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Thursday 16 October 2008

Socceroos 4 Qatar 0

It was easy.

The rains poured down, the game was delayed and Australia continued the torrent.

Aussie superstar Tim Cahill was the hero. Finishing superbly in typical fashion in the ninth minute and Qatar knew it was game over.

Remember Qatar were top of the group going into this one, but the psychological hold Australia has over many teams in Asia was apparent, will be strengthened after this effort.

It felt like Oceania all over, but we conned 40,000 to come and watch this Asian qualifier.

How Qatar are top of the group, how they beat Uzbekistan is hard to see. But against Australia they are intimidated and Bruno Metzsu's defensive line-up played straight into Aussie hands

Not that it was any good.

David Carney and Tim Cahill were both unmarked after just nine minutes, what had Qatar been practising, and the game was gone.

We've never heard Pim Verbeek so confident, now we know why and I'd expect to win away in Doha next year as well.

The Aussie squad is looking strong, flexible with an increasing confidence to beat all sides, maybe bar Japan, in our group.

Brett Emerton scored two, one from a Tim Cahill earned penalty. And Josh Kennedy headed home. What was the Qatari keeper doing?

Australia weren't great, they didn't have to be. They weren't tested in truth.

But they did what they had to do, got easy breaks and finished the game.

That said Craig Moore clearly intimidated Quintana out of the game. The passing around midfield was pleasing on the eye, particularly for the fourth goal.

Best for me were Jason Culina, Tim Cahill and Craig Moore.

Scott MacDonald played well enough Josh Kennedy did well.

This Aussie squad is battled hardened now and with Qatar cheating Iraq out of a place there is not much threat it seems in this group.

Indeed a penalty save in China in the last minutes plus the fortunate win in Brisbane against Iraq in the last group made that group seem much more difficult...or maybe the Aussie's are improving as the games flow.

Pim Verbeek is the star of the show. He's delivered when it mattered.

Perhaps our best coach alongside Rale Rasic and Gus Hiddink.

Early days but Australia can ride the crest all the wave to South Africa.

How about that Australia off to another World Cup. It feels good.


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