Preview: Oman v Qantas Socceroos
Exactly one month after they played out a thrilling match in Melbourne, Oman and Australia front up against one another again, this time in the Middle Eastern heat of Muscat.
Head-to-head Played 2: Wins: Australia 1, Oman 0, Draws: 1
Previous meetings Australia 1, Oman 0, Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, 2011 Asian Cup qualifier, October 2009 Oman 1, Australia 1, Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, 2007 Asian Cup, July 2007
Past five matches: Australia: Australia 2, Japan 1, Melbourne, WC qualifier, June 17, 2009 Rep of Ireland 0, Australia 3, Limerick, August 13, 2009 Korea Rep 3, Australia 1, Seoul, September 5, 2009 Australia 0, Netherlands 0, Sydney, October 10, 2009 Australia 1, Oman 0, Melbourne, October 14 2009
Oman: Oman 0, Egypt 1, Muscat, May 30, 2009 Bosnia-Herzegovina 2, Oman 1, Cannes, June 9, 2009 Oman 2, Saudi Arabia 1, Salalah, August 12, 2009 Qatar 1, Oman 1, Doha September 9, 2009 Australia 1, Oman 0, Melbourne, October 14 2009
Analysis: Exactly one month after they played out a thrilling match in Melbourne, Oman and Australia front up against one another again, this time in the Middle Eastern heat of Muscat, where the home side will be desperate to exact revenge for the 1-0 loss it suffered.
If there is to be a loser in this clash, then they will likely find themselves out of the top two spots which will determine qualification. The other two teams in the group, Kuwait and Indonesia, meet in Kuwait City at about the same time and a result in that match would see the winner go above the loser of this clash.
There has been so little between the four teams in this group in the five matches to date with three 1-0 wins and two 0-0 draws. All four teams have zero goal difference and all but Indonesia have already secured wins. It puts added importance on this round of matches and the need to establish a break over the rest.
However, Australia will be aware from its 1-0 win in Melbourne that Oman is a very difficult side to get past. In that match in Melbourne, Oman had several good chances in the first half and it took until halfway through the second half for the Qantas Socceroos to get the lead through Tim Cahill.
The general feeling after that match was that Australia may have been a little fortunate and Oman coach Claude Le Roy certainly felt his team was hard done by.
Similar to the problems Australia had when it played Oman in the 2007 Asian Cup, Oman's fast counter-attacking style exposed Australia down the wings. The players are quick and skilful and opponents require a disciplined and organised defence to ensure their talented attacking players don't slip through the defensive net.
Hassam Al Hosni, Amad Al Hossani and Fawzi Basheer all caused the Australian defence some headaches in the match, although Mark Schwarzer only had a few saves to make. The general consensus is that Oman will be even more attacking in this match given it is at home and will be desperate to secure three points with only one home match remaining after this one.
Oman also boasts a top-class international goalkeeper in Ali Al Habsi, who is the reserve stopper at Premier League outfit Bolton. He pulled off some quality saves in Melbourne and will again be in the thick of the action. If Oman has a weakness, it is in defence where it is susceptible to set pieces and long balls. The deciding goal in their clash last month saw several Omani players out of position and Cahill was completely unmarked at the far post.
Australia goes into this match without Josh Kennedy, who has been battling back problems. Kennedy has been a major weapon against Asian opposition over the past three years and his success in Japanese club football is evidence of the difficultly he poses.
Coach Pim Verbeek opted to replace Kennedy with Sydney FC striker Alex Brosque, who has been in excellent form this year, while Mile Sterjovski is also firmly back in consideration having got back to full fitness and played well for Perth.
Australia doesn't have another option like Kennedy, with Turkish-based Bruce Djite the most similar of those in the squad. Verbeek may opt not to go for a target man and look to the likes of Cahill, Harry Kewell, Mark Bresciano, Brett Holman or Dario Vidosic to create opportunities. Brett Emerton could also be deployed in a more advanced attacking role.
Should Verbeek continue to use two screening midfielders, then he will probably choose one of Mile Jedinak or Carl Valeri to partner Jason Culina, with Vince Grella still injured while the crucial wide defensive spots, where Oman looked to exploit Australia last time, are also up for grabs. Scott Chipperfield or David Carney will slot in on the left. It is not as clear cut as one might think. Chipperfield probably boasts better defensive credentials, but Carney is quicker and can track the Omani attacking players better as they charge forward.
Luke Wilkshire should hold down the right back position ahead of Rhys Williams while Verbeek has a few options to consider alongside Lucas Neill at the centre of defence. Craig Moore did the job last time, but Patrick Kisnorbo or Shane Lowry could also be given an opportunity. Mark Schwarzer would appear to own the goalkeeping position for as long as he wants it.
While the Qantas Socceroos will be really keen for a win, Verbeek will be reminding them that this game will be played on Oman's home pitch in conditions which will suit the locals. Thankfully, temperatures will not be in the high 30s and low 40s as they have been on other recent trips to this part of the world.
But the European-based Qantas Socceroos, who have been getting accustomed to the coming winter, will be confronted by temperatures in the high 20s when the match kicks off at 6pm local time.
Like most matches in this part of the world, the tempo will fluctuate and there will be pressure on the visiting team to ride the waves of Omani attacks and choose its moments to attack carefully. The onus will then be on the strikers to make the most of the limited opportunities which come their way.
Qantas Socceroos squad: Mark Bresciano, Alex Brosque, Tim Cahill, David Carney, Scott Chipperfield, Jason Culina, Bruce Djite, Brett Emerton, Adam Federici, Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Brad Jones, Harry Kewell, Patrick Kisnorbo, Shane Lowry, Mark Milligan, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Mark Schwarzer, Mile Sterjovski, Carl Valeri, Dario Vidosic, Luke Wilkshire, Rhys Williams
Oman squad (from previous match): Mohammad Rabee-a (Al Sadd - Qatar), Ali Al Habsi (Bolton - England), Fauzi Basheer (Banni Yas - UAE), Khalifa Ayel (Al Ettifaq - Saudi Arabia), Mohammad Al Sheeba (Al Wasl - UAE), Hasan Mudaffar (Al Wahda - UAE), Ahmad Kanu (Al Ahli - Saudi Arabia), Ahmad Hadid (Al Ittihad - Saudi Arabia), Ismail Al Ajmi (Al Kuwait SC - Kuwait), Emad Al Hossani (Charleroi - Belgium), Badr Al Meymani (Muscat), Hassan Rabee-a (Mjeis), Hashem Saleh (Dhofar), Qasem Saeed (Al Nasr), Muheeb Ezzat (Al Nasr), Aman Younes (Al Hilal), Jaber Al Ouesi (Al Seeb), Mohammad Al Theib (Oman), Saad Suheil (Al Orouba).