At ANZ Stadium tonight, Australia will need all the support they can get if they are to finish Syria off and progress through to the last stage of qualification.
Let’s be honest though, it really shouldn’t of come down to this, where we find ourselves having to play four extra matches to qualify for Russia. It just wasn’t in the script. Australia are champions of Asia and were expected by the majority to walk into next year’s biggest sporting event automatically with no difficulties.
But yet, we find ourselves in this unwanted situation but now must put the past behind us and move forward to this crucial second leg against the Syrians.
Losing is not an option by the end of the night. It can’t be. Over the many years of growing this game in this country from developing the old NSL, to establishing the A-League and then qualifying for our first World Cup in 32 years and repeating that success with another two World Cup campaigns has taken so much hard work and commitment from too many to name.
Not qualifying for Russia would result in us taking two steps backwards and would mean being able to promote the game in this country would be knocked back significantly.
Financially, the FFA will heavily feel the negative effects of not being at the World Cup, as that extra income would be helpful towards expanding not just the A-League, but also our young grassroots set up.
(AAP Image/Matt Roberts)
In saying all of this, what can be done tomorrow night to make sure the green and gold progress to the next round?
Firstly, the back three that Ange Postecoglou has tried to implement has simply not worked at all. In order to successfully adopt a three-man defence, you need to have three quality centre-backs who understand how to play with each other. At the moment, Trent Sainsbury is our only central defender who can be seen as top notch. Then again, he isn’t playing regular football, which is a point I will raise later on.
When I watched the Syrians in the first leg, I saw passion and a bit of grit that allowed them to stay in the game and come up with a crucial goal. Australians are known for their ‘never say die’ attitude, but watching the Socceroos is frustrating because I know they have more energy and desire within them to show that on the pitch.
I’m not saying they don’t care or don’t try, but it could be that extra determination and heart that could prove to be the difference.
Ah yes, that classic case of Ange’s players not playing regular football. I wrote about this a month or so ago and got heavily criticised for it, but nothing has proven me wrong. Most people with half a football brain can see it, and it isn’t hard to.
Sainsbury is only one who has not been getting game time for his respective club, as others such as Matthew Jurman, Matthew Spiranovic, Brad Smith, Josh Risdon, Jamie Maclaren, Adam Taggart, Jackson Irvine and others that have not been mentioned but are still able to make the squad.
Nonetheless, me must get behind our Socceroos and finish the job in Sydney. Failure to complete this task, and this country could potentially miss out on future World Cups.
northerner
Guest
And I would have said it is an even shallower analysis to compare Iceland's numbers with Australia's, as though the two countries had comparable populations. A country of 25 million having 5 players in the "big leagues" shouldn't be questioning why a country of 350,000 only has 4 at the same level. It should be asking another question entirely. Finishing first in a group the contains some reasonably strong football nations, is something to take note of. Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey are, none of them, pushovers. So I'd rate that a pretty darned good accomplishment, myself. It would seem that Iceland is doing something right at the development level, and that there could be lessons to be learned. What are the Icelanders doing to get so many players up into the higher levels of football, given they have a population the size of Canberra? There are lessons to be learned. That is not to disparage the Socceroos for stumbling in their group - Asia is a tough gig - but not tougher than the group Iceland played in. So, maybe a little less chest beating and a little more introspection could be in order here.
AGO74
Guest
Just saw this. The Mooy axeing is one thing......but my biggest fear is Leckie replacing Risdon on right wing per my above comments......for goodness sake, leave Leckie in the position that he is best at.......anyway. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/socceroos-v-syria-playmaker-aaron-mooy-dropped-to-the-bench-for-crucial-world-cup-playoff-match/news-story/4561235bbcd39bbde88c83d03e7227ed
Gavin R
Guest
1. People need to stop underestimating Asian Conederation. Its not easy. 2. Just because 'x' country has more players playing in whatever league means nothing. A champion team beats a team of champions. Its not 'this team has a higher fifa rating than that team'. 3. The A-League is going strong. We don't need world cup qualification. Yes it would be great, create a great buzz about football for a few weeks but then its back to the A-League. I expect us to get the result tonight but its not in the bag. We are in the box seat though. I will ne disappointed if we don't qualify but I'll still be up all night watching the teams i enjoy.
jamesb
Guest
"Tonight’s game should have been held in Melbourne" And have a repeat of Iran '97
pauli
Guest
I thought it was more to do with seeding for qualifiers.
morebeer
Guest
"You seriously think Australia should be coming third in their group behind Saudi Arabia?" You have no idea mate.
Nick
Roar Guru
How do you measure that?
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Have you seen the talent they have been producing? The production of Australian players hasn't been great recently but it is still miles ahead of Saudi Arabia...
Nemesis
Guest
"Are you making a assumption that Australia is better than Iceland too?" NO For those who are slow on reading between the lines... I'm actually making the point that: It is extremely shallow analysis to blindly relate the quality of an international team to the leagues where the individual squad members play club football.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
The socceroos will win tonight,if not we failed bigtime and it will be time to get a better squad for the next world cup 2022.
Will
Guest
Are you making a assumption that Australia is better than Iceland too? I just find out on my trip to Iceland recently about there investment in youth development, indoor facilities( as it's too cold to train outside) UEFA Pro B and A coaches, training 7 days per, year round, starting from 5 years onward. So it's no surprise Iceland are doing well but don't judge there talents I'm sure there will be a lot more plying in the big leagues soon but they have done a lot more than Australia has done in youth development. In fact you can argue Australia has not invested enough in youth development and have payed the price, just look at there results at youth level in the AFC. I know you have a lot of passion which is fair enough but please stop sugar coating Australia's problem with a country with a population with only 300K doing extremely well.
AGO74
Guest
As a wing back you need to have strong defensive capabilities. Respectfully to Leckie (and this has nothing to with the penalty) this is something that he does not have this and we saw the outcome as Syria ran over us in last 30 minutes. Them running over us was not completely to do with this, but it was a definite game changer. I thought Goodwin was exclusively left sided - but even if he can play right there is a risk similar to the Ruka risk that I pointed out (not selected for some time). From memory, Degenek did some good things at right back going forward against England going forward so there is some capability there. Dependent on the circumstances we should - hopefully - be defending a lead and the requirement for defence will be stronger than attack.
Nick
Roar Guru
"The Argentinean team is packed with players from the Big Leagues of Europe, more than the Peruvian team. Peru is more likely to go to the WC2018 & Argentina is not." True, but COMNEBOL has been intense and God only knows how that will end up come Wednesday morning. I for one, will be following with interest.
Caltex TEN & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
I hope Cahill is captain tonight. Cahill, is our one only effective leader in the squad---the one important aspect missing last time out---a leader/player on the park, which we are desperately lacking at the moment. I want someone in the starting XI, talking-non-stop, to our players, on the field, driving the players forward, giving 110%. Fading away, like we did in our last game is unacceptable. Cahill, was captain in the game against Chile and we played out of our skins, our best ever game with this 3 at the back system. Please more of the same of that night, tonight!
Nick
Roar Guru
Should we? Why is that Christian? Saudi Arabia is bigger in terms of population, has a much more established a bigger professional league, football is the national sport in Saudi Arabia, football does not have to compete with 3 other football codes in Saudi Arabia either, so has a significantly larger player pool to pick from. Explain to us all, why should Australia by default be much stronger than Saudi Arabia?
Joe
Guest
Exactly Fadida... thats how i see it... 1 goal up .. all out assault ... haklf a dozen misses... a goal from Syria on teh counter... a foul and pentaly awarded to Syria (thats not even close to being a penalty)... they score... we all cry
chris
Guest
These awards are so meaningful.
Square Nostrils
Guest
The Socceroos are but one part of following the World Cup. The event itself is the drawcard. Check the TV ratings for matches in Australias timezone for the 2002 World Cup with no Socceroos, with the final drawing 2.7 million average in the 5 Capital cities. Bottom line Australians, outside dedicated Football fans, are only interested in the World Cup proper ,not the qualifying rounds. Lets face it apart from the one off in 1974, the familar pattern prior to 2006 was not to qualify ,so Australians looked towards and developed a following of other teams regularly making and being succesful in the World Cup. The only people who cant afford the Socceroos to make the World Cup is the FFA and even they are not in the " Twilight zone" of Australian sporting bodies like Soccer Australia and its predecessors, due to the A-League.
chris
Guest
No not even then James.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
You seriously think Australia should be coming third in their group behind Saudi Arabia? With all due respect to them, we should be much stronger than them. It's just disappointing