to renegotiate with FoxSports if they wish to broadcast WCQ on delay. Will SBS want to? Personally I hope so as it's the only way I can view games of my national team.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
"(W)hy do Fox insist the HAL GF is transmitted on delay on FTA." Because they paid for it. The only reason the Premier League is on SBS is because they horse-traded their exclusive rights to broadcast the FIFA World Cup to Optus.
Sydneysider
Guest
"asso football’s rise has done terrible damage to Australia’s performance in other sports especially cricket and rugby." ???? Both those sports only have around 8 to 10 countries playing it at a proper level. Cricket we are ranked in the top 3 countries and rugby (even though we have struggled in the current year) we are currently ranked number 4 behind a NZ team that is miles ahead of everyone else. Maybe Brucie you should look at all sports that have affected cricket and rugby eg. Aussie Rules, basketball, rugby league etc...
pauly
Guest
Just a little bit far mate
Big Jim
Guest
"many of these same people see it as almost their duty to protect their childhood and preferred code…" While at the same time, having the 'gob-smacking cheek' to travel to Football countries throughout Asia and begging them to invest in a almost bankrupt state whose government practices open hostility towards their countries beloved national sport!! The FFA need to step up to the plate here and ask the AFC to contact and ask ALL Asian Governments to apply black bans on any of their companies or individuals doing business or makings investments in Queensland so we can send the state into total bankruptcy.
Daniel T
Roar Rookie
A certain journo from one of the major Australian papers also pointed out that the trip from Perth to Abu Dhabi is a lot shorter than from Melb/Sydney. Since the renovation/upgrade a couple of years back, NIB is actually a great boutique stadium. I understand that money talks though and 40,000 fans sparecely populating the MCG or ANZ Stadium still brings in a lot more money than a sold out 20,000 seat stadium.
Big Jim
Guest
The entire purpose of the Whole of Football Plan is to create an illusion that things are progressing or that great things are about to happen when the reality is that nothing is happening or ever going to happen to progress the game. Thirteen years of Lowy rule over the game has produced a sport that is rapidly disappearing into the abyss. The WoFP is nothing more than another one of the Lowy's cynical and hollow exercises designed to distract the "'baying mob from storming the FFA citadel' and provide cover in order to allow the Lowys time to slip out the back door with their billions in tact. The Lowy family owe Football billions of dollars for thirteen years of mayhem and incompetence!
LordBrucie
Guest
It is always enjoyable if the socceroos get to the World Cup even though asso football's rise has done terrible damage to Australia's performance in other sports especially cricket and rugby.
Waz
Guest
Doubtful. Djete isn't good enough despite a purple patch in the second half of last season (and it's funny how people don't bring up his Barron patch as well!)