AM I the only one who doesn’t care how we qualify for the World Cup? Like Lucas Neill, I'll take the points over the performance any day.

However, in recent weeks, there's been a lot of talk about the Socceroos performances, the Socceroos coaching position and whether they'll stand a chance at the World Cup.

You know as well as I know that World Cup qualification is in the bag. So what's with all this Pim bashing that's been going on?

Okay, so his approach to the Asian Cup may not be the most desirable but I think he's learnt his lesson. At any rate, if he chooses an entirely A-League based squad again, he'll have some serious questions to answer. Also, we've been playing some pretty mediocre football lately, but we've still qualified. What has he really done that warrants people calling for his dismissal?

One person who has (quite publicly) called for Pim's possible replacement for the World Cup is Craig Foster. He argues that we need a quality coach to take us through the World Cup, i.e. another Guus. He also says that Pim has reached his peak and can do no more for us.

Having said that, Foster also writes "the evidence of Guus Hiddink's quality was visible straight away when the Socceroos smashed Jamaica in his first friendly".

Yes, JAMAICA.

They were ranked about 70 places below us at the time.

Possibly not the best indicator of coaching talent...

However, let's just say we did a get a new coach for South Africa (I hear Sven-Göran Eriksson is available). He could take us to World Cup glory, he could lead us through another group of death or he and his team could be the victims of another cup-hopes-destroying refereeing decision.

But whatever happens, this high profile, high ability coach is unlikely to want to coach us beyond the South Africa 2010. Like Guus, he will move on to bigger and better things. And then...

Well, we get Graham Arnold until the FFA find a replacement.

So if we actually manage to qualify for the next Asian Cup, it will again be with Arnie at the helm. Expect to see Ruben Zadkovich and Nikolai Topor-Stanley take to the field quite regularly. Look out, Asia!

There is, of course, the possibility of what is technically known as a miracle. We get a fabulous coach who not only takes us to World Cup glory, but also stays with us for a significant amount of time after it (or at least long enough for the FFA to get rid of any possible chance of Graham Arnold being made ‘caretaker' coach again, and I think you know what that involves).

Our performances may have not set the world on fire, but isn't the fact that we've qualified the most important thing? We may have ground out results, however, at the end of the day 3 points is 3 points.

I for one am happy to see my team win - even if it involves unfair red cards to the opposition, bone-crunching tackles which sideline their top scorer for 6 months, last-minute penalty misses by my team's biggest rival or a match winner deep into injury time.

In Germany 2006, you didn't hear the Italians saying, "we didn't play too well, the only reason we won the World Cup was because of a few dodgy refereeing decisions and a bit of diving on our part". They graciously accepted their World Cup win. To think that the Socceroos, given a bit of extra time, could've prevented me from having to see them holding the cup above their heads makes me feel sick.

So Craig and I have a difference of opinion. You and I may have a difference of opinion. But I find it very difficult to deny that a win is a win, despite the circumstances it comes in.

Japan are the sort of opposition that we will be facing at the World Cup. If we can win against them in June with a full strength squad, I don't think we should sack Pim.

However, if he continues to pick Brett Holman*, I may be more inclined to favour the ‘Sven 4 Socceroos South Africa' approach.

*just, you know, for example...