A tip of the hat to form and the future via his team selection might have made for an edgy start, but ultimately Ange Postecoglou was rewarded and vindicated for continung to swing the Socceroos pendulum.
Rather than take the conservative approach and play the players that have served him and others well over the years – the likes of Mark Bresciano, Matt McKay and Mark Milligan – Postecoglou went for the younger legs, many playing regularly.
He went for the likes of Mass Luongo, James Troisi, Trent Sainsbury and Aziz Behich when many a manager may have plumped for older options like Bresciano, McKay and Alex Wilkinson.
But Postecoglou doesn’t mind a calculated gamble with his selection. Fill the kids with confidence, give them a plan, a license, and let them go.
That was the modus operandi on the opening night of the Asian Cup in Melbourne. Postecoglou spoke before and after about playing at a high tempo and aiming to wear Kuwait down. To do that he would need legs, and mobility was a big part of his selection.
The make-up of his three-man midfield was particularly enlightening, with Luongo and Troisi advanced of skipper Mile Jedinak. This was about providing the team hub with a physicality for both a dynamic edge in attack and for instant press in defensive transition.
As well, it was about providing the Socceroos, hitherto reliant on Tim Cahill for goals under Postecoglou, with more of a goal threat. The fact that all three starting midfielders ended up on the scoresheet tells of a successful strategy.
But it didn’t start well. Both Luongo and Troisi started with tension and many were already thinking, and saying, that Bresciano should have started after Hussain Fadhel beat Cahill to a near post header from an Aziz Mahsaan corner.
It took Luongo a good 25 minutes to settle down, but what an influence he had on the second period of the first half.
Cahill’s equaliser came from Luongo’s preparedness to get off the floor quickly and drive beyond defenders at a throw-in, while the second came from a well timed run into the box and a leap that the man his header denied would have been proud of.
It’s the type of forward movement from midfield that Bresciano has made a career of, but sadly no longer has the stamina to maintain for 90 minutes. That’s why the decision to bring him from the bench was a sound one.
Even Troisi, while quiet in the first half, kept running in the second half, ultimately getting a late reward because Kuwait couldn’t live with his constant drive.
Add the movement of Robbie Kruse, Mathew Leckie, Behich and Ivan Franjic – as well as Tomi Juric and Nathan Burns in the second half – and it was little wonder that Kuwait, for all their greater defensive organisation in the opening 20 minutes, couldn’t go with the Roos for 90 minutes.
By the time Nabil Maaloul introduced the lively Yousef Nasser and the great Bader Al-Mutawa, the damage was done, although the Roos still had to rely on three sharp Matt Ryan saves to keep Al Azraq out.
It was a reminder that this was far from the complete performance.
Indeed, in the first half there was much to mull over for Postecoglou, including a few too many long balls, not enough patience in possession and little movement and penetration without the ball.
The fact the Socceroos were able take a lead to the break gave them the space they craved in the second half, and they did a great job of using it, moving the Kuwaitis around with speed and moving the ball quicker.
It was the type of modern physicality that isn’t so much about battering opponents through muscle, but through relentless mobility.
Bigger tests await, and the Socceros and their fans would do well not to get carried away and look too far beyond the Oman game on Tuesday, but this was an encouraging performance that should add even more confidence to a team that might finally have turned the corner.
Bondy
Guest
I'm no genius after the fact but I thought prior to the event of a 4-0 spread to us.
AR
Guest
Ok. Probably a contender for most pointless (and odd) comment of the year.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Weren't we told results are all that matter in tournaments? So, the result was well above the expectations you set ... I was at the match, it rained for nearly the whole 2nd half.
The Bear
Guest
I think you answered your own question. and competently, mind you. Germany friendly game is looking alot better, assuming we have matured in our growth cycle and adopted a more cohesive team play. The tone post a successful Asian Cup could be very good for us all. Btw...shades of Kaiserslaten WC06 on last Friday night?!! opening group game...come from behind ..Cahill ...etc etc
AR
Guest
Nice of you to keep track of my predictions. I actually tipped Australia to beat Kuwait 4-0 initially, but with all the rain, scaled it back to 2-0 Australia. I wouldn't say the performace was above my expectations, but the scoreline was.
Griffo
Roar Guru
It was important I think that Cahill's goal was via a foot and not a header. It's more an indication of the type of players around him and the type of game they were playing that balls were not continually lumped towards his head every time. We were behind anyway and it isn't the first time Cahill has come off the bench to score or not. It's significant that other players scored, or are looking like they will (Burns, Leckie, Kruse). It does give confidence to the team that they don't have to rely on Cahill and its a future we have to deal with. Better opposition awaits and whether Cahill starts from the bench next game remains to be seen. Reading between the lines I think Ange may select that way and start Cahill vs South Korea but he may not - wouldn't surprise me either way. Cahill is also mentoring the players and, while a driven competitor, is team oriented as well. Bresc may not see as much game time, particularly if the midfield keeps improving next match. Bresc's 10 mins was more about getting match exposure to his legs when the result was in the bag than coming on and steadying an ineffective midfield imo.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Appreciate the comments Professor
Aljay
Guest
Given Kruse's lack of game time this season I think he is one player who will grow and grow as the tournament goes on. There are big games still to come from him. I agree about Troisi's strike, blindingly fast and he threaded it through a very small gap. I was glad to see the 4th goal go in given the chances we were creating at the end. If the boys hadn't been rewarded for all that effort it would have been demoralising in a way but now they head to the next game with a spring in their step. Just might have saved Troisi's starting spot too, while Burns will surely get a start over Leckie before all is said and won. If I do have a concern, it's what Son is going to our right-sided, particularly Franjic.
Aljay
Guest
Would these be the same ones who think Qatar is also the location of the next World Cup?
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
I'm glad Cahill came on at the start, rather than trying to win from behind. Without his strike, the Australians might have struggled with confidence, and by the time he comes on, the other forwards are usually knackered and dispirited. Bresciano could have stayed off. He was on for about 10 minutes, and he sent a soft shot straight to the keeper's arms (at least he had a go, full credit). He accepted about 4 passes, made about 4 without error, made no tackles, made no intercepts, and did not block any attackers.
Bondy
Guest
Questions ?. Do or can we play friendlies competently. If we played a friendly prior to the tournament would that have helped or hindered our tournament . Did Ange specifically not want to play a friendly prior to the tournament because they can take confidence away from the players? ...
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Rick, The Roar, like most blogs, has its share of barrel-pushers, paranoid types, nit-wits, people with love and passion for their sports, people with expertise, and people with shocking spelling and grammar. If you can identify any of these types amongst your critics here, I think you would be justified in a snide retort or two. Your points are valid, and most of us have used an incorrect team or personal name from time to time ; most of us can cope with trading of words between codes -- especially when the codes probably share some common ancestry. I can't talk to Americans about cricket if I refuse to let them use baseballing terms, and my American friends certainly don't use the term "gridiron" to describe their game.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Greg, I know some people thought that the Socceroos needed a strategically-place rocket to get them moving, but I haven't read anywhere else that Ange Postecoglou did actually instil flares into the players. If your info is correct, no wonder they were moving fairly gingerly during the game.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Given we put 4 away & won easily, I'd rather be creating lots of chances than not creating? Currently watching CHN v KSA and have watched both other matches today. From my observations after nearly 50% of opening matches for each team, AUS has created more real goal chances & played more fluid football through the midfield than any other team. But, early days & different opponents, so I'm not getting over-excited.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Pre-match you predicted a 2-0 win to AUS, so, it would appear, a 4-1 win is well above the expectations you set?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
http://soccer.epicsports.com/soccer-glossary.html Go look under 'attacking' in that glossary of terms for soccer and tell me what it says. Have a nice day.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Early morning mistake, that's all. Just had Qatar in my head for some reason.
Disco
Guest
But how/why did you think it was Qatar?
Disco
Guest
Using 'offence' instead of 'attack' when it comes to football is, um, offensive.
AGO74
Guest
Burns was very good. Re the front line with Cahill vs Juric it's worth noting that when juric came on it was 3-1 and they were chasing the game in comparison to the bus parking exercise that the Kuwaitis played for most of 1st half.