Ten seconds, that’s all it took for Brazil to score their first of four goals against Australia in a friendly at the MCG.
Luckily for Aussie fans, it was only a pre-Confederations Cup friendly. The Socceroos in all fairness were missing some of their star players such as captain Mile Jedinak, who is also ruled out of the Confederations Cup entirely to recover from a niggling groin injury.
What is the Confederations Cup you ask?
Each year before the World Cup, the host nation invites champions from each zone of the world and the current world Champions.
The eight participants are as follows:
Russia (Host Nation)
Germany (2014 World Cup Winners)
Australia (2015 Asian Cup Winners)
Chile (2015 Copa America Winners)
Mexico (2015 Concacaf Winners)
New Zealand (2016 OFC Nations Cup Winners)
Portugal (UEFA Euro 2016 Winners)
Cameroon (2017 African Cup of Nations Winners)
How is Australia’s schedule look?
Unfortunately, Australia has drawn the bad end of the stick. In this tournament, there are only two groups of four. With the top two teams advancing straight to the knockout stage.
Australia has to compete against reigning World Champs, Germany, in red-hot form, Chile, and get an easy break with out of form, Cameroon.
The other group consists of the host nation and 63rd ranked, Russia, 95th world ranked New Zealand, 17th world ranked, Mexico and group favourite to win, eighth world ranked Portugal.
So as you can see, Australia is in the much more competitive group.
(Image: Fox Sports)
This is how I see Australia’s schedule pan out:
0-3 loss to Germany
2-2 Draw with Cameroon
1-4 loss to Chile
It would not be a surprise if the Socceroos manage to defeat a dismal looking Cameroon side if players such as Aaron Mooy and Robbie Juric play at their absolute best.
Where do I see Australia finishing?
in Group B, I see Australia finishing at a very close fourth. I would like the Aussies to pip Cameroon, but I honestly see it ending in a draw. The only reason I have Australia finishing below Cameroon is that Cameroon will score more goals and conceed less than the Aussies.
Missing captain Mile Jedinak will really hurt the Socceroos. Players such as Tim Cahill, are playing for their lives. For Cahill to make the cut for the 2018 World Cup, I see him scoring no less than three goals in the whole tournament. At 37, Cahill really needs to fire on all cylinders to show his worth to Coach Ange Postecoglou before the 2018 trip to Russia.
Does Australia have a good history at the Confederations Cup?
Australia qualified in 1997, they had a very good run. Finishing second in their group with four points behind Group leaders, Brazil on seven points.
In the knockout stage, Australia beat the competition favourites, Uruguay, with a golden goal from Harry Kewell. They then faced Brazil in the final to lose by an embarrassing 0-6 in front of 65 000 people.
Repeating their semi-success of 1997, in 2001 Australia once again finished second in their group behind only France. Unfortunately, the Socceroos got bumped out in the first round of the knockout stage by eventual Cup runners-up, Japan 0-1.
2005 at the Confederations Cup was not a good ceremony for the green and gold. Losing all of their games in the group stage to Germany, Argentina and surprise qualifiers, Tunisia.
Overall team rating heading into 2017 Confederations Cup: 7.2/10
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I think the results will look a little like this Germany to beat Australia 2-0 or 3-1 (a 2 goal margin) Cameroon vs Australia 1-1 Chile to beat Australia 2-0 Even though Germany are using an experimental side they still have quality and depth within the German system, although to be fair we have done ok against them in friendlies. Question is will Germany treat this match as a friendly or a full on tournament Cameroon are a little unknown to me. I have to admit I watched very little of the African Nations Cup. I have watched a few of Chile's games, they played an entertaining match against Brazil and also against Argentina. Super side and will give us absolute headaches. If there is a side Ange would like to play like it would be Chile.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
This morning, Russia 2 : All Whites 0
Roarfan
Guest
What channel is televising the Confederation Cup
Caltex Ten & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
It will be interesting to see how NZ will perform----they are the dark horse; no doubt about that.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I predict that the the All Whites will do better than the Socceroos and Chris Wood will bag more goals than all of our strikers combined. "So let it be written, so let it be done." :)
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Nah, turn that difficulty right down to the bottom level and Australia are up by 5 goals in the first 10 minutes of each game!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Perhaps, but teams that know their players aren't of the same quality often come up with systems that allow them to defend and try and score on the break or something like that. The issue comes trying to play the sort of football you need highly skilled players for without having the highly skilled players!
13th Man
Guest
Nah Portugal won't make the final cos New Zealand will knock them off in the group stages surely.... ?
Fadida
Guest
Playing FIFA Playstation again Fuss?
Nemesis
Guest
AUS 3-1 GER AUS 2-0 CMR AUS 3-3 CHI Australia to finish top of the Group and eventually play Portugal in the Final. This will be a tough match that will go to Extra Time. Australia will win the penalty shootout with Cristiano missing the final shot for Portugal & Tommy Rogic handing us our first World Trophy.
Sydneysider
Guest
v Germany 0-3 v Cameroon 1-2 v Chile 1-4 3 losses coming up if Ange persists with a back 3 and trying to play out from the back.
Fadida
Guest
It is actually
Realfootball
Guest
This is so like Farina heading into the Confed Cup all those years ago. And that is not a good thought.
Realfootball
Guest
Ok, so we lose.
Realfootball
Guest
Go hard, Fad, go hard. Yeah, nah, brilliant, mate. (Must deliver lines while looking at own toes.)
Brian
Guest
The scores actually look about right
Fadida
Guest
If we get a proper defensive structure in place, ie have cover in wide areas, and chose the best players for each position, based on match fitness, club game time and form, I can see us getting a point off Cameroon.
Fadida
Guest
I think even if we are thrashed, and it is a 50-50 chance, Ange will stick to his masterplan. His response to questions about the teams structure and performance will be along the lines of "yeah, nah mate, I've said all along that I've got an idea in mind, and you know mate, yeah nah, I'm going to stick with. Look, we know what we want to achieve here, Robbie Kruse winning the Balon 'Dor, Mile playing for Barca, and just because we lost 6-0, conceding 5 of the goals while playing from the back, yeah, nah mate, I still believe that Timmy and Robbie can play as wing backs and just because Lucas hasn't had a club for a few years doesn't mean he can't be part of what we do. Yeah nah, you know my philosophy, you have to be playing regularly to get a game (whispers- unless you're my favourites). Youse critics can say what you like but we are on track, exactly where we want to be, yeah nah. Youse are all bl00dy idiots. Get back to your FIFA Playstation ". Meanwhile in the background Trent Sainsbury, with his cap on sidewise yells " that's right boss, Youse are all bl00dy idiots". He then answers his phone "hey Musti, Gooders, Spira yeah we got thrashed boys, playing Vuka upfront and Maty at CB didn't go so well, but the boss has a plan. He watched the Argies play 2 at the back so he says we'll try that. Krusey, yeah he played at wing back, but the boss says he'll play at the back v Chile. Rusty, that's what he's saying cost us. And the media. And FIFA Playstation". * For the record I really hope we do well, and my concerns about the formation and selection as incorrect. But I doubt it. ** Sorry Ange and Trent for morphing you into some kind of Jeff Fenech/Fuss hybrid
Fadida
Guest
Enough dad jokes Bobby. It wasn't funny the first time
Fadida
Guest
Jedinak seems to be a fine leader of men. As a footballer he's no loss though