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Outclassed Socceroos not up to scratch

Roar Guru
13th June, 2010
35

The aftermath of a 4-0 loss brings heavy criticism. Given it was Australia losing to powerhouse Germany, it may come in a lesser form – but what we come to expect from an Australian side was not on show.

Coming up against a strong side, the Socceroos needed to show work ethic, desire, effort and a unity to get something out of the encounter.

All things strongly associated with Australian teams.

It didn’t happen.

Yes, it was a positive start but from the moment Lukas Podolski stung Mark Schwarzer’s gloves and found the net – the Socceroos fell away.

There was no fight.

Captain Lucas Neill and co called for offside decisions when they simply weren’t there.

Schwarzer was uncharacteristically caught out soon after when Miroslav Klose beat him to the ball in the air and headed into an empty net.

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It was a struggle.

German midfielder Mesut Ozil was free to run amok in midfield.

Playing in the hole behind the striker’s, Ozil was left in plenty of space and he made it count.

Only Brett Emerton, Jason Culina, Luke Wilkshire and Verbeek’s trio of substitutes showed any real desire.

It went more pear-shaped in the second half.

First, a handball in the German defensive area went unspotted before Tim Cahill was wrongly sent off.

He slid from behind but contact was minimal – even Cahill was shocked by the decision.

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Thomas Muller twisted and turned before finishing sensationally and Cacau had a simple finish after an Ozil cut back.

Neill’s defensive partner Craig Moore looked slow and largely at sixes and sevens in his positioning.

Even the ever-reliable Scott Chipperfield showed his ageing legs in a defence carved up at will in the 90 minutes.

There was too much space left by the defensive midfielders.

Verbeek’s tactics can be brought up for discussion particularly opting for a 4-4-2 after deciding not to bring Scott McDonald.

But regardless of the tactics and the 4-0 thumping, the Socceroos players lacked what fans appreciate from Australia.

There wasn’t the fight or the spirit and the team needs to regroup and show some emotional connection to the result in their next two games.

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BEST GOAL: Thomas Muller (Germany) – fine turn and a perfect finish into the corner and off the post.

LOVE TO BE: Joachim Low (Germany) – the perfect way to start a major tournament.

HATE TO BE: Zdravko Kuzmanovic (Serbia) – came on as a substitute and gave away a penalty with a hanging hand in the air as his side went down 1-0.

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