Socceroos vs Cameroon highlights: Confederations Cup scores, blog

"Well, according to the stats, there were 20% less long balls and 65% more crosses from us compared to the game before against Germany." Means nothing without the raw data if you are trying to prove there was a significant change in style. 20% less long balls could mean 4 long balls instead of 5. Big deal. 65% more crosses means we got behind the Cameroon defence more than we did against Germany. Given we were rubbish for 40 minutes against Germany, and weren't totally rubbish against Cameroon, I'm surprised the disparity isn't higher for crosses.

Well, according to the stats, there were 20% less long balls and 65% more crosses from us compared to the game before against Germany. Nothing different you say though.

I saw nothing different in Australia's style of play this morning compared to Tuesday morning, or Brazil, or Saudi Arabia, or Thailand. So, perhaps, Ange had a premonition about the comments the Cameroon boss would make & he started playing this way a few months ago. Why aren't we playing well? Well, I don't accept the premise. We do play well. But, we don't do it for long enough & the disparity between "Australia playing well" & "Australia not playing well" is huge. Whereas the disparity between "Germany/Chile/Cameroon playing well" & "Germany/Chile/Cameroon not playing well" is not that big a gap. So, even when those nations are below optimum, they're still very very good. When Australia is below optimum we are terrible. Why aren't we playing well for 90'? That's the question that needs answering. I don't have the answer. If I do, I'll email Ange immediately.

"Are you suggesting the Cameroon coach was scared of this so made that comment to annoy Ange and stop Australia playing long balls?" No, but you are different to everyone else. I will try to put this into simpler terms just for you. Cameroon's strength is speed. To take advantage of speed you need space. To create space you compress the players. To compress the players, you encourage them to pass the ball over short distances. To ensure passes over short distances, you play mind games with an egotistical coach that takes any and every comment against him personally and make a comment that his team play long balls, not short passes and plays fast. Said coach is then offended and wants to prove opposition coach wrong by having his team playing opposite to what opposition coach said. Therefore playing to the opponents strengths. He played Ange mentally. Got us to play to his teams strengths. See, neither in this comment or my comment above did I mention anything about being 'scared'. You are the only one that thinks that. By the way, care to reply to my comment made at 6.57am this morning?

Are you suggesting the Cameroon coach was scared of this so made that comment to annoy Ange and stop Australia playing long balls? When did AUS play long balls against Germany? I wished we had played a few long balls when Cahill came on, instead of messing around with it in midfield when we desperately needed a goal. The Cameroon goal came from Route 1, long ball football. It worked so good on them, so it was successful on the one occasion. But, I don't want my teams playing that type of rubbish for 90'.

"Our tactics are telegraphed." Fadida, I will go out on a limb here and say that the Cameroon coaches' comments about playing route 1 (combined with Ange's ego) were said to have the desired result - to limit us playing long balls. Ange seems to take any difference to his opinion or anyone questioning him as a personal insult. Broos played Ange with one remark. After Broos made that comment, Ange would've been hell-bent to prove him wrong, which meant we were going to have more possession. Cameroon were quite happy to let us have the ball, encourage us to come forward and then strike us with swift counters after winning the ball by applying pressure.

We had a lot of possession in our own 2/3. Why, they often let us have the ball, but as the stats show (5 shots to 19), they stopped is getting into the last 3rd, stole the ball and broke into the space we left. Our tactics are telegraphed. There is no alteration or adjustment. Are we defensively more solid with this system? Are we more of an attacking threat? One shot on target

Agree totally JB. If you have only a plan A opponents find out very easy to outmaneuver you. We had plenty of possession because they let us, allowing us to move up the pitch and then breaking in wide areas.

Thanks punter :)

Someone mentioned Ronnie Smith yesterday,a very accomplished football analyst. I wish someone would use Ron's talent to analyse the Socceroos "passing game" and tell us the percentage of "keeping possession" passes that actually go backwards, which to me is completely counter productive to the team's overall effectiveness, It is becoming more and more evident to watchers that the aims of today's tactical play, points to opponents quite willing to "surrender" their opponents back third in order to get back behind the centre line and wait for an opportunity to counter attack. Last nights opponents have mastered the theory behind this tactic and it was only poor finishing that allowed us a draw in this game. When our boys start passing the ball square across the field, or worse still back to another team mate behind him, we are actually aiding and abetting this preconceived counter attack plan. Now there are other reasons as to why we pass the ball backwards so much and that could be caused by the lack of movement by the players in front of the ball controller. To cure that problem is another story. Cheers jb.

We are playing 3 in the back, which is completely different to the game then we normally play & this is difficult to master, we also don't have the players to play this style & we are getting opened up in defence & our turnover in midfield are poor, I also feel we are also playing the wrong type of players for this passing game. One thing though we aren't playing hoofball & relying merely physical & aggression to win games. Now is this the right thing or thing to do, I have my opinion, so do you, but neither of you nor I have won the A-League championship or the Asian cup to have the right to coach this Socceroos side at this present moment. One other thing rubbish like playing against 3rd string German side shows your poor knowledge of the world game & shows you are not supportive of your national team, whether you agree or disagree with the style.

Yes Gersbach played really well. Hopefully he can fill that role and keep progressing. Degenek is just way too slow. You need speed on the flanks if you are going to play with a back 3 and he is way too pedestrian

We don't want to imagine it, but prefer to actually see it. Unfortunately, we haven't been seeing it for quite a while now. Care to provide any opinion onto why we aren't playing well?

Let's hope we keep being lucky. Australia plays badly and draws with the Champions of Africa. Imagine if we ever play well.

Played poorly: Drew with Cameroon Played poorly: Lost by 1 goal to Germany Of course, some will say Australia lucky not to lose by more in both matches. But, when Australia misses chances & draws, the same people say "not scoring is bad football". Proud of the guys, but wished each player could play to his full potential & wonder how good we could be. Really disappointed with Aaron Mooy. Expected a lot from him and he's been awful.

Can you believe that???? Ange says: "We controlled large parts of the game"... Is this guy completely delusional??? Is this guy completely blind??? Cameroon controlled large parts of the game. Jesus Christ, I can't believe what I'm hearing. This guy is living in his own bubble. He needs to go. The sooner the better. Australia was very lucky not to lose 3:0.

Any half decent team is going to exploit our current setup and against our good average players. Not enough quality on the park for us. I find Troisi disappointing for a player who kills it in the HAL but pedestrian at this level. He's not the only one.

Cheers mate

Thanks Isaac. More sleepless nights for Ange.

Still haven't got the back 3 worked out. Far too often the Cameroonians had unmarked players coming in either slightly wide or centrally. We weren't using the extra midfield player to our advantage which means we aren't as attacking as we have been. Great game from Gersbach. He really looked sharp tonight.