The biggest day yet

The wait is finally over. The Australia national football team, affectionately called the Socceroos by their fans at home and across the world, are in Dhaka.

And the Socceroos will be taking on Bangladesh team at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 5:30pm today in a World Cup qualifying fixture, which has been the most anticipated tie for all Bangladeshi football fans ever since the draw was made in April this year.

No other World Cup playing nation and no other reigning Asian champions, at full-strength, have previously come to Bangladesh to take on the home side.

Yes, Lionel Messi's Albiceleste did come here four years ago, but they were playing against a Nigeria team, which hardly have any fan following here.

The Socceroos might have raised a bit of hullaballoo about coming here, but that will hardly be an issue for the spectators, who are eager to see Mamunul Islam and Co take on the new generation of Socceroos led by Mile Jedinak who have won the Asian Cup earlier this year.

Tim Cahill, the most celebrated footballer to come out from the land down under and the only man standing from the Socceroos' golden generation, will undoubtedly be at the centre of attention, however, the raucous home support at an expectedly full-house BNS will work as a motivation for the home team.

As far as outcome is concerned, there won't probably be too much expectation on the hosts, who are languishing at the bottom of Group B with a single point from six matches and suffered a 5-0 defeat against the same opposition in their away fixture in September.

There was not much conviction in the voice of Bangladesh coach Fabio Lopez, who has seen his reputation take a severe dent after a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Tajikistan last week.

The Italian coach, who had led Bangladesh to a 'respectable' 2-0 defeat against Kyrgyzstan in his first assignment, said he had acquired a side which was 'already out of reckoning in these qualifiers' and that he was looking to 'continue his experiment' as his main target is a good result in December's SAFF Championship.

Vice-captain Jamal Bhuiyan, who has been a constant fixture for Bangladesh over the last two years, was a bit more optimistic than his coach.

A seemingly stunned Tim Cahill, Australia's star football striker, takes photos of the security personnel arranged in front of The Westin upon the team bus's arrival at the hotel yesterday. Inset: A photo of a security person outside the hotel. Photos: Firoz Ahmed

“I want to give hundred percent and I hope the other players will give their best too. If we give 90 percent, Australia will easily kill us,” the defensive-midfielder said. “We are home team, and Australia will not be used to the conditions here. Let's hope we can use this to our advantage.”

The Socceroos are in a bit of sticky situation of their own as a 2-0 defeat in Amman last month has seen the Asian champion relinquished the top position to Jordan, who have 13 points from five matches.

In fact it was that defeat which egged them to take this game very seriously and bring a full-strength side -- albeit without the injured trio of Tom Rogic, Tomi Juric and Matthew Spiranovic – to Dhaka last night.

So those who are coming to the 'Big Bowl' today, do expect an hour-and-thirty-minutes of entertaining football, and do hope the home side leave the pitch with their heads held high.