The Socceroos have had their momentum halted by European minnows Macedonia in a dour scoreless draw in Skopje.
Asian champions Australia couldn’t build on last week’s impressive 2-2 draw against world champions Germany in Kaiserslautern, creating little in attack against the world’s 108th-ranked side on Monday.
Both teams lacked fluency on a choppy pitch at Phillip II Arena, with just a few thousand fans turning up to watch the underwhelming international friendly.
Among the positives for Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou was a strong game from in-form Melbourne City midfielder Aaron Mooy, who started in one of six changes from the draw against Germany.
Right back Tarek Elrich earned a first international cap, starting at right back, while teenager Chris Ikonomidis came off the bench late to become the first player since 1980 to make his Socceroos debut before playing a senior club game.
Asian Cup hero Massimo Luongo, Trent Sainsbury, Adam Federici and Aziz Behich all came into the starting line-up and the changes looked to take some wind out of the Socceroos’ sails although Australia dominated possession and field position in the first half.
A 30th-minute Nathan Burns effort was the Socceroos’ sole shot on target and they lacked the attacking fluency that caused Germany so many problems.
Macedonia looked dangerous on the counter at times, with Elrich forced to make a crucial header to stop the home side’s best attacking move in the 16th minute.
Mile Jedinak earned a booking just before halftime for a challenge that resulted in Dushko Trajovski being stretchered off the field.
The second half was equally scrappy, though Macedonia caused the Socceroos problems with their pace in transition.
Luongo grew into the game and Leckie threatened in attack but was let down by his finishing on several occasions, including a free header from a dangerous Burns cross in the 56th minute.
Bailey Wright, Tommy Oar, Tomi Juric, Oliver Bozanic and Mitch Langerak all saw game time in the second half, with 19-year-old Lazio reserves winger Ikonomidis looking lively after coming on with eight minutes to play.
The match was Australia’s final hit-out before 2018 World Cup qualifying begins in June.
TheVolley
Guest
Agree with JB. Teams in Asia aren't going to play like Germans or Dutch or any other top team in the world. Asian teams will park the bus and throw the kitchen sink in as well. This was a good game to expose the newer players to reality. Also a good game to remind the entire squad that this is what they will face in the WC qualifiers. For Mecedonia it was a perfect practise match because this is the tactics they will use against higher ranked Euro teams. Bus parkers make any match boring, however, there are no rules against parking the bus.
AZ_RBB
Guest
He barely played 5 games at MVFC before his misfortune with injury hit him again. Hard to judge based on that. He was brilliant at CCM and has shown incredible technical ability each time he has played for Australia. When fully fit his ball control and dribbling is some of the best I've ever seen from an Australian player. I'm confident he will be brilliant by 2018. Not many fans have faith in him now but that will change in the next couple of years.
Catnap
Guest
Tell me what he's done He was hopeless at victory!!!!
Uncle Junior
Guest
jb, the Macedonia team I saw on Tuesday morning showed no attacking intent. They basically were happy to have Australia play in their half and occasionally try the counterattack via a through ball hoping their attacker could out pace the high-line Australian defence. I don't recall any Asian team playing this way at the Asian Cup. In fact, the only Asian team to play the way Macedonia did on Tuesday was Australia under Pim Verbeek & Holger Osieck. How did I contradict myself? I said Asian Teams don't play like Macedonia. Australia didn't score (or look like scoring) against Macedonia. Australia scored & looked like scoring whenever they ventured forward at the Asian Cup. Pretty standard logical progression I would think? Cheers, UJ
Wii
Guest
Once agan making up stories to suit your argument Bondy, I'll just wait here for you to misconstrue what I have written again and make more personal attacks. I'm sure your alter ego won't be too far off to back you up either. As usual you once again fail to address the points I have raised. But that's not surprising because you clearly just can not discuss in a adult manner, preferring to play the man not the ball. YAWN
Bondy
Guest
Perhaps you could just post nothing and just leave your username, we know how you think regardless ultimately of what you write . Remember you said Australia being in the AFC was a joke and unnecessary though then went on to conclude New Zealand should be in the AFC .... .
Wii
Guest
As I said above has anyone stopped to think for a second that Australia is Germanys, Macedonia......? I'm astounding at how highly Aussies rate themselves and are quick to denigrate their opposition then at the same time dismiss that the "Super Powers" don't take Australia seriously. If you ask me Germany were nowhere near their best the other night.
Wii
Guest
Exactly how Germay would be feeling after their practice match against Australia, or wait don't tell me they treated Australia with the utmost respect and okayed it like it was a meaningful match.... The notion that Australia treated this as a practice match yet Germany were in too if their game is ludicrous. Yes I know you haven't said this but when one reads this post and look at at the thread re Aus vs Ger you can be forgiven for making the conclusion
Bill
Guest
"just a futsal player?!" Rogic is the most outrageously skillful footballer in the National team.
j binnie
Guest
UJ - I find it difficult to answer your logic for you generalise so much.For instance what was the "style" Macedonia played, is there a title for their system,for to me it did not appear all that much different to systems I see being used all around the world,in fact we see it every week in HAL games. .Macedonia are a recognised European nation and no doubt are influenced by opponents they meet regularly in the European region. You go on to mention our free scoring in the Asian Cup,(15 in 6 games) but contradict yourself by saying the Asian nations don't play the game the way the Macedonians did.?Meaning? Cheers jb
Bondy
Guest
Interesting read lads the Dutch losing faith in Hiddink. ( http://www.espnfc.com.au/team/netherlands/449/blog/post/2372831/how-the-netherlands-lost-faith-in-manager-guus-hiddink) ..
Catnap
Guest
He's just a futsal player!!!!
Bill
Guest
The guy looks tired and is struggling with his motivation after such as long and arduous season. He seemed to be lacking in both anticipation and effort when trying to get his foot to that great chance that he had late in the match.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Tom Rogic played 45mins for a Celtic developmental squad over the weekend. He needs to have a massive 2015 if he wants to play a role in the 2018 campaign. Getting away from Scotland would be a good start.
James Anderson
Roar Guru
Burns was that player tonight. A couple of times he made some decent "mazy runs" and he probably should've scored with one of them in the first half. Bozanic also looked lively when he came on - which was a breath of fresh air to see a defensive midfielder with technical ability. Now if we can find a player who combines Jedinak's ability off the ball with Bozanic's ability on the ball - that's the dream :p
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
I think Loungo being so quiet played a part, you look at games at the Asian cup where teams sat back he certainly was the spark with mazy runs and great close control in tight spots. I did however like his black boots, i didn't think they made them anymore.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
Of all the games the socceroos have played over the years, this was certainly one of them.
Uncle Junior
Guest
jb, wouldn't the opposition Australia actually faced in the Asian Cup only 2 months ago (and where we had no trouble breaking down defences) be a far more realistic test for the type of opposition Australia will face over the next 2 years during competitive matches? I'm not sure any of the Asian nations play the style I saw from Macedonia.
Bondy
Guest
Jb I wonder what AP thinks of T Oar, I dont rate him maybe the National Team's got away from him ...
Bondy
Guest
Macedonia are no easy beats but we have to transform that form against better opposition such as the Germans and beat nations such as Macedonia otherwise it could be seen impartially as Australia only do well against the super powers of world football,meaning the Aussies go well against the very best but struggle back in grade against the likes of a Macedonia . .