Far from cohesive, the Socceroos were fortunate to come away from Bangkok last night with the three points and passage to the next phase of World Cup qualifying after being given an almighty scare by Datsakorn Thonglao and his Thai outfit.
For the most part, Holger Osieck’s men struggled to contain the gifted playmaker Thonglao, who consistently targeted and exposed the left side of Australia’s defence, where Michael Zullo had an unhappy return to the first 11.
Coming on the back of an equally unimpressive loss in Muscat on Saturday, it is first time under Osieck’s reign that serious question are being asked about the performances of the Roos and just how much the German has evolved the team.
In fairness, this was always likely to be the most difficult week of the first phase of qualifiers, with two matches on the road within a five day period, in trying conditions, no mean feat for any team.
But it has been the frustration shown by the manager in interviews before and after both games, and in the pre-match press conference in Thailand, that is perhaps the most instructive aspect of the past week.
For once, Osieck has appeared angry and frustrated. The jovial character the nation has come to know and love over the past year or so was replaced this week by one who appears agitated, and lacking the control he has hitherto exuded throughout his reign.
His reaction towards Carl Valeri, when the midfielder knocked a ball out for a Thai player to receive treatment, said much.
Meanwhile, there are whispers about his management of big-names Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell, both of whom have been in and out (mainly out) of the 11 during the first phase.
Little doubt Osieck’s remit, to regenerate the Socceroos 11, is never going to sit to easily with some of the more experienced members of his squad, now doubt keen to hang on as long as possible.
As much could be told from the comments by Sash Ognenovski after missing out to Matt Spiranovic in Oman.
It is as difficult a process as the experienced manager is likely to have confronted, and should give him plenty to ponder ahead of the second phase, seven months away.
While the manager appears to have a job on his hands to manage the playing group, he will be equally disturbed by its inability to control games.
More so, he will be alarmed that opponents are actually controlling the Roos for large parts of games.
While the Socceroos have won two of their three away games, and both their home games, the reality is that the team have only controlled two of their five qualifiers, away to Saudi Arabia and at home to Oman last month.
The other three have posed some serious questions, and while the Roos were able to extricate themselves from both games against Winfried Schaefer’s men, they had to rely on some wastefulness and a lack of ruthlessness from the Thai’s, especially last night.
At the very least, performances will need to improve significantly throughout the next phase if Australia are to qualify for Brazil.
As a disappointed Brett Holman told Fox’s Lara Pitt after the match, at this rate we might be looking at who we draw in the next phase rather than approaching the games with any confidence.
It is certainly no time for panic, and the calm heads and determination shown by Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Brett Emerton and Brett Holman in the final quarter of last night’s game are exactly what’s required from here.
But there are undoubtedly things Osieck needs to sort out.
The most pressing issue continues to be at left back, where Zullo was exposed last night by the pace of Suree Sukha and delivery of Thonglao.
While Osieck will of course want to preserve and develop Zullo into a bona fide international standard left back, he will also need to balance that desire against and assessment of performances.
The other area that appears a concern is in central midfield, where there is sameness about Mile Jedinak and Carl Valeri, both players who like to roll up the sleeves and make tackles rather than put their hand up and own a game, much as Thonglao did last night.
Any team hoping to control games needs to have a dominant engine, able to dictate the movement of the ball and break teams down through penetrating passing and incisive circulation of the ball.
Osieck has much work to do to get the balance right here, finding solutions that involve more than just getting the ball into wide areas and getting crosses into Josh Kennedy.
The lack of any game-time for Alex Brosque this week, after impressing during the most recent camp, was certainly a mystery to this observer.
Meanwhile, solutions need to be found to crack deep sitting defences, which the Roos encountered against Thailand in Brisbane and Oman in both Sydney and Muscat.
Throwing on the in-form Nicky Carle, in the final 30 minutes of a game that needs cracking, might be one such option, while Brosque and Robbie Kruse are others that have the subtlety and nimbleness around the edge of the box.
There is much time between now and the next phase of qualifiers, and fans of the Socceroos will be hoping performances are on the improve by then.
Kasey
Guest
C'mon Roger, we'e Australia, we don't run away from confrontation:) Lets line it up (If we draw Iranof course) and put it to bed once and for all. As pre-match entertainment we could get VICPOLto capture Peter Hoare andhave him drawn and quartered as the pre-match entertainment:) I would love to do the away trip to Tehran...100,000 in the Azadi would be a once in a lifetime experience:)
Roger
Guest
Hahaha, Jedi...... Skoko. Good one.
Roger
Guest
Yea, Herd was a pity. Really keen to see him on the pitch for the Socceroos. Maybe we will see him in a few months?
Roger
Guest
Heh, that sounds scary Kasey... but also enticing.
Danny Bhoy
Guest
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Brucey brucey brucey.... what have u been smoking?! Jedinak was terrible! Couldn't complete simple passes, gifted away possession numerous times by lumping long balls to no one, offered no movement once he distributed the ball, got caught on the ball several times, passed back or sideways most of the time (and still contrived to stuff these up), gave away many fouls for clumsy tackles and generally was lazy when attempting to retrive the ball (the one thing he's meant to do well)! How anyone could say he was our best player is beyond me! Paartulu, and McKay would be amazing!
Stevo
Guest
Sorry, comparing Jedinak to Skoko is like comparing a sow's ear to a silk purse. Jedi has poor distribution and inferior football awareness compared to Skoko. Watching a fit Skoko play for Heart, you could see he was a class above pretty much most A-league players. He was international standard compared to Jedinak's Championship league.
Bruce Walkley
Guest
Osieck should have yanked Valeri last night for not playing to the whistle when we were in a great goal-scoring position.. Jedinak was our best player - like Skoko before him, his brilliant ball distrbution has been underrated. We always played better when Skoko was in than when he wasn't. Same with Jedinak, who now does appear appreciated by Osieck. And it wouldn't surprise if Ognenovski has played his last game after his ill-considered comments.
Kasey
Guest
I hope we draw Iran. Not only would it be a very interesting away trip, but on the pitch, the west asian Nations have plateaued in recent years and I would love to get in the ear of the FFA about scheduling the home game against Iran at the MCG...We needed John Safran to exorcise the demons of the Witch doctorfrom JW's era, but imagine if we could exorcise the demons of 1997 all on our own? Would the FFA have the guts to schedule that game at the MCG. In Phase 3 Melbourne has been conspicuously absent from hosting the Socceroos(BRI & SYDx2), surely that means they re in line for a few Ph4 games?
j binnie
Guest
QsAF- a great contribution showing an ability to observe the bigger picture and not jumping to conclusions like the herd and blame one man who was hung out to dry by more experienced team-mates.As you say his "cover" was non existent and the almost constant flow of passes over his head should have been an "action point" for the defending midfielders who were constantly taken out of the play with the use of the longer than usual pass over their heads. In 45 minutes not one of these guys picked the flaw in the game plan that was causing the back four so much heart-ache.There are much greater problems than the left back position that today is more and more like a "deep lying winger'. Good work. jb
whiskeymac
Guest
a shame herd was injured. he wld be an interesting choice for the central mid position (i think he plays there for Villa?)
Johnno
Guest
King Robbo the soccer's should forever be proud to get a draw form that match against such a strong Brazil team. And Viduk's got sent off in final early which we lost 6-1. If he had stayed on we may of sneaked a draw or not loosed by much in the era of EL Tel's leadership.
King Robbo
Guest
The confed cup in 97 we drew with brazil in the group stages, but it was probably one of the the best brazilian teams of all time (up with the 1970 and 82 teams). They had ronaldo at his peak, romario, bebeto, roberto carlos, cafu etc At the time they were unbeatable. I remember high fives when mark viduka was substituted near the end of the game, never seen so one so elated in getting a draw. Note we lost the next game to the saudi's.
Hamish Alcorn
Guest
Agree. Mackay can run a game from midfield. He had a good game last night. Twice he made visionary passes that frankly were ahead of the people he passed to and they stuffed it up. Defensively he is great, wherever he is on the pitch, he presses like a mother f***ker and often dispossesses the opposition. Reads the game very well. When things are down he can inspire new life. He should be captain in 2014. Radical I know. But it's the answer. Mackay is pretty new to the Roos but he should not be treated as a developing player. He's 28 and is playing first team for Rangers. Last year he... well we know what he did. He's peaking and has taken all the responsibility given him. He will take more if he's given it. The Roar would have beaten Thaliand 3:0 last night.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
I am thinking that Archie Thompson should be given another chance. Surely his performance against the Roar has earned him another chance up front.
Johnno
Guest
Nod bad eh fuss not at at all mate. In fact i would say good. Funny thing is FUsss we seem to have a habit of beating world class teams in friendlies. And Holger coached as assistant to the Kasier Franza Bekkenbauer at Italia 90. From memory in 1997 confeds cup after the IRAN DISASTER WE BEAT brazil 1-0, then lost 6-1 in the final to BRAZIL abliet with a 10 man Mark vicuka send off early in the final. Wow i think that 199/798 soccer's team would of really given under EL TEL Terry Venables , all teasm a real shake up in that 98 world cup. Oh well only hypothetical, and strangely last 1 year after having learnt about soccer more and more, and reading it's history here on the roar I think socceroos not making France 98/ or 2002 world cup was a blessing in disguise for multiple reasons. Funny we have beaten Brazil, England,Germany,Holland , Irleand in friendlies in the last 15 years. I really feel for Turkey not making euro 2012 they are a good team and have done okay in last 15 years, and good for soccer i think when turkey does well. And germane palyer of Turkish heritage Mehmet Ozil is class player the new breed of German footballer, wow did Germany have a young athletic class side in 2010 world cup, lost to a highly classy Spain side, but they will be a danger come 2012 euro and WC 2014. And russia under guss, they would of really scared some teams in world cup 2010. They made euro 2008 semi final under guss beat holland, and players like arshavin and co some top players. Good for soccer to when russia gets good results, they if they have a half decent team will be awfully tough to beat in world cup 2018.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
If you don't understand my point, then may I respectfully suggest my post wasn't meant for you so, carry on with whatever you're doing.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Certainly was, Johnno 29 March 2011: Borussia-Park, Mönchengladbach GER 1 - 2 AUS (Ger: Gomez 26'; Aus: Carney 61', Wilkshire (pen) 64') Attendance: 30.2k The only time Jogi Löw's team has been beaten in the past 20 matches was against the lads from Down Under. Not bad, heh!
oly
Guest
Yes and England beat the world champions last week, what's your point? Australia has never had a problem of lifting for friendly matches against big name European opposition. This debate is about looking at what is wrong with the team at the moment and what needs to improve before the fourth round of qualifying so we make it to Brazil.
Johnno
Guest
Was it Australia fuss.
Dave McD
Guest
The answer has been in the 11 consistently...Matt Mckay. He has the engine and drive to boss the centre of midfield like he did for the Roar and is starting to do for Rangers. I hope Holger puts him there against Saudi Arabia.