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Australia fell 1-2 to France, but there were plenty of positives to take out of the game – as well as frustrations. Here’s five talking points from the Socceroos’ first World Cup match.
That’s football, just like ’06, and we’ve gotta get better at it
While much has already been made of the frequency that French players hit the deck in rather dramatic fashion in Kazan, the reality is, that is football.
Much social media has already vented the frustrations of casual football observers, those who see something ethically and sportingly wrong with accentuating the impact of challenges.
In reality, that is football. We aren’t talking about disgraceful acts of simulation where players blatantly cheat when not even a finger has been placed upon their personage.
What happened in Kazan on numerous occasions was a display by a group of highly paid and professional footballers of how to emphasise minimal contact and draw the attention and sympathies of the referees.
It was reminiscent of 2006 when Lucas Neill conceded the match winning penalty in the Round of 16 tragedy in Germany.
It is a skill, a legal one and one which the Socceroos have fallen victim to again. Having players streaming into the box in numbers provides more opportunities for the spot kick to be given. Perhaps this should be our focus, rather than lamentations around the decision.
How the heck do we bounce back from that?
One of the biggest challenges that Bert van Marwijk will face over the next three days will be finding the right words to lift the Socceroos to another excellent performance.
There was no doubt the team played with a passion and commitment that was given extra motivation by the excellence of the opposition. There was a sense of the ‘match of your life’ mantra in the effort, particularly in defence.
Physical fatigue will play a role and there will be changes when the Socceroos run out against Denmark on Thursday yet the mentality of the players will be just as important.
Seeing the entire squad arm in arm after the loss to France was a good sign and there is obvious unity and a belief shared by all.
However, van Marwijk will need a team just as committed and disciplined against Denmark, especially with the Danes knowing they may only be ninety minutes away from securing their place in the Round of sixteen.
Milligan proved a few wrong and Sainsbury was excellent
Some writers, myself included, have seen chinks in the armour of our veteran centre-back Mark Milligan. Speed and agility are often raised as concerns when discussing the thirty-two-year-old’s future and many believe his time has run out as a Socceroo.
His performance against France was simply outstanding, almost faultless, courageous and sentimental.
The man standing next to him for much of the game was, in my opinion, one of the three Socceroos that needed to shine in order for the team to have a realistic and competitive chance in Russia.
Trent Sainsbury was sublime in both his skills and decision making and perfect in his timing. Add in the authoritarian manner in which both men physically imposed themselves at the back and van Marwijk may be tempted to start them against Denmark on Thursday.
Ryan could not have done anymore
I wrote prior to the game about Mathew Ryan perhaps needing to channel a little ‘Henry the Octopus’ of Wiggles fame in order to fend of the pending assault from the French front line and the multiple and testing saves he would be required to make.
For the first twenty minutes it was an accurate prediction and Ryan was outstanding in both positional play and the decisions he made. It was utterly predictable and our ‘keeper was well and truly up to the challenge.
What a season it has been for the Brighton man; one in which he has cemented himself as one of the top ten shot-stoppers in the Premier League and one which has made him potentially even more influential for the Socceroos.
Paul Pogba’s late goal was tinged with a little luck and Ryan was caught a yard or two further out than what he may have liked. However, in the context of the attack unfolding, he did little wrong and football can sometimes provide heart breaking moments with no one really to blame.
Did conservatism sting Bert?
The French became frustrated by the excellence of the Australian defence and much of the game late in the first and early in the second periods was played without incident, shots on goal or decisive chances.
Some might argue that with the French feathers a little ruffled, an attacking and early move might have reaped rewards. Tom Rogic was poor, another of the men the Socceroos need to fire and Jackson Irvine did add some energy in midfield when he entered the fray.
Tomi Juric worked hard up front as a substitute for Andrew Nabbout yet Daniel Arzani was given a measly five minutes to attempt to pull the match from the fire at the death.
The Australians looked fatigued and a more bold approach early in the second-half may have made the French even more apprehensive. It appeared that the last thing the French probably wanted were more and more of these pesky little men in gold ruffing them up and running at them with vigour.
In saying that, van Marwijk did so much right, but the question remains. Could we have made an inroad or two with decisive early substitutions? I guess we’ll never know.