Tuesday night’s game in Osaka was an improved performance from the Socceroos that showed Australia can match it against Asia’s best.
As the last scheduled game before January’s Asian Cup, it is critical to assess the lessons that Ange Postecoglou can take from this performance.
In light of this, here is a compilation of the positives and negatives that we can take out of the loss.
Positives
Individual player performances:
There were a few heartening individual performances that will have pleased Postecoglou. Mat Ryan and Mathew Leckie showed once again why they are mainstays in the Australian team with very solid performances, while Aziz Behich and Massimo Luongo put in good shifts in rare starts for the national team.
Behich had a tough assignment containing Keisuke Honda but coped admirably, before popping up with the assist for Tim Cahill’s goal. Luongo, on the other hand, looked good in midfield, showing good touches and a willingness to move the ball forward.
Showing a bit of grit early on:
It was nice to see the return of some of the grit associated with Australia’s performances at the World Cup.
The Socceroos did not show up in the heat of the Middle East last month, but there was some fight shown here in an impressive first half.
European stars Shinji Kagawa and Honda were allowed little time on the ball as they were closed down effectively in the first period.
Periods of good passing moves:
There was again evidence of the attractive brand of football that Postecoglou is trying to implement with the Socceroos.
Trent Sainsbury seems to be picked for his ability to gel into this system, and his ability to control possession was on show as many of Australia’s moves started from the back.
Robbie Kruse getting through 85 minutes:
Although Robbie Kruse was well below his best, it must be remembered that this game was a friendly with a view towards preparation for the Asian Cup.
Kruse, who has been struggling for minutes at his German club Bayer Leverkusen, will have appreciated the ability to get minutes on the board in the lead up to January.
If all else fails, Tim Cahill can still deliver:
One of the most heartening moments of the match was Tim Cahill’s late goal. It shows, at least for the moment, that Australia can still rely on Cahill to be our main goal threat.
A lovely cross from Behich led to an archetypal Cahill headed goal.
Negatives
Defensive errors:
Now this is the hard part, two glaring set piece errors led to the two Japanese goals. It should be unthinkable that a ball to the front post is not cleared by an Australian defender from a corner, but it happened twice in ten minutes as Japan doubled their lead.
The second goal was brought back into the box after it had missed everyone, and Japanese forward Shinji Okazaki was able to turn it into the Australian net from the ensuing play.
These defensive lapses will have to be removed from Australia’s game if we are any chance to a make a decent showing in January’s Asian Cup.
Lack of imagination in the final third:
All game, until Tim Cahill came on, Australia looked like it had no idea what to do when it was given space and time in the final third. There were several opportunities where the front three of Kruse, Leckie, and James Troisi pondered on the ball instead of breaking quickly and exploiting the space that came from good pressing in midfield.
It was frustrating to watch as good chances to get balls into the box were wasted.
The obvious gap in class:
Despite a spirited performance, the gap in class between Japan and Australia at the moment was evident throughout the game. After the first goal, Japan seemed able to cut through Australia’s defence at will, something that does not bode well for a possible match-up in the Asian Cup.
Substitutions at 1-0:
I was personally disappointed that the double change that Postecoglou made after falling behind was quite a negative one. Mark Bresciano and Mitch Nicholls coming on for Luongo and Troisi did little to add attacking emphasis at a time where Australia should have been looking to hit back.
Players such as Josh Brillante and Aaron Mooy who like to bring the ball forward from midfield could have been used to great effect.
Australian Commentary:
As much as it was wonderful to see Australian internationals back on free-to-air television, the completely one-eyed calling of the game was hard to bear. The game was summed up as an “outstanding performance by the Socceroos” in the first half, and a “stern defensive test” in the second half, up to half a dozen times each.
I would love to see a little more balanced football commentary in this country that at least recognises the shortcomings of the current Australian team.
Overall, there were positive signs in the run-in to the Asian Cup, but it was still a very frustrating performance as Australia was unable to capitalise on some good spells. Unfortunately, it is again a solid performance without the result, which can be added to a growing list under Ange Postecoglou.
Scott
Guest
@ Mitch...Not sure if you have any idea with what's going on .... Rogic is still injured, Antonis was unavailable (again!) and Amini has been picked for the Olyroos. I'm sure if Ange had every single Australian footballer fit and firing he would pick the best available. It just so happens he doesn't and has to make do with what's available. Maybe pay a little attention, or do some research before making such absurd comments.
Bovs
Guest
This is half-right, in that we're pretty terrible at playing along the deck... but there's still a point - the point is to get better at it! Being able to maintain possession is critical to succeed against the best teams... not necessarily in that you need to be able to get 60-70% possession stats, but you need to be able to pass the ball around without losing it in dangerous areas!!! We're improving that... but we still need the goalscoring threat to go with it. The question is whether you sacrifice one passing player for a Kennedy or Cahill good in the air, a Juric or Djite who can receive a ball in the penalty box, or someone with blistering pace. I think we've tried to much for pace with the likes of Leckie, Oar and Kruse. I think one of our front 3 needs to be a Juric or Djite or someone who makes a team feel threatened every time the ball goes near them.
Mitch
Guest
"I think you are a bit harsh on Ange’s changes – it still was just a friendly and he needs to be trying things." Here is a novel idea for Ange and it's for free. Why not TRY playing two or three creative attacking midfielders together at the same time like Japan and 90% of the World's successful teams do. Something like no. 6 Amini or Luongo, no. 8 Antonis and no. 10 Rogic - worth a thought by Ange, I would think, as his current strategy since taking over of playing midfield plodders, apart from his passable performance at the W.C. when they were mostly an unknown quantity until they were found out against Spain, is simply hopeless and hasn't looked like working. Ange is beginning to look very much like many of the inadequate coaches who have gone before him, ie.he likes to boast that he will play attractive AND winning football that the fans will love to come and watch but then makes a liar and hypocrite of himself by filling his midfield with 'plodding fightballers' like Jedinak, Milligan and McKay rather than 'creative footballers' such as Rogic, Amini and Luongo! Ange Postecoglou 'talks the talk' but doesn't "walk the walk" and I will predict that regardless of whatever modern game tactics he has successfully implemented during his tenure, if he continues to refuse to change tack on his selection policy of ONLY selecting and playing guileless defensive midfield plodders over creative players, he has ONLY three more games in charge before he will be bannished to the wilderness for his obstinace! And he will have ONLY himself to blame.
Jacksyd
Guest
Look at it any way you like, lucky it wasn't 5-1. Japan were all over us 90% of the game.
Dean
Guest
We simply don't have any strikers who can beat a world class defender one on one and nobody creative enough to put our half-decent strikers through. Therefore we should still be resorting to the air. It might not be good football, but whipping balls in to Cahill and Kennedy is the only realistic way we'll score against decent defences with any consistency. We might be able to beat the lower teams, but Japan and Euro/Sth Americans tear us apart because we're no offensive threat to them. There's no point trying to play along the deck when we're terrible at it.
Bovs
Guest
Strange comment on the substitutions... Bresciano and Nicholls would seem to me to be far more attacking than Brillante (who often plays in defence) and Mooy (who plays an almost identical role to Bresciano) as you suggested. The fact that the subs didn't have much impact doesn't surprise me... as a Glory fan I was surprised to see Nicholls called up as for me he's not close to his top form. The problem I see is that, like any side that wants to play a patient possession game, we need the guys in the final third to absolutely exploit every small gap or opportunity that presents. Kruse, Leckie, Oar, Luongo and Troisi all just look like they're comfortable playing possession through the middle and out wide, but carry that same mentality in the box rather than forcing shots and goals. Look at Barcelona as the ultimate example... for all their possession and passing play, a huge portion of goals are a result of Messi receiving the ball outside the box with a small amount of space... he beats one or two men and then finishes himself - actually a very individual goal. Our forwards don't seem to want to take on that last bit of responsibility. This is where I think a Tomi Juric or Josh Kennedy might be the solution. They, like Cahill, will score the goals if the other 2 attackers are creating the chances. We often play with 3 creators (e.g. Leckie, Kruse and Troisi). It's no surprise that Cahill is the only out-and-out goalscorer being picked, and he's the only one scoring goals. I think Ange has to bite the bullet and pick someone who's not part of the passing-possession game, but rather someone who's there to turn it into goals.
Barca4life
Guest
The only positive i found was at least may have found a permanent left back with Behich, unless Davidson starts to play again.\ Matt Ryan had a good game also.
Pete
Guest
So we cant score goals without Timmy, we have no imagination in play and are hopeless in defence and the coach's subs were very ordinary and lack class ..... sorry but that leaves us with a team way short of what's needed. Is that the coach or just we are not up to it I don't know. But I think we are in big trouble and not much is coming through to change that given the coach has used almost 4 teams worth of players since the world cup. I think we have to admit we are not there yet and it will be a while before we do get to the level required. The HAL is great but the leading players are mostly imports so again not much to see coming through to change things at the top. I hope I am wrong but I believe we will struggle for a few more years yet.
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Sam - no mention of Jedinak in individual performances? I thought it was his best performance for Australia and he was our best player. In the first half he was really dominating the midfield and for once all his passes went to a team mate. I think you are a bit harsh on Ange's changes - it still was just a friendly and he needs to be trying things. I actually worry if Bresciano's best days may be over and whether he should even be picked at all. I don't know if Timmy was injured or whether Ange was playing mind games but the decision to put Timmy on only near the end was a great move. You could tell by the reaction of the Japanese keeper that they really fear Timmy Cahill - in fact he would be the most feared goalscorer for any Asian defence.