Ange Postecoglou is the right coach at the wrong time for the Socceroos. He’s on a hiding to nothing at the World Cup, but yesterday’s 4-3 defeat to Ecuador suggests we still have reason for optimism.
Talk about your game of two halves. On the basis of the first-half performance at The Den, you could be forgiven for thinking Australia might win the World Cup.
But then it all fell apart, as so often seems to happen, and suddenly it became apparent that not only will the Socceroos fail to win the World Cup, they’ll probably struggle to collect a single point.
The individual winners and losers from a crazy clash at Millwall’s uncompromising home ground were plain to see.
Mat Ryan established himself as Australia’s undisputed number one with an assured display in goal in the first half, even if his cause was aided by Mitch Langerak’s brain-snap after he replaced Ryan at half time.
Langerak has played just seven competitive fixtures for Borussia Dortmund’s first team this season, and his lack of match practice came back to haunt him when he clattered spectacularly into Eder Valencia.
It’s rare to see a red card in a friendly, but Langerak gave referee Lee Probert little choice, even if the English official ignored an earlier offside flag.
Brad Jones’ shaky display as Langerak’s replacement will have Eugene Galekovic believing he deserves a call-up to Brazil, while Alex Wilkinson’s forgettable second-half cameo won’t have won the Jeonbuk defender too many admirers.
But for all the negatives, there were still plenty of positives.
Mile Jedinak captained his country for the first time, and while it wasn’t a vintage performance from the Crystal Palace midfielder – who tends to save his best performances for the Premier League – there was enough there to suggest Jedinak is comfortable as an international skipper.
Tim Cahill deservedly surpassed Damian Mori as Australia’s all-time leading goalscorer, and the New York star once again proved he’s lost none of his power or precision since his move to Major League Soccer.
More importantly though, the form of Mathew Leckie and in particular Tommy Oar gave Australia some much-needed pace and penetration down the flanks, allowing the aerially imposing Cahill to terrorise the Ecuadorian defence.
There wasn’t much of a Plan B, although given the Socceroos were reduced to 10 men at a crucial juncture of the match, it was hard to imagine how they might have responded differently against a suddenly fired-up Ecuador.
Yet, even if Australia hadn’t blown it in the second half, how much of an impact would it really have on the World Cup?
As Chile readily demonstrated in their narrow 1-0 defeat to Germany, they’re going to be incredibly tough to beat – and that’s to say nothing of the two matches against the previous World Cup finalists.
Wonderful as it would be to see Australia mix it with the best in Brazil, it’s far more realistic to expect very little from the tournament and hope Postecoglou can fine-tune his team for a genuine Asian Cup assault.
To that end, the Ecuador friendly was instructive, because it showed to some extent which players Postecoglou can rely on, and which positions are still up for grabs before Australia’s final hit-out against South Africa in Sydney.
The fact the farewell friendly is in Sydney hasn’t pleased some – though, not surprisingly, most of the complaints are coming from fans in Melbourne – however that’s not something to concern Postecoglou.
He’s probably signed on as Socceroos coach at the wrong time, given he hardly has any of it to mould his own squad.
But given Australia is aiming to rediscover some form following the regressive Osieck era, it’s too much to expect Postecoglou to turn things around before Brazil.
He just needs some time and a little bit of luck, and most of all a goalkeeper who can stay on the pitch.
Da`
Roar Rookie
We had our best squad on in the first, they had theirs in the second. And I'm pretty sure we'd have won if Ryan would have kept in the second, as I'm sure he would have gone for the ball rather than karate kicking the player. But the purpose of the friendly for both teams wasn't to win, but to test out players for the world cup. And for that purpose, the game was quite successful.
Arto
Guest
@ Midfielder: For what it's worth, I think Galekovic has come into contention as Postecoglu will be very familiar with him through the HAL and maybe also Covic or Theo, as he's managed both. Federici is probably ruled out now as he's not considered in the Top 3 keepers overseas (unless Postecoglu considers him on par with Jones?). Whilst Langerak had the brain-explosion, I'm sure Postecoglu won't let this one game change his opinion of him too much - however, that's now 2 games in a row that Ryan has started with Langerak on the bench, so I think we can consider them as #1 & #2 respectively. Are there any other contenders?
Arto
Guest
@ Iangou: There's at least one crucial caveat you've missed in your analysis - that neither Pim nor Holger would have selected a side like Ange did. Neither would they have had a game plan like Ange's, as both are far more risk-averse managers than Ange. So yes, Ange may have brought the media on side, but he did so through his actions. This is something that both Pim & Holger failed to do and then made things worse by either their condescending attitude (Pim) or stubbornly sticking to principles (Holger)...
Cpaaa
Guest
Mid you have asked about Keepers so here is my report. Langerak- The perfect Aussie boy, always smiling and a set of cheeks my grandmother would love, the dortmund fans call him the Good Luck Charm, Australia loves him but...... he dosnt play. Dortmund is a great club but Mitch is too young to be doing a Kalac, just collecting the cheques. the result- brain explosion & lack of game time experience, needs to move clubs so puts Mitch at 3 possible even 4th. Jones- Which Goalkeeper would even think of getting game time as a 3rd choice keeper? Well it happened, and sadly for Jones he had to put on the gloves when least expected. Did O.K, possibly lacking some confidence but congratulations you are still part of the squad , number 3 sounds fair. Ryan- is a given, looked sharp, confident and comfortable...this is our number 1 I wouldnt be surprised if we see Eugene with game time in Sydney and hopefully South Africa can test him a little and we just might see him pop in at No. 2.
Johan
Guest
Pleased you view my comments as wise fadida, I only wish I could say the same for yours.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Keep the kit in the cupboard, Mike. The only place less hipster than Dortmund is Gelsenkirchen. Now if you have some St Pauli attire about the place.........
bill boomer
Guest
And Perths one was against that well known football powerhouse Indonesia. It's supposed to be the national team but is, in fact, the eastern seaboard team paying only lip service to the rest of the country in tossing us crumbs that are a meaningless friendly against invisible opposition. I am deeply offended that we (Perth) didn't get the SA game. It's not just that we haven't had a game in a decade, which is deplorable, but that Perth is the obvious place for such a tie with SA diaspra. Getting angry now so sign off.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Borussia Dortmund is a hipster club? Might be time I pulled the old 2 - Wörns jersey out of retirement.
realfootball
Guest
Yeah - he is simply not a very good player. How he plays in the EPL is beyond me. Mind you, he won't be for much longer, and perhaps therein lies the lesson on Mile's ability.
Punter
Guest
Yes by Captain socceroo Mile Jedinak, great defender & destroyer, terrible on the ball for a EPL player.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
And if Lahm hadn't stopped Garcia's shot on the goal line, it would have been 1-0 to AUS before 5'. If Timmy hadn't been sent off, who knows what the result might have been? In the matches against England & Argentina, Germany had many other chances to score once England had surrendered. What we do know: 1. GER beat AUS 4-0 playing 11 v 10 for the final 1/2 hr 2. GER beat ARG 4-0 playing 11 v 11 3. GER beat ENG 4-1 playing 11 v 11
Punter
Guest
Vinnie, what game were you watching, England were competitive against Germany? Yes they were ripped off by a disallowed goal, but even the English didn't complain like they did in 1986 when Mardona scored' the 'hand of God' goal, they were competitive against Argentina in 86, but in WC10 they were not competitive against Germany, a 2 goal win by Germany would not have done service to the dominant performance that day by Germany.
Ian
Guest
The game against Japan in Brisbane was about 40,000. It was a year out from qualification and was raining. Brisbane population 2 million should equate to 80,000 in Sydney and Melbourne with populations of 4 million.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
I don't, but I also don't expect a come back. I usually expect an improved performance in the second half.
bill boomer
Guest
I stand corrected
fadida
Guest
Unlike Jones I rate Langerak, AND I agree his club is very cool and hipster. But he needs to start playing games
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
I prefer to have attacking midfielder in inverted wingers. I remember an answer Pep Guardiola gave when asked why he used midfielders in forward positions; he said midfielders are smarter and understand space, how to create it with movement and how to exploit it (not a direct quote). I think that's definitely the case with Vidosic and Bizanic over Leckie and Oar. Out-and-out wingers want to dribble and beat player (more direct) while attacking midfielders tend to be schemers with more patience.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Langerak was excellent against France. That might have been 10-0 had it not been for some awesome saves by him. I remember he made a couple of good saves against Canada as well when our defence fell asleep. I really rate him as a keeper but I guess he's now suspended for the South Africa match (possibly more?) Making it difficult for him to prove himself before the world cup. But no doubt he should move to a club that will make him a No.1. But BVB seems like a really cool club to be at.
Franko
Guest
10km from Sydney CBD still won't get you to Homebush to see the Socceroos but I take your point. To carry on from Bens stats above, some other comparable countries: China last 7 home matches: Xi'an (2), Tianjin (2), Hefei, Beijing, Hohhot Brasil last 8 games: Brasília (2), Rio(2), Belo Horizonte(2), Fortaleza, Porto Alegre So geography is not an issue.
fadida
Guest
I do know that Jones has never impressed at any level. Would much rather Birighitti or Galekovic. It would send a message too that being a career reserve at a big club is nothing without game time and performing. On second thoughts that also applies to our number 2. Langerak needs a move.......