Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk’s decision to play an unchanged lineup for this morning’s friendly against Hungary appears a gamble that may not have paid off in the lead up to the World Cup.
The new coach’s move to put all his defensive eggs in one basket may have particularly backfired after Mark Milligan and Josh Risdon were found out in Budapest.
Save for a 15-minute cameo from Milos Degenek against the Czech Republic, no other defensive player has been afforded any game time in the lead up to the Socceroos first World Cup game against France on Saturday.
The new coach started the same back four (Trent Sainsbury, Mark Milligan, Aziz Behich and Josh Risdon) this morning as against the Czechs, opting against centre-back options Matt Jurman and Mile Jedinak, or fullback option Degenek and James Meredith.
Risdon, who was impressive against the Czechs, was completely at sea against Hungarian winger Roland Sallai, who got in behind the Western Sydney Wanderers defender no less than four times.
In less than a week he will be facing the likes of Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi in wide positions, which makes this morning’s performance concerning.
Likewise Milligan, who is a makeshift centre-half, made two glaring errors in possession in both halves against the Hungarians.
The first came after gifting a chance to striker Adam Szalai who failed to finish a relatively straight-forward chance.
Fast forward one week and Antoine Griezman or Kylian Mbappe will convert those chances with their eyes closed.
His second error came when, under no pressure, he issued an errant backpass to Brad Jones which almost resulted in another comical goal in an already comical game.
This is not to slate Risdon and especially Milligan who, gearing up for his fourth World Cup, has been a consistently solid member of the national side for over a decade.
It is to question van Marwijk’s decision to avoid trying any other defensive options in the two games he has had in charge before the World Cup. It is exceedingly short-sighted.
The fact the Dutch coach played an identical XI has led many to claim his lineup has been decided. Yet he remained coy pre-game, stating he may change “a few positions”.
Should Jurman or Meredith be called upon to play against France, it is a baptism of fire of the highest regard.
Not least for the attacking options France coach Didier Deschamps has at his disposal, but as they both will have had no game-time within a month.
The Dutch coach – who revealed this week he was paying eight Socceroos assistants out of his own back pocket – has made it clear throughout the Antalya training camp that all preparation was focused on the game against France.
He has made no secret of the fact his side will sit behind the ball against one of the tournament favourites, and has focused many sessions on structure and mobility when defending.
With that, focus naturally shifted this morning to the Socceroos’ shape without the ball. And the result showed that they have lots of work to do, except with little time to do so.
Daniel Arzani’s brilliant injection of pace and skill will (deservedly) hog the headlines in the next 24 hours, but for all the hope and joy he brings, he remains unlikely to start against France.
Another big decision van Marwijk faces before Saturday surrounds captain Mile Jedinak.
Coming on to replace Massimo Luongo at half-time, Jedinak put in an assured and structurally solid performance in central midfield.
With Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic (presumably) assuming two of the three spots in the central diamond, van Marwijk must decide between the mobility and youthfulness of Luongo, or the strength and experience of Jedinak.
Asked whether Jedinak’s relegation to the bench was harsh, former Socceroo Mark Bosnich said pre-game: “It’s very harsh on him. Not just because of that, but because of the fact he’s been captain and so influential in the qualifiers. But this is what happens at the top level, especially when a manager has come in and doesn’t have much time to do anything.
“On the back of last week I thought if you’re going to play Mooy and Rogic together, you need somebody that’s just that little bit more mobile, and at the moment Massimo Luongo is.”
Notably, when Jedinak came on to replace Luongo at half-time, Sainsbury kept the captain’s armband.
Andrew Nabbout also appears likely to start against France in a huge rise to prominence for the former A-league winger/striker.
This is also a huge gamble, especially as Tom Juric appeared a nailed-on starter at number 9.
Nabbout’s pace and energy is undoubted, but has little to no experience against world-class defenders, and will struggle to hold the ball in the few attacking chances the Socceroos have against France.
His ascension above Juric appeared evident when Juric was substituted on at half-time, only to be taken off at the 80th minute for Tim Cahill.
His long trudge to the touchline said it all, and he has a strong case to be frustrated.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
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