Postecoglou fires up Socceroos with 1997 heartache

THEWORLDGAME – OSAKA, Postecoglou treated his squad to a video session with a difference in Osaka on Thursday night by showing a documentary about the demoralising 1997 FIFA World Cup qualifying failure against Iran.

Ahead 2-0 in the second half at a packed MCG, a star-studded Australia outfit let a massive opportunity slip as Iran drew the final-leg of the qualifier with two away goals to steal a coveted 1998 World Cup berth.

Many of the current Socceroos had never seen highlights of the match, let alone hear the bitter memories of their big-name predecessors who have battled to move on.

“It was really eye opening,” said goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who was just five years-old at the time. “I hadn’t seen that footage before.

“I didn’t realise how close they’d gone to qualifying for the World Cup.

“You could just see the effects that it still has on some players.”

Postecoglou chose to show the documentary ahead of Australia’s final warm-up, against Japan on Tuesday night, before hosting the Asian Cup in the new year.

It also continues the coach’s desire for his players to appreciate the Socceroos who came before them and the huge opportunity coming up on home soil.

Australia meets its biggest Asian rival as a rank underdog in Osaka after sliding to its worst ranking of 94 in the world after last month’s 1-0 loss to Qatar and goalless draw with UAE.

Japan, the defending Asian champion, currently sits at 52 after coming off a 4-0 loss to Brazil.

But Ryan’s former Central Coast teammate Trent Sainsbury, set to play his fourth international, painted a precise picture of the challenge that awaits – rating it a more difficult prospect than his debut game, when beaten 2-0 by Belgium in September.

“Japan at home, with their quality players, will be just as hard, maybe even tougher,” said defender Sainsbury.

“We can’t think about the Asian Cup coming up. If the boys start to get scared we are running out of time we will be our own worst enemy.”