Thailand peril for Aussies’ Cup run

SOCCEROOS stars warn a “kamikaze” approach against a Thailand team “we can’t underestimate” could leave Australia caught short in its bid for automatic World Cup qualification.

Midfielder Massimo Luongo said the players must clear their minds as they prepare for the final qualifier of this phase at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Tuesday night.

After going down to Japan on Thursday, the equation is far from straightforward.

Japan has secured one of the automatic qualifying spots, while Saudi Arabia and Australia are tied on 16 points. But the Saudis have a better goal difference (+6 to +4).

In simple terms, the Socceroos must beat Thailand by a big margin and hope: SAUDI ARABIA fails to beat Japan in Jeddah early on Wednesday morning; or AUSTRALIA’S winning margin is at least two goals greater than Saudi Arabia’s.

Otherwise, the Socceroos will be in the playoffs.

First, that is a two-legged affair against the other Asian group’s third team next month: South Korea, Syria, Uzbekistan or China. If successful, Australia would have another home-and-away tie against the fourth-placed North American nation in November.

The Melbourne game now will become a chase for goals, but Luongo won’t have his calculator out.

“We’ll have to just ignore all that; go out there and just get the win, and worry about the goals later,” he said.

The Thais are bottom of Group B with two draws and a goal difference of -17, but the Socceroos escaped with a 2-2 draw in Bangkok last November, so winger Mathew Leckie said they could not take the world No.130 lightly.

“We can’t underestimate them,” he said. “Obviously we’re very strong at home but we’re just going to have to play one of the best games we have for the national team.

“We need goals. Unfortunately we’re going to have to worry about the other game and it’s not totally in our hands.”

Midfielder Jackson Irvine said the Socceroos could not throw caution to the wind.