- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Socceroos finished their preparations for the final phase of World Cup qualification with a single win and two losses to England and Greece. There were highlights and lowlights of the friendlies which will provide Ange Postecoglou with some clarity over future selections.
The inclusion of uncapped and inexperienced players signified Postecoglou’s mindset heading into the friendlies. Overall, the play from Australia was positive with Postecoglou’s philosophy developing and improving with each match.
The three games featured a number of key takeaways pivotal to the future of the Socceroos and international football.
Mile Jedinak is Australia’s most valuable player
Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak watched on from the sidelines as Australia struggled mightily against Greece in their 2-1 loss. The Socceroos missed the composure, strength and passing of Jedinak as their midfield collapsed under the immense pressure of the Greeks.
The final friendly personified the importance of Jedinak in the midfield. Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic did not seem comfortable playing out from the back – a rare sign – and this was all due to the absence of Jedinak. His worth was proven here as even Bailey Wright and Trent Sainsbury looked uncomfortable in trusting Milligan as their holding midfielder.
Similarly, Australia’s defence was penetrated consistently. The tall stature of Jedinak was replaced with Milligan in the middle and caused a lack of physicality and presence which the back four needed.
In comparison, the other two friendlies Jedinak started in, Australia’s defence look stout. The confidence he gives the back four and his partnering midfielders is significant and as we move forward in our qualifications it’s become ever more obvious that Mile is a must.
Brad Smith is Australia’s future at left back
Since Postecoglou’s appointment, the left back position has been up for grabs. Jason Davidson, Aziz Behich, Curtis Good, Brad Smith and most recently Alex Gersbach have all had the chance to claim the spot with injuries, inconsistent performances and style going against Davdison, Behich and Good.
Smith’s emergence this season has sealed his spot as Australia’s left back. The pace and crossing aptitude he exudes is the prototypical fullback Postecoglou wants to play with.
The recent friendlies have shown he is capable of competing at the highest level, and with Postecoglou looking to solidify his staring side, Smith looks like the direction the Socceroos should go in.
The midfield conundrum
Jedinak is the only Australian pencilled into the midfield three for every crucial game – the two other spots are as open as ever. Massimo Luongo, Mark Milligan, Aron Mooy, Tom Rogic and Matt McKay are all viable options.
Postecoglou has tried multiple combinations over the three games with Mooy and Rogic being the standouts. However, in recent history Luongo has been the key midfield threat, with his versatility and passing making him a lethal player.
Of late, Postecoglou has employed him as a winger. The experiment has been unsuccessful to date due to Luongo’s inability to play wide. Instead, he floats infield, clogging up passing lanes for the other three midfielders.
While there is no set solution for this conundrum, Postecoglou is best off going with players that match up well with their opponents. Players like Rogic shine against teams that sit further back whereas he struggles against teams that play high pressure.
No Timmy, no goals
Three goals in three games would be good for a single player, not an international team. A header from a corner, a long shot and an own goal were the types of goals scored as Australia continued to struggle up front.
Only Tim Cahill provides a constant threat up front with Apostolos Giannou yet to break his duck. Cahill’s aerial threat sets him apart from every Socceroos striker. His positioning and potency is unmatched and currently the Socceroos face the dilemma where the drop off between Cahill and the second choice striker is significant.
Jamie McClaren was brought into the squad to make his debut against England and was out of his depth. Chris Ikonomidis has potential written all over him, he just needs time to develop. Giannou has shown to have nice touches around the 18 yard box with deft touches and skilful turns but his finishing is questionable.
Other than that, the Socceroos have used Tomi Juric as a striker. His two goals in 16 caps is encouraging but isn’t the result the Socceroos would be looking for.
Overall the Socceroos provided positive moments through their friendlies. The 2-1 loss to England and 1-0 win over Greece showcased the stylistic changes Postecoglou has instilled in the players. Heading into the final phase of the World Cup qualifiers, the Socceroos will look to build on these results and inevitably qualify for their third consecutive FIFA World Cup.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.