Australia only needed to draw against Jordan at Allianz Stadium. Under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, that was never likely to happen.
The World Cup qualifier probably deserved a larger live audience. The Socceroos served up the sweetest post-Easter treat in a long time with their ruthless, breathless and scintillating 5-1 demolition of a recent bogey team to qualify for the final group stages of the road to Russia.
There was no hint of a team happy to go into a defensive shell and scrap for the required point to progress. Within a minute of the kick-off, the Socceroos had established a pattern of play that simply swamped Jordan, who were struggling to get out of their own half.
The obvious catalysts for this dominance were a dynamic attacking quadrant of Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic in the middle, and Robbie Kruse and Matthew Leckie on the flanks. Kruse showed explosive pace, Leckie tenacity and strength, while the central duo were sublime.
Rogic appears to glide and his touch and foot speed are so classy they will surely be soon gaining a wider audience than the Scottish Premier League.
None of that would have been possible without the less obvious contribution of Mark Milligan, who snuffed out every half-threat the Jordanians mustered with a tireless performance in front of the back four, shielding his central defenders superbly.
This in turn allowed the fullbacks to press forward almost with impunity.
Josh Risdon relished his opportunity to start and while he may have been caught by the higher pace of the game later on, Milligan, Trent Sainsbury and Bailey Wright formed an effective triangle to cover for those instances when the fullbacks were caught higher up the park.
Aaron Mooy’s second goal exemplified the way Postecoglou has got this team thinking. Mooy saw an attacking opportunity from the edge of his own penalty area.
His pass bisected the Jordanian midfield and before the back four had even a chance to counteract, Robbie Kruse had played Mooy, who had run 70 metres for the return pass, into space.
Mooy’s left-foot finish effectively finished the game as a contest. No wonder Postecoglou regards Mooy as the best player in the A-League.
Not just the best Australian player, but best player, full stop. It was Kruse’s second assist of the evening, and he laid on the third goal as well, a wonderful first-time curling cross that had Tim Cahill performing as much hang time as Steph Curry to head home a superb goal.
Kruse’s contribution was curtailed by one of the ugliest tackles seen in international football in years.
Jordanian number 23 Yousef Ahmed Mohammad deserved arresting, let alone the yellow card he got, for a terrible two footed, knee high lunge from behind. Kruse hit the turf and mindful of his long spells on the sideline with knee and Achilles injuries, it was a nervous wait for fans, team mates and coaching staff until he resumed his feet. Postecoglou wisely replaced Kruse a few minutes later.
Probably the only disappointed player on the park at full time was Mat Ryan, who could do nothing to prevent the Jordanian’s consolation goal from striker Abdallah Deeb.
It was the only shot on target the Jordanians mustered and Ryan, in the typical goalkeeper mindset, will be filthy he didn’t keep a clean sheet. In truth, he had so little to do that Seinfeld’s George Costanza could have offered him a chair.
Australia then advance to the final qualifying phase on the back of the best attacking display from the national team in many years. While there are sterner tests to come, Jordan themselves were a stern test – their 2-0 victory over the Socceroos at home late last year is proof of that.
Australia passed that test at full throttle, and they are looking like a team cast in the mould of Postecoglou’s brilliant Brisbane Roar team from the A-League. With no hint of a pun in light of their new sponsor, they are a well-oiled machine.
apaway
Roar Guru
Fair enough, Bob. So far, Jordan HAS been the toughest opposition, and they were dismantled. I agree there will be sterner tests to come.
Bob
Guest
I think what it indicates, is that Jordan travel poorly. My point was that the results from the previous reign were not too different and we should practice caution about celebrating our new look side until coming up against some tougher opposition.
titch
Guest
The first 45 minutes was the most convincing performance by a 'Roos side I've seen in the 40 years I've been watching them.
Tom
Guest
He is a bloody OarFULL footballer!
Johnny J-Dog
Guest
I just wish he'd stop wearing tracksuits. Have some dignity.
Kaks
Roar Guru
We need to remember that we are talking about football 10-15 years ago. A time where PSV Eindhoven (culina) was a strong team, not the shadow of its former self currently. A time where Celtic was a strong european team (Moore and Viduka) and not the sub-standard club it is now. Those second tier european leagues were far stronger then they are now especially since our domestic league was so weak and the asian countires were not poaching all of the semi-superstars. I think all of these factors contribute to the thinking that the golden generation were superior due to the clubs they were at which, again 10-15 years ago, were quite impressive clubs.
Fadida
Guest
With Grella we have to compare him with Jedinak, who captains an EPL side. Bresc needs to be compared with Mooy or Rogic. At this stage both are behind him. Both however may surpass him. Both are becoming massively influential, as much as Bresc was at his peak. Many of the others played top tier in second tier nations, see Chippers, Skoko Sterjovski. Plenty of the current group are doing the same, with regular game time. Plenty more will do so later in their careers. The other question is, is too much weight given to where players play? I think so. Having used Jedinak as a comparison I will then say (for the hundredth time), Milligan, who played until very recently domestically, is the superior player. Without doubt the GG carved out generally steady careers. This group have the potential to match the feats of almost all of those players, with the exception of a talent like Viduka. But then he underperformed at NT level. And then we the late bloomers out there, and those yet to break through. Very exciting times. Results v Jordan may be comparable with Osiecks. The performances, style of play and the future are worlds apart
albatross
Roar Pro
ELO Ratings 2012/13 Aus 25/Jor 66 26/75 2015/16 40/72 37/77
Kaks
Roar Guru
And I also think they were called the Golden Generation because there were years and years of disappointment in Australian football, these boys finally put us back on the world stage and got us to the round of 16. They also changed the way we view our team and the world cup. We now expect to be part of it every 4 years which wasn't the case in 2006 and before.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Very interesting Fadida. I think the reason the team was considered the 'Golden Generation' was due to the fact that they were all playing in Europe and in the top division of their respective leagues. As an example, Bresc and Grella played in the Serie A where as Luongo plays in the Championship and Mooy plays in the A-league. That doesnt necessarily mean that Bresc and Grella were better players (even though it is hard to say as it was a different era) however the championship and A-league doesnt sound as good as Serie A to a lot of people.
apaway
Roar Guru
Interesting points, Fadida. It also reminds me of the "pre" GG, with Slater and Bosnich playing in EPL-winning teams and guys like Krncevic and Arnold carving out solid European careers. Hopefully, it's a case of generations building on each other.
apaway
Roar Guru
Which I think would indicate that Jordan are stiff opposition, given they've beaten Australia twice.
Bob
Guest
Lets keep things into perspective and not get too carried away. I do agree that the stye and intent we play at has improved vastly, but we should consider the quality of opposition that we are playing. #justSaying Holga (2012-2013); Jordan 2 : Australia 1. Australia 4: Jordan 0 Ange (2015-2016) Jordan 2 : Australia 0. Australia 5: Jordan 1
Fadida
Guest
Interesting points. Much is made of the GG playing at higher levels as evidence ogftheir "golden-ness". When you look closer it's interesting. Culina - made his name in Holland - Juric and others are doing the same Schwarzer - middling EPL club (at best) v Ryan Valencia. Popovic - Palace (mainly championship) v Bailey Wright (championship), Sainsbury ex- Holland Moore made his name in Scotland. The Chinese league, home of Sainsbury, McGowan, Spira, is arguably now stronger. Rogic is at Celtic Aloisi - lower reaches of Spain v Leckie and Kruse in the Germany. Juric in Holland Skoko - Turkey and Belgium. Luongo is surely at a similar level. Oar played 100 games in Holland. Rogic at Celtic Bresc and Grella - midtable Italy. Jedinak, mid table EPL, Mooy will surely soon be at a comparable standard. Performance wise for the NT he may match Bresc, possibly surpass. Ditto Rogic, a potential superstar Chippers - Switzerland, Brad Smith is much more advanced career wise than Chippers at that age. Lazaridi was only ever lower EPL Cahill "only"made it to Everton Sterjovski - peaked at Lille and Basle. Ikonomidis will surpass him Neill - Blackburn and West Ham, middle to lower EPL clubs, fighting relegation. Sainsbury is potentially a better player. Emerton - Blackburn The 2 standouts, Kewell and Viduka as yet have no peer, but even then they "only" made it to teams who were top 4 EPL, and that wasn't consistent. So were these players more "golden"? The argument has been brewing on here for a while, but this group and team may well surpass the GG given time. As the above list suggests, many of the GG played at levels not dissimilar to where their contemporaries are at, or will end up. And their are plenty more making their way quietly, well ahead of the GG at the same time eg Amini
apaway
Roar Guru
I was thinking something very similar, Towser. I don't think Graeme Arnold distinguished himself at all well in the 2007 Asian Cup (Holger Osieck got the Roos to the final 4 years later with a largely similar team). In Arnold's defence, it is a team he inherited, and he was the Assistant to that team for a long time - not an easy transition to make. Ange has built his own side and since he took over, it has seen the retirement of all of that golden generation bar Cahill (who is a freak and playing as well as ever). AP has made the generational change that Osieck failed to make, and we are beginning to see the benefits.
Fadida
Guest
Oar?
Tom
Guest
"silly" skills?? I assume you meant 'silky??' And of the players you mention as being left out for the moment in my opinion only, Spiranovic (if he loses his careless attitude), Troisi, Taggart, Vidosic, Herd (a maybe?) and Juric are worth persevering with.
Kaks
Roar Guru
I am one very, very, very happy man! If they hold on to the A-league as well then I'll be saying see ya later EPL and not even bother with it!
Uncle Junior
Guest
Sorry to interrupt, apaway. But huge news for football fans. And could have big implications for next A-League TV rights deals. BREAKING... Foxtel announces it will add 3 channels in High Definition for beIN Sports to its Foxtel Sports Package. Foxtel customers with the Sports Package will get full access to all beIN Sports content for free. http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/foxtel-signs-football-deal-with-bein-sports-now-available-to-all-subscribers-within-sports-package/news-story/7db7487d22a13537a4f307ecde601140
Towser
Guest
Hindsight as the mysterious "They" often say is the greatest winner of all, foresight and winning are the opposite unpredictable, unknown, Ange so far has turned the foresight to appoint him into a winning formula. Not only that but in a way that I dont envisage even the most rusted on Socceroo followers could believe possible, by using a large rotating pool of what are considered in general "Average players" judged by the measuring stick of "Socceroos past" the mythical "Golden Generation" in some people's eyes. So here's the rub if they were so "Golden" how come after the same players had performed well at the World Cup under Guus, a man who owned a company called "Hiddinks quick Fix coaching solutions", performed like Sydney FC under "Go son Arnie"(Yes I distinctly heard him shout that from the sidelines) at the following years Asian Cup. Here's what I consider most Socceroo fans feel are the main players of the GG era :- Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Craig Moore John Aloisi Tim Cahill Harry Kewell Jason Culina, Marco Bresciano Brett Emerton Mark Viduka, Vince Grella for me maybe outsiders Scott Chipperfield Mile Sterjovski Tony Popovic So were they more golden than Rogic, Mooy ,Luongo or Ryan or is it simply that Ange is "The Wizard of Oz" ?