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There’ll be a big crowd sat around Jason Davidson’s television back home in Greece when the Socceroos take on Indonesia in a must win World Cup qualifier in Sydney on Thursday thanks to a travel plan twist that not even his father, Australian footballing royalty Alan, it seems anticipated.
“Unfortunately, my parents were actually coming over to Greece,” Jason says with a smile at the team hotel in the harbour city.
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Alan played 76 matches for Australia between 1980 and 1991 and was inducted into the Australian football Hall of Fame in 2001.
“They’d already planned the trip, so they won’t be there, but I’m sure they’ll be supporting through the TV,” he explained.
Also gathered around the box eagerly anticipating the 33-year-old’s return to the international stage will be Jason’s wife and two kids.
“They wanted the two weeks off school. They wanted to come here (to Australia) and then China, but unfortunately, they can’t take too much days off school.”
Davidson’s last appearance for the Socceroos was over one-thousand days ago: a friendly against Jordan in mid-2022. Prior to that the gap between games was almost seven years. A hamstring injury to Jordy Bos opened the door for Tony Popovic to end the exile.
“Everyone has a different opinion about players,” Davidson says.
“I thought, playing in Belgium at the time, I was doing as much as I could but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.
“Everyone wants to go out there and is hoping for an opportunity and it’s your responsibility as a player to go out there and take it.”
If it happens – he’s locked in a battle with squad mainstay Aziz Behich for a starting spot – you can bet, he will do just that.
Playing in the Greek Super League with Panserraikos has been eye opening, but a potentially useful training tool for performing under pressure.
“Let’s say, more hostile environments. I know we have a bit more rules and regulations here in Australia. Over there it’s a bit more cagey.”
Popovic is without six regular starters and made 10 changes to his squad from the last window in November.
“That’s the nature of the game,” midfielder Jackson Irvine says.
“We know we’re capable of filling those spots with strength and depth.
“Of course you want to have everybody here that’s possible. The reality for most teams is that is never going to be the situation.”
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Almost every match Irvine plays at the moment is like a final.
At FC St. Pauli, where he is captain, they’re fighting to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga after being promoted last season. It’s just as tense for the Socceroos.
Australia sits in second spot in group C ahead of the game against Indonesia with China to follow in Hangzhou on Tuesday night (AEDT).
A spot at the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico will be sealed if they can maintain that place through those fixtures and matches in June against Japan in Perth and Saudi Arabia away. The chasing pack from third to sixth are just one point behind. Even a minor slip-up could have big ramifications.
“Of course, every game is important, and every game is massive,” said Irvine.
“It’s brilliant to be a part of that for both club and country – high pressure, high stakes – that’s what you want as a player.”
A near sold out crowd will be on hand at the Sydney Football Stadium. The Socceroos haven’t played at the venue since 2017. It was a special occasion for Irvine who scored his maiden international goal in a 2-0 win over UAE.