Believe it or not after all the drama on Wednesday February 29th 2012, but a game of football took place in Melbourne – the Socceroos.
The Socceroos punished Saudi Arabia to the bleak prospect of a World Cup-less 2014, as they came back twice to stun the Saudis in a 4-2 win.
Alex Brosque would score a double, Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell would also score for the national team.
There were a few points to take from the Socceroos performance, here they are:
Holger Osieck’s set-up
Evergreen Mark Schwarzer played his 95th game in the sticks, Sasa Ognenovski and Jade North were recalled for national duties and joined Lucas Neill and Matt Spiranovic in front of Schwarzer. Marco Bresciano and Mark Milligan were the midfield pairing, with Brett Emerton and James Troisi on the right and left respectively. Alex Brosque and Harry Kewell started up the front.
How I would’ve lined up:
My starting XI went a little something like this: Ryan, Marrone, Neill, Thwaite, Carney, Emerton, Paartalu, Carle, Bresciano, Kewell, Brosque. Fairly different to one Holger picked, you might say. I have a lot of respect for Mark Schwarzer, I just thought it would have been a great experience, occasion for young Ryan to debut.
My choices for full-backs were Marrone and Rose, but with Rose not being picked, I’d have given Carney a last chance to go at it. Neill picks himself as captain, and I would have liked to have seen Thwaite given a go next to him.
Emerton was my pick from this squad and I would have started Bresciano on the left, I would be proven wrong on that however during the game. In the midfield, I had Erik Paartalu and Nick Carle. Both have been in great touch domestically and would offer plenty going forward and defensively. It was great seeing them rewarded with squad selection.
The same went for Harry Kewell, who has been going strong recently for Victory and deserved a start. It was also nice to see Alex Brosque get a start in national colours after being a squaddie in recent qualifiers.
Four centre backs
Having selected specialist wide players/full-backs Marrone, Carney in the squad, it was weird to see Oscieck go with usual centre-halves Spiranovic and North as full backs. It was a poor start from the full-backs, who struggled to attack and not providing a crucial option, link to the midfield out wide.
That would change as both North and Spiranovic would get in to the game. Don’t know if it’s a move I would go with again if I were Oscieck, but I’m not the coach.
Static first half and the slowest of starts
The biggest problem in the first half was the slow, static play by the Socceroos as they allowed the Saudis time on the ball and space to move. But when the Roos did have possession, there wasn’t much going on anyway. Brosque and Kewell were slow getting familiar with each other again and weren’t given much to work with, the wingers weren’t involved and the full-backs (Spiranovic and North) weren’t attacking nor linking up with midfield as they stayed rigid in a flat-back four.
This restricted the Socceroos going forward somewhat. Thankfully that would change.
The Saudis would dominate the opening half-hour, having plenty of the ball and causing the Aussie defence plenty of problems. This was capitalised upon early by a fantastic goal by al-Dawasari. There was no pressing up the front as the Saudis built up well from the back. This would change late on the first however…
Momentum shifts late in the first….
It was an all white and green opening, as the Saudis dominated early, but the Socceroos would find some touch, this was shown by a delightful equaliser from Alex Brosque. More threatening movements going forward, and Bresciano pulling the strings in midfield would change the game Australia’s way.
However, the Saudis would go ahead with a tidy finish from al-Shamrani, but there were signs of improvement that would lead to a second half-burst. One which would end Saudi World Cup dreams.
Much better play second half…
The better play came from playing the ball on the ground more decisively and purposefully and a solid midfield presence of Milligan and Bresciano. It would lead to a stunning 5-minute burst that saw goals to Kewell, Brosque and Emerton. The Socceroos attacked and the Saudis folded, settling the result in a very short space of time. It was excellent to see the players put in a great effort in what was a dead rubber game on their part.
Thompson’s spark
The Victory forward was included in this somewhat makeshift Socceroos squad and replaced James Troisi in the 62nd minute. His threatening runs forward, his pace were there and he seemed to spark the side as they were 2-1 down. Thompson is in the middle of a dry spell at his club, but didn’t really show any signs of that. He seems to be a favourite of Osieck’s and looks likely to play a further role in this qualifying campaign.
The return of Bresciano
Returning to national colours for the first time since South Africa 2010, the maestro returned in midfield and earned man of the match honours. He was all class in the middle and looked like he never left. His one-touch killer pass to Brosque in particular was special.
He was a steady presence on the ball, looking confident and bringing teammates into the game, and it was endearing to see him happy post-game.
It was great seeing him back and who knows what the future holds for him regarding Brazil 2014?
Alex Brosque
The J-League Shimizu S-Pulse striker got a start in national colours and was exceptional as he scored a very important double. He looks set to be a key part for the rest of the qualifying campaign, Holger has backed him in the first round of qualifiers and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see him play a further role on the road to 2014.
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