In order to reach Brazil the Qantas Socceroos need to stay positive, according to one of their stars that has seen it all before.
In order to reach Brazil the Qantas Socceroos need to stay positive, according to one of their stars that has seen it all before.
Mark Bresciano has been front and centre for much of Australia's greatest football moments in recent years and the Socceroos will be hopeful his undoubted quality and rich pedigree will prove crucial in the coming weeks.
"These are very important games for us these next three games, that's when the decision (of qualification for the FIFA World Cup or otherwise) is going to be made," Bresciano said.
"The main element is just to stay positive.
"We've not come from the best results in the past, I think the boys are all confident, we've just got to stay positive and focus one game at a time."
Although a cornerstone of coach Holger Osieck's set up since his re-emergence as an international in February of last year, Bresciano has endured a luckless run of outs in recent FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
After limping off early into Australia's clash with Japan in Brisbane last June, Bresciano was again withdrawm due to injury at the halfway mark of the Socceroos' visit to Jordan in September.
Most recently, after being introduced from the bench against Oman in March, Bresciano was forced from the field having felt the effects of a heavy challenge.
Now fully fit and with some matches at club level with Qatar's Al Gharafa under his belt, Bresciano is primed for a telling contribution to Australia's FIFA World Cup qualification quest.
"Physically I'm fine, I got back playing probably about a month ago, three or four ninety minutes at my club, so physically I'm fine, injury free," Bresciano said.
"I hope to have an impact in these games, the next three games - hopefully a good one."
With two FIFA World Cup appearances, one AFC Asian Cup and an Olympic Games to his name, there are few more proven players for the Qantas Socceroos to call upon than Bresciano.
The scenario in early June is as high pressure as any the 33-year-old has faced throughout his 66-game international career, but the midfielder believes there is enough quality in the current Qantas Socceroos line up to ensure a positive outcome next month.
"It's always a good mood in the national team, like everyone knows, it's just a good bunch of guys, all really tight friends and it's always good to see each other again," Bresciano said.
"We have the quality to qualify once again for the FIFA World Cup.
"Some results haven't gone our way in the past, now it's come down to the crunch and I think we have the players that can step up in these type of situations."
The Qantas Socceroos- FIFA World Cup qualification campaign continues on Tuesday, 4 June at Saitama Stadium, where they will meet the challenge of Japan. Kick off is at 7.30pm local time (8.30pm AEST).
The Qantas Socceroos face Jordan in Melbourne on Tuesday, 11 June 2013, kick-Off 7.00pm (local time). Click here to buy tickets
They then face Iraq in Sydney on Tuesday 18 June, 2013, kick off 7.30pm (local time). Click here to buy tickets