Socceroos in Doha draw?

Date: Sunday June 14
Kick-off: 2:00am AEST (8:00pm local)
Venue: Al Saad Stadium, Doha
TV coverage: Fox Sports 3 (Live)

Previous results:
Australia 3 Qatar 0, Melbourne, February 7 2008
China 0 Australia 0, Kunming, March 26 2008
Australia 1 Iraq 0, Brisbane, June 1 2008
Iraq 1 Australia 0, Dubai, June 8 20008

Australia 3 Qatar 0, Melbourne, February 7 2008
Qatar 2 Iraq 0, Doha, March 26 2008
Qatar 0 China 0, Doha, June 1 2008
China 0 Qatar 1, Tianjin, June 8 2008

Analysis
Group 1 is poised at a very intriguing stage after four games with none of the four teams either out of contention or through to the second round. This match in Doha pits the two leaders in the group, with Australia and Qatar both on seven points after two wins, a draw and a loss each so far.

The difference between these two teams is that Qatar has hit form, having gone unbeaten in three matches since the Socceroos walloped it 3-0 in Melbourne in February. Australia is coming off a loss to Iraq, a fortunate win against Iraq and a lucky draw against China. On face value and given this match will be played in the Qatari capital, you would have to favour the home side to win this match.

But football is rarely that simple and the enduring memory from their previous encounter at Telstra Dome is that Australia was the much-better team. It could have won that match 5-0. Of course, this clash will be played in the desert heat, a far cry from the conditions that night and Australia is coming off a sapping loss to Iraq in Dubai last week. Does that mean that they are better prepared for this match or vulnerable because they will be tired?

We will get an indication of that by how Pim Verbeek approaches this match. Last week, he went for a defensive set-up which was unable to keep Iraq scoreless thanks to a wonder goal from Iraqi midfielder Emad Rimad. However, for much of the match, the three-man central defensive set-up did its job.

Australia will be without Vince Grella for this match, suspended for picking up two yellow cards, while Lucas Neill has opted to go straight to Sydney for the final qualifier against China after his partner gave birth to twins. Josh Kennedy is also unavailable because of paternal commitments. It would appear Jason Culina would slip back into a two-man defensive midfield with Carl Valeri. Verbeek's toss-up is to go with Mark Bresciano or Brett Holman at the front end of the midfield or try a two man strike force including Scott McDonald next to Harry Kewell. Chris Coyne may have to make way for a more attacking back-four set-up featuring Jade North and Michael Beauchamp in the middle. Bruce Djite and Archie Thompson will be vying for the other strikers' spot on the bench.

Qatar's side will be different from the one which fronted in Melbourne with Uruguayan-born striker Sebastian Quintana in the side. Quintana is the most talented player in Jorge Fossati's side and scored the penalty which gave Qatar a 1-0 win over China last week. He also scored three goals in last year's Asian Cup. Fossati also has a couple of other South American-born players capable of scoring goals in Fabio Cesar, who scored twice against Iraq, and Emerson. Under the former Uruguayan national coach, Qatar has improved and the established players are starting to get used to playing with the three 'imports'.

One thing that is for sure is that there won't be many goals in this one. Qatar has scored just three goals in its four matches in this campaign and has not conceded in its past three. Australia has conceded just one goal in four matches but has scored just once in its past three. Both teams would love a win, but would take a draw. You would think that is the most likely result.