The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Postecoglou got everything right but the result

The January transfer window will be a busy one for the Australian coach. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Roar Guru
18th January, 2015
8

Social media went into overdrive after Australia lost to South Korea in a match that was always going to be more difficult than many seemed to believe.

Much of the criticism fell at the feet of Ange Postecoglou for picking what was dubbed as an understrength line-up.

It lacked the presence of Tim Cahill, Matthew Leckie and Robbie Kruse up front, but they were replaced by the A-League’s top scorer, Nathan Burns, Australia’s best up and coming number 9, Tomi Juric and one of Australia’s most creative number 10s, James Troisi.

The midfield and the defence was exactly the same as the ones that started against Oman, other than Aziz Behich coming in for Jason Davidson.

The Socceroos played well, far better than the South Koreans with all the stats – except the goals – leaning in the Australians’ favour. The Socceroos’ 63 per cent of the ball, five shots on target, 280 per cent more completed passes and 28 corners are all signs of Australian dominance.

Juric, Burns and Troisi aren’t the reason Australia lost this game – it was a lapse in concentration that saw Lee Jung-Hyub stud the ball into Mat Ryan’s net.

A lapse of concentration is the fault of the whole team and not just an individual.

Park Joo-Ho had been taken off the field and the South Koreans were down to ten men and they were switched on, the Socceroos were not.

Advertisement

It really was that simple.

Any manager worth his salt will know that you never start your best side, otherwise any alteration you make will make the side weaker. The starting eleven should not have been a concern because the Australian 23-man squad is a good one.

The only thing I can question Postecoglou on is how long it took him to make a change. It was an hour before he brought on Leckie and he only allowed Kruse and Cahill 20 minutes to make a difference.

A half-time sub could have been effective.

But to look at the positives, Australia are through to the knockout stage with two wins and eight goals.

Stop blaming the referee, stop blaming the pitch, stop blaming Postecoglou and most of all stop blaming the players. They lost but they are still in the cup and still have as big of a chance as any to win their first major trophy.

The Socceroos face China in Brisbane on Thursday, a win there would likely see them face Japan in Newcastle and from there, nothing is impossible.

Advertisement

Get behind our team and enjoy the journey that Ange Postecoglou is taking us on.

Follow me on Twitter @dylaneloiarvela

close