We support you evermore, through thickness and thin.

Dig deep,and Monday awaits. Australia can still go through. Honest!

And times are a little thin, it has to be said.

Mood in the Australia camp is flat to say the least.

And it seemed many players weren't aware that if Australia win and Iraq draw or win he Aussies will go through.

But something is wrong with this team. The defence is shocking has been for months and Graham Arnold has been unable to improve it.

In fact it's getting worse.

The Press were amazed, stunned by the ease with which so called Australia stars were crushed.

Skill passion and energy and a crafty wily coach. Jorvan Vieira. Who complained about Graham Arnold's behaviour after the game.

In defence of Arnold, no-one I spoke to saw it. And usually Coach animosity is a two way thing.

It seemed at the Press Conference that Arnold had threw in the towel.

Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill and Carl Valeri were all unaware that they can still go through if they win.

It seemed the manner of the performance left the players wishing they could just leave today.

Can Arnold pick his team up in time?

Can the players lift?

Will new players now get a chance to shine. Australia can still do it.

Ouch that hurt but Australia can still go through.

If the Aussies beat Thailand and Iraq draw or beat Oman, then Australia have the same points as Thailand

And then it goes on the Aussie Thai game,not goal difference, therefore Australia would go through.

Almost embarrassing really, but I'd take it.

Every cloud has a silver lining so they say. Lucas Neill is suspended and Paddy Kisnorbo should be rested. Maybe this was the only way Arnold would change his defence.

It's time to try the new blokes.

So we lose, Beauchamp and Milligan will at least be better for the experience. And we'll need them for the next four years or more.

If they aren't considered good enough, well who is in the back four really!

Arnie never got his defence sorted, against Denmark, Uruguay, Singapore, Oman and now Iraq.

It was horrible tonight and embarassing to the sport. And it has showed up Arnie's coaching and the lack of depth in our squad.

But we can still go through, so come on those Socceroos.

Well we were all happy before the game!

Aussie fans ready to support the Socceroos

Fans from Canberra outside Rajamangala Stadium before the Iraq game.

That word almost sounds like Iran.

Iraq 3..could have been 6 Australia 1

We were there!

Sort of like saying you were there when Australia beat Uruguay.

Full fan report should appear in Sunday's Canberra Times, and I'll have a full write up on Monday on this blog.

Names, attitude, and wit. Yes Canberra wit was alive and kicking.

Glad I didn't ask them for a photo after the game......aaaaggggghhhhhhhhh!!

Thailand romp home. Now it's time for Australia

Thailand 2 Oman 0

Thailand produced a wonderful performance in the Rajamangala Stadium tonight. The crowd, although not large, was passionate and very knowledgeable in their support for a Thai team full of running, skill and enterprise.

And running is not a word we've heard much of in this tournament but boy did they run, and fast.

Did Oman played their best game against Australia? Or could so-called easy beats Thailand top the group?

Can Australia overcome Iraq and face Thailand in a play-off for the right to stay in Bangkok.

Mood in the Aussie camp is a little tense. Coach Graham Arnold seems ill at ease when facing an increasingly negative press.

A win would help against Iraq. Australia have to lift. And find some pace. Do we have enough in the sapping conditions?

Thailand went the full ninety. Can Australia? Let's hope so.

Should be a cracker tomorrow at the Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok. Kick-off 5:30 Thai time, 8:30 EST.

Fire up Australia. Can't wait.

A Baghdad Caress anyone, anyone?

All together now!

From the left Iraqi stars Younis Mahmoud, and Hawar Mulla Mohammed

You've heard of the Glasgow kiss well what about the Baghdad caress.

During a tense moment in the game against Thailand, Hawar Mulla Mohammed nutted Younis Mahmoud.

Younis, the Iraqi captain, had failed to pass the ball, so Hawar made the caress.

I have no problem with that. Passing is important in any game after all and these things need to be kept in proportion. I think Hawar did.

Why he's not banned by the AFC is another matter.

Anyway I couldn't resist the photo opportunity.

"We're all friends now, " I suggested to the two Iraqi's.

Hawar laughed and put his arm around Younis. "No problem." he said.

I wish them well on Friday in a game Australia must win.

The man with the X factor.

Iraqi star striker, Younis Mahmoud

Could the star striker and Captain of Iraq put Australia out?

Let's hope not.

Spare a thought for the guys from Iraq. All have lost family members in the war in Iraq.

Younis had a few problems of his own in the last game. His team-mate gave him a Glasgow kiss.

Imagine doing that to your Captain.

Still they are friends now and focused on the vital game. Losers will almost certainly go out.

Visit www.younismahmoud.com

He is the first Iraqi player to have an official website.

Good on you Younis...check out his groovy website.

Where did you get that shirt, Max?

Max with his Iraqi 2004 Olympic shirt.

Iraqi team manager Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira gave Max this shirt the other day after Max did an interview with him

Vieira who will step down after the tournament has perhaps the most difficult job of all the coaches here.

His team were never together in Iraq. Instead due to the ongoing crises, they held all training, when they could, in Jordan.

Vieira says all his players have lost a family member in the war.

I don't have one person in this group who hasn't lost someone from their family because of this war," Vieira said."

"Sometimes lifting the players dealing with their pain is difficult, it's an added problem."

Iraq play Australia on Friday. They certainly have enough firepower to pose problems for Australia.

Should be a cracker.