Australia's Scott McDonald and Iraq's Haidar Hussain during the Australian Socceroos v Iraq World Cup qualifier. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Middlesbrough striker Scott McDonald was the victim as Pim Verbeek cut his squad down to 25. The omission of McDonald was the major talking point, with the Socceroos style, not his own ability, the key reason cited for him missing the squad.
The former Celtic striker hasn’t scored in sixteen international appearances, a large chunk as a substitute and a great portion as the lone man up front.
Despite having a decent first touch and a body shape allowing him to hold up play, McDonald stands at 173cm tall – simply too small when against towering central defenders.
Monday night’s farewell against New Zealand showed a flaw in Verbeek’s style. It appears the Socceroos have one tactic and the Dutchman wants to stick with it regardless of the situation.
When the Socceroos play the Kiwis in football, Australia should dominate, controlling the ball and the play through midfield with the ability to create numerous chances up front. This didn’t happen.
It looked like the Socceroos had travelled thousands of kilometers to play at altitude in order to scrap a point against one of its Asian counterparts.
However, the concern in the lead-up to the World Cup has been goals and defence, and after Monday night, it could be the midfield, as well.
The wide areas are fine – Scott Chipperfield and most probably Luke Wilkshire – though questions were raised centrally. Michael Beauchamp showed plenty of poise compared to Craig Moore against the Kiwis and could be edging for a starting berth.
Vince Grella is lacking match practice, and Carl Valeri and Mile Jedinak took up the holding posts well in the second half. Jason Culina will get one spot, Valeri is likely to have the second if Grella doesn’t show improvement.
On the fringes, Mark Bresciano is lacking some match fitness, but is a proven match winner, while Brett Emerton is likely to slot in on the right with Harry Kewell, hopefully as the one-man strike force.
The other strikers in the squad are Josh Kennedy and Nikita Rukavytsya – two men probably not up to the standard of breaking down defenders from Germany or Serbia.
The hero against the Kiwis, Brett Holman, can also play up front if needed.
Jade North and Nick Carle were also, unsurprisingly, cut from the squad, with Eugene Galekovic an injury backup and Tommy Oar and James Holland not making the 23, unless Verbeek only has to cut two others to finalise his squad.
However, McDonald was the unlucky one.
He scored goals for fun while at Celtic and has found the net at intervals at Middlesbrough, when he’s been fit. Verbeek’s 4-2-3-1 formation doesn’t suit the Melbourne-born striker and both Verbeek and McDonald admitted to that yesterday.
He’s the victim of the team’s style – not his own ability.
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.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
Nestory Irankunda has sensationally rejected the chance to play at the Paris Olympics this June after a late bid from the Olyroos to include…
Mathew Ryan's tenure at AZ Alkmaar appears to be over, as the Eredivisie side are seemingly moving on from the 93-time Socceroo. The decision…
One down 49 to go. Socceroos striker Kusini Yengi raised some eyebrows this week when he declared himself to be the talisman striker the…
