Socceroos' time is running out for World Cup 2014 qualifiers

ARE Socceroos fans justifying each poor performance by thinking there's plenty of time to qualify for the World Cup?

Socceroos

FOR the past two years, Socceroos supporters have been trying to justify each poor performance and result by thinking - there's still plenty of time to qualify for the World Cup.

But that time is running out, with the Socceroos' hopes of qualifying for Brazil next year - and the holiday plans of football fans across Australia - to be decided in the space of 15 days.

Australia plays Japan away (June 4) before home games in Melbourne against Jordan (June 11) and Iraq (June 18) knowing they need at least two wins to secure a spot at a third straight World Cup.

To say the campaign up until this point has been disappointing is an understatement.

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Socceroos Mark Bresciano

When each poor result and performance impacts on your holiday plans, it only compounds the frustration.

The Socceroos got through the first stage of qualifying without too much fuss, despite a few rusty performances.

But it all started to fall apart when the final stage started with draws away to Oman and at home to Japan.

A 2-1 loss to Jordan followed and the Brazil Lonely Planet started to look like a useless birthday present from my parents.

Socceroos Josh Kennedy

When Australia trailed 1-0 in the next game to Iraq, I was ready to put the book on eBay.

With a loss set to make qualifying an even tougher battle, a lot of Socceroos fans - myself included - started to think of what else there was to do next June.

But thanks to goals to veterans Tim Cahill and Archie Thompson, Australia escaped with the points and the campaign was back on track...or so long suffering fans thought.

With a home game at the less than half full and cavernous ANZ Stadium against Oman, most supporters thought the points were assured.

But Australia soon trailed 2-0 before Cahill and Brett Holman helped salvage a draw.

Now it comes down to 15 days.

Socceroos Josh Kennedy

Fail to finish in the top two and Australia face playoffs against another Asian nation before the fifth placed team in South America.

A Socceroos team coached by mastermind Guus Hiddink and featuring players from the top leagues in Europe beat Uruguay in a playoff in 2005 but a lot has changed since then.

Our squad is now littered with ageing members of that 2005 Golden Generation and players plying their trade in the Middle East, so beating a battle hardened South American side seems a pipe dream.

I'll be at the games in Melbourne and Sydney, hoping Australia can escape and limp to Brazil.

It probably won't be pretty and the stress will no doubt takes years off my life, but if it ends with a trip to Brazil to see the Socceroos play at a third World Cup (a feat unimaginable before 2005), I don't mind.

Oliver Murray is news editor at the North Shore Times. He loves football and travel and is Western Sydney Wanderers member no. 1993.

Follow him on Twitter: @Oli_Murray