Everyone expected the pair to have few problems in escaping the pool — Jordan and Palestine were supposed to pose few challenges to their more illustrious rivals. Jordan’s victories over both, however, have resulted in today’s clash between the Socceroos and Syria becoming a do-or-die one, with both only too aware that any slip could force an embarrassing early exit.
Of the two camps it is fair to say Syria are the more in disarray. Following their opening draw to Palestine and 2-0 defeat to the Jordanians they sacked their coach Bernd Stange. They also know that anything less than victory will spell the end of their tournament.
But expecting a strong Syrian response Australia midfielder Jackson Irvine claimed the Socceroos will be ready for their opponents.
“Whatever situation they throw at us, we have the experience and the individuals and as a squad to be able to deal with those threats,” Irvine said.
“We’re not sure obviously how they’re going to approach the game but we’re prepared for all these scenarios.
“If they do choose to come out early doors and press us high, that maybe does suit us playing a different way to create chances and attack in a different way.
“If we start the game in the same way we started the last game — positive, front-foot, picking the right moments to try and penetrate and play forward passes — then if we can get that early goal that will draw them out even further knowing they need a result.
“Hopefully that can open the game up even more for us to play some free-flowing, attacking football,” the Hull City player added.
Australia and Syria have a fair bit of history, with the pair facing each other 18 months ago in the Asian World Cup playoff. The two-legged affair saw the Socceroos winning the second match 2-1 in extra-time to take the tie 3-2 on aggregate.
But while Australia are the favorites — their 3-0 win over Palestine hinted at a return to form currently lacking in the Syria camp — Irvine claimed the sacking of Stange, and associated disarray, could work in Syria’s favor.
“Sometimes a change of manager tends to bring a positive reaction a lot of the time,” Irvine said. “I think the biggest thing is they have a clear understanding knowing they have to win the game and that kind of makes the reins come off.
“Sometimes teams like that can be even more dangerous when they’ve got nothing to lose and they can play with that complete freedom to go on and try and win the game.”
Meanwhile, there is some confidence in the Syria camp with new coach Fajr Ebrahim certain the change in the dugout will not affect the players negatively.
“I know their ability and their way of thinking and I’m sure in this period of time we can change the reality,” Ebrahim said.
“I know the players and they know me from a long time ago and as soon as I joined the team we started our training. We know each other well. This is no more than shaking hands and starting the training session.”
The defeat to the Socceroos during qualification for last year’s World Cup is still fresh in the minds of the Syrian players and fans. But Ebrahim dismissed any idea that they were out for revenge.
“During World Cup qualification the atmosphere was the significant thing,” he said.
“In the football world there is nothing new in terms of tactics, it’s about mental readiness. We had a high level of focus and concentration. This is what we are focusing on regaining, the past atmosphere. Everybody observed our games saw we were lacking mental readiness.”
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