One by one the Socceroos lined up to call their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Oman on Friday the loss they needed. “There’s absolutely no need to hit the panic button – what that result should be is a rude awakening,” said goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
“If that doesn’t give everyone a kick up the backside, then nothing will.”
Captain Lucas Neill agreed saying: “This might be the reminder we needed that things were going a bit too comfortable.”
Taken alongside the response to their poor performance when they last faced tonight’s opponents Thailand in September, the belief is this isn’t an attempt to deflect blame but healthy motivational channeling from the collective – turning a negative result into a positive motivator.
It may well be steeped in hindsight, but recent history also pointed to Friday’s game being a significant obstacle for the Socceroos.
While Oman had never won against the Australians, it took a last gasp Tim Cahill header to salvage a draw with the gulf nation at the 2007 Asian Cup and a solitary goal was the only difference between the two teams in both encounters during qualification for the 2011 Asian Cup.
But that’s all just lies, damn lies and statistics because Australia didn’t just lose to Oman; they were awful.
The reasoning of coach Holger Osieck upon arriving in Bangkok on Saturday was the Socceroos struggle to break down defensive teams.
“When we play, we hardly have any open games,” he said.
“We dominate, we pass, and the opponent is happy to just kick the ball away and go for the counter. That is what we have to face.”
This challenge is further compounded when the opponent is filled with quick, technical players able to scythe through Australia’s defensive structure on the counter and Asia is filled with these. On Friday, Oman’s task was made all the more easier when, on their goal scoring attack, three of the Socceroos’ back four were caught out of position.
While Australia is still well on track to progress to the next stage of World Cup qualifying, Osieck’s tinkering against Oman hints that there remains work to be done.
Who is the best defensive partner for Neill? Can the German tactician afford to keep trying to fit square pegs into round holes as he did by dropping left-back Michael Zullo for the returning Harry Kewell on Friday?
So, what went wrong against Oman – a bad night at the office or a reminder of where Australia is placed at the moment? Tonight against Thailand the Socceroos have an opportunity to answer that question.
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The Bear
Guest
This should be pretty open, so it should be anyone's game. You would think Australia would be hungrier and perhaps Thai's feeling that they have lost their opportunity. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
If you never lost games what would be the point of watching.
Roarchild
Guest
If they adapt to the conditions this might even be easier than the game in Brisbane just because Thailand should be a little more open.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
If we play to our preferred system this should not be a difficult game. The lads know they played well below their normal standard and, even away from home, THA is nowhere near as difficult as Germany away, Serbia in Sth Africa, etc. When the pressure is on, our lads have responded in recent times. THA 0 - 4 AUS is my prediction.
Johnno
Guest
1) Beating Thailand in Thailand is a tricky match. Full house vocal crowd, air pollution and humid conditions of Bankok 2) Thailand skilled team and paly with a lot of flair and organised in defence 3)Thailand is on an emotional low right now, and the This soccer players will want to make the 66million people and the there King who is held in high esteem very proud. 4)Soccer in thailand is booming and strong league developing, robbie fowler in thailand comp, they have won the rights to the futsal world cup in 2012. FIFA would love Thailand to make the soccer world cup in 2014, so thailand are very motivated as greta opportunity to get win Plus's for Aussies Most fo the team all play in higher standard leagues in europe than thailand team More big game international experience Also injury to key Thailand players, one of there strikers, and other striker just returning form the bench, and lost good left back suspension. Stadium is in centre of town only about 22,000 but right in centre of town so will be good. There bigger stadium is in the outskirts and used for floods crisis. Will eb a close game i have a feeling thailand will win but close game no doubt. Both have high quality German head coaches.
Griffo
Roar Guru
For me it is both: a bad night but we are still a team in transition. Square pegs in round holes is apt as players are evaluated in meaningful games, and those like McKay fill in out of position. Holger wants two players for every position. I think he has for a good number of positions at least a third of fourth player in mind. I think he also wants the top two players to get regular game time so they can slot into the side without disruption. Don't think he is there yet but is getting closer. Thailand tonight will be tricky in more ways than one. At home they will have a vocal crowd behind them. They may be well organised in defence but will be all flair and agression in attack. If we have another 'off' night in defence, as the Thais showed in their goal away to us, they will put a few in. If we are toothless in attack without our most potent attack options to date starting, it will be a long night. We will be up for it, will just come down to player choices and positions.
JAJI
Guest
Its a difficult call - 2011 has been a very positive year for the Socceroos apart from one or 2 glitches. They had a great Asian Cup and should have won the final against a Japan side that is most likely the leading country in the region with players playing at a higher level than most Socceroos. There were impressive friendly wins against Germany and Wales and qualifiers against Oman in Sydney and Saudi Arabia away.However there have also been the tepid performances against Thailand and last Friday's game against Oman How they bounce back tonight will be a guideline to how we are going in tough away conditions against the plucky Thais We are going to have to show more consistency in the final round of qualifiers because there are some tricky opponents starting to gather