Socceroos 1 v Iraq 3

Shocking, bad, poor play, clown defence, big heads, small performances: just a few of the many words to describe the Socceroos inept performance against Iraq. Now they can point to the weather, but hey every other team in the competition has to endure the same conditions. Arnold has a lot to answer to as well, playing a lone striker system that is devoid of any attacking flair or ideas. Let's hope the Socceroos can pick themselves up to beat Thailand to progress. Can they even progress? Even if they progress, can they go further? Might as well go home early la, because they won't get past the latter rounds. Hopefully I am proven wrong.

The rules for the competition are:(from AFC Asian Cp official website)

If two or more teams in a group are equal on points on completion of the group matches, their places shall be determined as follows:
a) Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned.
b) Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned.
c) Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned (Away Goals do not apply in this stage of the competition).
d) Goal difference in all the group matches.
e) Kicks from the penalty mark if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play.
f) Drawing of lots.

Bottom line: Australia has to beat Thailand to qualify for the next round.(from the goal difference between the group match rule in bold above) A tough task, seeing Thailand convincingly beat Oman, who caused Australia many problems in the first match.