The time and place – Australia vs Iraq Preview

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.

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.

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