Feast of football serving up crucial clashes

IT is a six-day extravaganza the likes of which Australian football has never seen.

A crucial World Cup qualifier, a sold out MCG watching some of the biggest names on the planet, headlined by Lionel Messi, and the Socceroos taking on the world’s No.1 ranked nation.

It’s a feast for lovers of the world game. Each game has its own appeal, but make no mistake, everyone’s focus is on fine tuning for Russia 2018.

One year out from a FIFA World Cup is a key yardstick for coaches, and of this week’s combatants only Brazil’s coach Tite is satisfied with the status quo.

Brazil, the world’s No.1 ranked nation, have sewn up qualification which has enabled several stars to be rested, including Neymar. Argentina and Australia’s World Cup campaigns are on a knife-edge, and their respective tacticians Jorge Sampaoli and Ange Postecoglou know the importance of “Super June”.

The Socceroos were cruising towards a fourth-straight World Cup, but four draws in a row now sees Japan and Saudi Arabia occupying Group B’s two automatic qualification slots.

For the Socceroos, who are three points adrift, anything less than a win against the Saudis in Adelaide on Thursday night would leave the dreaded, treacherous playoffs the only possible route to Russia with just two more games to play – including Japan away.

That would involve two-leg, do-or-die showdowns against, first, the other Asian group’s third-placed team in October and, then, North America’s fourth-placed team in November, which as things stand is the USA. The stakes are huge. Ditto for Argentina, who sacked coach Edgardo Buaza two months ago because they are in the same position as the Socceroos – occupying fifth spot, which constitutes a playoff against the Oceania champion.

Sampaoli was only confirmed two days ago after his commitments with Seville finished.

Brazil and Argentina aren’t playing an official game, but there are fireworks any time these South American powerhouses meet while the blowtorch will be on Sampaoli and particularly how he uses Messi.

While next Tuesday, fans should relish the chance to see the Confederations Cup-bound Socceroos host a quality opponent like Brazil at the MCG.