The Socceroos face a hellish away game against Syria to qualify for the World Cup after they failed to put Thailand to the sword on Tuesday night.
Australia’s worst nightmare came true after Saudi Arabia’s 1-0 win over Japan denied them direct qualification into the World Cup for the first time in over a decade.
The Socceroos finished third in their qualifying group, and now face a horror stretch of must-win international games if they want to play on the world stage next year.
Long-serving goalkeeper Mark Bosnich said Ange Postecoglou’s reign as national coach was ‘hanging by a thread’ in a passionate post-game spray.
Former Socceroo Robbie Slater agreed, accusing Ange of spreading ‘toxic cr*p.’
Devastating: Australia’s hollow victory against Thailand saw them finish third in the qualifiers for the World Cup. They now face a hellish away game against Syria
Not good enough: Football legend Mark Bosnich lashed Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou
Bosnich said Postecoglou’s (pictured) reign as national coach was ‘hanging by a thread’. Former Socceroo Robbie Slater accused the coach of spreading ‘toxic cr*p’
The Socceroos must now confront a dangerous two-pronged play-off route, which begins with a home and away leg with Syria next month.
According to Bosnich and Slater, they should also confront a coaching change.
The former Aston Villa and Manchester United gloveman laid bare his issues with Postecoglou’s approach on Tuesday, starting with his divisive 3-2-4-1 formation.
‘Don’t be using the national team as an experimental laboratory. It’s not there for that. It’s too important for that,’ Bosnich told Fox Sports.
‘We’re not England or Brazil or federations with a lot of money. We are strapped for cash and this game in this country needs us to qualify for the World Cup all the time.
‘At the moment, he’s hanging by a thread in my opinion.’
‘If we go through the play-off route there should be serious consideration given to the fact we need a different voice because those players, regardless of what they’re saying publicly, aren’t responding like they used to.’
Slater saved his opinions until Wednesday morning, when he said it was ‘time for a change’.
‘We need a new approach! Socceroos have lost there (sic) way! Enough bullshit! We now need saving,’ the two-time Oceania player of the year wrote on Twitter.
‘Sick of this blind alley culture where you can’t ask a question as it’s an insult to suggest there is a problem!
‘To be fair it’s a mess and the players think we are against them! Who told them that I wonder! Toxic crap for me!’
Australia now faces two difficult home-and-away ties – the first against Syria in October – to book a spot at a fourth straight World Cup
‘Don’t be using the national team as an experimental laboratory,’ Bosnich (right) said, accusing Postecoglou of confusing the players with an unsuccessful formation
If Australia manages to get past Syria, they will go on to battle North and Central America’s fourth-placed qualifier in November for a spot at the global showpiece.
Despite an incredible 45 shots on goal, the Socceroos couldn’t find the margin against Thailand that would have seen them overtake the Saudis on goal difference.
If there is a silver lining, it is that the Socceroos could have faced a far more established opponent than Syria.
A stoppage-time equaliser from Omar Al Soma in their 2-2 draw with Iran kept the war-ravaged nation in contention for a debut World Cup, earning them third spot in Group B at the expense of Uzbekistan.
Australia could at least be spared a trip to the Middle East with Syria, ranked No.80 in the world, having played their home matches in Malaysia during this phase of qualification.
The identity of the other play-off opponent won’t be known until CONCACAF qualifiers are completed on October 10 but it is likely to be Honduras, Panama or the United States.
Australia will likely have to travel to Malaysia to face off against Syria, who cannot play any home games in their war-ravaged nation