The Socceroos are much better with classy midfielder Mark Bresciano back in the fold.
It only took two minutes for the 32-year old’s pure ability to be shown. A one-two with Harry Kewell and then a beautifully weighted 40-metre pass found James Troisi on the left flank.
Troisi’s pin-point cross found Brett Emerton, who headed it towards the goal. The goal was disallowed for offside because of Harry Kewell’s final touch to knock it in, but that didn’t matter.
The impact of Bresciano and what we had been missing for nearly two years in the green and gold was evident.
Good on the ball, unafraid to get stuck in, adept at dead ball situations, versatile and with an eye for goal.
We saw it again in the 31st minute when drove a decent first-time shot at the Saudi goal from a Brosque chest down. There was a bit of rust, but you can say that about the whole squad. Here was a passionate player who clearly relished being back as a Socceroo.
His vision was again evident in the 42nd minute when he set up Brosque’s first goal with a smart first-time dink through to the striker.
Fox Sports commentator Simon Hill called it a sublime assist, and Hill was spot on. This is was Australia needs more of – players who can set-up and create attacking play.
Despite Bresciano’s age he still has pace and can turn a defender, as he showed in the 61st minute when he forced one of the Saudi players into committing a foul for which he received a yellow card.
He then set up Australia’s fourth goal with a nice pass through two defenders to Brett Emerton in the 76th minute.
Some football fans have quickly forgot Bresciano’s ability and pure quality since taking a break from the national set up at the end of the 2010 World Cup. But this is a player who is being playing for Australia for 16 years, since he was 16 years old – from the Joeys to the Young Socceroos, the Olyroos and then 58 caps for the Socceroos.
He’s played in youth World Cups, the Sydney Olympics and two senior World Cups. He’s also had a long stint in Italy’s Serie A, one of the best leagues in the world. Bresciano has had more success in Italy than any other Australia – nearly 10 years in the top flight with Empoli, Parma, Palermo and Lazio. Now, he playing in the UAE, admittedly in a much weaker league, but he is clearly dominating with eight goals in 12 games this season.
This is man with a knack for scoring – 11 for Australia and averaging over 10 goals a season in club football in defence focused Italy. His most important goal cannot be forgotten, the 2005 strike in the famous World Cup qualifier against Uruguay at Homebush.
Technically gifted players are rare in Australia, and we have one in Marco Bresciano.
Thank god he’s back.
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