sidelined

Sanity prevails.

Iraq’s WCQ campaign is now officially on soapie melodrama turf but tomorrow it switches to full on Sports Movie triumph-of-the-underdogs mode. “Two Teams. One Grudge. On a rainy night at a sold-out Lang Park, the universe hangs in the balance”, etc.

Having bottled it against China and been spanked by snotty Qatar they have to win this to stay viable. In that spirit they’ve got the whole crew; midfield dynamo Nashat Akram, veteran D-mid Qusay Munir, Younis Mahmood upfront, Madhi Karim and Hawar Mulla Mohammed on the wings, even the star player returning from injury Bassem Abbas (how often do you hear so much concern over a leftback?) … they just need a fat kid goalie and an alcoholic has-been coach.

On our end of the ledger: Pim’s 257-man teamsheet is basically deceptive fluff, if you think these guys:

GK: Schwarzer
DF: Emerton North Beauchamp Carney
MF: Culina Bresciano Grella Wilkshire
FW: McDonald Kewell

are not starting I have an intriguing offer from an enterprising Nigerian businessman you may be interested in.

Another 0-0 draw not really being acceptable after all the hype, the Dutchman looks like ditching the pure, technical* certainty of the 4-2-3-1 in favour of a flat 4-4-2 with wierd hybrid stuff a possibility. Expect Nick Carle to come on at some point, but it looks like slim picking for fringers and A-Leaguers before the 80 minute mark.

When last our teams met they smacked us around like a pissed giraffe in silettos but this time we’ve got home turf, some humility and our coach isn’t just ticking items off his ‘What Would Guus Do’ sheet.

1-0, Aussies.

*as in dull.