The result was of minor importance but the Socceroos demonstrated in their 2-2 draw with South Africa in London that they are capable of playing the type of fluid football which was their signature under Guus Hiddink.

In the Asian Cup last year and during the first phase of World Cup qualifying the Socceroos battled hard but rarely showed the fluent movement and pace that stretched all their opponents in Germany, even Brazil.

But the style was back against 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa. Style is not necessarily essential in the qualifiers, when all that matters is the result, but the ability to hold the ball during periods of great stress will be a determining factor in how well the Socceroos cope.

Despite the crisp performance in London, there are flaws coach Pim Verbeek must iron out before he takes his team to Tashkent on September 10 for the first qualifier against Uzbekistan.

Conceding two goals against South Africa is cause for some alarm but defence has been a Socceroos strong point and it will need to be against the Uzbeks who swept their World Cup qualifying group.

The most critical element to the 2-2 draw is how vital a role German-based striker Josh Kennedy has in Verbeek’s team. Kennedy was Hiddink’s lethal, though sparingly used, weapon in Germany. Under Verbeek he is, perhaps, the most important player, along with the recovering Tim Cahill.

Kennedy's height and pace, along with the four goals he has scored, gives the Socceroos a dimension to their game they do not have, even when the formidable Mark Viduka is fit.

But Kennedy, like Viduka and Cahill now, has had his injury problems and Verbeek will have a few anxious weeks ahead before the Socceroos regroup in Eindhoven for the warm-up game against the Netherlands on September 6.

SCOLARI v FERGUSON

The race for the English Premier League title will of course be of Olympic proportions as Chelsea and Manchester United chase each other for 38 rounds.

But equally fascinating will be the duel between Chelsea's new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari and Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson. Both are notoriously strong-willed and already there appears to be friction as a result of Scolari’s urging of United’s Cristiano Ronaldo to join Real Madrid.

And Ferguson was clearly cranky (more than usual) when Chelsea players suggested they would win the Premer League because of Scolari’s experience as coach of Portugal and 2002 World Cup champions Brazil.

The first meeting of the two heavyweights on September 21 at Stamford Bridge should be the season’s first flashpoint.