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Qualifying romp offers Socceroos coach insight
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou offers illumination on the next generation of international players in the wake of his side 7-nil qualifying romp against Tajikistan in Adelaide.
PT1M6S 620 349Harry Redknapp only knows a few of the Socceroos lads.
But he's got enough intel about Australian football to prepare his Jordan side for a 'much tougher' time in Tuesday's vital World Cup qualifier than what they experienced against Bangladesh.
Redknapp and Jordan landed in Sydney on Saturday morning, one day after an 8-0 thumping of 177th-ranked Bangladesh in Amman got the 69-year-old's international management career off to a flying start.
Wary: Jordan coach Harry Redknapp arrived in Australia to lead Jordan in their must-win clash against the Socceroos. Photo: Katherine Griffiths
The win secured World No.82 Jordan second spot in Asia's Group B, and the Arab nation must now beat the Socceroos at Allianz Stadium to leapfrog into first and guarantee progress to the final phase of qualifying.
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The Socceroos, meanwhile, ran rampant over Tajikistan in Adelaide, winning 7-0 in a display that could have significantly increased that deficit.
A draw or win for the group leaders on Tuesday night will see the Socceroos advance, while the four best second-placed teams across the eight groups will also move through.
As a horde of enthusiastic fans greeted Redknapp at the airport, the veteran English Premier League boss said he's been delighted with what he and assistant Kevin Bond have seen from the players over their five or six days in charge.
But having also coached a few Aussie greats including Stan Lazaridis and Robbie Slater at West Ham, he predicted the second and final game of his two-match term would present a stiffer challenge - especially in a hostile away environment.
"We know it's going to be a much tougher game in Australia, we understand that," Redknapp said.
"It's got the makings of a real good game.
"We need to win, so we've got to be going for it.
"We'll have to start well because they'll be a big crowd, great atmosphere.
"And we've got to make sure we come out as ready as we were to compete [against Bangladesh] and play the way we played."
Redknapp knows well the technical skills of one particular Socceroo, Massimo Luongo, having handed the then teenager his Tottenham debut in 2011, and more recently hailing the midfielder as good enough to one day play for Arsenal.
He conceded there were "not too many" other familiar faces in Ange Postecoglou's Asian Cup champions.
"Obviously the captain I know, [Mile] Jedinak from Crystal Palace. He's real good," Redknapp said.
"I know a few of the lads ... Brad Smith, he's done well for Liverpool."
Redknapp revealed this week he'd be open to extending his deal with Jordan should they progress, though he's yet to discuss it with Jordan Football Association president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.
"I've enjoyed it obviously, but I don't know about the future," he said.
"I only came for two games, that was what I did with Prince Ali.
"I'm [advisor] at Derby [County] at the moment so as soon as I get back from here I go straight to Derby.
"We play Cardiff away on Saturday, it's a big game for us ... I just want to get a great result for Jordan and go from there."
AAP