Australia has drawn 0-0 with Colombia at Craven Cottage in London and the fondness of the venue has surely played a part in the Socceroos’ return to something resembling an organised football team.
Gone were the clangers in defence that permeated through the performance in Oslo against Norway which led to a 4-1 loss, despite the fact that it was mostly the same personnel charged with preventing the skilful and agile South Americans from finding the net.
Josh Risdon was called into the back four and did well, despite the challenge of tracking attacking players blessed with speed far in excess of that which he faces week to week in the A-League.
I met Josh a few months back and could not have been more impressed with his manner and words, as he maturely reflected on his move to Sydney and the exciting possibility of heading to a World Cup with the national team. His performance against Colombia reeked of the poise and class I took from our conversation.
There was immediately something different about the performance in London, as the speed of ball movement in midfield and the bodies up front were considerably improved from just four days ago.
With Aaron Mooy missing thanks to a minor complication to a knee that is still healing after sustaining a deep gash, it fell to Massimo Luongo and Tom Rogic to control the midfield and distribute.
Our two young stars shone and with Matthew Leckie and Tomi Juric working hard up front, chances were created after an initially stodgy start to the game with little action at either end.
Potentially even more exciting was the performance of Andrew Nabbout, who played in his more natural position today and was dangerous on the left when in combination with Aziz Behich and Luongo.
(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Behich was one of Australia’s best late in the World Cup qualifying campaign, as epic as it became, and continued his good form against the Colombians. Late in the game when he cleaned up an attacking foray and his direct opponent hit the deck looking for the free, the frustration and anger in Behich’s face said a lot about the type of competitor he is.
He was fighting for his country and wanted to maintain parity at all costs, despite the ‘friendly’ nature of the contest.
With honours close to shared in the first-half, the Colombians took the initiative in the second and it became increasingly difficult for the Australians to maintain possession and build up play effectively.
Earlier, Rogic and Luongo had been running through the midfield and distributing ahead, something that Mooy struggled to do in Oslo, yet as the game went on and the Colombians took over, Australia took to countering when given the chance.
Luongo created his own space and fired on goal with Australia’s best chance for the game in a sequence of touches that was probably the cream of the action from the entire contest.
Sadly, it was one of few in the second-half as the Socceroos faced a barrage of balls into the box and others that ricocheted of the woodwork to deny the team making most of the play.
James Rodriguez co-ordinated much of the South American’s attack and the introduction of Miguel Borja bred the most vivacious period of the match.
However, a point-blank miss, interventions by goal frames and a missed penalty seemed to suggest it was neither Borja’s or Colombia’s day.
After debutant Danny Vukovic conceded the spot kick, and an obvious penalty it was, his stunning save celebrated the long wait he has had to represent the Socceroos. It was a pleasant little birthday present to boot.
Bert van Marwijk made more changes and has seen the vast majority of his squad in action, in a performance with which he will be far happier. Tim Cahill had half an hour to impress yet the momentum had swung so far in the Colombians favour his chances were limited.
The match was something of a precursor to the bombardment the team will experience in Russia. France, Peru and Denmark will launch similar wave after wave and the defence will need the stoicism they displayed today.
What will be even more important, however, will be the ability to do what the Socceroos were able to achieve against Colombia today and counter well.
Chances will be limited playing against the powerhouses in the Socceroos’ group and structuring their own play well enough to create opportunities is key and also provides the defence with time to regroup.
The Matilda scored the first two of her team's goals in the 4-0 win.
With the Liverpool manager leaving the club after this season, his West Ham rival can't wait for him to go - in the nicest…
Arsenal have survived a late scare at Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham to stay narrowly ahead in the compelling race for the Premier League title. A…
At the time this column usually goes live next Monday morning, I’ll be in the stands at Selhurst Park watching Crystal Palace take on…
And just like that, another A-League regular season (sans one game) is in the books and we look ahead to the finals. Let's recap…
Salah was dropped from the starting side for the visit to London - and the striker was involved in a furious confrontation with Klopp…
