Australia are no better off than what we were in the OFC at this point of time.
Our national youth can’t even beat Laos, let alone New Zealand. We refuse to use the three-plus-one rule in our league and have no second division. We are not playing in winter to align ourselves with the rest of Asia.
We are rated just below the Philippines for the A-League standings. We don’t take the AFC serious enough to be there. Do we really need to smash Taiwan 7-0 every few years?
Is Oceania our saviour?
The AFC was the worst thing Australia did – our football in every metric has gone backwards… it has also cost us a load of money for no return.
The argument that I hear for Asia is a stupid one, that it has ‘potential’ – my question is, potential for what?
Potential for football to die in this country?
The logistics of trying to play a competition across the AFC is a huge challenge, even with the east-west split.
Does James Johnson have a big call to make? (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
I like the concept of the ACL, but can certainly see why it creates challenges for many involved, especially with squad sizes that A-League clubs have.
The A-League teams four times out of five don’t even make it out of their ACL group. In the earlier years of our participation, interest was high, but as each year goes on, it seems to be looked at with less interest.
This is not unique to Australia, though, as attendances at ACL matches are fairly poor in quite a few countries. Numerous teams also send weakened squads as they prioritise their domestic league matches.
As fas as national teams go, we rarely qualify for youth tournaments, and when we do, we get smashed.
Back in Oceania during the ’90s, Australia made two semi-finals at U-20 level and a final at U-17 level. Overall, it helped our reputation with European clubs in getting Euro moves from that era.
You can make an argument it started in the late ’80s when Australia beat Yugoslavia at the Olympics too. Look at how well New Zealand did in the Tokyo Olympics.
In fact, look how well they have done in recent under-age World Cups.
The talent drain we got with players taking shor- term money instead of building a career in Asia has made the Socceroos crap.
The Asian Cup Final was great. We would be better off playing the Confederations Cup every four years – at least you’re playing teams like Italy and Argentina.
I mean, who wouldn’t want to give up our epic matches against Qatar and Bahrain… sure, playing Japan and South Korea are good competitive matches but now the OFC will get a spot in the World Cup, there is no reason to stay in Asia.
What about World Cup Qualification? 1974 (AFC), 2006 (OFC) 2010 (AFC), 2014 (AFC), 2018 (AFC) – the Socceroos have appeared for the AFC four times at the world event and only once through the OFC.
When you look at the playoffs between 2010 to 2018, it’s quite possible the Socceroos would have made it just like 2006. Socceroos’ biggest crowds for WC qualifying games have all been for playoffs.
Australia also have not produced the likes of the golden generation since leaving the OFC.
What happened?
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Everyone has to learn something for the first time at some point.
Skoose
Roar Rookie
Totally agree ‘Asia has been maybe the best thing to happen to football in the country this millennium.’
Skoose
Roar Rookie
Totally disagree with the article. Playing against Japanese and South Korean sides is much better than Samoa (a rugby nation). The golden generation were a product of AIS, great immigrant clubs (Greeks, Serbs, Croats, Italian etc…) and not so many people working FIFO or long shifts. Times have changed, move on. Playing in Asia rocks. Go to your community clubs now and have a look at background where the players are coming from….
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
It would be a retrograde step to ever go back to Oceania. Oceania should be folded into Asia, so those countries can also get the benefit of increased competition and professionalism.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFC_Club_Competitions_Ranking#:~:text=2021%20Ranking%20%20%20%20Ranking%20%20,%20%200%20%2026%20more%20rows%20 Latest rankings and A-league is ranked 20, below Malaya and Philippines which are rated higher at 17 and 15. In 2023 Australia will only get 1 ACL spot and 2 AFC Cup spots.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Due to Covid Australia has moved back up to 11th with Philippines dropping to 13th, However Australia are still ranked lower then Thailand/Iraq and Uzbeks and are expected to drop lower because A-league teams pulled out of the ACL last season. https://www.the-afc.com/afc-ranking/
Micko
Roar Rookie
Good in theory, but I don't think the East Asians are interested in Oceania.
Micko
Roar Rookie
And were finalists in our second tournament; losing in extra-time to Japan!
Micko
Roar Rookie
Link on that second paragraph?
chris
Guest
Its hard to take your comments and articles seriously when you come up with statements like that. On what credible indicator is the Philipines league ahead of the A-League? What do you think the score would be if an A-League selection played against a Philipine league selection?
lesterlike
Roar Rookie
Lol at the court threat, the OFC can't open its doors without heavy subsidies from FIFA, NZ Football can't even afford to host All Whites friendlies in NZ and the other FA's in the OFC can barely afford proper playing kits and a decent grass surface for their grounds. You're dreaming if you think any of them have the funds to waste on an expensive court case in Australia that will go nowhere. Thankfully we can happily avoid all that when they go bust after being told to relocate for a second bubble and you will be able to go back to GCU instead of pretending that you're from NZ.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
Well your welcome to come back to OFC if your that desperate to kick the Nix out because the FA would get dragged through the courts by multiple Parties including the OFC, Nix themselves, NZ Football and possibly other FA's in the OFC if they went down that route The Nix are also one of the Clubs Keeping the Jets afloat at the moment as well so if we go the Jets likely go as well
lesterlike
Roar Rookie
Lol its not 2006 anymore. The AFC would welcome us ditching the leaches and that agreement is not going to be enforced. We owe the OFC absolutely nothing.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
AFC should be split in 2 and East should absorb OFC, West should either go at it on its own or be Absorbed by CAF in the case of the later the former SSR's in AFC should join UEFA and the Central Asian Nations should join AFC East, CONNEBOL all that really could be done is transfer Guyana, Sumirae and some Caribbean Nations from CONCACAF If Greenland ever get FIFA Accreditation it would be interesting to see if they end up in UEFA or CONCACAF
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
The Confeds are a mess and need Reorganization in Fairness, AFC Geographically are to big, CONNEBOL has to few Members, OFC is mostly 3rd world Rugby Nations NZ was in discussions to join CONNEBOL in 2013 but they decided not to go ahead with it
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
We are in agreement then. I too would prefer us to struggle to qualify rather than be offered a free pass. Australia has progressed beyond attendance at the World Cup being an objective; now we want to perform. This is a conclusion the top AFC nations came to long ago, which is why they were happy to have Australia included in the confederation. The tougher the qualification, the higher quality the teams that make it to the final.
Ferno
Guest
What is logical in have a tournament in which clubs need to travel more than 15,000 km to play. Imagine an australian club playing in Canada in one week, Australia in the next and then ARgentina in the following. Not to mention this sissy thing of players well being, lets just say Greta Thunberg would be very sad about the carbon footprint generated by so many unnecessary around the world jet travels.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
You do Realize if the Nix are kicked out and not replaced with a NZ team that Australia will have to go back to OFC right?
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
I don't want Australia back in OFC that WC spot is NZ's and you cant have it that said I don't think Australia should have been admited into AFC in the 1st place as I don't see the benefit from AFC's point of view of having Australia in AFC I can also see why the Middle Eastern Countries want to kick Australia out Through if Lesterlike got his way Australia would be forced to go back to OFC as a condition of Australia joining AFC was to continue supporting OFC
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
Where does it say that? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_AFC_Champions_League Sydney FC and the winner of the FFA Cup will be in the ACL in the Qualifying play-off round according to wikipedia. Not to say this isn't true, but a link would be appreciated.