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Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW
Australia vs Czech Republic |
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|---|---|---|
International Friendly |
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| St Polten NV Arena in St Polten, Austria | ||
| Australia | Czech Republic | |
| 4 | SCORE | 0 |
| 5 | Shots | 12 |
| 1 | Corners | 8 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
The Socceroos have answered a few critics in emphatic style with goals and a clean sheet, to sweep away a lacklustre Czech Republic in a complete performance, with a 4-nil victory.
The starting 11 that took the field for Australia looked as strong as you could ask, with maybe only Mile Jedinak the most likely player to come into the starting side.
Australia started slowly, as the formation and precision of the Czechs early on caused Australia to chase the game. However, the Czechs simply could not take their chances, and in this game, being clinical can be everything.
As Tom Rogic found Josh Risdon out wide, the ball whipped in and eventually came to a charging Mat Leckie, who buried the ball into the net. As the half-time whistle approached, Australia were up front, regardless of their claim to being the better team.
The second half was ultimately all Australia’s, and when Andrew Nabbout hammered home the second, and his debut international goal, Australia calmed down, and started to play some free football.
Further goals to Leckie (for an international brace) and a Degenek deflected goal, along with the cleansheet, would have given Bert Van Markwijk great confidence for the next friendly, and the World Cup itself.
Daniel Arzani also made his debut, with a notable mention to Mark Milligan and Trent Sainsbury commandeering the centre of defence.
Final score
Australia: 4
Czech Republic: 0
With the World Cup kick-off just around the corner, the Socceroos are playing the the Czech Republic in a pre-tournament international friendly at the NV Arena in Sankt Pölten, Austria. Join The Roar for live scores and blog of the match from 9pm (AEST).
For Australia, the World Cup starts tonight. With that first up match on 16 June against a World Cup winning contender to kick off the biggest sporting tournament in the world, now is the time for Australia to mix experimentation with the desire to start showing how they are going to compete in these types of matches.
The Czech Republic are a curious opponent as well, having failed themselves to qualify for the Russian tournament. Will they feel that they have a point to prove, and come out firing, or are their players already in off-season mode? I would wager the former, with Karel Jarolím’s side being eager to put Bert van Marwijk’s team, likely, to the sword.
So what can Aussie Bert try to take from this match, given he is yet to get a first up win as national team coach?
Given he has two games to lock down his likely starting 11 for France, you would think that the regulars (Ryan, Jedinak, Rogic, Mooy, Sainsbury) will all get a run, while the fitness of Tomi Juric might even be put to the test. Fans will be hopeful of seeing a first cap for Daniel Arzani.
And then there is the Cahill conundrum. A surprisingly controversial addition to the 26-man squad (the man is our all-time leading scorer, and has scored in three world cups in a row), it wouldn’t surprise to see him get a fair bit of game time, and if he can re-discover the magic, get him cherry-ripe for Russia.
Whoever Van Marwijk sends out tonight, the key to this performance will be about forming those ever vital combinations.
Whether it’s Rogic or Mooy in the middle pulling the strings, tonight must be about every player reading the calls, learning the movements, and trying to develop a rapport with whomever the chief playmaker turns out to be.
Some defensive solidarity wouldn’t go astray as well, and while this side kept Colombia scoreless in the last match (a minor miracle in itself), Norway poked holes in the Socceroos defensive unit that are still not quite fixed up.
The form of these two teams also could not be any further apart, with the Czech Republic enjoying five victories in their last six matches, while Australia have won just three of their last 12.
Prediction
While Van Marwijk may want to forget the result, ultimately, in any sport, the result does matter, and while I anticipate that the Socceroos will likely come just short, they should have a point to prove in front of goal, at the very least getting some scoreboard pressure to give them a lift in confidence.
Czech Republic 3-2.
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