Osieck's Jordan selection should be dictated by his strategy

One of the questions I’ve been asked repeatedly since the improved Socceroos performance in Japan is whether I feel Holger Osieck should field the same starting 11 tonight against Jordan.

My answer has been this; “It ultimately depends on what Osieck’s strategy is”.

That’s because his starting team should reflect whatever game-plan he has in mind.

Saitama was one of the rare times under Osieck where the selection, in the main, reflected his tactical template that night.

Perhaps only Mile Jedinak and Alex Brosque, had they been fit, may have been others to fit the Saitama game-plan.

That strategy was effectively about sitting back, mainly on the 18 yard box and even deeper at times, and hitting Japan through a pacey front third.

To that effect, the use of Sash Ognenovski alongside Lucas Neill in the centre of defence made absolute sense.

Never noted for his ball-playing, Ognenovski relished the fact he could set up camp in front of Mark Schwarzer, and repeatedly threw himself at the likes of Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa, blocking just about everything.

But Osieck also went into the Japan qualifier realising he couldn’t rely exclusively on 90 minutes of defence.

Needing points, the Roos had to offer something the other way.

To that end, Osieck set his team out to transition swiftly through the pace of a three-man attacking midfield featuring Tommy Oar left, Brett Holman central and Robbie Kruse right.

Rarely under Osieck has the personnel been picked to match the strategy, but this was one example.

Now the likelihood is that Osieck will need to adopt a different game-plan to topple the shrewd Adnan Hamad, who has a great record against Australia.

Rather than take the initiative throughout, it’s likely that Hamad will drop, and react through the pace of Oday Alsaify and prompting of Ameer Deeb.

But don’t expect that for the full 90 minutes.

Courtesy of the 6-0 defeat in Japan 12 months ago and the fact they are yet to pick up any points on the road this phase, Jordan know they have to balance their defensive discipline with enough attack to hurt the Roos.

It’s likely Adnan’s game-plan will be a similar to the one Osieck took to Saitama.

To that end Osieck will need to have a strategy to counter it, and his selection should be reflective.

What the Roos have spoken about is the need to be proactive and dictate the tempo of the match.

By this Osieck means he wants his men to move the ball quickly, get on the front foot and control the match, rather than wait for Jordan.

The Roos will do this by looking to start quickly and getting bodies and ball in motion.

Unlike the dormant start against Oman in Sydney in March, expect the Roos to pumped up tonight, cheered on by the new active support group Terrace Australis.

The plan will undoubtedly be to get an early goal, thus forcing Jordan to come out. This would suit Kruse, Oar and Holman, if they start.   

The clever Adnan, who has described this as “the biggest match in the history of Jordanian football”, will have similar instructions. If they can get one early, Jordan will be able to set the stall deep, and tight.

To that end, Osieck is under as much pressure to get his selection right here as he was last week.

He must have a team that can both absorb Jordan’s counter attack and create enough at the other end to break down what at times will be a packed defence.

Playing with a higher line means the Roos run the risk of being exposed in transition, so being organised against the quick counter becomes key.

Similarly, if he is wanting to break down a packed Jordan defence, thought may be given to playing Mark Bresciano higher, or giving some game-time to Tom Rogic.

As well, Osieck will need to consider whether a few members of his ageing squad, many lacking regular games, are primed to back up or in need of a spell.

While Jordan are yet to pick up a point away from Amman this phase, they are well prepared for this, having warmed-up in New Zealand while the Roos were in Saitama.

If Osieck doesn’t get his plans right, this is a banana-skin game in waiting.