Summary
It was fated to be one of Australia soccer’s most memorable nights. A return to the global game’s top table at the sixth attempt of asking - nearly 24 years after the pioneers of 1974 blazed the trail.
A once-in-a-generation crop of talent. A mix of exciting youth - a teenage Harry Kewell, a bustling Mark Viduka - and experienced stars like Tobin and Arnold. Will the Socceroos ever see the like of this squad? One of the world’s top coaches - England and Barcelona’s Terry Venables. He still hasn’t lost a game in charge of the Socceroos since he came down under, but he’ll taste the sickly sweet bile of defeat in his mouth tonight.
The sadness in the voice of Craig Foster after full-time said it all. The emptiness of Johnny Warren’s post-match analysis. It’s inexplicable that this team - having played that match, aren’t going to France to mix it with Rivaldo, Zinedine Zidane etc. They utterly dominated Iran, the Socceroos. It could have been five-nil inside the first ten minutes. They only needed one of those chances, and it all could have been so different.
Harry Kewell and Aurelio Vidmar did put the Socceroos two to the good; but that most cruel of scorelines - 2-0, has reared it’s head. And it’s Iran going to France, courtesy of Karim Bagheri and Khodadad Azizi.
That’s all from me. Feel free to relive every second of this time capsule by scrolling back through our coverage. Good night.
No sign of Terry Venables - he’s told the media he needs to be with his players.
I can hear Johnny Warren with tears in his voice from next door. It was nearly 24 years since Australia last went to the World Cup. Will they ever get an opportunity like this again? You’d have to say - the emotion in his voice speaks for all and every 18 million Australians around the nation.
SBS’s Kyle Patterson now talks with Iran’s coach Valdeir Vieira.
“You’ve broken our hearts here in Australia - how did you do it?” asks Patterson.
“I didn’t do anything, I just wished it. I prayed, I hoped. I said a couple of things at the interval in the dressing room, told them to play with joy, and we’re delighted at the result.”
“I’m really sorry - I know Johnny Warren, I met Les last night. I know how these people are suffering - how Australian kids who play football are suffering. In truth, if we had to have a winner here - it should have been Australia”.
“They’ve escaped from jail in the most amazing fashion, Iran” match commentator Paul Williams intones from next door, and I’m inclined to agree with him.
How are the Socceroos not bound for France? This record crowd is in utter disbelief.
Craig Foster joins SBS’s Mike Tomalaris pitch side.
“It’s just shellshock - we were up 2-nil, which at this level you should never lose from there. I’m proud of every player on our team - we gave our heart and soul. We lapsed for four minutes. I’ve probably never been in a game where we’ve had so many chances and failed to win. I guess they were destined to win.”
“I thought we were going [to France] but’s that life, isn’t it.”
Updated
Full-time: Australia 2-2 Iran
And referee Sandor Puhl has seen enough. There’s the final whistle. The Socceroos slump to the pitch. The Iranian players wheel away in jubilation. Fans have their heads in their hands. They’re crying in the stands. The PA blares out Queen’s We Are The Champions. It might be the case for Iran - but it is not the case for the Socceroos.
Alex Ferguson’s Scotland in ‘85. Israel in ‘89. Diego Maradona’s Argentina in ‘93. Have the Socceroos just etched the most bitter of chapters in this long history of heartbreak?
Updated
90 + 7 min: Iran with a throw in. Did it even go in? Another tactic, perhaps.
And now it’s Foster with a long ball into the box - there’s a flash of gold shirt! It’s Arnold - but he can’t get a toe on it!! The veteran striker, just millimetres short from become a legend of the Australian game! But he can’t connect.
90 + 5 min: Here’s the chance - is this the winner for the Socceroos!! Zelic with a superb ball in to pick out a teammate. It’s a stopping header - it’s Graham Arnold - he arches his back - he cushions the header - it arrows for the bottom left corner.. and Abedzadeh claws it away!!
And an Iranian defender is down with injury. Was there even anyone near him? The fans are irate. They’re not impressed with the gamesmanship on display here.
90 + 3 min: It’s Tony Vidmar popping up in the unusual areas, more associated with his brother the striker.
Fellow substitute Tapai looks to cause some mischief down the right with a jinking run. Viduka challenges the ‘keeper near the edge of the area - and he’s dropped it! But he regathers. Heart in mouth stuff.
90 min: It’s the end of regulation time. 2-2 is the scoreboard. Not even in your wildest of dreams - as the most one-eyed Iranian fan in all the kingdom would you have predicted this with 15-20 minutes to play.
They were facing an ignominious exit - the team that has already squandered several chances to book their tickets to France during qualification in Asia.
And could the Socceroos get knocked out - perhaps the first team in history to be denied a place at a World Cup finals without losing a single match?! It’s been 12 wins and a draw thus far. But this draw - if it stays like this could feel like a thousand losses.
88 min: Comical scenes now. It’s the substitute Tahami - he’s only been on 10 minutes or so - who is set to make way. Some confusion on the bench - me? He ponders? He stalls on the pitch, and referee Puhl hands him a yellow card for time wasting. He offers a bow to receive his punishment, and eventually departs the contest.
Has any soccer actually been played these last four-five minutes or so?
Updated
86 min: The clock is ticking away, but you’d imagine there’s a stack of time to be added on after that bizarre incident following the second goal involving the Iranian net apparently being cut by a pitch invader.
84 min: It is Arnold - and he fashions a shot on target - could this be the winner?! No! From a tight angle Abedzadeh gets his angles right, and prevents the ball from squirming through his legs.
And there’s a lengthy injury delay now, as one of the Iranian defenders lies prone. The crowd don’t like it - they think they’re time wasting, the visitors.
82 min: And now injury to insult - it’s Craig Moore who has gone down injured. He’ll have to come off - and it’s the veteran Graham Arnold to come on.
That’s all the changes - can the Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker make a defining contribution towards the end of his time in Australian soccer?
80 min: Venables does go to the bench - and he’s got two names set to light up the contest. It’s Ernie Tapai and Tony Vidmar.
It’s Slater and the other Vidmar, Aurelio, who make way.
80 min: And the Socceroos, all of a sudden – are staring at another bitter helping of World Cup ignominy.
The fans can’t believe it. The players can’t either.
Is there a famous late goal now for Australia – a chance for somebody to write their name in the heavens? Perhaps one of the young stars on the bench. Josip Skoko. Or could John Aloisi be the name Australian soccer fans never forget? They have ten minutes, the Socceroos.
Goal! Australia 2-2 Iran (Azizi)
80 min: Can you believe this!! The few in white are in seventh-heaven. They’ve conjured a second goal, and it’s now Iran bound for France under the away goals rule!
It’s a towering header won at the back, and again it’s the strength of Daei to ride the challenge from Moore. He spins and looks for Azizi, before threading a perfectly-weighted slide pass. Is he offside, Azizi?
The linesman says no – he’s one-on-one with Bosnich. The Aston Villa keeper slides at his feet, but Azizi jinks it past him. It’s in the net! Iran have a second! Bosnich sits sprawled on the floor – completely mystified. How have the visitors turned this game around?
Updated
79 min: Terrific defence from Lazaridis. He tracks his opposite winger Mahdavikia down the right flank, and he’s won a goalkick instead of a corner.
Could that provide a key breather for some of these Socceroos defenders? They’re still looking a little unsettled after that unlikely response.
77 min: They looked stunned, some of these fans. Had Iran even mustered a shot on target across nearly 80 minutes?
Terry Venables is starting to pace his technical area now. He’s such an experienced coach - one of the best in world football. Does he have a trick up his sleeve? Will he look to pack the defence, shut up shop, or continue to keep the foot on the neck here?
You have to say - it was a counterpunch from absolutely nowhere. Iran have hardly featured in this contest.
Goal! Australia 2-1 Iran (Bagheri)
76 min: There’s a gasp around this cauldron of world sport - a small section of the Iranian fans are delirious - they run to mob their heroes. What has happened here?!
Azizi feeds a ball into Ali Daei who uses his strength to see off the challenge from Moore before feeding the return pass. Two go in on Azizi, but they get in each other’s way – Azizi scoops it across field – Bosnich has left his goal – and it’s Bagheri! He sweeps into an empty net!
The coach spoke so highly of him pre-game: said he was 40% of the team, but in truth there’s been little to show for those words. But has Bagheri found a lifeline for Iran?
72 min: Again, I hear the words of Captain Socceroo Johnny Warren coming through the thin walls between the press box and the commentary room.
“They say, Paul, the most dangerous score to lead by is 2-0, because you appear to have the match wrapped up, the other team get one back, even though it hasn’t been deserved on tonight’s general play, and suddenly the complexion of the game changes.”
I have to say, on this occasion, I don’t agree with him. If you’re allowed to say that to the legend of the game.
70 min: And here’s the man I’ve been worried about. Iran have gone to the bench and it’s the flyer - Ebrahim Tahami who will come on for the tiring Sadavi. Can he turn the contest? They’ll need to be on their toes, the Australian defenders.
68 min: There’s a coming together between Kewell and the Iranian skipper Abedzadeh.
Oh my - Kewell’s been booked after the Iranian ‘keeper stayed down injured. Replays suggest it was he who lifted a leg to impede the striker as they came together to contest a 50-50.
65 min: “This is Australia’s night - from the first minute they’ve knocked Iran out, and I know there’s a long way to go”, intones Johnny Warren from next door, and i’m inclined to agree.
Kewell and Viduka look to build on their understanding - they’ve only played a handful of games together, these two. But it ends in a corner.
And it’s those two - Slater and Foster - seemingly telepathic in their connection who combine once more. A fine whipped ball from the right from the ginger-cropped winger, and it’s headed just over the crossbar by his fellow midfielder.
62 min: And like the first half, after a blistering first 10-15 minutes there’s, well, you wouldn’t call it a lull - there are nearly 100,000 fire-breathing fans with trumpets, horns and more in the stands - but certainly a moment’s respite, especially for the visitors.
Updated
59 min: And now it’s an audacious lob from Viduka - from about 40m out! He’s cleared the ‘keeper who in his eccentric fashion had come rushing off his line. But it bounces wide! The crowd gushes and oohs. That would have been some cherry on the top of this otherwise sumptuous Socceroos showing thus far.
58 min: And now it’s Kewell flying down the left - he’s got only Vidmar in the box and he slides a superb ball.. but it’s a last-ditch clearance from Peyrovani that prevents it from finding the Tenerife man! He might have saved his nation then.
56 min: It’s another booking for Iran, as Mahdavikia is cynical in bringing down Lazaridis.
It’s all Socceroos at this stage. They’re not shutting up shop. They want a third, and at this rate, they just might get it.
54 min: Slater takes a throw in - aren’t there some stars in this side, about six or seven of them playing in the Premier League - such is the demand for Australians there these days.
It’s Viduka with a shot! Ohh, what a chance that was - and Abedzadeh, again, is unclean with his hands - he stops the shot, but scrambles after the loose ball.
52 min: Another corner for Australia, and Iran have gone to their bench. It’s a midfielder on for a defender as the tricky Mansourian enters the fray. A bold move from Iran’s Brazilian coach, but you can’t blame him for chasing the fixture. Shahroudi is the man who makes way.
50 min: Okay, back to the match, where I can happily confirm that we’re back underway.
It’s Zelic striding through the midfield and he finds Viduka. The crowd comes to life. He can’t find Kewell on this occasion, and Iran look to counter. It’s a foul by Daei on Horvat. The Socceroos sweeper wins that battle and turns on the eyeballs on his opposite number. He’s offered little change at the back, the Carlton defender.
48 min: “This is good for Australia, because it gives them time for it all to sink in,” Captain Socceroo Johnny Warren says from commentary next door and I’m inclined to agree with him.
The Iranian players will have their hearts in their boots right now – this break could really hamper their mentality.
That was a five minute delay, by my watch. And the clock’s kept running, which is a little confusing. Not that Australian fans will want that added back on at the end.
48 min: This is turning into some delay. My colleague Ray Gatt has quipped that if they snap the crossbar here whilst trying to repair it, the ground staff, the match might have to be abandoned. Not now, Ray.
48 min: Now - what’s happened here. The Iranian net is looping down off the crossbar – how’s that happened?
There’s a chorus of boos around the stadium, and security frogmarch a fellow with long foolish hair down the tunnel. Was it a pitch invader? Some idiot chasing fifteen seconds of fame – he’ll be forgotten tomorrow. On with the game, thanks.
48 min: They’re dancing in the crowd - some of these fans are ringing their partners back home to book the plane tickets. They’re dreaming of the Champs Elysee and the markets of Montmarte already!
Goal! Australia 2-0 Iran (Vidmar)
48 min: Can you believe this! And who else! Hasn’t he deserved that - redemption for Aurelio!
It was nice interplay between Kewell and Viduka, before the ball finds its way out to Lazaridis. He whips in another tantalising ball to the far post for Kewell. He nods it back to Foster who heads onto the crossbar – but it’s lashed home! It’s Vidmar! Has he spared his first-half blushes?!
The Socceroos run to the corner to celebrate, the crowd go bananas – it’s absolutely erupted here. And Australia, surely, have one foot on the plane to France!
Updated
46 min: And just like the first half, the Socceroos have started in emphatic fashion - it’s Viduka with a shot on the spin - and it inches just agonisingly wide!
Was he held there? He’s a big man, but surely the defender was impeding him. The replays show he had two arms on the Socceroos No9. Surely that’s a penalty! But this experienced referee says no! Is that the let-off Iran need?
Second half!
45 min: Okay, time and tide wait for no man. And as the players retake the field, we’re back into the fray once more. The nerves in the press box are palpable - I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like pitch side. Kewell confers with Viduka, it’s the Socceroos to begin.
I’ve just had a phone call from Telecom. Or Telstra, as they’re now called (ugh). A message on my answering service from Rod - he simply says: “Richard, why are you doing this?”
I would have thought that’s self-evident. Soccer at the MCG - a spot on the line for France 98. Zinedine Zidane. Ronaldo. Even Australia’s own Christian Vieri has just booked his ticket with the Azzurri.
A quick trip to the gents and the vending machine - if I don’t get lost in the catacombs of this tremendous stadium, mind.
The Victorian premier Jeff Kennett’s just popped his head into the press box - quipped about only having limited seats on his private jet to Paris. What a popular character he is down here - he’s just won a fourth election and my money’s on him winning four more. Unlike his lip-wobbling counterpart at federal level. A complete hash of the waterfront issue and he’ll be lucky to scrape through for a second term.
Half-time: Australia 1-0 Iran
And with a sharp blast of Sandor Puhl’s whistle, so concludes the first half of a pulsating first stanza.
45 minutes down, 45 minutes to go. “They’ve got one foot in France, the Socceroos” says commentator Paul Williams from the booth next door, and it’s hard to argue against that.
You can’t fault a player in gold and green tonight for effort. Viduka leading from the front, working like an ox. Foster and Zelic snapping at the heels, Vidmar and Kewell finding space between the lines with aplomb. Plenty to like about that first 45. Same again, thanks, say Socceroos fans.
Updated
44 min: And right on cue it’s a brilliant save! It’s the lightning fast winger Mahdavikia through one-on-one, and Bosnich flies off his line to save at the feet. What a let off!
Brilliant reactions - and imagine: a goal there - and Iran could have been level. Football, eh?
Updated
41 min: A simple claim for Bosnich. He’s hardly had a thing to do, the Aston Villa star. He was immense in Tehran this time last week - at least three potentially match-winning saves to set up the miraculous.
It’s just his 12th cap, but he appears to have put his off-field issues to bed and is a model of consistency in England where he’s turned into one of the best goalkeepers in world football. He’s keeping out John Filan, Zeljko Kalac and the hero of Canada in 1993, Mark Schwarzer – he could become a stalwart at the back for the Socceroos for the next decade.
39 min: And speaking of, a first glimpse of Azizi running at the Socceroos defence - he wears No 11 on his back, like Kewell. Which of these two terrific talents would you choose if you could only have one? He’s got Mongolian heritage, the Iranian - and he certainly looks like he could roam the Steppes for days fed only on salted horse meat. What an engine.
37 min: You’ll remember Australia took a lead, through Kewell, last week only for Iran to pin them back just before half-time through Azizi. A critical few minutes here then, you’d imagine - you don’t want to see that scenario repeated.
A big eight minutes here - we’ve hardly seen Bagheri, the Iranian general, at all. Zelic and Foster appear to have him shackled.
35 min: It was tucked home with the right foot from the Leeds teenager. What a prospect for Australian soccer he is. He was the X-factor for the Socceroos in Tehran - and he’s gone and done it again here in Melbourne.
What a precocious talent, and already scoring in the Premier League.
Goal! Australia 1-0 Iran (Kewell)
32 min: Australia have finally broken the deadlock! Listen to that noise - 100,000 rise as one; what a moment!
It’s a recycled ball back into the mix from Vidmar, that just evades the outstretched head of Viduka, which draws the attention of Iran’s ‘keeper. But flying in at the far post is Kewell – who fires home to the roar of this delirious crowd!
It’s soccer at the MCG – and if it had a roof on it, this crowd would have blown it right off. He celebrates with the archer’s celebration – but it’s an arrow through the heart of Iran fans. Finally – the Socceroos have made their dominance pay!
Updated
31 min: It’s been an ill-disciplined few minutes for the visitors, who are unlucky to avoid a second or third yellow for a series of fouls.
Slater does well to keep this move alive, he’s looking a lot more lively tonight - and hang on, hang on..
29 min: SHOT! It’s Viduka with a terrific lay off, and from 30m his frontline partner-in-crime Vidmar has lashed a scorching effort that has just faded past the apex of the crossbar.
A warning shot. And now a first yellow card of the contest. Oh my, that’s a nasty one - it’s Khakpour who goes over the ball and catches Lazaridis halfway down his shin. No surprises, he’s been Australia’s best - let’s hope he doesn’t feel the full effect of that.
Updated
27 min: For the first time it feels there’s just a slight lull that’s fallen over this game. Although Lazaridis continues to shine down Australia’s left.
And now it’s Zelic - look at the twinkling toes go - such unique solo talent, who looks for Kewell in the centre, but the Iranian defence snuffs out the attack.
24 min: A first look at the combination of Ali Daei and Azizi. It’s large and little - the strength and the pace. The Socceroos will have to watch those two in transition, but either Moore or Tobin are right onto anything the Venerable Moustache tries to get moving.
A freekick for Australia as Viduka is brought down just outside the box. Will it be the cultured boot of the Bundesliga’s Zelic? No, it’s Vidmar, but it’s put into the wall.
22 min: Another marauding run down the left from Lazaridis - what a game breaker he looks tonight. Poor Sadavi looks like he’s blown already. He was one of the key playmakers for Iran a week ago in Tehran, but he’s chasing at the shadows of this superb Premier League left winger.
20 min: There are just the faintest of hints that Iran could be building their way into this match, having endured a frankly torrid opening ten minutes or so. Still little seen of Bagheri, or even Ali Daei and the flying Khodadad Azizi. He was voted Asia’s best player last season, but there’s been little to show on that front thus far.
18 min: It’s Foster and Mahdavikia who come together - they’ve both got handfuls of each other’s shirts but the whistle goes the way of the Australian holder. Ned Zelic is the anchor of this Socceroos midfield, but it’s an important role Foster plays - almost the water carrier to Zelic’s job as playmaker.
Updated
16 min: Cheers from the crowd - is there a shout for a penalty?! Referee Puhl says no, as Vidmar comes together with the Iranian skipper Abedzadeh. Did the ‘keeper bring him down? Hard to say - looked a genuine 50-50 perhaps.
Hasn’t he been lively, Vidmar - at the heart of everything so far - let’s just hope those early misses don’t come to haunt him.
15 min: A pause here as Zelic notes the ball pressure isn’t up to scratch. An unnecessary distraction this - you don’t need off-field incidents to break the momentum of this terrific, and pulsating on-field action. Venables must be very please with what he’s seen so far - his five in midfield are snapping at the heels, and Iran simply can’t settle on the ball.
13 min: A first touch for Bosnich in goals - if you can believe that with nearly thirteen minutes gone. And it’s a first shot on goal from Iran - but Sadavi has put that in about row ZZ, to the ironic cheers of this massive, and vocal, crowd.
11 min: A first chance to catch breath as Viduka goes in heavily on Estili. Two number nines coming together but there was only ever one who was going to win that battle, such is the frame of the powerful 22-year-old.
He’s coming two impressive seasons in the Croatian first division with Croatia Zagreb – having been chased by none less than the nation’s president Franjo Tudjman to sign there. Are there bigger European clubs out there with tabs on the former NSL topscorer?
9 min: OFF THE LINE! Can you believe this?! It’s Harry Kewell on the pivot, and his goal-bound effort is cleared by one of the Iranian centre backs. I can hardly call through all these updates in time - I hope the desk editor is keeping up.
How have the Socceroos not scored here?! And now it’s Moore - with another headed effort, and the Iranian skipper tips it over.
Johnny Warren again from next door: “Well, if this was a boxing match, Paul, you’d stop the fight. Australia are so dominant. They could be four, maybe five goals up here, already. They are just nowhere – Australia has them on the ropes.”
I’m inclined to agree.
8 min: It’s Foster with a terrific crossfield ball for Slater. Their two clubs, Portsmouth and Southampton, might be sworn enemies but these two are the best of friends, and their understanding is clear for all to see on the pitch.
Updated
5 min: What a vignette of Iran’s temperamental skipper Abedzadeh. “He’s such a temperamental character, you just get the sense he’ll either be the hero or the villain tonight.” That’s the words of former Socceroos skipper Johnny Warren coming from the commentary booth beside us. And I’m inclined to agree.
He’s plucked a cross from Lazaridis out of the air with pure nonchalance, there. A one-hand take! He’s either got nerves of ice, or no human feelings at all. This has been unrelenting pressure from the Socceroos - they could be three or four clear already.
3 min: A fine run from Slater down the right sees a first corner for Australia, and Kewell trots over to deliver with his cultured left foot.
OH MY! It’s a long ball in - the ‘keeper comes and misses - and it falls to Moore at the far post, completely unmarked, ball at feet, with the goal at his mercy from about three metres out - but he scuffs the effort and it’s cleared off the line!
1 min: CHANCE! And it’s two inside the first minute! Vidmar again - how has he contrived to miss there? He spun and dinked the chip, but it sails just over the crossbar.
And have they scored?! No. It’s Viduka with a thumping header, that flies just past the post! We come back for a foul on the ‘keeper - but what an absolutely frenetic start to the match we have. Iran are all at sea!
1 min: CHANCE! Oh my. Can you believe it - Vidmar is through one-on-one after an excellent release from Viduka, but he can’t dig the ball out and round Iran’s ‘keeper and captain.
Kick off!
1 min: And we’re away! It’s Australia in gold and green running from right to left, Iran in all white.
Okay, we’re not too far away from kick off. A stunning rendition of the anthems after the flags of both Australia and Iran were flown into the stadium. And now our two sets of players are out on the pitch.
Tonight’s refereeing team are from Hungary – Sandor Puhl with the whistle. Will we have another Wunder von Bern on our hands tonight, in tribute to the great Hungarians of 1954? He had them eating out of his hands when he coached at South Melbourne, Ferenc Puskas – let’s hope his compatriot leaves home fans similarly purring by game’s end.
Puhl did of course referee the 1994 Fifa World Cup playoff match between Australia and Diego Maradona’s Argentina – the seven Socceroos from tonight’s squad who played that match will be hoping another outcome awaits them here tonight.
Speaking of tactics - I’ll confess, I’m not too sure what Terry Venables will put out tonight. He did pioneer the 4-3-2-1 “Christmas Tree” in his time at Tottenham, but I’ll be honest that side of things is all a muddle for me.
Will Horvat play as a sweeper, Slater and Lazaridis as wide players in a five-man midfield? Who can say. Surely a simple 4-4-2 is enough. Everyone’s doing it.
So - your predictions for tonight? Send us an email or tweet to join the conversation.
And who could be the X-factors for either side?
Much will be resting on the shoulders of Aurelio Vidmar, the first Australian to play in La Liga, although he’s not been seeing much game time lately with Tenerife. We haven’t seen much of the combination of Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell - they’ve never played together at club level - but if they can find their chemistry things could really click.
From Iran’s perspective the one and only Ali Daei is the man to watch. Although if it’s tight late on, I fancy the young flier Ebrahim Tahami to come on and really make a name for himself. He’s got pace to burn and could stretch Australia’s back three.
So - without further ado, let’s get to the team news, where there’s one change a piece for both sides from last week:
Australia: Mark Bosnich (GK); Craig Moore, Steve Horvat, Alex Tobin (c); Craig Foster, Robbie Slater, Ned Zelic, Aurelio Vidmar, Stan Lazaridis; Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell
Bench: Zeljko Kalac (GK), Milan Ivanovic, Tony Vidmar, Ernie Tapai, Josip Skoko, Graham Arnold, John Aloisi
Lararidis comes in for Tony Vidmar, having shaken off that niggly hamstring injury. He’ll also offer a lot more in an attacking sense the left full back; look for his marauding runs to be a feature, as we see week-in, week-out in the Premier League for West Ham.
Iran: Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh (c) (GK); Mohammed Khakpour, Afshin Peiravany, Mehdi Parsharzadeh; Mehdi Mahdavikia, Naaem Sadavi, Karim Bagheri, Reza Shahroudi, Hamid Reza Estili; Ali Daei, Khodadad Azizi
Bench: Nima Nakisa (GK), Ali Reza Mansourian, Majid Namjoo-Motlagh, Ali Akbar Ostad-Asadi, Ebrahim Tahami, Javad Zarincheh, Mehrdad Minavand
One change as well for Iran, it’s Bagheri who comes into the side in midfield, returning from suspension – he’s been their leading scorer throughout qualifying, can he have an impact on the game? The coach, Brazilian Valdeir Vieira, called him “40% of his team”. Some statement.
What a sense of confidence there is among Socceroos supporters since the great El Tel took over from Eddie Thompson.
Tonight will be the 13th game under the former England and Barcelona supremo Terry Venables’ stewardship - so far they’ve had twelve wins and the one solitary draw, 1-1 last week in Tehran. Which just might prove the biggest victory of all.
What a buzz there is here. Soccer Australia chairman David Hill gave out 30,000 Australian flags inside the MCG tonight, and as Relax With Max pumps out “The Final Countdown” you just feel - you dare not even utter it - but perhaps, just perhaps, this could be Australia’s night.
There’s a fervour of expectation inside the press box here tonight, let me confirm that. SBS’s sideline reporter Kyle Patterson is buzzing around the place, as chirpy as a budgerigar. My young colleague Ray Gatt from the Australian has brought everyone pastizzi. A lovely touch.
It is standing room only in here – it might be hard to ring through the live updates for the desk editor to type up, but hopefully he can make out the words clearly. Telecom, or Telstra as they’re now known, offered a prototype of their new cable internet service, but I’m not sure how reliable, or indeed useful, that would be in circumstances like this.
Good evening all!
What a simply stunning setting for it. The Melbourne Cricket Ground - synonymous with every Australian sport except for soccer, but that changes now. There’s an capacity of nearly 100,000 for tonight’s match, and I can’t see too many empty seats.
As we speak there’s a tribute to the 1974 Socceroos who are receiving a lap of honour and the applause of this terrific, expectant crowd. Rale Rasic - Ray Baartz - Jimmys Rooney and Mackay. What pioneers of the game, and isn’t it terrific to see Soccer Australia embracing its history.
Preamble
Twenty-three years, five months, seven days. That’s how long Australian football fans have waited to see their team competing on the world’s greatest stage, following the path led by Rale Rasic and his indomitable heroes of 1974. Today – against Iran in Melbourne – this talent-laden squad has the chance to wipe clean two decades of heartbreak.
Legendary former skipper Johnny Warren had this to say pre-game: “It’s been a long time between drinks but we all know this team is more than capable, and hopefully they’ll go on and do even better than the boys did in ‘74.” If anybody knows what they’re talking about it’s the man they call Captain Socceroo.
Boy wonder Harry Kewell’s crucial strike in the cauldron of Tehran last week puts Australia in the driving seat. Has there ever been a more meaningful “away goal” in Socceroos history? 128,000 men in Azadi Stadium fell as one to a hush as the Leeds teenager fired home. Should he or his teammates score again tonight there will be utter pandemonium. It’s a ticket to France 1998 on the line. I absolutely cannot wait for this one.
