*Apologies for the late update. First, extended holiday. Then, busy work and life.
With Australia already qualified, coming into the last two matches of qualifying was mostly about finally putting on a top notch performance, and be really tested, preferably having to chase a game. Four days after qualifying in Qatar, Australia beat Bahrain in Sydney 2-0 before triumphing 2-1 over Japan in Melbourne. With the debate intensifying for Australia to finally show something, expectations were high. By showing something, that means quality play, controlling the game, creating quality chances. It does not mean goals, goals, goals, and flicks and tricks. Despite some of the rhetoric from the camp saying that expectations are a bit bogus considering that Australia did qualify in style and that it was all about results, it was offset by the coach and players saying that they could play better or that they didn't play their best. It was nil-nil at half time, before the team finally found rhythm and created chances. Still, both goals scored proved scrappy. Sterjovski pounced on a goal-keeping error, while Carney scored from a rebound after Culina's spectacular bicycle kick hit the post.
Against Japan, the team fell a goal down. Finally Australia was behind. Finally a test. Australia had to at least draw if they wanted to top the group. Japan's goal already ruined their record of keep a clean sheet for entire phase of the campaign. Surely they would not lose as well.
The team, amazingly, turned it around. In typical style, by somewhat unconventional and scrappy means. That Tim Cahill managed to out-jump two opponents and score with a looping, speculative header from a free kick, said everything. That was just on the hour. Less than 15 minutes later, he was on the end of a wobbly corner that avoided a series of players before being found lurking at the far post. Cahill must seem the most annoying, even hated, player to opposition, especially Japan, with this uncanny knack of popping up and scoring goals. Australia can be so thankful that they have such a player around.
It's not all perfect. After the game against Bahrain, an ugly scene materialised at a Sydney bar that saw Cahill ejected for drunkenness. Depending on the version of the story you read, he was either out of control or the security was over the top. In response to Mark Schwarzer defending Cahill, despite Schwarzer not even being there, the situation triggered a subplot whereby a fellow player emailed a Sydney newspaper in anonymity, citing only that he was a long-term member of the squad, complaining about certain players' beliefs that they are untouchable in these situations. This arrogance has noticeably permeated through the team, perceivable through some of their behaviour on the pitch. It's almost in a Brazil-manner in which they are believe they are untouchable, that they have a right to bully, and how can any nation or referee question them. It has increased through the years as the stature of the European players has increased, meaning bigger and bigger fish returning to a smaller and smaller pond. On this occasion, several media went to town on the issue of player behaviour. Most of it certain Sydney media and mostly limited to one newspaper. The anonymous email only fuelled the controversy.
It all culminated in the most unsavoury manner possible. That was by an insulting and embarrassing "interview" that Cahill gave to Fox Sports after the match against Japan. Fox Sports remained neutral to the story, limiting their exposure to basic reporting. They've been totally loyal and supportive of the game and players, and it was an ill-conceived, nasty and undeserved response. Most particularly, because of the people it hurt the most, proved to be the one area Cahill and team always promise to honour. That being the fans. Sorry, Tim, simply thanking the fans as a response to the excellent questions that were being ask, is not thanking the fans. If Cahill had some sensibility and some sensitivity in him, an unreserved apology to Melanie Mclaughlin would be first order of business the next time he's involved in a post-match interview with her.
As to the identity of the anonymous emailer, it's not too difficult to narrow the list down when you consider the "10 year" occupancy in the squad. One option materialised as the teams lined up on the concourse ready to enter the stadium. Cahill broke the line, sought out a player down the line, and shook his hand. It seemed a strange time to shake hands - as though it's the first time you've seen the player on the day. Surely there was time in the hotel, on the bus, even in the changeroom. This was the only player Cahill targeted to shake hands. That player was Jason Culina.
Onto football matters, questions do remain. The team still hasn't played that well. They've been too defensive in creating few, real chances. Most chances come from pressure or simple natural chances you get in any game. Mostly it's the inflexibility in the system. Always the one striker up front. It's not encouraging for the future, no matter how you wrap the success of the qualifying campaign. Maybe Pim Verbeek does have other ideas up his sleeve. That knowing he had the best team, he could be cautious through the campaign. For the World Cup itself, there's other gears to select. He will need other gears. Because Australia most likely will be back to their traditional place of being the weakest team in the group on the world stage.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/the-email-that-will-split-the-socceroos/story-e6frey4r-1225739313902
For Mark to say that he totally believes what Tim says when he wasn't even there just goes to show how far some people will go to stick their head in the sand. Mark has been in the team for as long as I have and this sort of thing has always been part of every camp except when Guus (Hiddink) was in charge.
The only difference lately is that some of the boys think that they can push things to new extremes in the way they treat people and the worst thing about it is that the young players are imitating what the senior players are doing.
I have been with the team for over 10 years and we have always liked to go and have a drink and a laugh after a game, and fair enough, too. When you work hard and give everything you can, then win, lose or draw, you should be able to have a good time with your team-mates, but within reason.
You don't go around abusing people and acting like a big-time Charlie. Ever since the World Cup it has just gotten worse and worse. Some of the boys have let the whole superstar thing go to their heads and they act like they are untouchable. The worst thing is that lately they have been going out of camp even before matches and breaking curfews.
It happened before the April 1 game. Everyone knew about it ... the media, the FFA and Pim (Verbeek) and they just pretended it didn't happen. What gets me is the guys that are doing this sort of thing the most are the ones running around the place and telling everyone how they do this and that for the kids and how they want to be role models.
It's a bloody disgrace and I'm glad that people are finally taking it a bit more seriously. If we don't pull our heads out of the sand and be honest with ourselves the World Cup will be a disaster.
Australia maintained their unbeaten record in the final round of Asian World Cup
qualifiers with a 2-0 win over Bahrain at the Olympic stadium on Wednesday.
Midfielder Mile Sterjovski broke the deadlock when he scored in the 55th minute and left
back David Carney sealed the Group One win with a goal in the 88th.
Australia fielded a mostly second-string team having already secured their place at next
year's World Cup in South Africa when they held Qatar to a goalless draw in Doha at the
weekend.
Bahrain are still in the hunt to reach their first World Cup but need a point from their
last match against Uzbekistan next week to be absolutely sure of making the playoffs.
Australia lead Group One with 17 points from seven matches ahead of Japan, who have also
qualified for the finals, on 15. Bahrain are third with seven points ahead of Qatar, who
have finished their matches, on six and Uzbekistan with four.
After a slow start Australia took control of the match against Bahrain in the second half
despite squandering a series of chances to win by a bigger margin.
"I think we created enough chances to score more than two goals," Australia
coach Pim Verbeek said in a televised interview. "We were probably not really sharp
enough to finish it off.
"A lot of new players came into the team but if you win the game 2-0 I think you've
done everything you have to do."
Despite making seven changes to the starting lineup, the Australians extended their
impressive record of not conceding a goal in any of their seven games so far in the last
stage of qualifying.
They play Japan, who have also qualified for South Africa, in their last group match in
Melbourne next week.
Australia struggled in the first half, with striker Scott McDonald missing a golden chance
to score, but they took control after the break.
Sterjovski pounced on a defensive error to score then Carney reacted quickly to poke home
a rebound after a bicycle kick by Jason Culina hit the post.
Australia were unlucky not to score a third with Harry Kewell also hitting the woodwork.
That prompted goalkeeper and stand-in captain Mark Schwarzer to launched a spirited
defence of the team's tactics after they were criticised during the qualifiers for not
scoring enough.
"I'm extremely proud (of) the way the whole team and management have gone about their
job the whole campaign, they've been extremely professional," Schwarzer said.
"I think if we can push on again against Japan and keep another clean sheet, we can't
do any better than that.
"It's very hard to understand how difficult the conditions (in Asia) are at times.
You need to go away and just get the job done, sometimes it's not pretty."
Australian midfielder Tim Cahill has relived his 2006 World Cup heroics with two
second-half goals against Japan to ensure Australia ended their qualifying campaign for
South Africa 2010 in triumph.
Australia won 2-1 at the MCG on Wednesday night, meaning they went unbeaten through the
eight games of their final phase of qualifying and stayed ahead of Japan at the top of
their group to earn Asian bragging rights.
Cahill, who scored the first two goals in Australia's World Cup history to spark a famous
3-1 comeback victory over Japan in Germany in 2006, was again the shining light for the
Socceroos against the Blue Samurai.
While both sides were already guaranteed World Cup qualification going into the game,
Cahill's second-half heroics at least gave an MCG crowd of 69,238 plenty to cheer about.
There had been precious few moments for the green and gold army to get excited about
before the break, as Australia continued the effective but unadventurous style that had
served them well previously in the campaign.
Their one real chance of the first half came in the 10th minute, when Cahill ran onto a
long ball in the box.
His left-foot shot was not hit with enough venom to trouble goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki, who
blocked it away.
But the rebound ended up with Mile Sterjovski, whose much more powerful shot required a
brilliant reflex move by the 'keeper to deflect it over the crossbar.
Cahill had another chance from the resultant corner, with a header, but he was wide of the
target.
Japan did most of most of the attacking for the rest of the half and eventually opened the
scoring through Tulio Tanaka in the 40th minute.
Tanaka made a well-timed run into the middle of the area from a corner kick and leapt over
Cahill to head home.
It broke a seven-game streak of clean sheets for Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who
had spent his previous 710 minutes in goal without conceding.
But the rare blot on their defensive copybook stirred the Socceroos into life after break
and they attacked constantly in the opening stages of the second half.
It took a brilliant Cahill header to level the scores in the 59th minute.
He produced a huge leap above two Japanese defenders at the left side of the box to
connect with a long-range Vince Grella free-kick and head it into the right side of the
net.
The goal seemed to inspire Cahill to press even harder for the winner, getting onto the
end of several promising attacking moves in the following minutes.
He eventually gave the Socceroos the lead in the 76th minute, when a Nicky Carle corner
kick from the right side floated over a pack of players in the box.
Cahill, lurking at the back, got enough of his right leg to the ball to send it home and
lift the crowd to their feet.
It was his 16th goal in 33 internationals and he was later given a huge ovation as he
walked to the bench in the 86th minute, having once again lifted Australia to a comeback
victory over Japan.
Asked after the match about his scoring record against Japan, Cahill would only speak
about the Melbourne crowd, a possible snub to the media after News Limited's reporting of
an alleged nightclub incident involving the Everton ace last week.
"I'd just like to thank the crowd, the lads, a great turnout in Melbourne, I'm so
proud to be here, so proud to play tonight so I think the credit just goes to the crowd,
you were brilliant," he said.
"This is a step forward for us, it's great to finish top of the group."
What a contrast compared to four years. Euphoria then, doze off to sleep now. I had to remind myself that Australia just made a World Cup before my senses jolted and a quiet feeling of satisfaction materialised. Then I went to sleep.
Next morning was better. The buzz was there, with an eagerness to watch all the TV news possible and interviews.
Still, it did not compare to four years prior, where the buzz was so great that I couldn't even sleep and ultimately couldn't even make to work. The whole next day was like a new dawn. Walking back with the newspaper, an old later stopped me in the street asking whether I'd watched the match the nice prior. She was so euphoric that she wanted to talk to someone... anyone.
Australia went to Qatar only requiring a draw to qualify - and still having two further matches to gain that point, both at home, if required. They performed dutifully, controlling the game for the most, creating the better chances, then shutting up shop with 15 minutes to go, securing a 0-0 result. Ironic that such a result could prove such a success. The same result against Iran in 1997 and Uruguay in 2001 would have seen Australia qualify for the World Cups of that period.
Coach Pim Verbeek cannot be faulted for the success of the team. Lucas Neill said post-match that the public is so unaware of the preparation and organisation behind the scenes that went into making this outcome all so easy. That still won't settle the criticism, some of which has come from the players themselves, of the lacklustre performances in which much of this qualification was achieved. Mostly it's thankful for the poorer opposition and tremendous good fortune that Australia could be so conservative. That started with the meek display and, ultimately the big disappointment of the group, Uzbekistan in the first match, then the last second heist against Bahrain in one of the worst performances seen by an Australian national team, and finally the succession of fluffed chances Japan could easily have put past Australia in Yokomana. That match against Bahrain was the real turning point. A draw or loss there and suddenly there's real pressure on.
The anti-climatic feeling here will not be replicated in future qualifying through Asia. Teams will develop. They won't fear Australia as much. Australia will be in tougher groups. A greater performance will be demanded. As it will be in the World Cup. It should not be lost that Asia can, and will, be much tougher. Evidence currently exists in the other group where Iran look set to finish fourth behind Korea, DPR Korea and Saudi Arabia. How different would it have been in Australia's preliminary group had China converted that last minute penalty in Kunming and Iraq scored one of their many chances in Brisbane. Australia's requirement would have been to defeat China in that final match in Sydney, in a match that they subsequently lost, albeit with many players rested.
With two "dead" qualifiers remaining, hopes are that some sort of attacking prowess is now shown. For success at the World Cup, the work on scoring goals must begin now. The simple gesture of throwing two strikers up front would be nice to see, even if it's a celebratory cause for the public and a chance for players to attack. As much as the defensive record of not conceding any goals in the six matches of this final phase deserves respect, it won't guarantee a run in the World Cup. The competition will be far greater for one. Other than against Japan and Iraq, Australia's defense was barely tested anyhow. It's almost a false attribute. A dangerous one at that if it is to be relied upon. We've seen two sides with the Dutch system under Hiddink and Verbeek respectively. Hiddink's team could attack, Verbeek's can defend. A mix of both is required, without jeopardising the other. The key is the ability to switch between modes when required. First, we need to see that there is an attack mode.
On a side note, Lucas Neill has admitted he deliberately made a rough challenge late in the match in order to pick up a "tactical" yellow card so as to incur a suspension for the game against Bahrain, rather than risk a card in that game and miss Japan a week later, or incur a card against Japan and conceivably miss the first game of the World Cup itself. Nothing new in these tactics. Club footballers do it all season when important matches are coming. As this site has mentioned many times, the key, and the solution, is to make the penalty immediate. That being a yellow card is a 10 or 15 minute temporary suspension, or "sin bin", from the game. Much as a red card is a permanent one. Then you have a fair system of the team infringed actually rewarded rather than some random future opponent, a consistent and less fallible system and, most importantly, an incentive for players not to commit yellow card offenses in the first place. Right now, they don't respect the cards. Time and time again, as we've just seen again, they work the system to use any yellow card to their advantage, and abuse the rules on the pitch. Fifa, by having such a stupid rule, are complicit in Neill's foul themselves. For had the punishment been a 15 minute suspension from the game, Neill would not have seen it necessary to commit the foul in the first place.
Australia secure finals spot
Needing only a point to officially seal qualification, the Socceroos got the job done against a youthful Qatar side to ensure back-to-back World Cup appearances for the first time.
The home side proved tougher opposition than they had in three previous losses, but Australia could feel unlucky not to have won after Tim Cahill struck the post with a spectacular scissors kick in the first half and Qatari keeper Qasem Burhan made several brilliant saves in the second.
The win means the Socceroos cannot finish any lower than second in Asia's Group A, with the top two teams earning qualification.
They joined Asian rivals Japan as the first two sides to qualify for next year's tournament, after the Blue Samurai sealed their spot with a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan earlier in the day.
Hosts South Africa are exempt from qualifying.
Both sides made a tentative start in front of a small, vocal Doha crowd, with Australia content to keep possession in the hot and humid conditions.
Qatar's star striker Sebastian Soria Quintana looked dangerous early on and had the first real chance of the half after getting in behind Chris Coyne, but he flashed his shot across the face of goal.
Australia muscled their way back into the game before Cahill was denied one of the great goals by the woodwork in the 27th minute.
Josh Kennedy, who impressed up front, flicked on a Mark Bresciano free kick with his head, before Cahill found himself in space, controlled with his chest and drilled an overhead kick into the right upright.
Harry Kewell became increasingly menacing after switching to the right wing, going close to scoring himself before creating another move that led to Carl Valeri having a volley deflected just over the bar in the 33rd minute.
Qatar had two chances late in the half with Cahill blocking Quintana's effort and Mark Schwarzer punching away an ambitions long shot from Ahmed Faris.
Australia stepped up their game early in the second half with a flash of chances within a 10-minute period.
The first came to an unlikely source in defender Chris Coyne, who had his shot cleared off the line after attempting to turn in a headed Cahill effort.
The impressive Everton midfielder was again another stunner when his powerful drive was brilliantly saved in the 57th minute by Burhan.
Burhan was called into action again to tip over a Kennedy shot from out wide and once more in the 63rd minute when Kewell collected a brilliant Grella ball, cut inside Ibrahim Majed and forced another great save by Burhan with his right foot.
Continued to threaten and fired across the face of goal in the 80th and although they didn't get the goal they perhaps deserved, it meant little when the whistle blew to ensure another historic World Cup appearance.
Australia now have matches against Bahrain and Japan at home to celebrate.
Australia all but ensured qualification with a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan in a soggy Sydney on Wednesday night. They require only 1 point from their remaining 3 games (Qatar away, Bahrain and Japan at home) in June to ensure qualification. Even in the event of three losses, Bahrain must win both of their remaining games and make up a goal difference of 9.
The only known similar scenario in World Cup history was France for USA94. Requiring just 1 point from remaining home games against Israel and Bulgaria, they contrived to lose both matches, both late in the game after leading, with Bulgaria the most demoralising being the last minute of injury time. France's coach of the time was Gerard Houllier.
If Australia lose their next game, away to Qatar, it does set up almost this "France" scenario. The key difference is that goal difference that is an extra luxury for Australia.
Australia could have sealed qualification that very night had Bahrain and Qatar drawn their game. Bahrain won 1-0 to keep their hopes alive.
It's fitting that Australia did not qualify on the basis of another match. It's nice that they do it on the pitch itself, even if it is this lowly requirement. Losing to Qatar and then requiring to physically deny Bahrain is almost the dutiful scenario for the amount of good fortune the team has received this campaign. Having qualification handed so early would have been bordering on insult.
That good fortune remained even into this game against Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan had resurrected their campaign only 4 days prior with a 4-0 home win over Qatar. They were soon on a charter flight to Australia. As expected, they did tire in the second half, partially contributed to Australia taking control. There they dominated with a scorching header by substitute Joshua Kennedy after Mark Bresciano skipped past an Uzbeki defender on the wing to fire in a pin-point cross. Five minutes later, Richard Garcia was foolishly up-ended to concede a penalty that Harry Kewell eventually scored. Most curious of this penalty was commentator Robbie Slater saying it wasn't a penalty because the ball was already heading out of play, therefore Australia was not losing any advantage. Utter nonsense. No rule allows for a foul to be waived based on the ball heading out of play. Also, if the infringement occurred outside the box, it would be a direct free kick. In the box does not matter. It's this sort of subjective interpretation that creates inconsistency and angst with the fans. Thankfully the referee was not reading from the same script of Slater.
The first half was a different matter altogether. Australia showed the usual non-cohesive and languid display of most matches in this campaign. The only chances created came from Uzbeki defensive errors or speculative long shots. Uzbekistan actually created the best chance of the half with a through-ball that cut right through the Australian defensive middle for Farhod Tajiyev to shoot just wide. They should have scored from that, or the one just prior after Michael Beauchamp clumsily gave away possession.
This game also formed a significant subplot of "Style vs Result" debate. Check the "Blog" section.
The final three rounds of this qualification phase:
06 Jun 2009 QATAR - AUSTRALIA
06 Jun 2009 UZBEKISTAN - JAPAN
10 Jun 2009 JAPAN - QATAR
10 Jun 2009 AUSTRALIA - BAHRAIN
17 Jun 2009 BAHRAIN - UZBEKISTAN
17 Jun 2009 AUSTRALIA - JAPAN
A Step Closer
A hard-fought 2-0 win over Uzbekistan at ANZ Stadium last night put the Socceroos within touching distance of their second successive appearance at the World Cup.
A superb 66th-minute header from Josh Kennedy, just six minutes after coming on as a substitute, put Australia in sight of South Africa before Harry Kewell converted a penalty six minutes later to seal the win.
The result puts Australia on 13 points after five group matches. The Socceroos now need just one point from their remaining three matches - two of which are at home - to qualify for the game's showpiece event after Bahrain beat Qatar 1-0 in Manama overnight.
A crowd of 57,292 braved the rain which drenched the pitch for 24 hours prior and sporadically through the game, and despite pre-match predictions that the wet would unsettle the Uzbeks, they kept Australia under close guard and looked capable of holding out for a point until the Socceroos wrestled control of the match with an inspired burst midway through the second half.
After promising during the week he would consider the much-anticipated pairing of Scott McDonald and Josh Kennedy, Verbeek reverted to his tried and tested 4-2-3-1 formation, opting for McDonald as the lone striker up front. Mark Bresciano, Carl Valeri and Scott Chipperfield all overcome fitness concerns to take their place in the starting XI, with Michael Beauchamp partnering captain Lucas Neill at the back.
For Uzbekistan, star duo Server Djeparov and Farhod Tajiyev both overcame respective queries to take their place in a 4-4-1-1 that featured Tajiyev as the sole striker with the inspired Djeparov offering the link between the midfield and attack.
Australia took just four minutes to register a chance when McDonald was allowed time in the box to squeeze through a shot on goal, but Ignatiy Nesterov had little trouble collecting the shot after some good lead-up play down the left.
Beauchamp had a nervous moment soon after when a rash pass nearly invited disaster. Mirdjalal Kasimov's side had an even better chance seconds later when a magical through ball from Djeparov set Tajiyev through on goal. He had time to steady and place his shot, but the hat-trick hero from Saturday's win over the Qataris pushed the ball agonisingly wide as the soggy conditions made life tough for the strikers.
Australia should have made Uzbekistan pay when a delightful touch from McDonald released Bresciano into a one-on-one against Nesterov. He failed evoke memories of his play-off goal against Uruguay in 2005 by driving his shot too close the keeper.
With both sides squandering gilt-edged chances to take the lead in the opening half-hour, the defences of both sides tightened considerably towards half-time, with the only notable incident being Luke Wilkshire's yellow card for his rash challenge on Sakhob Jurayev, earning him a one-match suspension.
The frustrations of the Socceroos were illustrated by an ill-disciplined shove by Lucas Neill on his opponent, earning him Australia's second yellow card in ten minutes. As the hour mark approached, Uzbekistan visibly began to tire and Australia began to press with newfound intent. Uzbekistan surprisingly switched Tadjiyev for Anvarjon Soliev and the locals smelt blood as Jason Culina drilled a magnificent swerving shot on goal that was only denied by a great save from Nesterov. Verbeek then removed McDonald, with Kennedy stepping up front to increase Australia's aerial threat.
The switch bore instant results as the Socceroos took the lead through the towering Victorian before Kewell enjoyed something of a John Aloisi moment, allowing the side to relax and soak up the final twenty minutes.
It should have been obvious days out that 0-0 was on the cards when Australia's coach Pim Verbeek said about the game that "Australia likes to win, Japan needs to win". The truth is that it was Japan that would like to win, while Australia was not interested in winning. Japan certainly didn't need to win. A 0-0 suited both teams perfectly. Japan were slightly timid early on. That's until they recognised that their goal was under such limited threat that they pushed for a win.They really should have scored after creating several good chances, most particularly a short range drive that went straight to the goal-keeper, a deflected shot that went just wide, and an open header that just went over the bar. The few chances of Australia's were all speculative, until Joshua Kennedy was brought on with 10 minutes to go to almost win a clean header on goal. The situation was large self-inflicted. When a team plays with no strikers, it's not surprising they would create little and ultimately end up under constant defensive pressure.
Being learnt is the Verbeek is an incredibly conservative coach. As intimated before the game, Verbeek played with no striker, instead putting Tim Cahill up front in a loan striker role. While a 4-3-3 formation was suggested (with Holman and Bresciano out wide), truth is that it was a 4-3-3-0 or, at best, a 4-5-1-0 when going forward. Cahill was a forlorn figure up front, and spent much time in midfield looking for action or required to defend. To play with no recognised made little sense - even considering Cahill's recent moderate success in that role for his club due to injuries. Kennedy just standing around would have been more dangerous, while Cahill in midfield instead of Holman would be far more effective in every capacity. Had Verbeek been English or Australian, you can only imagine certain sections of the media being ferocious in the response. Where was Verbeek in 1997 for Iran and 2001 for Uruguay. That's the time he was really needed. Australia would have made those World Cups then.
While it would have been nice that Australia did more going forward, it's understandable that in terms of the goal (qualifying for the World Cup) that he be cautious. To be this cautious? It's fine to have a cautious mentality. To have it at the point of sacrificing your team's own ability to score, it's so alien to accept. Maybe it's only with Australia being in such a luxurious qualifying position that it could be accepted. It's just that when Kennedy came on, it was immediate the effect on the team. First, Japan had suddenly someone to worry about. That immediately lifted pressure on Australia's defence. Second, there was a target forward for Australia. Whip in a dozen balls through the match and you may get lucky. With 10 minutes left, there was almost little point other than a last-second "Bahrain" type scenario. As lucky as Australia have been through this qualifying, that scenario would not happen twice.
The "must win" game is now no game. Uzbekistan lost at home on the same night to a last second goal (ironically) to Bahrain. That leaves them last on the table on 1 point, while Qatar and Bahrain are on 4. Japan are on 8 with Australia on 10. Three draws out of the four remaining games (three of which are at home) is almost certainly enough. Or, to isolate a must-win game, the next game, against Uzbekistan in Sydney on April 1, would see a win almost certainly wrap up qualifying. It will depend on results four days prior in which Australia have the bye. Japan play Bahrain while Uzbekistan play Qatar. If the home teams win, an Australian win over Uzbekistan will see them as the first team qualified for the World Cup. A remarkable situation considering the nation's fortunes over past decades.
The worry is now that with such easy qualification, Australia will reach the World Cup untested and without the decent preparation that it was hoped to be gained from a tough and exhaustive process through Asia. This game against Japan continued the notable theme of the team unable to even create good, well-constructed chances. Same case against Bahrain, and only really poor opposition against Qatar and Uzbekistan did it allow Australia to score. Also remember that Verbeek is coming of three 0-0 results with Korea at the Asian Cup in his previous gig before taking on Australia. For the sake of simply putting on a great, attacking performance, Uzbekistan is the game that the team must finally turn it on and Verbeek to show the nation that he can get the team playing to a level that shows a potential at the World Cup that is more than just making up the numbers.
Australia have now beaten Uzbekistan 1-0 away, Qatar 4-0 at home, Bahrain 1-0 away and drawn away to Japan 0-0. They've yet to concede a goal in this phase of qualifying.
Remaining games are at home to Uzbekistan on April 1, away to Qatar on June 6, home to Bahrain on June 10 and home to Japan on June 17.
Australia have picked a point from Japan's pockets with a 0-0 draw in Yokohama, tightening Australia's grip on a place at next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.
Under huge pressure for long periods, the Socceroos somehow dodged bullet after Japanese bullet to maintain their two-point lead at the top of their Asian qualifying group.
With three of their remaining four World Cup qualifiers at home, Australia's vital away point on a chilly night at Nissan Stadium puts them on 10 points and within touching distance of wrapping up a top two spot in Group One and ensuring direct qualification for South Africa.
While they defended resolutely, Australia can thank Japan's lack of cutting edge in front of goal in large part for their nervy draw.
The tone was set early, as the Socceroos gave away three free-kicks in dangerous positions around the box and created little in the way of attack.
But Japan couldn't capitalise - Shunsuke Nakamura and Yasuhito Endo unable to find a way to trouble Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer with pop-gun set pieces.
Wastefulness and waywardness in the final third became continuing themes for Japan, even as the home team smothered Australia like a wet blanket throughout the second half as the majority of the 65,571 fans roared them on.
Their best chance came in the 70th minute, when Endo's bullet from 20-metres was brilliantly saved by Schwarzer.
Eight minutes later, striker Keiji Tamada couldn't direct a point-blank header under the bar, allowing Australia to escape again.
It became clear it wouldn't be Japan's night with five minutes remaining when Makoto Hasebe's goal-bound shot cannoned off Yoshito Okubo in front of goal, and bounced away with Schwarzer looking beaten.
Australia's coach Pim Verbeek was delighted with the result.
"It is nice to see with basically no preparation that defensively we did very well," he told FoxSports.
"We couldn't hold the ball, especially the last 15 or 20 minutes, we lost the ball a little bit easily and that is why we came under pressure.
"But I think 0-0 away to Japan is a great result."
He singled out Scott Chipperfield, Lucas Neill, Craig Moore and Vince Grella for their work in thwarting the Japanese attack.
"The reality that we did not have any preparation but we saw how professional the players were even with the eight hours' time difference they were very tired.
"I think they deserve a big compliment."
Verbeek refused to say that Australia had one foot on the plane to South Africa.
"No we still have to wait," he said. "But we have a great game coming up at ANZ Stadium against Uzbekistan (April 1), that is a big game."
Despite failing to grab all three points, Japan are on eight points and remain in a reasonable position to secure World Cup qualification.
"I thought from the word go that this would be the game our destiny would unfold and it’s shaping up that way," said the keeper whose record of shutouts rarely looked in danger of unravelling against Japan at Yokohama’s International Stadium on Wednesday night.
"For me it was always my personal target to make sure of qualification by the time we face Uzbekistan at home and we’re well on the way to achieving that.
"They will be tough, but at home we'll have to fancy our chances of taking all three points."
On Japan's second half blitz on Australia's goal...
"We defended well, we were solid and compact and limited them to just a few chances. When you consider we only had two days of preparation and they had five, it's a good result.
"We had a hiccup in Bahrain but even then we still won 1-0. It wasn’t that pretty here against Japan either but when people look back they will only see the result - and it’s one we’re more than happy with."
On the game...
"I wasn’t as busy as I expected, and I don’t mind that at all. There were a couple of saves I had to make but I could have had a lot more to do. They had a lot of possession, put us under a lot of pressure but didn’t really create too much in the way of clear-cut chances."
"We're obviously delighted to come away with a point. We defended very well, midfield was solid without being flash but in the second half we did not impose ourselves enough, we did not hold on to the ball long enough and we allowed them to dominate possession. We are not using our weapons to our advantage.
"Our preparation was not ideal while they had three to four weeks together. So this shows good character from the squad."
On the lack of chances created...
"I am not worried but I'd like us to create a bit more chances. We are on the road and we knew it was going to be tough. Come the next game against Uzbekistan in April if we don't perform well we'll have to start questioning ourselves. But with eight days to prepare for that game I think you will see a much more attacking side with more chances created.
"However tonight we should not talk about the negatives. We're just happy to have kept another clean sheet and if we win our next big game at home technically we are there."
Who'd have thought, that after Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation, the World Cup qualifying campaign would become almost boring and without challenge? That's in total contrast to the expected tough campaign that would involved many matches over a protracted period from joining Asia. After three games, two of which were away, Australia sits on top of the table with 3 wins, and facing the simple task of winning one of their 5 remaining games, 3 of which are at home, and picking up a draw or two to be virtually qualified. They could be indeed the very first team qualified as of Wednesday night. A stark contrast to the last minute back-door qualification via a playoff. Japan in Yokohama is that game on Wednesday night. While Australia can quite comfortably afford to lose, it's a game they simply must win.
After so many years of hard luck and unfair qualification processes, the soccer gods are smiling down on the team like no one could possibly imagine. The initial phase of qualifying saw luck in games against China and Iraq that saw results gained that were not deserved. In this phase, Australia were drawn in by far the easier group. The group and task associated seems even easier than the previous phase. Once the games started, a 2-1 win over Holland in Holland in a friendly led out the qualifying phase. Uzbekistan showed too much respect to lose 1-0. Qatar didn't even bother turning up despite a new found grunt they promised to release after being hammered twice in the previous phase. Away to Bahrain, one of the worst ever performances by an Australian national team was greeted with a last second 1-0 victory. While Bahrain only really created a succession of half chances themselves, they certainly didn't deserve to lose. If only one of these last minute goals occurred during Uruguay in 2001, Iran or 1997 or Argentina in 1993, it would have felt so much better. Never could I imagine that such a win would create mix feelings. Yes, nice to steal a win. But a sigh in terms of setting up a testing campaign.
Japan will be the test. It is effectively that one big "play-off" game of previous campaigns. Australia, for all the great results and position they are in, their capability and level of play is untested. With dubious "big name" qualities and a borderline CV, the coach is also untested. For every good display, there's been a dreadful one. Australia has primarily, and successfully, lived off mediocrity. Beating Japan will see them virtually qualified. Failing there, success at home to Uzbekistan on April 1 will almost certainly be enough. Unfortunate that Japan is not that fixture. As with the previous phase with the schedule against China, the toughest home game has been scheduled last - when it's probably all over for both teams. That's why this game against Japan on Wednesday night is so important. It's potentially the last game remaining that will really test Australia and require them to perform. That makes it the game Australia must win.
A 1-0 win over Uzbekistan in Tashkent has put Australia in the luxurious position of only required to win their four home games to be guaranteed qualification for the World Cup. Uzbekistan were to be one of the major tests - a test that proved quite ambiguous. First, Uzbekistan lost away to Qatar 3-0 in their opening game the previous weekend. Then, after a frenzied start to the game and creating a few shots on the Australian goal, the Uzbeks seemed to lay off.
Reminiscent of Australia's game away to China in the last phase, Uzbekistan sat back and allowed Australia so much possession. It reached a ridiculous point at one stage that Australia strung together about 40 passes before finally being pressured for the ball and losing it. It was one such phase that allowed the goal, with Chipperfield having the luxury to dawdle into the penalty box after bringing the ball forward, to be eventually on the end of a cross by Wilkshire after a one-two with Kewell to score an easy header. Not long later, Australia could have taken an even greater advantage when Bresciano only had the keeper to beat after bursting through the middle after a quick break from midfield. He blasted wide.
The second half became more typical of a World Cup qualifier with the home team pressuring the away team under fire. Uzbekistan stood up and pressured all over the pitch, while Australia's defence worked hard to repel any threat. That they succeeded with Uzbekistan unable to create too many dangerous chances. They were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after Bresciano stood on Jasur Hasanov's foot and possibly also clipped him from behind. In the dying minutes, their only other real chance was a low cross nearly converted by Maksim Shatskikh. Australia had an opportunity on the break with 15 minutes left when Kewell put Holman through, only for he and Carney to fluff the chance.
The day started inauspiciously for Australia will a stomach upset causing both Culina and Jade North to miss the game, and possibly the reason that Joshua Kennedy started on the bench. Instead, Harry Kewell started up front, with Bresciano coming into the team from that that played Holland, to provide support along with Holman. However, it was the defensive end - especially after the concerns that emanated from the warm-up games against South Africa and Holland - that proved the key difference in this game.
So Australia topped the group and easily qualified for the fourth, and potentially final phase, of qualifying, or did they? Thinking back, it quite easily been so different.
They were lucky to escape with a draw in China when China missed a last minute penalty. In the home game against Iraq, they were incredibly lucky to win with Iraq deserving at least a draw, and maybe a win, given the many chances that they had. Of course, Australia did have the luxury of the final home game against China. While they did lose, that was with a make-shift team after regular squad members were sent on their much deserved holidays. If a loss against China and draw against Iraq is figured into the equation, Australia would have been on 7 points heading into the final game, with Iraq on 8, Qatar on 7 and China on 6 points heading into the final game. Australia would had to match Qatar's performance against Iraq to qualify. That would have been needing to win.
It shows the potential danger now in Asia. That is good. We want this and need this.
Ironically, the draw for this fourth phase seems to have done Australia favours and might even be easier than the third phase recently completed.They meet Japan, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Bahrain, while the other group contains DPR Korea, Iran, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Qatar and Bahrain are the nominal "weaker" two of Australia's group, with Australia already convincing winners in both matches against Qatar in the third phase. Uzbekistan will be the most interesting match and will be first up (away) in September. Probably Australia will face a somewhat European style, which should suit. The unfortunate aspect of the draw is the big home game against Japan is scheduled to be the last played. Much like the game against China, it could be all over by then, meaning fans will miss out a great spectacle again, even if in terms of qualifying, it's preferable to have Japan last.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GA | Pts |
| Australia | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| Qatar | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 10 |
| Iraq | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 7 |
| China | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -1 | 6 |
06 Feb 2008 19:30 AUSTRALIA - QATAR Telstra Dome
3:0
06 Feb 2008 16:30 IRAQ - CHINA P.R. Al Ahli Stadium
1:1
26 Mar 2008 18:30 QATAR - IRAQ Al Sadd Club 2:0
26 Mar 2008 14:00 CHINA P.R. - AUSTRALIA Tuodong Stadium
0:0
02 Jun 2008 19:00 QATAR - CHINA P.R. Al Sadd Club 0:0
01 Jun 2008 17:00 AUSTRALIA - IRAQ Suncorp Stadium 1:0
07 Jun 2008 20:00 CHINA P.R. - QATAR Olympic Center Stadium (China PR)
0:1
07 Jun 2008 20:00 IRAQ - AUSTRALIA Al Ahli Stadium 1:0
14 Jun 2008 19:00 QATAR - AUSTRALIA Al Sadd Club 1:3
14 Jun 2008 20:00 CHINA P.R. - IRAQ Olympic Center Stadium (China PR)
1:2
22 Jun 2008 18:00 AUSTRALIA - CHINA P.R. ANZ Stadium
0:1
22 Jun 2008 20:00 IRAQ - QATAR Al Ahli Stadium 0:1
06 Sep 2008 BAHRAIN - JAPAN
06 Sep 2008 QATAR - UZBEKISTAN
10 Sep 2008 UZBEKISTAN - AUSTRALIA
10 Sep 2008 QATAR - BAHRAIN
15 Oct 2008 AUSTRALIA - QATAR
15 Oct 2008 JAPAN - UZBEKISTAN
19 Nov 2008 QATAR - JAPAN
19 Nov 2008 BAHRAIN - AUSTRALIA
11 Feb 2009 UZBEKISTAN - BAHRAIN
11 Feb 2009 JAPAN - AUSTRALIA
28 Mar 2009 JAPAN - BAHRAIN
28 Mar 2009 UZBEKISTAN - QATAR
01 Apr 2009 AUSTRALIA - UZBEKISTAN
01 Apr 2009 BAHRAIN - QATAR
06 Jun 2009 QATAR - AUSTRALIA
06 Jun 2009 UZBEKISTAN - JAPAN
10 Jun 2009 JAPAN - QATAR
10 Jun 2009 AUSTRALIA - BAHRAIN
17 Jun 2009 BAHRAIN - UZBEKISTAN
17 Jun 2009 AUSTRALIA - JAPAN
* Due to being on holidays in Estonia, Europe and Tokyo through June and into July, and the time it took to watch the three recorded matches on my return, the Socceroo Realm apologies for the late update.
One goal was all that Australia needed to beat Iraq, however, the score could have been anything with Australia incredibly lucky not to concede their first goal under coach Pim Verbeek. Iraq had Emad Mohammed strike the crossbar early after a rebounded corner, Younis Mahmoud missed an open header not long later, before Mohammed missed with an open chance on goal. The second half saw two one-on-ones against the goal-keeper Schwarzer that were expertly saved. Australia was not inactive in the goal-mouth, however, with Harry Kewell missing an early point-blank header and great one-on-one chance midway through the second half. Between those chances he did score early in the second half Australia's goal with a classical header after a nice cross from Brett Emerton, and there were several other team half-chances that narrowly escaped being converted.
Australia dominated the game in all key components like possession, shots on goal and saves forced, yet the concern will be at the defensive end. The make-shift defence of Michael Beauchamp and Jade North and wide players Brett Emerton and David Carney were continually exposed. Some of it good Iraqi play; much of it just bad defending. Jason Culina dropped off tracking Mohammed for his open chance, while Emerton foolishly played offside trap to allow one of the later Iraqi one-on-ones. The policy of non-specialist defenders as wide players has been a potential disaster since the Hiddink era. In time, Australia will suffer.
The bonus is that Australia does have the points on the board, and with Qatar and China drawing overnight in the group game, one more win from the final three games will see Australia almost insurmountable as one of the two nations to progress to the next stage. However, with two of the games scheduled in the ultra hot Middle East, danger still lurks. This game could easily have finished as a loss or draw. Verbeek's post-game comments of "I am happy with the result but not with the performance. We did not deserve the three points", say it all.
*I will be on holidays and unable to cover the remaining games in this phase. More info in the news section.
Kewell Nods Australia Home
Harry Kewell's five-star performance and second-half winner steered the Socceroos to a
1-0 win over Iraq and within sight of the next stage of World Cup qualifying.
Clubless Kewell was at his electrifying best for his country, heading home from a Brett
Emerton cross in the 47th minute to give his side victory in their Asian Group One clash
at Suncorp Stadium.
The former Liverpool midfielder played as a striker and was in everything as Australia
consolidated top spot in the group.
But the Socceroos weathered plenty of nervous moments against the Asian champions.
Two important Mark Schwarzer saves were vital - the second denying Hawar Mulla Mohammed an
equaliser with seven minutes left.
Iraq had the better of the opening 45 minutes but missed three golden opportunities to
score and silence the near-50,000 crowd.
Midfielder Emad Mohammed hit the crossbar after just four minutes, then forced goalkeeper
Schwarzer into a block with his legs from close range on 27 minutes.
Iraq's star striker Younis Mahmoud had the best chance of the half - fluffing an open
header and putting it wide when unmarked after 36 minutes.
Kewell made the Iraqis pay for their wastefulness two minutes after halftime when he
arrived to meet Emerton's cross from the right.
The only blemish on Kewell's night was missing a close-range effort in the 66th minute and
he left the field to a deserved standing ovation with 15 minutes remaining.
But as Kewell departed and Australia moved into defensive mode, Iraq lifted a gear with
several late chances to square.
Hawar's chance was the best, but a clearance that bounced off Mahmoud's knee and just wide
in the 82nd minute was also too close for comfort.
The Socceroos also had to endure the tiresome efforts of two pitch invaders inside the
final minutes; they were embarrassingly able to remain on the field for a couple of
minutes before security managed to remove them.
Australia now have seven points from three matches and need to finish top two in the group
to move to the next stage of Asian qualifying later this year.
That could be secured as early as their next qualifier against Iraq in Dubai on Saturday.
On the game...
"Four games and no goals against, but today it was not what we deserved"
"I think everybody understands that I am very happy with the three points, but we
started quite nervously."
"We were very lucky at the start when the ball hit the underside of the bar."
"I think that was the story of the whole game, we gave too many chances away."
"We were lucky in that situation, we didn't use the free players, we didn't use our
qualities. Overall I'm sure we can play much better."
On the players...
"What I can say about my players is that they never give up and that's not always
appreciated," he added.
"They are fantastic players and they play for 50,000 fantastic fans, which were the
extra man today."
"But we should not forget that the Iraqis did a very good job against us. They made
it very difficult. I am happy with the three points, but not the performance."
On Mark Schwarzer's game...
"I said thanks to him and he said 'yeah, but that's my job',"
"He's a good professional but he did a great job, he was always there. Great
performance from Mark again."
On Iraq's chances to still qualify...
There is still a chance for the Iraqi team. We have to do our best to win the next three
matches. We have to win against Australia next week."
The effect on the team with Fifa's temporary suspension on the Iraqi Football Association
during the week...
"Of course it affected the players a lot, but as you know we are always under
pressure, we are used to playing under pressure," he added.
"We're the only football team in the world who play outside our own country."
"We come together from different countries, but these things give us more will to
play well. We're going to fight to the last."
In a strange match in Kunming, where China, preparing at altitude for 3 weeks, playing the match at altitude, and against a team depleted by injury, did little to take advantage of the factor other than let Australia take all the possession. In a game where the pressure was surprisingly "off", China relied on crosses and height in the box and deadball situations to create several half scoring chances. In response Australia created the two best chances, one from a scrappy Chinese throw-in that saw Bresciano unmarked in the box, and approaching the 90th minute when Carney had a similar chance. Bresciano had to stretch somewhat and could only poke the ball at the goalie, while Carney had the ball stripped from his boot from a defender he was unaware was approaching. Just prior to that, China had a penalty that was hit meekly straight to Schwarzer. Schwarzer had conceded the penalty in a somewhat clumsy challenge after a hopeful long ball saw Bo Qu charging towards the lose ball. Schwarzer seemed to have obstructed him slightly, before chasing back and diving hand first at the ball trying to sweep it away. He did manage that, but Bo Qu was fouled in the process. Schwarzer became hero when he saved with his foot Jiayo Shao's penalty that was hit with insufficient forcing down the middle.
While hoping for a win, coach Pim Verbeek was satisfied with the draw. The team defended well for most of the game, with the altitude factor seeming to hurt China more with many of their crosses over hit. For Australia's part, they elected to mostly keep the ball on the ground.
The match will also be remembered for two appalling decisions, with red cards missed on Archie Thompson after just 3 minutes for a studs up flying tackle, and likewise, and even worst tackle, on Luke Wilkshire towards the end. The Wilkshire tackle did not even see a yellow card given. Thompson's aggressor at least got that. Not that it was much good for him as he was soon forced from the field as a result of injury caused by the tackle.
In the other group match, Qatar beat Iraq 2-0 in Doha. While Australia is a good position with four points at the top of the group, and Iraq languishing with 1 point at the bottom, that could all change in a hurry with the next match being Australia versus Iraq. An Iraqi win will see the group even right up.
SCHWARZER SAVES AUSTRALIA
The Socceroos overcame a horror injury toll and the lung-busting altitude of Kunming to claim a vital away point and stay top of their qualification group.
Goalkeeper Schwarzer ended Australia's saviour after stopping a spot kick from Shao Jiayi in the 89th minute.
Schwarzer had conceded the penalty after referee Ahmad Nasser contentiously ruled the 'keeper had brought down speedy substitute Qu Bo in the box.
But the 35-year-old made amends by blocking Jiayi's limp shot to give Australia their second clean sheet in as many games to begin their bid for the 2010 World Cup.
Minutes later, the Socceroos nearly stole victory when Mark Bresciano pulled back a ball for David Carney in the box.
But the Australian wing back failed to lay a boot on the chance as defender Sun Xiang rushed in to clear.
It was the second of two great chances for Australia in the game.
Earlier, Bresciano had the perfect opportunity to give the Socceroos the lead.
But after superb lead-up work from Brett Holman, the midfielder could only blast his 25th minute shot from close range straight at the 'keeper.
China were perhaps fortunate to end the game with a full compliment of players after a studs-up challenge from Sun Jihai on Luke Wilkshire in the 81st minute.
The referee, though, awarded Australia only a free kick with Jihai not even booked.
The draw was even more meritorious for the Socceroos given they lost striker Archie Thompson to a calf injury in just the 10th minute.
The Melbourne Victory striker, who was felled in a rough challenge from Feng Xiaoting in the fourth minute, battled on for several minutes with the injury before finally succumbing.
Coach Pim Verbeek lost as many as seven first-team players in the lead up to the game, including Harry Kewell, who was ruled out early today with a groin injury.
VERBEEK'S CAUTIOUS TACTICS PAY OFF
SOCCEROOS coach Pim Verbeek declared himself proud of his team after a valuable 0-0 draw against China last night on the road to the World Cup.
A variety of doughty performances was topped by Mark Schwarzer, who saved a penalty in the dying minutes to ensure Australia left with a share of the spoils.
Bereft of key personnel across the park, Verbeek's cautious tactics paid off with a point that keeps the Socceroos in a strong position to make the next stage of qualification for South Africa.
The coach said his makeshift team was well satisfied with a gutsy, disciplined display.
"We have to be happy with one point but I was also very happy with the way we played, very organised and overall a very good performance," he said. "It's not just about individual players, it's about how they fit into the team. We had a good chance right at the end but the players now are finished, they are dead (on their feet), so I think they see the point gained as the maximum.
"We still need to gain at least seven points (from four more games) but if we win at home and pick up points away, we will qualify."
The coach conceded he thought 88 minutes of spirited defence was going to be thrown away after Schwarzer was adjudged to have fouled substitute Bo Qu at the death, only for the keeper to make a sprawling stop from Jiayo Shao's penalty to the despair of the local crowd.
"Schwarzer of course thought it was not a penalty," Verbeek joked afterwards. "I really could not see it properly but it looked a 50-50 ball."
He added that China's tactics had essentially played into Australia's hands, and that the team had performed its instructions to the letter, particularly given the ball-deviating quality of the air.
"We told the boys to play the ball on the ground - for them (China), playing long balls made it hard for themselves," Verbeek said.
"We expected, and had prepared, for a very tough first 15 or 20 minutes but the moment we got the ball they were running backwards, so we could play out from the back.
"They let us play. I really expected them to put a lot more pressure on us to score the first goal. I should have tried to have killed the opposition in that situation, but they let us play football and we're too good for that."
Verbeek had thrown a selection surprise, introducing an unexpected 3-4-3 formation and effectively playing without a central striker after most of his forwards had been rubbed out by injury.
At the back Jade North was praised by his coach and teammates for a clinical, efficient display in an unfamiliar system, the Newcastle Jet saving a likely goal in the 25th minute with a block on Han Peng as the goal gaped.
The Socceroos played with their heads and saved their lungs, with minimal but intelligent movement.
On the half-hour they had a chance of the first goal they craved, as substitute Brett Holman's neat turn on the edge of the box gave him the chance to cross low towards Mark Bresciano.
The Palermo man made decent contact with a stabbed shot, but Lei Zong's reactions were even better to turn the strike aside.
It took China another five minutes to work its own decent opening, Zhi Zheng lobbing the ball neatly over Lucas Neill but scuffing his shot to give Schwarzer a comfortable save.
Australia's shape was good throughout, apart from the occasional scare. A ripping 50m pass found Zheng in space on the left and his fizzing cross somehow missed Feng's head from three metres out. Then came the penalty, and defeat seemed imminent - until Schwarzer redeemed himself spectacularly.
Australia romped to a 3-0 victory over Qatar last night, courtesy of 3 goals scored in the first half an hour. From there, with the game effectively over and travel fatigue potentially setting in for Australia, the game played out to its inevitably tame closure. While a great win, unfortunately the timid response from the Qatari team has left Australia untested for the bigger games to come. Playing at home, and against the nominally weakest team in the group, this game will be the easiest of Australia's campaign. Even the preparation aspect of the game, involving several camps for A-League players and a couple of training sessions for the overseas players, proved a virtual waste of time with the coach switching tactics just prior to the game. The fear is still there, especially with such the ease of victory, that the team is well under-prepared for the future games that lie. In the second half, when Qatar did gather composure and began to play, they did open up Australia a couple of times and should have scored at least twice. As both teams tired, Australia had a couple more chances of their own.
In the match involving the other two teams in the group, China drew away to Asian Champions Iraq, 1-1. China away is next for Australia. This will be the match that truly tells us something.
Verbeek era off to a flying start
Michael Lynch
AUSTRALIA'S European stars last night accomplished the perfect fly in-fly out mission and
gave Qatar a footballing tutorial, exposing the limitations of the Middle Eastern team
with a 3-0 victory to get the Socceroos 2010 World Cup campaign off to a perfect start.
First-half goals from Josh Kennedy, Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano effectively ended this
game as a contest after barely half an hour, but few in the 50,969 strong Telstra Dome
crowd, nor a previously pensive-looking Pim Verbeek, were complaining. The Dutchman even
found time to provide the cameras with a broad grin after he controlled a ball that had
been sent flying over the touchline and passed it back to into play.
Next month's trip to Kunming, in the Chinese interior, to take on China will surely
provide his men with a much sterner test than they faced last night when they controlled
the game for an hour before jetlag and an inevitable drop off in intensity allowed their
outclassed opponents to mount a handful of meaningful attacks.
Verbeek's half-time grin could quite possibly have been even broader as his side might
have had half a dozen by the interval had it not been for some heroics by goalkeeper Ahmed
Mohamed Saqar, a tall, imposing Senegal-born shot stopper who is now a naturalised Qatari.
On three occasions he produced fine saves to deny Cahill twice and Kennedy from close
range as Australia sought to exert its superiority at every turn. Conditions favoured the
Socceroos. There was none of the heat or humidity which turned their Asian Cup odyssey
into a sweat-soaked failure, and the temperate, dry conditions allowed Verbeek's men to
stroke the ball around, switch the play and combine in fluent movements which threatened
to unhinge Qatar almost every time they went forward. Jorge Fossati, who experienced the
heartbreak of World Cup loss here just over two years ago as boss of Uruguay, knew his men
were in for a tough night.
As expected, he set his stall out to keep a clean sheet and frustrate his highly rated
opponents, playing with just Ali Hassan up front and packing his defence and midfield,
relying on quick breaks with the skilful Khalfan Ibrahim and Saad Sattam pouring forward
in support.
For his part, Verbeek opted for boldness over caution and picked an attacking line-up,
fielding a little and large combination of strikers in the 193-centimetre Kennedy and the
172cm Scott McDonald, with Everton's Tim Cahill tucked in behind, at the sharp end of a
midfield diamond anchored by Jason Culina with Bresciano and Luke Wilkshire in the wider
areas.
The strategy almost paid dividends after five minutes, when Saqar scrambled clear Cahill's
effort after a move involving McDonald and Kennedy.
But it only took another five minutes for Qatar's frail defensive wall to be breached, and
it was Kennedy who made the breakthrough, heading home Brett Emerton's cross from the
right. Cahill then headed over after Lucas Neill lofted the ball into the penalty area
from a far-post corner, while Wilkshire fired just wide from the edge of the penalty area
after a cross from the left by David Carney.
Qatar made sporadic attempts to get forward, but were easily repulsed as Australia bore
forward. A second goal looked likely and it came in the 18th minute, again from a cross,
serving only to emphasise Australia's aerial superiority. Cahill, as he has done so often
in the English Premiership, outjumped a posse of defenders to power home a header from
Wilkshire's corner.
At 2-0 Australia were coasting, but nerves still needed to be steadied with a third.
The third came in the 33rd minute after McDonald held the ball up on the edge of the Qatar
penalty area, waited for Bresciano's run and teed the Italian-based midfielder up for a
first-time finish. Saqar then produced another fine save to deny Cahill's diving header as
Australia continued to put on a first-half clinic. Fossati tried to stem the flow with
several second-half replacements, but the game resumed in similar fashion with Wilkshire
testing Saqar with a long-range drive which the keeper kept out.
Cahill could have made it four in the 55th minute from another well-flighted Emerton cross
but his header went wide. With the heat out of the game and the Socceroos overseas
players, all of whom arrived barely 48 hours before the match, tiring, Australia
inevitably stepped off the pedal. McDonald eventually made way for World Cup hero John
Aloisi, who had a chance to get his name on the scoresheet but Saqar comfortably held his
shot.
After the match, Verbeek was pleased to have passed his first test with flying colours.
"It is a great start," he said. "I thought we played a fantastic game. We
created chances and scored great goals, it was exactly what we planned before the game.
"I was very proud of the players, especially in the first half. In the second half,
we tired and gave space away, but that's normal … it was a strange situation, I only
met 10 of the players yesterday.
"I agree, in the end it was quite easy. I think they [Qatar] were impressed by the
stadium, by the fans, and also by the names we had. The job was to finish it off, and we
did that.
"But of course we know the whole qualification is not only about quality and great
football, it is also mental. So we have some work to do."
On the chances of getting the same group of players for the next qualifier in China next
month, he replied: "The boys want to qualify. I am sure when I ask them, they will
come. The sooner we qualify for the next stage, the better it is for them."
AUSTRALIA 3 (Kennedy 10, Cahill 18, Bresciano 33) - QATAR 0
Crowd: 50,969 at Telstra Dome, Melbourne.
Australia: 1. Mark Schwarzer, 2. Lucas Neill, 3. Craig Moore (14. Brett Holman 77'), 4.
Tim Cahill (17. Carl Valeri 66'), 5. Jason Culina, 7. Brett Emerton, 8. Luke Wilkshire, 9.
Josh Kennedy (15. John Aloisi 70'), 10. Scott McDonald, 11. David Carney, 18. Mark
Bresciano.
Qatar: 1. Mohammed Saqr, 3. Marconi Amaral Junior, 4. Ibrahim Al Ghanim, 5. Majdi Abdullah
Siddiq (17. Wasim Rizik Abdulmajed 46'), 6. Abdullah Obaid Koni, 8. Saad Sattam Al
Shammari (c) (18. Mesaad Ali Alhamad 46'), 9. Ali Hassan Yahya, 13. Mustafa Mohammed
Abdulla, 14. Khalfan Ibrahim, 15. Talal Ali Albloushi (10. Waleed Jassim Abdulla 78'), 16.
Fabio Cesar.
Australia's 2010 World Cup qualifying kicks-off on Wednesday with the match against Qatar in Melbourne. After the debate of the team being restricted to using A-League players for the match, coach Pim Verbeek has proceeded and picked 19 overseas players in his mammoth squad of 39. While some already will not attend through injury, time constraints or not required (Harry Kewell and Vince Grella being the major omissions), it's expected the bulk of the team that takes the pitch will be overseas players.
It's been quite a tumultuous couple of weeks for the A-League players, with the major controversy of Verbeek saying a training session with a lower German first league club would be preferable than playing in the A-League. This was picked up by many media outlets as a terrible slight on the local game. The debate was mixed, with the Herald-Sun almost brushing it off and asking the A-League players to rise to the challenge. On the other hand, Fox Sports, via Robbie Slater and Mike Cockerill, rubbished the notion in saying that no training session can substitute real matches, while SBS (as you would expect) agreed with Verbeek. Not just agreed, but within a few days Les Murray had yet another notorious and venomous attack on the game on the TWG website. It's an amazing change in view from the broadcaster with him and cohort Craig Foster weeks ago adamant the A-League players had to be in camp and being prepared for the game because it would be impossible for the overseas players to return, yet now the A-League players cannot be trusted at all. Worse, Murray claimed the A-League was no breeding ground for international quality players, despite the recent elevation to both overseas club and national team duty of players like Michael Beauchamp, David Carney, Nick Carle and Mark Milligan.
However, all camps seemed to have missed the point, with Verbeek not saying anything of the such. Quizzed on the question of players like Joshua Kennedy and Michael Beauchamp restricted to 3 weeks training because of the German winter break, Verbeek said: "If you train for three weeks with Nuremberg or with Karlsruhe, I have to be very honest, I still think that's better than playing A-League games". The "playing in A-League games", he's referring to local players, not Kennedy himself. So he's saying a player like Kennedy, even in the current situation, is better than an A-League replacement. Even then, the basic concept of training better than playing, even in the scenario of Kennedy having the choice to play in the A-League or train with Karlsruhe, is still flawed. We've seen many examples that players not playing, even if training at the highest level to be of extreme risk, with no greater example than the Iran series of 1997. It is better to have players playing than players training, even if those players are training with clubs at a higher level.
Verbeek did continue to mention that the real problem is inconsistency with the players being under pressure. There has been some dreadful defending and goals conceded over the period Verbeek has been watching the games. His full quotes:
"If you train for three weeks with Nuremberg or with Karlsruhe, I have to be very
honest, I still think that's better than playing A-League games.
"I saw the important (A-League) games last weekend and you can see players under
pressure that they didn't bring the same performance that I have seen before, so they are
still not very consistent at the moment.
"(The A-League) players have to show me they can do a job against Qatar, that they
are capable of winning the games.
"I am not here to please players, I'm not here to please anybody, I'm here to win the
game.
"That's the responsibility I have to the Australian fans and Australian football.
"I like them all, as I've said already, but it is nothing to do with liking your
players, I want to see them do the job.
"That's why I was here for five weeks. No one can tell me, that I didn't give them
the chance and the possibility.
"I will do that again, and if they are good enough they can show me next week and I
can select them.
"But I be honest to them, if they're not good enough at the moment I will tell them
also."
The critical factor, as Verbeek has said, is that this is a World Cup game and he has a responsibility to get the best performance and result possible. The notion of using A-League players was insane in itself. The FFA went from a policy of always playing the strongest team possible for any match, to solely using A-League players for World Cup games. As for club versus county nonsense, right now we have the African Nations Cup on, with clubs expected to be without their players for up to three weeks. Even if an Australian player had to miss a club game to play a World Cup, so be it. It's far too important, and the reality is that the clubs have no say in it.
The real concern - potentially one that is yet to fully unravel - is actually that Australia is in such position. Conceivably, Australia will be playing a team that has never played under the national coach before. In fact, that will be the case. Worse, the bulk of the team could have been under the tutelage of the coach for only two training sessions before such a crucial game. Just last night, the team struggled to a 1-1 draw against an under-manned Melbourne Victory. This is the Australian team that is yet to have the bulk of the overseas players arrive. This is not to forget that Verbeek was hardly prime choice for the national role anyway. It's difficult to see where the coach will even have much of a chance to impose his style on the team. There's the away match in China in March before the big quadruple finale in June. If they can get out of this match with a 1-0 result, they will be doing well. Even then, such a narrow win could potentially camouflage a campaign that is currently already fraught with danger. The lack of time and preparation of the team, it has the hallmarks of ending in total disaster.
A side issue to the game, and one that thankfully greatly benefits Australia, is that Qatar's star striker, Sebastian Quintana, has not been able to overturn his suspension for the game after accruing two yellow cards in previous stages of the World Cup qualifiers. Qatar is arguing (rightfully) that this is a new stage and that such cards should be wiped. However, the bigger picture - one spoken about previously here - is the absurd nature of the yellow card system. Why is Australia benefitting from such a situation when they had nothing to do with the previous games? The yellow card should be directing impacting the team that was fouled, and punishing the offending team in the meantime. That can only be done with a 10 or 15 minute ejection from the game for the player. A logical notion considering a red card is a total ejection.
Feb 6 Qatar (h)
Mar 26 China (a)
Jun 2 Iraq (h)
Jun 7 Iraq (a)
Jun 14 Qatar (a)
Jun 22 China (h)