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The Rubicon has been crossed, gone are the old boring Socceroos, Australia now finds itself as a young upwardly mobile team in world football. First came Asian Cup success and now a confidence boosting 2-2 draw with Germany in their own backyard.
Goals for Australia came from Asian Cup hero James Troisi and captain Mile Jedinak, while Marco Reus and Lukas Podolski scored for the Germans.
So let’s analyse each individual performance, what did they did well and what needs to be improved for the game next week against FYR Macedonia.
Mathew Ryan
The Australian number one had a great game, he was tested early on by the German attack and would have been disappointed to concede from Reus after misreading the cross.
However, this didn’t deter the goalkeeper and he was responsible for keeping the score what it was at the end when Germany attacked, and he couldn’t be faulted for the second goal. Ryan’s improvement since the World Cup has been marvellous to see and he just needs to keep his good form going in the green and gold.
Rating: 8/10
Ivan Franjic
Franjic was slightly undercooked for this match having not played for his club Torpedo Moscow since he returned after the Asian Cup. At the start of the match you could evidently see this as he misplaced passes and let his man go past him on a number of occasions.
He worked his way into the game in the second half, but will be disappointed that both German goals came off his side of the pitch. Needs to improve for the next match, more time in training with the squad should help.
Rating: 5/10
Alex Wilkinson
A good performance for a player who’s only just started his club season in Korea. Settled well early and dealt with balls coming into the Australian box. Preformed his role well by distributing the ball to the full-backs and looked comfortable in possession. More of the same for the next game please.
Rating: 6/10
Luke DeVere
What a game to make your debut in, DeVere played well considering he has not played many games in 2015 after his move back to Brisbane from Korea. Like Wilkinson he dealt well in most with the German attackers but could have tracked the run of Reus better for the Germans’ first goal.
But he did well to vitally intercept Podolski at the end. Promising debut and he can only get better in the Socceroos shirt as his career progresses.
Rating: 6/10
Jason Davidson
Just like the rest of his defensive teammates he was underdone for this game having been completely overlooked for his club West Bromwich Albion. Continued his Asian Cup role by linking up with the midfield and getting forward to support the inside forwards.
He gave away the ball a number of times and some passes went astray. Like Franjic, more time in training with the squad and another game will give him a chance to improve.
Rating: 5/10
Mile Jedinak
Jedinak always puts his all into any game he play for the Socceroos and his commitment cannot be questioned. He played sloppy passes in the first half which allowed the Germans to score and then allowed another pass to go errant, which gave Reus a free one-on-one which went wide.
He grew into the game as it progressed and his free-kick, which gave Australia the lead, was wonderful. Defensively he was good in doubling up on players and breaking up the German attacks.
Rating: 7/10
Matt Mckay
Played well without being a standout, which is usually the way McKay plays. His role in the team is to win the ball and recycle it to the ball players and he did this well. Defensively he dropped back to form a good shield with Jedinak and Mark Milligan. He Showed why he is often trusted to play in the big games for Australia and didn’t let the team down.
Rating: 7/10
Mark Milligan
Just like McKay and Jedinak he played very well in keeping his position and moving the ball around to the ball players in the team. Dropped well when Australia didn’t have possession and made some good interceptions to break up the German’s rhythm. The shield that the three central midfielders played was important to get Australia into attack and defend.
Rating: 7/10
Nathan Burns
Given a starting place due to injuries to other key forwards, but showed why he was taken to the Asian Cup and why he’s the top Australian goalscorer in the A-League. Burns made some intelligent runs across the box and floated across the forward line in what was a fluid attack for Australia.
He could have got on the end of Leckie’s shot which fizzed across the goal mouth, but his cross for Troisi’s head was a dangerous one. Should keep his place for the next game but will need to be more ruthless in front of goal like he has been for his club.
Rating: 7/10
James Troisi
Great movement throughout the game interchanging positions with the other forwards in the team. His header was judged perfectly and he attacked it with some aggression that the German defenders could do nothing to stop it. He is becoming a key player for Australia, whether starting or being an impact substitute.
Troisi acted as a great conduit in transition to attack when Australia would break forward and his smart runs off the ball gave him space to receive the ball, which is how he won the free kick that Jedinak scored from. He should play again in the next match even if Holger Osieck doesn’t think he should.
Rating: 8/10
Mathew Leckie
Leckie continued his great form for the national team and looks to be a player full of confidence in the green and gold. Started the game in the central attacking role but roamed around and switched positions with his fellow forwards. His speed was a major way in which Australia counter attacked the Germans, and his runs through the centre were making the German centre-back look pedestrian.
He should have scored in the first half when he turned Holger Badstuber in the box, but his shot fizzed wide. He also should have buried Tommy Oar’s cross in the second half when the score was 2-1 to Australia. But apart from those misses he was very impressive. It will be interesting if Postecoglou plays Leckie through the middle or as an inside forward in the next match, especially if Tomi Juric is declared fit enough to play.
Rating: 9/10
Substitutes
Tommy Oar came on and played well, making some good runs when on the counter and playing a great one-two pass with Leckie which the latter headed onto the post.
Oliver Bozanic didn’t have long to get himself into the game but made no mistakes. Bailey Wright played well and made some good clearances and interceptions while he was on the field, and did well when German pressure was on.
Aaron Mooy didn’t have long to influence the game like we know he can, played one or two passes that went wide of his man but settled well. More to come from him.
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