{"id":19592,"date":"2014-11-17T10:12:19","date_gmt":"2014-11-17T18:12:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/?p=19592"},"modified":"2014-11-17T13:15:21","modified_gmt":"2014-11-17T21:15:21","slug":"postecoglou-fires-up-socceroos-with-1997-heartache","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/2014\/11\/17\/postecoglou-fires-up-socceroos-with-1997-heartache\/","title":{"rendered":"Postecoglou fires up Socceroos with 1997 heartache"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“I didn’t realise how close they’d gone to qualifying for the World Cup.<\/p>\n

“You could just see the effects that it still has on some players.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Japan, the defending Asian champion, currently sits at 52 after coming off a 4-0 loss to Brazil.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“Japan at home, with their quality players, will be just as hard, maybe even tougher,” said defender Sainsbury.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n