The most important man in Australian sport.

Socceroos Boss Graham Arnold.

God help Graham Arnold if the Socceroos don't win (can't say that other word) on Friday.

We must win. We have to win. But spare a thought, a human thought, for a man who takes the time to turn from the criticisms of the previous night, the preparations of the coming days, to smile for a camera with a bloke he's never seen in his life before.

An all the while he must be thinking what went wrong and how we need to get it right on Friday.

And for what?

So he can be given the flick, or at least demoted when the tournament is over.

So good luck Graham Arnold, may your selections be positive and choices prove fruitful.

As Fox viewing figures show, The Socceroos are the most supported National team, even in World Cup cricket year.

And yes I'd love to see an Australia lead the National team beyond this tournament. And I hope to see Graham Arnold produce a team better than its current parts, to enable us to go to the final at least.

And yes, I'll be the first writing my article for The Canberra Times demanding change if we fail on Friday. There would be no alternative would there?

But I'd love to see Arnold succeed for Australia, and for him. He has the passion. He is a football man. He loves the game. And he is Australian.

If we fail in the Asian Cup, with the team Arnold has assembled, no non-Australian could knit the teams (as there will be two maybe three in the coming years) better than Arnold.

Sure they could do better than Arnold in a World Cup final, but over the next three years? Who could do better than Arnold with our qualifying route, our European players, our tyranny of distance and climatic variations.

Who?

Marco, your mates are leaving Palermo!

SBS Radio journo Massimiliano Civili gives Marco the goss!

Who is that in the background?

The guys started with the whole Italian thing. One worse than the other. I didn't have a clue what was going on, but the hands went to the hips and the odd gesture was made. They were singing, fluent the pair of them.

"Okay Massimiliano what did he say."

"I told him three guys had left Palermo, two to Torino." said Massimiliano.

"That's not good for him is it?" I deduce

"No."

"Did he know."

"I don't know. He seemed surprised but he might have just been testing my knowledge." said Massimiliano.

Reading the body language, not knowing a word of Italian, I reckon Marco didn't know. He seemed a decent guy, like all the Socceroos I've met.

Patient, and willing to make themselves available. I'm impressed.

The next generation

Will these men get us to the 2010 South African World Cup?

Let's hope so. From the left: Eamonn Flanagan, (he won't get us anywhere, has been!) Brett Holman (FC Nijmegen) Michael Thwaites (Wisla Krakow, Poland) Carl Valeri (Grosseto, Italy).

The lads were out for a bit of cheap DVD purchasing in downtown Bangkok.

Before they left they obliged with a photo shoot.

Walking out the swinging hotel doors the day after the dismal Socceroos performance against Oman, Carl Valeri turns back and asks me and another journalist, with a very serious face, "Did you enjoy the game?"

Now I'm not often stumped for words, but my friend and I looked at each other, wondering what to say, and then back at Carl, who was in hysterics.

"No, I guess not." He laughs.

He strolls out, leaving two stunned mullets behind.

Good one Carl, I'll get you back!

Mark Viduka: I don't remember you Eamonn!

Socceroos stars Jason Culina and Mark Viduka were accosted by yours truly in the lobby of their hotel in Bangkok.

They took time to chat and have a photo, despite this being their day off.

"Hi Mark, I work for the Canberra Times, would you mind a photo."

"No problem." says Mark.

"Jason too?"

"Sure." says Jason

"Hey Mark I played against you when you were in Canberra playing for the AIS, in the Canberra Premier League."

"Yeah, which team."

"I was with Canberra Olympic. (Pause) Don't you remember me?"

"No." says Mark.

So there's my claim to fame. No, not that I played against Mark Viduka, but that he doesn't remember me:)

Urgent phone call from Mark Viduka...cancelled

Would you get out of bed at 6am for Mark Viduka?

Viduka to play, it's all okay.

About 5pm last night I received an urgent message from the FFA.

Very big announcement re:Socceroos tomorrow. Teleconference at 6am

Nothing more nothing less.

I had two thoughts.

Could I be bothered getting out of bed, I'm in Canberra, its cold and a I just love my bed!

Second thought: What could it be? It had to be something from Europe, at that time of day.

Viduka, to be captain? Lowy to announce new coach, Kewell, what to play, hardly worth getting everyone out of bed for.

And then FFA inform me, just ten minutes, later that its all cancelled, forget it, stay in bed....

And this morning Viduka has come out of retirement and plays.

I didn't know he was retired? Didn't he play against China? Wasn't he named in the squad?

Anyway I got to stay in bed, and Viduka plays. All good:)