Hakeem backs Syria to handle Australia test

Postecoglou says match against Syria could be his last if Socceroos fail to reach next play-off phase

Syria manager Ayman Hakeem has backed his heavily depleted squad to continue the war-ravaged nation’s unlikely march towards a maiden World Cup finals appearance when they take on Australia in the second leg of the Asian qualifying play-off today.

Things appeared to odds were stacked against the Syrians throughout the third round of Asian qualifying but, despite having to play their “home” matches in Malaysia because of security concerns in Syria, they managed to battle into the play-off.

A penalty five minutes from the end of the first leg last week earned them a 1-1 draw and a high-scoring draw or a win on Tuesday would secure an intercontinental play-off against the fourth-placed team in North and Central American qualifying.

Already without centre backs Ahmad Al Salih and Omar Midani because of injury, though, Hakeem has now lost defender Hadi Al Masri, midfielder Khaled Mobayed and striker Omar Khribin to suspension for the second leg.

His defence has been particularly badly hit but Hakeem believes the spirit his team have shown throughout qualifying will enable them to hold out the Asian champions.

“We’ve faced many obstacles from the start,” he told reporters yesterday. “Five key players is a big loss for us but we trust the players we have. The players have had to fight all the way through qualifying and they believe in themselves.”

Meanwhile, Australia manager Ange Postecoglou said today could be his last match in charge of if his side fail to get past Syria.

Postecoglou, 52, has enjoyed success in charge of the Socceroos since replacing Holger Osieck four years ago, taking the team to the 2014 World Cup and winning the Asian Cup 12 months later.

“Every game is special. I treat every game as if it’s my last. If it is tomorrow night, so be it. But that’s not the plan,” he said at his pre-match news conference yesterday.

Australia are banking on the likes of veteran Tim Cahill, Celtic’s Tom Rogic and midfielder Mark Milligan to weave their magic.

Cahill played no part in Malaysia and Rogic only took the field briefly, in what Postecoglou said was all part of a wider plan.

“We obviously kept a few back the other night. It’s the way we’ve charted our course through the qualifying process, with different formations and players at different times,” he said. “Tim’s one of those who didn’t play the other night and is raring to go. But there are a few we can look to in terms of selection.”