The Socceroos were warned to expect a hostile reception in Jordan, but they didn't expect to be greeted by the Jordanian military and a somewhat of a tank at their hotel.

Stories of the most hostile away game in recent years came flooding to the minds of the first team members to arrive in Amman when the alarming sight of the military and the amoured vehicle greeted them at their hotel on Sunday.

It was the sight that shocked midfielder Aaron Mooy, who - despite being told of Jordan's passionate soccer fans - never expected heavily armed soldiers and an amoured personnel vehicle to patrol the Socceroos' team hotel.

Upon the sight of the ramped-up security at their team hotel, Mooy immediately understood why Australian staff members and players have long spoken of the intimidation of playing in Jordan following their famous 2-1 loss in a World Cup qualifier in September 2012.



Despite a running track separating the field from the stands at the 25,000-capacity Amman International Stadium, the passion of the nearly all-male Jordanian crowd rattled some of the Socceroos, many of whom have played across Europe and Asia.