Sydney FC midfielder Brett Emerton has urged the Australian team to produce a much-improved performance against Iraq on Wednesday morning.
The Socceroos are in desperate need of a victory after suffering a shock defeat to Jordan last month which has them sitting equal-third on the Group B table along with Iraq, two points behind Jordan and eight in arrears of group leaders Japan.
The fixture in Doha is extremely vital to Australia's 2014 World Cup hopes as a loss could put them in a position where they need to win their remaining matches and Emerton, who was overlooked by manager Holger Osieck, has urged a more efficient showing this time around.
"There is a lot of pressure. It's a big game for us, it really is," Emerton told AAP.
"If we can get all three points then it changes everything for us - the qualifying process becomes a lot simpler.
"Obviously with all the home games we have ahead of us, you couldn't really see us not qualifying but, if we lose the game on Wednesday morning, then it's a very different kettle of fish.
"So it is an important game for us. It's not do-or-die at this stage but it's pretty close so we need to really put in a good performance against Iraq."
