Matt 1Only a Win Will Do for the Jet-Lagged Socceroos
February 6th 2008 03:01
New Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has had the shortest of time to prepare his squad for tonight's crucial match against a relatively unknown Qatar outfit. His European-based players have only recently jetted back into the country and have attended merely one or two short trainings. Undoubtedly, the rise in popularity of the round-ball game in this country has put pressure on the national team to perform and to reach the lofty and unexpected heights of the 2006 World Cup. Jet-lag and missing key components Viduka and Kewell aside, Verbeek and these newly led Socceroos have to win tonight and win comprehensively, or otherwise face an uncertain and ill-fated World Cup Qualifying campaign.
No-one can deny that soccer, as it has been known on Australian soil, has well and truly got the nation's attention since John Aloisi's penalty against Uruguay saw us depart for the World Cup. Long-time fans had waited 32 years for that. Progressing beyond the Group Stage in Germany heaped fame onto the players and media and popularity onto the sport and national A-League. We all knew Kewell, Viduka and Schwarzer but suddenly Culina, Bresciano, Emerton, Grella and Cahill were household names. The dramatic loss to Francesco Totti's penalty against Italy hurt the Australian sporting nation more than the Ashes loss to England four years ago. Why? Well because deep down, we always knew that the supreme Test cricketing team were always going to get the Ashes back when Fletcher's men came Down Under. Winning the ultimate in the "world game" is much, much harder, and there are no guarantees on qualification for the Football World Cup, let alone success in it.
For the first time since that heartbreaking loss the nation has pricked up their ears in interest and anticipation for what awaits the Socceroos. Tonight it is Qatar but furthermore, it is entry into the Asian qualification stages that awaits. Ranked 88th and led by former Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati, the middle-eastern outfit cannot be taken lightly if we are to start well in qualification. From here on in, home games have to turn into victories, for the upcoming draw will be extremely difficult. Alongside Qatar will be fixtures against China and Iraq, both home and away. China are expected to host at altitude, while Iraq in severe heat, while many of our (A-League) players are out of season. Verbeek knows how tough this competition is after much experience, particularly with South Korea. He is already being regarded by the media as a straight-talker, who will take nothing for granted and spare nobody. Omitting Kewell, Thwaite and Carle from the final 18-man squad has shown he has guile, character and hopefully judgment.
Unless the Socceroos reach the pinnacle of world football, the World Cup, through Asian qualifying stages, Pim Verbeek's future and the future of the rising sport in this country will be at stake. The game tonight is by far the most important since our defeat at the hands of the Italians 18 months ago. Our Asian Cup performances were below par. Our friendlies form has also been average, sometimes against beatable opponents.
But none of that really matters now. Only a win will do Pim.
No-one can deny that soccer, as it has been known on Australian soil, has well and truly got the nation's attention since John Aloisi's penalty against Uruguay saw us depart for the World Cup. Long-time fans had waited 32 years for that. Progressing beyond the Group Stage in Germany heaped fame onto the players and media and popularity onto the sport and national A-League. We all knew Kewell, Viduka and Schwarzer but suddenly Culina, Bresciano, Emerton, Grella and Cahill were household names. The dramatic loss to Francesco Totti's penalty against Italy hurt the Australian sporting nation more than the Ashes loss to England four years ago. Why? Well because deep down, we always knew that the supreme Test cricketing team were always going to get the Ashes back when Fletcher's men came Down Under. Winning the ultimate in the "world game" is much, much harder, and there are no guarantees on qualification for the Football World Cup, let alone success in it.
For the first time since that heartbreaking loss the nation has pricked up their ears in interest and anticipation for what awaits the Socceroos. Tonight it is Qatar but furthermore, it is entry into the Asian qualification stages that awaits. Ranked 88th and led by former Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati, the middle-eastern outfit cannot be taken lightly if we are to start well in qualification. From here on in, home games have to turn into victories, for the upcoming draw will be extremely difficult. Alongside Qatar will be fixtures against China and Iraq, both home and away. China are expected to host at altitude, while Iraq in severe heat, while many of our (A-League) players are out of season. Verbeek knows how tough this competition is after much experience, particularly with South Korea. He is already being regarded by the media as a straight-talker, who will take nothing for granted and spare nobody. Omitting Kewell, Thwaite and Carle from the final 18-man squad has shown he has guile, character and hopefully judgment.
Unless the Socceroos reach the pinnacle of world football, the World Cup, through Asian qualifying stages, Pim Verbeek's future and the future of the rising sport in this country will be at stake. The game tonight is by far the most important since our defeat at the hands of the Italians 18 months ago. Our Asian Cup performances were below par. Our friendlies form has also been average, sometimes against beatable opponents.
But none of that really matters now. Only a win will do Pim.
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