HOLGER Osieck has three games to secure Australia's place at next year's FIFA World Cup or else he could face the axe.

The Socceroos play their final three Group B qualifiers from June 4-18 but third place would leave them with a two-legged September playoff against third from the other Asian group, with the winner to take on South America's fifth-best side in November.



Football Federation Australia will review Osieck's position after the final qualifier against Iraq on June 18 with the team's performances over the next 270 minutes to largely determine his fate.



The Herald Sun understands that FFA will appoint a local coach if it chooses to dismiss Osieck.



Melbourne Victory's Ange Postecoglou, Central Coast's Graham Arnold and Western Sydney's Tony Popovic are the three candidates, although no official approaches have been made.



Pending the review, the under siege Osieck could be punted even if he secures second spot and qualifies automatically for Brazil 2014.



It's believed FFA would not hesitate acting earlier should Tuesday's qualifier away to group leaders Japan prove a disaster.



FFA chief executive David Gallop refused to discuss specifics on Osieck but he wasn't backing down from previous remarks about the pressure on the team to qualify.



"There is not much to add to what's been said before. We want to qualify for the World Cup and the pressure is on for us to qualify," Gallop said.



Osieck was put on notice by Gallop after the 2-2 draw at home to Oman and another poor performance would leave the German on shaky ground.



He isn't the only nervous Socceroos staffer, with a forensic examination of their inner-sanctum taking place in recent months.



National teams boss John Boultbee became the first casualty last week while several more of Osieck's closest allies are in the gun.FFA would be prepared to give the new coach a blank canvas to work with and bring in his own staff.



Osieck was appointed in August 2010 after a prolonged search for Pim Verbeek's replacement and he is contracted until the end of Australia's 2014 World Cup cycle, which is June 18 if the Socceroos finish lower than third.



After a promising start to Osieck's tenure, where the Socceroos reached the final of the 2011 Asian Cup, the team has stagnated and the performances have dropped off.



Originally published as Three matches to seal Osieck's fate