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England took a one-goal win over the Socceroos in the international friendly played in Sunderland, thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney.
REPORT: UPBEAT SOCCEROOS GO DOWN TO ENGLAND
Final score
England 2
Australia 1
The Socceroos put themselves to the test in one of sport’s grudge matches, as they line up on enemy soil to face England in an international friendly at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:30am (AEST).
Australian football has developed high and mightily since February 12, 2003, when it had been 29 years since their last World Cup appearance.
But entry into Asia, three World Cup appearances, and a continental triumph later, the development of Australian football is far removed from the talented national team that staged one of the Socceroos’ more memorable victories that night at Upton Park.
While Australian football is vastly superior for the time since, an argument can be made the XI that Ange Postecoglou will start is not of the 2003 vintage, all of whom were European regulars, and many would later go on to star at the groundbreaking 2006 World Cup campaign.
This team is cobbled together from last year’s triumphant Asian Cup campaign, alongside future hopefuls handpicked from the A-League and lower European competitions.
Yet while Australia’s ambition remains the same, England’s is not. The 2003 friendly was a match without context for the Three Lions, emphasised further given the result. It spoke volumes that Sven Goran Eriksson jettisoned his entire first XI for the second half. This time around, Roy Hodgson has to think about this game in the context of the fast-approaching Euro 2016 in France.
Following their 2-1 win over Turkey last week, Hodgson will surely change his team ahead of the final Euro squad selection on Wednesday. The manager has already ruled out Harry Kane from his starting line-up, while both Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge are out. That earmarks the potential debut of 18-year-old Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, with his club captain Wayne Rooney likely to be the only player from 2003 to feature.
Hodgson may also rotate his midfield, with Jordan Henderson and Fabian Delph likely to replace Eric Dier and Dele Alli. Joe Hart should retain the gloves, with John Stones and Gary Cahill set to play central defence.
The Socceroos are without numerous regulars, like Tim Cahill, Trent Sainsbury and James Troisi. With Mat Ryan in goal, a back four of Josh Risdon, Bailey Wright, Alex Wilkinson and Liverpool’s Brad Smith is likely, while Postecoglou’s preference for attacking football will probably see one of Aaron Mooy or Massimo Luongo stationed ahead of a defensive duo of Mile Jedinak and Mark Milligan. Up front, the likes of Tom Rogic and Robbie Kruse are available to supply lone striker Tomi Juric. A 4-2-3-1 is Postecoglou’s likely formation.
Postecoglou has raised the challenge to his team to meet this litmus test head on, and close the gap between victors of Asia, and challengers in the 2018 World Cup.
Prediction
Given the gulf in quality between the two sides, coupled with England’s motivation not to be embarrassed ahead of the Euros, back a Three Lions victory.
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