Heat on in Doha match

SOCCEROOS skipper Lucas Neill has received a f ar- f rom- glowing endorsement f r om coach Holger Osieck on the eve of Australia’s allimportant World Cup qualifier against Iraq in Doha.

The heat is on Australia to deliver at Grand Hamad Stadium in Qatar tomorrow morning, with the nation’s World Cup destiny on the line.

Those needing a good result in the hot conditions include longtime national servant N e i l l and h i s boss Osieck, even i f the German cut a relaxed figure this week.

Osieck warmly endorsed many of his players in a pre-match interview but chose his words carefully when quizzed about the importance of the match for Neill, who struggled in his last outing.

‘‘I don’t want to single out anybody,’’ Osieck said. ‘ ‘ The game is equally as important for the goalkeeper to the guy on the left flank.

‘‘It’s not necessarily a link to one person.

‘‘ But I expect from him to be a leader, to show he’s the captain of the team, that he leads by example and will push his teammates to good performances.’’

The comments followed Osieck earlier this month calling on his senior players to show more leadership.

If the Socceroos lose to world No.80 Iraq and Jordan defeats Oman on Tuesday, second-placed Jordan will open up a five-point gap on Australia with four matches to play.

Group leader Japan, on 10 points from four matches and having defeated France 1-0 in Paris at the weekend, already looks out of sight.

The top two sides from each group qualify for Brazil. The third-placed team will be forced to run the gauntlet against another Asian team and the fifth-placed South American team.

The prospect of a home- and- away t i e against a South American side w i l l revive more painful than happy memories for Australian fans.

On the flip side, beat Iraq and the Socceroos will fancy their chances for a top-two spot with home matches against Oman, Jordan and Iraq next year.