Socceroos road to Brazil

What will Australia face at next year’s FIFA World Cup Brazil and are they ready to meet the challenge when the tournament kicks off at the Arena de Sao Paulo in June?

Socceroos against Costa Rica

The first part of the equation is simple enough. The Socceroos will line-up alongside 31 of the best football nations on earth in a torrid month of must-win fixtures amidst the chaotic atmosphere of the biggest football carnival the world has ever known.

With this in mind, the importance of the right preparation cannot be underestimated. How often have we seen favourites fall at the group stage? Or minnows progress against all the odds to the knock-out rounds?

Following lacklustre showings away from home against world powerhouses Brazil and France, the governing body moved swiftly to get the Socceroos World Cup campaign back on track by parting ways with former coach Holger Osiek.

Since appointing Ange Postecoglou to the role last month the optimism surrounding the national team’s preparations suggests a quiet confidence amongst those in the know.

The early signs are certainly encouraging with Postecoglou drawing upon the glories of old and seeking to re-instil pride in the jersey that saw past generations of Socceroos punch above their weight on the international stage.

While it’s a long road to Brazil, the first signs of progress were there for all to see in Tuesday night’s 1-0 win against Costa Rica in Postecoglou’s first match at the helm.

Not only did the team turn in an efficient performance against a side ranked 26 places higher by FIFA but they did so with renewed vigour that manifested as the team linked arms for the national anthem and was further steeled in every fifty-fifty challenge.

The football itself wasn’t bad either. Proven performers Tim Cahill, Robbie Kruse and Lucas Neill were again the stars for the Socceroos while potential World Cup candidates Ivan Franjic, Mat Ryan, Matthew Leckie and Tom Rogic showed they could bring the ‘X Factor’ to the team’s World Cup tilt.

However, before then there is a long way to go on the road to Brazil.

The group stages will be drawn early next month after which friendlies will be scheduled against teams of similar pedigree to those the Socceroos will face in the opening three games of the tournament.

There are no easy wins at the World Cup so expect matches to be scheduled against a formidable array of opponents next year when fans will get a further gauge of the Socceroos progress on the pitch.

Off the pitch the signs are already good and Postecoglou is making all the right moves as he prepares the Socceroos for their biggest test yet.

Will they be ready? We’ll have to wait and see – get your tickets here.