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Australia's Scott McDonald (left) and Wales' Ashley Williams (right) battle for the ball during the International Friendly at Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff , Wednesday Aug. 10, 2011. (AP Photo/ Nick Potts/PA )
Compact, organised and dominant – the three words that best sum up the Socceroos’ 2-1 win over Wales in Cardiff this morning, with a host of Australians standing up to be counted against a strong Wales lineup.
With Harry Kewell and Brett Holman the most notable absentees heading into the match, I was concerned that Australia would lack fluency in its build up play.
Holman’s ability to play between the lines and regularly create that incisive move when Australia wins the ball back in an advanced position has distinguished him from the rest of his team-mates over the past 18 months.
In my opinion, one of Holger Osieck’s greatest successes since he took over as national team boss last year has been finding a way to play both Cahill and Holman in the same team.
Yet, while the effect of the AZ Alkmaar midfielder’s absence was visible, it was limited by the emergence of a team who are clearly coming to grips with their coach’s game plan.
With Australia’s starting XI providing a mixture of youth and experience, the performance of two players in particular stood out for me.
Regular game time in Japan with Urawa Reds seems to be starting to pay off for former North Geelong defender Matthew Spiranovic. The 23-year-old demonstrated the kind of ability and class that he hinted at during the 2008 Olympics but has failed to provide at senior international level.
Sasa Ognenovski and John McKain will no doubt have been watching on with great interest.
However the biggest plaudits must go to Scott McDonald who showed if you can’t score goals for your national team then simply start creating them for others.
The combination play around the area that led to the Socceroos’ second goal was simply exceptional and McDonald played a huge part in it.
When the Middlesbrough striker was dropped from the national team following the 2011 Asian Cup, I suspected his future with the Socceroos was coming to a close. Yet against Wales, his mobility in the number nine role proved invaluable.
With Brent McGrath on the outer with FFA’s coaching staff following his refusal to join the Young Socceroos for their U-20 World Cup campaign in Colombia, the door might not have slammed shut on McDonald’s international career just yet.
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