Those who attended that fateful day at the MCG on 29 November, 1997 I feel your pain and understand if you do not wish to read on.  For those lucky enough not to be there, or even luckier; young enough not to remember have a read.  It will hopefully make qualification tonight so much sweeter.

The night was a typical balmy night, we were approaching summer and the Socceroos entourage were in town.  16 years ago we weren’t as lucky as we are today with World Cup exposure, or even International friendlies.  This was going to be an event that you would remember for the rest of your life.

I spent the previous weekend at my Gran’s house in Warrnambool, now some of you might think that isn’t too far away only a three hour drive down the highway, but remember these are the days before digital television.  I spent that Saturday night on the couch watching the first leg via a snow like reception relying heavily on the commentary.  We came away with a 1-1 draw, and a young Harry Kewell announced himself on the International stage.

Back to the ‘G’, there was a buzz about the ground I had never experienced before, it was an eerie feeling.  There was a hush over the ground; people were nervous, anxious about what was going to take place over the next 90 minutes.  Out came the players and all this lifted, we became an army of 85,000 fans urging our national team across the line to gain the 32^nd place in France.  I believe this added to the experience dramatically, knowing that 31 nations had already booked their place, and only 90 minutes stood in our way of joining the football elite.

We had a belief that we deserved to be on the football stage, after all our squad included some of the best names Australia had ever produced; Bosnich, Slater, Zelic, Kewell, Viduka and Arnold just to name a few.  We also had master tactician Terry Venables behind our campaign, what could go wrong.

We started well but failed to take our chances, Aurelio Vidmar probably had 3-4 early chances but he wasn’t alone.   I’m not going to go too much into the game but let’s fast forward to the 47’.  A Vidmar goal puts Australia 2-0 up, and the crowd went into a sense of jubilation.  Sure we were celebrating too early, but we were playing the better football and had the overwhelming support of the 85,000 crowd.  I remember literally dancing in the isles singing “We’re going to France, we’re going to France” looking back at this now it was a little premature, I was a first year university student surviving on working 3 nights a week at the indoor cricket centre, and no passport to speak of; But ‘we’ wasn’t me that night, ‘we’ referred to the Socceroos.  ‘We’ were going to France 98’ and nothing could stop us.

Enter Peter ‘#@#@$@’ Hore, the serial pest that has plagued many public events.  Hore ran onto the ground and caused a six minute delay.  I’m not saying this changed the game but the momentum was lost, the crowd silenced and more importantly Iran had six minutes to stop and assess the situation.

We copped two goals in a five minute period which to this day I still rate the darkest day in my sports watching memory.  Yes Italy was heartbreaking but this was something different.  The only way I can describe this feeling is if you watch Indiana Jones and the Temple of doom, well the part when our hero literally has his heart ripped out, that how I felt.  Sure we had 15 minutes to find an equaliser, but it just wasn’t going to be.  Player fitness, injuries and whatever else started taking their toll, France merely became a country where the Eiffel tower is located, not a place to fulfil our World cup dreams.

The aftermath: I remember when that final whistle blew like so many others slumped back in my seat and stared in amazement, the Iranians were running around celebrating, the Aussies on the pitch lifeless.  After about 10 minutes I summons enough energy to get myself out of the chair and make the long walk to Flinders street station.  It was one of the most surreal walks I can remember, thousands made the similar trip but all I remember was silence, heartbreak and devastation.

We were emotionally drained, and we didn’t even play.  A few hours later I thought how the players must have been feeling, after a while I simply gave up.  One cannot imagine how the Australian dressing room must have felt that night.  In 40 minutes they had gone to being ‘Heroes of a nation’ to just another group of footballers in this country who couldn’t get the job done.  The legacy of 74’ would continue for another four years.

In my eyes the players who took the pitch that night were heroes, and it further instilled my belief and support for our national team.  That fateful night at the MCG will haunt me forever.

The post The Ghost of Iran appeared first on From The Stands.

With Stadium Australia sold out and qualification for next year’s World Cup in Brazil within direct reach, the stage could not be set in any more spectacular fashion for tomorrow night’s clash with Iraq.

The idea of the Socceroos selling eighty thousand tickets for a match against Iraq would have seemed bizarre to even the most optimistic of fans a couple of years ago. Certainly, the international team’s last match in the same stadium earlier this year (against Oman) seemed an indication that interest in the green and gold was waning, with only just over thirty thousand attending. A dire performance, at the end of a string of equally poor runouts throughout this qualifying campaign, perhaps justified the decision for many not to bother showing up.

However, our performance against Japan – a gusty draw away from home that was so nearly a win – seemed to revive hope in the national side. Certainly, their clash against Jordan the next week but confirmed our suspicions that the talent and ability is there to be tapped into.

Notably, the players we have been expecting to star in recent appearances began to click. Robbie Kruse, after a breakout sophomore season at Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany’s Bundesliga, was superb, scoring a sharp goal and adding two equally important assists to his tally. Holman wasn’t just industrious, but linked up well with both Cahill and Kruse particularly, who was opening channels down the right wing. Mark Bresciano took over the midfield and distributed well, while Tom Rogic came off the bench, and in a depressingly small cameo, proved he certainly could be the creative spark in midfield we’ve lacked for so long.

Another notable performer in this recent surge has been Mark Milligan, who has forced his way into the Australian side ahead of Crystal Palace captain, Mile Jedinak. Milligan had another commendable game, covering Bresciano defensively and breaking up the Jordanian counter attacks. At the same time, he wasn’t shy to advance forward and keep Jordan’s keeper on his toes.

One of the few disappointments, more so for his lack of impact than poor performance, was Tommy Oar, whose excellent season at FC Utretch, coupled with his goal against Japan, appeared to have cemented his position in the green and gold. Oar came up against one of the few fullbacks in the qualifying group that could match him for pace, and it was obvious that he struggled to deal with this. He could be criticised for his lack of creativity, rarely darting inwards, instead opting continually and often unsuccessfully to dart down the line. While this game was a speed bump in his ascension into the Australian lineup, it should hopefully not deter Holger Osieck from selecting him again against Iraq tomorrow; every player has their off-games, and within reason, patience should be applied. Oar has the potential to replicate Kruse’s heroics on the opposite wing, one game should not be enough to convince anyone otherwise.

Last week’s performance has led to much optimism about tomorrow night’s clash against Iraq, according to rankings, the fifth best team in Asia. Eight years after our qualification for the 2006 World Cup, in the same stadium, there are undoubtedly many things to give us confidence.

Ignoring, for a moment, the promising form of the Socceroos, the Iraqi team is hardly in the best position or state of mind. Last week’s loss against Japan sealed their fate: qualification for Brazil is no longer possible. Not only that, but two of Iraq’s footballing heroes have announced their retirement and will not be playing. Younis Mahmoud who has scored 46 goals in his 116 appearances for Iraq, as well as Nashat Akram (only 28) who has made the same amount of appearances announced their retirement due to a long running feud with the Iraq Football Association.

Mahmoud captained the side in their victorious 2007 Asian Cup campaign, named the tournament’s most valuable player while finishing as equal top-scorer. Akram has long been considered one of the most technically capable midfielders in Asia, and was denied a move to Manchester City in 2008 due to work permit issues. Also not joining the Iraq squad will be Abdul-Zahra, suspended against Japan last week, who has scored ten goals in just over fifty appearances for Iraq.

Evidently, Zahra is so good that he scores without even playing! We should keep an eye out for him.

However, this by no means makes tomorrow’s clash easy. Iraq have been, as Lucas Neill describes it, our “bogey team” – having defeated us in the 2007 Asian Cup, in a qualifier in 2008 and would’ve come close if not for very late Cahill and Thompson goals in Doha.  So maybe not quite our “bogey” team, but by no means tame. Not only that, but Iraq have very little pressure and the freedom to come at us without fear; their counterattack could very well be a lot more vicious than Jordan’s was last week.

It’s silly to underestimate those playing for pride, something Robbie Kruse makes clear in a mid-week interview:

“That’s probably what we’ve spoken about the most, making sure no one gets carried away and that we’re all mentally focused. Iraq will still have some dangerous players and they’ll come here with no pressure on them.”

That being said, it’s also easy to undervalue the situation Australia has in their hands. An 83 000 capacity crowd will no doubt intimidate the Iraqis, while hopefully spurring our boys on at the same time. It will be a special atmosphere which will with no doubt impact positively on the players, the country behind them. Not to mention, in the words of the newly formed Terrace Australis:

When Australia, when Australia scores a goal we go to Rio, de Janeiro!

While having so much on the line can amplify anxiety, it is also the perfect incentive to perform at our best. Let’s hope we see nothing less.

Predicted Lineup:

Schwarzer

Wilkshire – Neill – Ogneovski – McKay

Milligan – Bresciano

Kruse – Holman – Oar

Cahill

While that back four continues to make me sigh, I have to admit, my intensity of cringing has lowered each week. While that isn’t the defence we’d ideally take to Brazil, it has been convincing in previous rounds – particularly the centre-half pairing of Neill and Ogneovski who were proactive and solid in defence against Jordan as well as Japan. The “Left Back Problem” needs to become an episode of BBC’s Sherlock, but will not be solved by tomorrow night and McKay hasn’t done a terrible job in that position.

Interesting Statistics:

Matches played in WCQ rounds: Australia (13) vs Iraq (15)

Matches won in WCQ rounds: Australia (7) vs Iraq (7)

Head to head victories: Australia (4) vs Iraq (2)

Longest winning run in WCQ rounds: Australia (3) vs Iraq (5)

Cleans sheets in WCQ rounds: Australia (4) vs Iraq (6)

Failure to score in WCQ rounds: Australia (2) vs Iraq (5)

Biggest defeat in WCQ rounds: Australia (2-1) vs Iraq (2-0)

FIFA World Ranking: Australia (47) vs Iraq (98)

Predicted Result:

3-0 win for Australia. Let’s hope the boys don’t disappoint a sell-out crowd or throw away qualification for next year’s World Cup, which has been all but served to us on a platter. While it should be a convincing win (as is my prediction) I’m sure all of Australia will happily take away any form of victory.

Follow me on Twitter: @userlastname

The post The time and place – Australia vs Iraq Preview appeared first on From The Stands.

We all know how important Tuesday’s clash with Iraq is so we are giving YOU the opportunity to show your support for the boys before the big clash.  Comments can be left on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/FromTheStandsAl or on our twitter page @_FTSAL before Tuesday morning and we will post them.

Get behind the Socceroos and send them to Brazil.

Good luck to the entire squad, but especially to those like Schwarzer, Neill & Ognenovski who have one last shot at a World Cup.  #InHolgerWeTrust – @hardsy05

Brazil on the horizon! Go Socceroos!!

@_FTSAL @Socceroos #FTSWall
#AUSvIRQ 3-0 pic.twitter.com/EhARGSLQ1d  – @_JamieOsbourne

Lets go boys u can do it. Brazil here we come. Go Kruze – George Karakatsanis

Good luck boys!!!! So proud we are!!!! Go kick butt!!!! – Linda Vella

Bring on Brazil will be there supporting all the way – Sue Beck

COME ON YOU BOYS IN GREEN AND GOLD TAKE US TO BRAZIL WE’RE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY. – @Morpjin

@Tim_Cahill good luck to you & all of the @Socceroos,all of AUS is behind you! @_FTSAL is putting together a site for fans to support you! ‏@Andycee007

I’m a HUGE Aussie fan! Do your country proud and play with heart! Good Luck To The Team!!  - @QamarR9

@Socceroos g’luck boys. do us proud. you’ve got the whole nation behind you! – @CrowzarY

@Socceroos Go ‘Roos! Dig deep! Lets get those maracas shakin!!! – @shellby_woo

The post Socceroos ‘Wall of Support’ appeared first on From The Stands.

Socceroos celebrate a goal en-route to a 4-0 thumping of Jordan

Socceroos proved to be a class higher than their opponents as goals from Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Robbie Kruse and Lucas Neill helped the side in securing the group’s second automatic qualification spot.

The Socceroos have taken a huge leap in the right direction en route towards the 2014 World Cup by producing a performance to remember. A comprehensive win 4-0 over an ill-disciplined Jordan side at Etihad Stadium was enough for the Green and Golds to secure a much-needed three points, thanks in large to a ‘man of the match’ performance by the highly impressive Robbie Kruse.

The comfortable manner with which they won, secured through a lone first-half strike by Mark Bresciano and goals in the second half by Cahill, Kruse and Neill, will most certainly give under-fire coach Holger Osieck much-needed confidence as he prepares his troops for what will hopefully be his final qualification outing.

The win moves Australia up to second spot behind Japan, which practically ends Jordan’s hopes of automatically qualifying for next year’s showpiece event.

A major talking point prior to the match was the tactics which Holger Osieck would deploy. Understandably, the German chose to stick with the same crop of players he had deployed a week earlier against a comparatively superior Japanese side. And there was nothing to complain about. Neill and Ogneovski were at the heart of the defence, flanked by Mckay and Wilshere. Mark Milligan retained his starting spot ahead of fully fit Mile Jedinak. He was accompanied by veteran Mark Bresciano. Tommy Oar and Robbie Kruse were deployed as wingers, Tim Cahill was selected to lead the attack while Brett Holman acted as a ‘mediator’ between the midfield and the attack.

Both Mark Milligan and Saeed Mujan’s long-range efforts in the opening 8 minutes signaled an attacking intent. However the first real chance came in the 14th minute. Luke Wilshire and Robbie Kruse were seemingly on the same wavelength as they combined well on the right flank and subsequently opened up Jordan’s defence, but Brett Holman, who was the first man Kruse’s cross reached, had his shot blocked whilst Bresciano’s attempt off the rebound went wide of the target.

A similar style of combination between Wilkshire and Kruse saw the Bayer Leverkusen man make inroads a minute later. This time around, Bresciano made no mistake as he neatly buried the cross into the back of the net, scoring his 13th goal in the Green and Gold.

Despite dominating, a momentary lapse allowed Jordan’s Ahmad Hayel a chance at goal. However his fierce shot from distance fizzed over Schwarzer’s crossbar.

The first half seemingly evolved in its latter stages, Kruse had his work cut out and was becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of space offered to him by the defence. This in turn limited Australia’s effectiveness up front, who were reliant on attacking the defence through the flanks and in doing so, leaving gaps in the centre of the pitch. The Jordanians’ efforts in keeping Kruse out restricted Australia to efforts from set-pieces. Ogneovski failed to direct the ball on target with a header off a corner in the 34th minute while Bresciano struck a powerful free kick straight into the ball in the dying stages of the first half.

Early exchanges in the second half saw Jordan batter the Australian backline to no avail. Mckay was seemingly under siege right from the start, however the Socceroos’ stubbornness in defence, led by Neill, saw the Jordanians unsuccessfully break down the back-line. Chances were wasted as Hayel headed wide whilst Murjan could not find the target with his long-range rocket.

As the attacking threat was removed, the Australian’s also found it difficult to create chances of their own. However the introduction of local-hero Archie Thompson proved to be a much-needed catalyst. A sublime first touch on his part set up a through ball for Holman, who in turn found Kruse on the right. His cross proved sublime as he managed to pick out an on-rushing Cahill, who nodded home and gave the Socceroos a strangle hold on the game, cementing his status as Australia’s second highest goalscorer in the process.

From then on, Jordan’s lack of discipline got the better of them as the Aussies pushed for a third, unsurprisingly through starlet Robbie Kruse, who showed class with a beautiful turn and nutmegging of a defender en-route to securing the 3 points 14 minutes from time.

Neill’s header on the 84th minute, securing his first goal in his international career, capped off a memorable performance.

The Socceroos now turn their attentions to their final World Cup qualifier against Iraq next Tuesday in Sydney. With confidence brewing within the dressing room, fans will be expecting nothing less than a win. Attacking with conviction will be necessary. Once again Holger Osieck should look to utilise Kruse and Oar on the wing as mediums for our attack with Cahill and Holman penetrating through the centre. Bresciano and Milligan will need to provide the creative spark for the attack whilst the defence will need to continue defending in a similar sort of vein. If successful, a crucial World Cup spot awaits.

Follow me on Twitter: @CrowzarY

The post Australia 4-0 Jordan: Socceroos battering keeps World Cup hopes alive appeared first on From The Stands.

Attending Etihad Stadium to watch a revitalised Socceroos last night was a pleasure to say the least, sure I was nervous but who wasn’t?  The boys have hardly breezed through qualifying like so many expected.  Skipper Lucas Neill put the call out to Melbourne and we weren’t going to let our captain down.  Over 43,000 packed the multipurpose venue to see our national team dominate a Jordan team, who quite frankly didn’t show up.  Whether it was the correct venue or not is an argument for another day, the important thing is we left with the three points.

The focus now turns to Iraq, hardly a football super power, but a potential speed hump in our road to Brazil.  Currently sitting 98th in the FIFA rankings, just one place in front of tropical paradise New Caledonia and out of World Cup contention after a loss to Japan.  The script has been set for a triumphant Socceroos outfit to take full advantage of a mentally depleted Iraqi squad who have nothing but pride to play for.  The venue; the same place where one John Aloisi slotted that most famous of penalties.

Many will argue it should never have got to this stage, others will say who cares how we get to Brazil; as long as we get there; whatever your opinion Australia are in a very strong position to make their third consecutive World cup finals appearance.

Holger Osieck has been under constant scrutiny courtesy of lacklustre results and a seemingly arrogant determination to choose his squad, no matter what the after effects of choosing aging players will do to Australian football beyond 2014.  Highly criticized for what seems to be an anti youth policy Holger is now in the box seat for achieving his main goal; qualification.  The thing with Holger is he likes to do things his way (unless his wife tells him otherwise) and isn’t afraid to speak his mind.  I have found his thoughts on certain players very refreshing and somewhat enjoyable.  Prepared to back his own judgement and publically criticize some of our younger stars coming through Holger is his own man, and will be remembered as such.

National coaches very rarely coach for the future.  Most contracts are based on four year cycles concentrated around World Cups years and this will never change.  The World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet and every country wants to qualify; no matter their reputation.  Why would Holger select his squads with an eye on 2018, I can’t imagine it would be great for job security.  If you take a look back at our previous Socceroos coached you have to go back to current Sydney FC coach Frank Farina to find someone who lasted more than four years, and he was unsuccessful (and maybe a little unlucky) in his main campaign.

When the FFA chose to move to the Asian confederation is was a highly successful move.  First of all we have gone from competing for 0.5 of a place to 4.5 places, and are still in the top few nations competing.  Although we have slipped quite a few places down the FIFA rankings (Currently 47) we are in a strong position to qualify for the next few World Cups.  Let’s face it, if qualification was purely based on rankings we would still be struggling to compete for our second (possibly third) Wold Cup finals tournament.   Whilst Qatar and other oil rich nations continue to plough money into football, Asia will be looked after when it comes to qualification spots, and Australia should continue to succeed.

Our young talent will emerge organically whether it is via the A-League or various leagues through Europe.  One only has to look at the cameo of Tommy Rogic to see this.  The A-League is improving on a yearly basis and with the likes of Del Piero, Ono and Heskey sticking around for another year the reputation of the competition will be further enhanced.

For me the journey to Brazil has been an eventful and stressful one, and that’s only from watching from the stands or the couch.  This is why we continue to love football and support our Socceroos.  We are not their just yet, but there is a beautiful light at the end of the tunnel.

Bring on next Tuesday.

The post The bumpy road to Brazil appeared first on From The Stands.

Over the course of the campaign, it has been no secret that Holger Osieck’s lack of game-time for Australia’s upcoming talent has been less than a priority; stirring a lot of the national team supporters who heavily criticise his lack of vision for the future of the nation’s football.

However, the ‘Holger Out’ campaign has been somewhat quiet after recent performances and results, begging the question – is it too late for Holger? And it is a fair question to ask. Even gaining qualification to Brazil may not be a saving grace for the German coach. It seems that his past mistakes could indeed outweigh his ability to adapt and save the campaign.

Osieck appeared stubborn mid-qualification, summed up by his criticism of the younger players, causing outrage amongst the public on social media. But it has since been that Holger has introduced starting spots for the likes of Kruse and Oar – and the results have told the rest of the story.

Next week The Socceroos face their last match on their road to Brazil against Iraq in Sydney. The stakes, simple – a win will guarantee automatic placement into the biggest competition in the world for a 3rd consecutive time. Of course, like every game this campaign, it will not be easy. But one thing is for certain – Australia will believe they can win. Critics will be reasonably quiet, and confidence will be thrust back into the Green & Gold. And the most important thing to come out of this campaign may just be that Holger Osieck has learnt his best Eleven.

But is it too little too late?

@JaseQuelch

The post Is It Too Late For Holger? appeared first on From The Stands.

Australia vs. Jordan – A must win game for both sides, but the Socceroos should come out on top.

While last week’s performance against Japan was incredibly promising, tomorrow night’s challenge will be of a different kind all together. Jordan, though considerably less impressive on paper than both Japan and Australia, are still perfectly capable of punishing a performance less than satisfactory. When all is said and done, the winner will have all but secured their place in Brazil next year.

The fact that we celebrated a draw against Japan says it all. Last week’s opposition were a world-class side, boasting a midfield up there with any. They were expected to, and for the most part did, dominate possession and have us constantly on the back-foot. There was an incredible focus on defensive organisation throughout our entire squad. It was just as important that our wingers tracked their fullbacks and our midfielders gave Honda and Kagawa no space as it was critical our back four did their job to perfection. The plan was to stop them from scoring at all costs and try to catch them on the counter attack.

It was always going to be a difficult task, and many wrote us off, but in typical Australian fashion we dug deep and did the job. A point, almost three, but valuable as a hundred. That being said, Jordan pose a very different sort of contest.

The emphasis will be thrown right back onto our shoulders, a weight we’ve not handled convincingly throughout this qualifying process. In fact, arguably our two best performances have been against Japan, as underdogs with a focus on defence, counterattack and not dictating play; against weaker sides such as Iraq, Oman and Jordan with the onus of attacking initiative placed back in our pigeon hole (so to speak), we’ve stuttered, coughed and barely made it over the finish line.

Australia’s poor loss against Jordan in previous clash

Jordan will look to sit back and catch us quickly on the break, hoping to capitalise on their opportunities as they did against us last September, where they were victorious 2-1.  Our job is to utilise our possession as effectively as possible – and by that, I mean to score as many goals as we can. The most important players in achieving this will be our central midfielders. Unlike against Japan, where their predominant role was to be diligent in defence and start counter-attacks along the wings, the midfield has to be more creative.

The focus is now on tempo. The ball has to be played quickly, sharply and with energy. Passing is not simply about getting the ball from point A to B, but about drawing their defensive structure out of shape and providing penetration. With superior possession, and the ball figuratively in our court, we don’t only have more opportunity to do this, but absolutely have to.

Lucas Neill understands that this needs to be done, telling reporters:

“I have got experience enough in the region to know a quicker game will be the one to upset their rhythm but also get us into a good rhythm. They don’t want tempo, they don’t want quick passing and that is sometimes the only way to break down a team.”

Tim Cahill had similar things to say earlier this week:

“We have shown we can play at a high tempo. The last time we played against Oman it was a slow tempo in the first half. The energy wasn’t there.”

Indeed, against Oman our midfield pairing of Jedinak and Holland were too defensively minded. At their respective clubs, their role has principally been to sit back and absorb pressure more so than providing an outlet of creativity. This was made blatantly obvious against Oman where they needed to dictate tempo and create opportunities, but instead were caught constantly too deep and uninvolved with play.

Therefore, Bresciano will be key to our midfield against Jordan and will be integral in moving the ball around. On the wrong side of 30, Bresciano’s deteriorating fitness was obvious against Japan, but equally clear was the fact that he still knows how to operate as a playmaker. In his short cameo (before being injured) against Oman in Sydney, he began to change the game and was the spark the Socceroos needed. His vision and distribution is second to none, as far as Australians go, and with less focus needed on defensive duties Bresciano will have a more liberated role in the midfield. The question is, who plays beside him?

While it is well and good to discuss our more offensive approach to tomorrow’s clash, we must be well aware of Jordan’s ability to catch us quickly on the break. We can not be complacent in defence. Whoever plays beside Bresciano will have to anchor the midfield and shield our back four, allowing Marco to push higher up the pitch. When Jordan come at us quickly, this player will have to break up their attack, or at least slow them down while the rest of the team drop into formation.

There are three clear options to select from in this position; Jedinak, Milligan and Holland. Though Holland’s club form has been superb, Jedinak’s has been better, while Milligan’s performance against Japan last week pushed the Victory midfielder higher up the totem pole. The real decision to be made is between Jedinak and Milligan. Jedinak captained Crystal Palace to promotion to the English Premier League and, on paper, seems the perfect candidate for this role. On the other hand, Milligan was one of the A-League’s most dominant players and backed this up with a well-disciplined performance against Japan – working well with Bresciano. They both have their own, equally valid merits and claims for a start.

Another question of note, do we start Josh Kennedy? Many argue that against a team like Jordan, where we are taking an aggressive approach to the match, an out-and-out striker is necessary. In recent games, Holger has deployed Cahill in the striker position with Holman just behind him. Kennedy has the potential to be prolific against weaker Jordan defences, but is it worth changing a winning formula in an attempt to tap into this potential?

A popular school of thought among Socceroos fans is that Kennedy and Cahill are incompatible together, as they are both too similar. Both dominate the air and base their game around their ability to win headers. However, this has come under criticism in recent weeks. In fact, Japanese striker Ryoichi Maeda came out after last week’s match to comment on Australia’s striking setup.

“They were physical and used a lot of long balls but they only had a target man like Cahill,” he said. “I think if Josh was there we would have had a lot more problems.”

There is no question over whether Cahill will start against Jordan, and rightly so – he is our best player and continues to prove it every game. However, perhaps we are wasting him up front. With Holman performing consistently, but not in an overtly impressive manner, perhaps its time he is dropped with Cahill dropping into his advanced midfield position. This will allow Kennedy to take place at the point of the Australian attack, a striker with goal-scoring pedigree who can capitalise on our opportunities in the penalty box more effectively than Holman and Cahill.

Kennedy doesn’t need Cahill’s jumping prowess to dominate aerial battles. Standing tall at 194 centimetres, he is already 8 centimetres higher than Jordan’s tallest defender, Anas Bani Yaseen. [EDIT: was just informedd on Twitter that Anas is out with a thigh injury anway!]  Not only that, five of Kennedy’s seven competitive goals for the green and gold have come against Middle Eastern opponents. There’s a lot to like about playing Kennedy up front tomorrow, in an aggressive set-up against the Middle Eastern Jordan.

Holman is a work-horse in the middle of the pitch, and although the greedy side of me would rather we play him alongside Bresciano, it’s perhaps time for him to take the bench for a little while. He had a rough season at Aston Villa which saw him seeing very little playing time, and he looked a little unfit against Japan last week. That being said, he still had a decent game and dropping him is hardly an easy decision.

In terms of defence, it is very unlikely that Holger will change the back-four that he picked against Japan. It wasn’t a popular one at first and dismayed many, which only goes to show the sort of faith Osieck has in the players he chose. This was only lifted by their remarkably solid performance against Japan. McKay, however, playing out of position, made a somewhat amateur mistake to concede the late penalty. We can hope that this will be enough to convince Holger that playing a fullback at fullback is the logical choice.

With this in mind:

Schwarzer

McGowan – Neill – Ogneovski – Wilkshire

Jedinak – Bresciano

Kruse – Cahill – Oar

Kennedy

Though, I do heavily suspect that Holman will retain his starting position – or Holger might even (always willing to be contrary) start Vidosic. Whoever plays, the key to the game will be maintaining high tempo, stretching their defence and being ruthless in the final third. We can not sit back as we did against Oman.

Prediction

A good contest with so much importance for both sides. Socceroos to win 2-0.

Don’t forget to get to the game or tune in on TV and show your support for the Socceroos. You can also get more involved in active support through Terrace Australis.

Follow me on Twitter: @userlastname

The post The ball is in our court – Australia vs Jordan Preview appeared first on From The Stands.

Australia’s road to Brazil has been a rocky one, and now we need the support of the 12th man more than ever. This has resulted in the formation of Terrace Australis, a group that want to bring that support to our Socceroos. They will play an important role in building active support for our Socceroos heroes and your support is needed.

Chants

74th minute – Johnny Warren Ole

(To remember the 1974 team, sung at the 74th minute: Tune: Campéones)
Johnny Warren, Johnny Warren, Ole, Ole

Choreo: Whilst placing arms on shoulders jumping up and down

.

Terrace Australis Call & Response

We stand United (left Side)
Terrace Australis (Right Side)
(repeat above 3 more times )

We’re Terrace Australis! (Twisted Sister: We’re not gonna take it!)
Oi! We’re Terrace Australis!
We’re Terrace Australis!
Who are you?
Oi! 1-2-3-4

Choreo: Split the bay in two with the left side chanting “we stand united’ and right side responding with “Terrace Australis” Everybody sing We’re Terrace Australis.

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Come On Socceroos

C’mon C’mon C’mon C’mon C’mon C’mon

Socceroooos!

We’re green and gold, we’re green and gold!

Choreo: Clapping throughout.

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Sing & Shout

I

I wanna

I wanna sing and shout

I wanna sing and shout

I wanna sing and shout in a stadium full of australians — moshpit & repeat X10

wearing my green & gold X3

I wanna sing and shout in a stadium full of australians — moshpit & repeat X10

Choreo: Jumping up and down on lines 5 and 7

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Oooooh Yes We Are

Yes we are… (clapping)
Australians… (clapping)
Oh Hear us sing… (clapping)
For the green and gold (clapping).
Ole, ole,ole, ole, ole ole … (overhead clap) x2

Choreo: Clapping whilst doing the first four lines. Two overhead claps after each of the two lines of ole’s.

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When Aussies Score A Goal

Oh When the Aussies, when Aussies score a goal we go to Rio
de Janiero…

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Draught and Sweeping Plains

O we come from the land down under,
A land of drought and sweeping plains,
And the Socceroos are coming for to get you,
For the Green and Gold is running in our veins

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Forza Socceroos

aalee aussie socceroos

aussiee soocceroooos

aussie socceroos aussie-le aussie-le aussie-le

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Oooooh What a Night

Oh what a night!/ Late November back in zero five,
We kept Johnny Warren’s dream alive!/ What a mem’ry, what a night!
Do, do, do do… (same tune)

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Green & Gold is in my Heart

gold and green is in my heart

gold n greeeen, is in my heart, and its beat-ting inside

gold n green is the colour of our socceroos

we’ll sing together for our socceroos

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

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Ale Ale Aussie

ale ale aussie le

ale ale aussie le

ale ale aussie le ale aussie le

.

Stand Up Socceroos

.

Socceroos Hey!

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Radient Southern Cross

.

Make sure you get behind them. 

Follow them on Twitter @TerraceAust

Like them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TerraceAustralis

Check out their forum terraceaustralis.com.au

And most importantly, turn up to the games, sing the chants and show your support!

The post Terrace Australis – The Socceroos Active Support appeared first on From The Stands.

The Socceroos have been criticised for lack of creativity, long-ball football and an average age reminiscent of your local retirement village; and while this has certainly been true in recent years, our country’s performance against Japan last night shows what we are truly capable of producing. Something many fans had begun to doubt.

Performances against Oman, Iraq and Jordan in previous World Cup qualifiers were not only disappointing, but certifiably dour. In games we should’ve won comfortably, the Socceroos struggled to impress or even satisfy. Our football was, as Graham Arnold would put it, “pre-historic” or as Japanese captain, Hasebe, would say, “worse than Bulgaria”. Long-balls up to Cahill or Brosque defined our offensive strategy, which was also characterised by a lack of fluidity and synchronisation.

Holger Osieck’s selections have too been heavily scrutinised and often disapproved of by the Australian public. His persistence with second grade players such as Cornthwaite and Brosque continually perplex the arm-chair coach and, indeed, these players have rarely justified their favour in Holger’s eyes.

Another criticism regarding selection policies has been Osieck’s unwilling disposition towards blooding our youth. For too long, players such as Tommy Oar, Rhys Williams, Matthew Leckie and Trent Sainsbury have sat on the sidelines while the deteriorating “golden generation” of nearly a decade ago take their place on the field. Last night, however, demonstrated that while players like Lucas Neill and Mark Bresciano might not be the best selections possible, they still have the ability to perform outstandingly; they are not completely beyond their worth.

At the same time, Tommy Oar’s nervous but inspired performance paved the way for our other young talent who have long warmed the benches. While it was obvious that he was jittery, his underlying technique and ability as a footballer defined his ninety minutes. Constantly a medium for playing out of the back, he used his speed to start counter-attacks and clever body positioning to get into space. While his goal was a little bit flukey, one can not forget how he weaved his way past three defenders (and one of them twice) before scoring.

What does this tell Holger? He doesn’t need to be so afraid about trusting our talented, though young, stars – we should extend them the opportunity to demonstrate why so many of them are highly rated. Kruse and Oar have both been given chances to prove themselves, and passed with flying colours.

Perhaps the most surprisingly positive element, though, was the way Australia played. For the most part, it was smooth, coherent and superbly organised. For so many years our transition play has consisted almost entirely of lofted hoofs out of the box towards our lonely strikers at half way. While this can work against weaker teams, or indeed not at all – as has been the case in many recent performances – this strategy would undoubtedly bear little fruit against a team of Japan’s quality. The Samurai Blue knew this, but still expected it, as their captain made clear in statements before the game:

“I think they’ll come at us with long balls frequently, so we have to contest those balls and improve our efforts on the second balls.”

Putting aside the amount of sniggers that quote would get in a Year 10 classroom, in what was brilliant for Socceroos fans, and in such style that certainly shocked the Japanese, Australia played the ball out from the back with quick, accurate short passing and clear intent. In fact, very few of our chances came from long balls, or even set pieces, as many had expected before and instead from through balls along the ground or patient build-up play.

Similarly, our defence was organised to near perfection, though sometimes let down by the tiring legs of Bresciano. Neill and Ogneovski did all they could humanly muster to keep the Japanese at bay and Schwarzer cleaned up what they let through. We had the Japanese thoroughly frustrated and it took a stroke of luck on their behalf to get the ball into the back of our net.

There was a lot to love about last night, and a lot to look forward to about next week’s clash against Jordan. A win will have us all but qualified for Brazil, and save us from having to feign interest in World Youth Day to justify our plans for a holiday in Rio. Before last night’s clash there was much pessimism about whether we even deserve a spot in next year’s World Cup; the Socceroos performance against Japan has given us hope and restored excitement among fans of the green and gold.

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A major selection dilemma faces the national coach as he prepares to face Japan tonight. Much speculation has focused on selection in a few key positions, and who Holger decides to go with will determine the style of play and the result.

From the Germans perspective- Cahill and Kennedy are not compatible at number 9 and 10 respectively. This may be a statement the coach regrets or has progressed on, but rarely have we seen these two start a game together. The key question is: how do we want to approach the game? When we get the ball- what happens in transition?

If we want to fight fire with fire then Brett Holman needs to be in the number 10 role. He covers every blade of grass and drifts between the lines of the midfield. Regardless of whether Cahill and Kennedy occupy the striking position, the man in the pocket will determine how the Socceroos transition from defence to attack.

The good news is the wide support in the 4-2-3-1 must be Kruse and Oar. These two are becoming the standout selections in these positions because of their pace and agility. Unfortunately there is not a lot of depth in support out wide so its crucial both men stay fit and keep the Japanese fullbacks guessing.

Assuming that Holger cannot make another Oman clanger twice and leave Bresciano on the bench, another dilemma is who is the second holding midfielder? Jedinak has fitness concerns whilst Milligan is out of season. From reports it seems as though the Melbourne Victory man will get the nod and his versatility plus his experience in the J-League will be an added bonus.

Left back remains a weakness with no specialist selected in that position. McKay, Thwaite and Zullo all have their own way of playing left fullback, but we know Holger will want to be conservative. Zullo was awfully exposed in the friendly with Romania, so it will be a two-way fight between Thwaite and McKay. Given McKay’s low centre of gravity and ability to cover more ground against Okazaki, I’d assume he would win selection.

Although it might not be pretty, the reality is Kennedy and Cahill worry the Japanese. They dominate in the air and if they’re able to defend well from the front, it might be our best option of gaining something from the match. Either way the Socceroos need to win at least 2 from the remaining 3. Depending on results elsewhere, the next three weeks will be very intense viewing.

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