Onus on Australia as they take on Syria in World Cup playoff in Melaka
After missing out on automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup finals, Ange Postcoglou’s Australia meet Syria in the first leg of their playoff on Thursday, knowing the weight of expectation sits squarely on their shoulders.
Saudi Arabia’s win over Japan in their final group match ensured they joined Vahid Halilhodzic’s team on the plane to Moscow next summer while leaving Australia needing to take the long road.
The first stage of that journey begins at Hang Jebat Stadium in the Malaysian city of Melaka where Australia meet a Syrian side that has defied expectations.
But the coach is expecting few surprises when the teams clash in the first of their two encounters over five days.
“Iraq were a similar type of opponent and most of the teams we have faced have set up that way, so it’s not going to be anything new to us,” Postecoglou said.
“And whether it’s the pitch, the conditions, the venue we have always had to face these challenges and there will be nothing in that first game that we haven’t faced before.”
The Syrians, come into the game boasting one of the most in-form strike forces in Asia. Al Hilal’s Omar Khrbin scored a hat-trick in the first leg of his club’s Asian Champions League semi-final meeting with Persepolis of Iran last week while Omar Al Somah, who recently returned was on target in Syria’s 2-2 draw with Iran.
“It’s a critical match on Thursday and it’s important for our ambitions and the dreams of millions of Syrians,” said Syria team manager Fadi Al Dabbas.
“The result will be important ahead of the second leg. We have got past the first rounds of qualifying and we have two decisive matches, but we have a lot of confidence in our players.”
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