IT’S OUR TIME
It all comes down to this for the Socceroos. Australia can lock away one of the last spots for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with victory over Honduras in Sydney tonight.
AFTER 22 matches, 29 months and countless kilometres to play in 12 countries, it all comes down to this for the Socceroos.
Australia’s World Cup hopes go on the line at ANZ Stadium tonight against Honduras in the qualifying playoff.
A 0-0 draw in San Pedro Sula in the first leg has the tie delicately poised. Honduras needs to win or claim a scoredraw to progress.
Australia must win or triumph on penalties should the full-time score be another deadlock.
It is bound to be a night of high drama, but will the Sydney Olympic venue witness a third qualifying triumph?
In 2005, John Aloisi’s penalty sent Australia to a first World Cup in 32 years. Josh Kennedy’s late header against Iraq in 2013 was enough to take the Socceroos to the last tournament in Brazil.
This year, Australia is all-in with coach Ange Postecoglou’s all-out attacking style, and the Socceroos coach remains confident it will deliver the result the nation craves.
“This has been the longest World Cup campaign taken by any nation, both in the amount of games and in kilometres travelled,” Postecoglou said.
“You don’t want all that to mean nothing.”
Ironically, the one constant — the coach — is not sure whether he will be there after the final whistle.
A report last month of his intended resignation sent shockwaves through the Australian soccer landscape.
Postecoglou’s future is not the main game tonight, but it is an intriguing sideshow. The coach was buoyed by Australia’s performance in Honduras and is as sure as he can be of progression.
“I’ve never wavered in my confidence and belief in the players and that’s because I’ve sensed they’ve always had a belief,” he said.
“Some results haven’t been as desired but the performances have rarely dropped.
“We’ve played 21 games and lost two. The players have put in a massive shift over the last 2½ years to get us to this point.
“I’m sure (a result) will come and then the opportunity will be there to test themselves against the best in the world.”
With a full squad, Postecoglou has plenty to ponder at the selection table.
Tim Cahill, Mark Milligan, Mat Leckie, Robbie Kruse and James Troisi were unused in the first leg and will push for inclusion in Sydney.
Celtic dynamo Tom Rogic is also a likely starter.