Reality bites for Socceroos

The reality of competing in Asia has bitten for the first time. Sydney FC and Adelaide both fell at the first hurdle of the Asian Cup in their quest for respect, a trophy and the much-needed funding from the competition.

So at international level, is the quest for supremacy in Asia also just a dream?

Australia has been installed favourite by bookmakers to claim the Asian Cup at its first attempt, eclipsing Japan, who has won three of the past four.

May I suggest that if preparation is anything to go by, we might be in for a big shock.
The game against Uruguay highlights the problems of our future.

Gone for the Uruguay game were Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill, Mark Schwarzer, John Aloisi, Mark Bresciano and Vinnie Grella, all of whom are resting or nursing injuries after long European club seasons.

Interesting to note that Uruguay brought its strongest team in preparation for the Copa America and the best of Europe is currently playing in qualifiers for the European Championships.

So why is it then that we can't put out a team anywhere near full strength?

Let's be harsh for a moment and say that this was the preparation for the World Cup under Guus Hiddink. How many of the rested players would have turned out against Uruguay? How many players would have said no to a game because of fatigue?

Before we went to Germany training was relentless. In the lead up to the friendly against Greece, the reigning European champion, the boys were doing six hour days on the park.

Games against Lichtenstein and Holland followed in the lead up to the start of Germany 2006.

We are just four weeks out from the start of Asia's premier competition and we still can't get close to our first 11 on the park.

Players have known for months that games in preparation for the Asian Cup were scheduled for this time.

I feel sorry for Graham Arnold and I applaud players like Lucas Neill. Lucas saved West Ham from dropping out of the English Premier League.

If ever a man had the right to feel mentally and physically fatigued it would be him. He probably is tired but he played because it's an honour to be a Socceroo and not a god-given right.

This game of ours tends to kick you right in the teeth just when you think you've got it sussed. I just hope we don't need a dentist in July.