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Harry Kewell of Australia is challenged by Mohammed Addullah of Oman and team-mate Mohamed Rabia Jamaan Al Noobi during a FIFA Asian Cup qualifying match, played at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. Australia is leading 1-0 deep into the second half. AAP Image/Joe Castro
Losing may not have been an option according to the marketers, but for much of the first half last night, Omani attacking midfielder Fawzi Basheer threatened to shift Australia’s planning post-South Africa from Qatar to Brazil.
Had Hassan Rabea taken the chance that Basheer delightfully teed up for him midway through the half, and had Mark Schwarzer not got his gloves to Basheer’s effort from the byline a couple of minutes earlier, losing may well have been the only option.
As it was, the Socceroos survived the first period, upped the tempo in the second, and ultimately did enough to deliver the killer blow, which came from the usual source.
It was an intriguing match, right from the start, with the Socceroos delivering on their promise to get at Oman and try and grab an early goal that would settle a nervous and expectant nation.
Kewell did some lovely early one-on-one work down the left, but the route to goal was more obvious; get it wide, especially to Brett Emerton and Luke Wilkshire down the right, and get it in to Josh Kennedy and Tim Cahill.
A direct header, knock-down or some second-ball-scraps, whatever it would took, that would be the mode. It is the Pim Verbeek attacking template.
Despite some good aerial outlet from Kennedy and Cahill, the ball just didn’t drop. That and some excellent aerial work from giant goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.
Early the Socceroos defence, which has had many question raised about its age and subsequent lack of toe, kept a high line, even trapping Oman offside on one occasion.
But then, on 20 minutes, Basheer released the quick Amad Al Hossani down the right. He sped past Lucas Neill, drew Craig Moore across, only to miss his target in the middle.
That warning, the pace of Rabea and Al Hossani, and the trickery of Basheer forced the Socceroos back. For the next 25 minutes, the Socceroos were in retreat mode, a common trait under Verbeek.
The centre backs dropped off, the holding midfielders started treading on their toes, and the gap between defence and attack grew wider.
There was the odd bit of encouragement in attack, but, generally, heads were being shaken and quizzical looks were being exchanged, on the field and off it.
It is at times like this where eye-brows are raised about just whether there are enough legs in the starting 11 to compete at the top level. Whether Verbeek has refreshed the starting 11 enough since Germany?
Certainly there remains an air of predictability not only about the start 11, but much of Verbeek’s tactics.
Refreshingly, Dario Vidosic offered a little bit off the bench, but even Verbeek will admit there is still much to do to get this team ticking in the front third.
There were better signs in the second period as Jason Culina lifted his game and lifted himself higher up the pitch, and the Socceroos started to get a little more joy down the flanks.
Scott Chipperfield and Neill were battered in the first period, but showed they are made of stern stuff by bouncing back to influence late on, while Cahill and Kennedy kept offering themselves, eventually jagging a winner.
Surviving what looked a fair shout for a penalty, it finally looked like Australia’s night. Suddenly, job down, pressure released, the football came out.
On one occasion they even knocked a delightful 20 or so passes.
But it was a tense up until then, confirming Verbeek has much work to do.
Commercially, Cahill’s rescue-acts are priceless, for they allows the FFA to sign their Hugo Boss deals, crucial to the ongoing development of the game, but between now and June 2010, the focus should primarily be on ensuring the team suits-up on the field.
A reality check against the Dutch and a nervous night at Etihad should at least ensure that heads remain level ahead of South Africa, and that mightn’t be the worse thing.
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