Australia’s World Cup campaign is over, a 2-0 defeat to Peru consigning the Socceroos to a third successive group-stage effort.
Once again, it was a promising attacking performance from Bert van Marwijk’s side, one which was begging for a top-class striker to make the most of the many attacking chances. Instead, they went begging.
For the first match in the tournament, Australia started on the front foot, making the first attacks of note but not really troubling the Peruvian defence. The South Americans had no such troubles.
With what was essentially Peru’s first incursion into Socceroos territory, Paolo Guerrero latched onto a lofted long ball, holding play up inside the box before crossing for Andre Carrillo. After steadying himself briefly, the winger lashed a superb volley through two defenders and past the helpless Mat Ryan.
Replays showed Guerrero was awfully close to being offside in the build-up. Was he undoubtedly beyond the last defender when the ball was played? The few replays flashed up on the screen made it hard to say. Certainly it warranted at least a look from VAR. But the technology was not consulted and, for the third time in as many matches, the Socceroos went 1-0 down.
As in those previous two games, conceding the first goal led to some positive play from Bert van Marwijk’s side.
Tom Rogic, outstanding throughout the first 45, went closest to bringing the scores level with a terrific run into the box, but his weak shot was saved by Pedro Gallese. Mathew Leckie almost latched onto a cut-back from Robbie Kruse and would have scored were it not for a crucial interception from the Peruvian defence, while Trent Sainsbury headed wide from an Aaron Mooy free-kick.
The Socceroos left the field for half-time with 57 per cent possession and five shots to their name. Alas, as had been the case against Denmark, their excellent play went unrewarded, the lack of a dependable striker once again proving to be an Achilles heel.
Despite that, there was no change from van Marwijk at the start of the second half, and things soon went from bad to worse for Australia.
Christian Cueva broke down the sideline, exploiting a paddock of space left by the very tired looking Josh Risdon and Mile Jedinak. Cueva’s deflected pass led to Guerrero’s deflected shot, the latter of which looped off Mark Milligan’s challenge and past Ryan’s outstretched arms and into the net.
A two-goal deficit was enough to see Tim Cahill summoned at the expense of the ineffective Tomi Juric, and soon after Daniel Arzani also joined the fray.
Successive corners led to successive chances, but neither Cahill nor Aziz Behich could test Gallese with their volleyed efforts. Arzani too tried his luck with a volley, but his long-range attempt flew over the bar.
Behich then almost set up Cahill for World Cup goal number six, but the left-back’s delivery couldn’t find its mark. If the match’s previous events hadn’t done so already, that misdirected cross made it abundantly clear that it just wasn’t Australia’s night.
In truth, the result against Peru didn’t matter. Elsewhere in Group C, France and Denmark were content to play out a scoreless draw, sending both European nations through to the round of 16 quite comfortably.
But that’s hardly an excuse, nor were Australia half as unlucky as the partisan SBS commentators would have us believe. Admirable as their performances were, the Socceroos failed to win a game in Russia and were incapable of scoring from anywhere but the penalty spot.
The task of fixing those attacking woes now falls to Graham Arnold, who takes over from van Marwijk as national coach. Finding a regular avenue to goal, someone who can get into the right areas and capitalise on the side’s excellent build-up play, is a priority.
But that can wait. For now, Australian fans and players will dwell on a lost opportunity to make an impact at the World Cup.
Hopefully the side can do just that next time around. Only 1608 days to go until Qatar.
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
Yep, remember exactly what your talking about as I'm sure half the nation was also at the same time shouting for Kruse to have a go and for Rogic to play it off to his left towards Juric. Sadly there's others, apparently we live and learn? cheers.
Robin Friday
Guest
The highlight for me, probably the only one, was the Mooy strike at range against Denmark. Absolute bullet. Didn’t hit the target, but for a few seconds at least, it put some fear into the opposition.
Beny Iniesta
Guest
We need to do a clearout before the Asian Cup. Take out and retire any players that won't be there 2022/2026 and start the rebuild now.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yes, I have commented on that lots. My reaction to Peru's first goal was "none of the Aussies would have struck that, they'd have all tried to control it first and by the time they took the shot they'd be closed down." If you watch through any highlights of the World Cup it's plain to see, if someone gets an opportunity inside the box it's just about always a first time strike. Certainly all the successful ones are. But our guys keep trying to control it first and miss the chance. Plus, there's very little awareness of what's going on around them. Kruse cut it back to Leckie despite Leckie having 2 defenders on him and Kruse having none. If he's instead cut back onto his right foot he'd have had an open shot. Or alternately cut back to the guy running in behind for the open shot. The cut in to Leckie was actually the most obvious, but most low percentage play. When Rogic made that run through the middle and beat all the defenders ending in the weak shot, he drew all the defenders in leaving Juric completely unmarked to his left. An easy pass would have lead to an open shot for him. So those are the two big things for me. Taking too long to get a shot off meaning they are regularly closed down, and lack of awareness of what options are available leading to bad decision making when there were much better options available.
lunchboxexpert
Guest
It is isn't about heritage at all, its actually about where the child spends the first 10 or so years of their life and the health that location imparts on the child that is important. Healthy locations with healthy food etc, etc produce healthy resilant kids.
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
Fair call Chris, as you say there are areas and the main one in this campaign has been the attack. Have you noticed how we dither and dally around trying to get the ball lined up for our favourite foot, to get our body positioning for maximum impact.....all the while some defender or defenders are raining down on us. The opponents we played over the last three games, especially the Peruvians last night, hit the ball first time in our goal area, no mucking about. Even the Argies did the same v. Nigeria. No waiting, no lining it up or getting the boot laces just at the back of the ball......they just go for it, they smack it, they simply pulled the trigger and it showed.
MQ
Guest
They could not hve been the best chances of the game if the final ball didn't even make it to the potential scorer. By definition, the two shots which hit the back of the net must be amongst the best two or three chances of the game.
Chopper
Guest
The A League is part of the problem because clubs employ marquee overseas players in their goalscoring positions instead of giving a pathway to Australian youth. Amongst the Fornaroli's, Bobo's, Maccaroni's, Keoghs and Berisha's in the A League last season how many Aussie's got a call up? Taggart and ????. Fornaroli was injured so City bought in MaCormack instead of a young Aussie. There is no pathway for a youngster to get a guernsey as the youth league has too few games. In any case one has to go to the old adage if they are good enough they are old enough. Great to see Arzani get a gig at both A League and National teams but lack of a full A League of 16 teams means coaches are sticking with overseas journeymen and our kids are missing out.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Not looked at the stats closely but certainly a number of people locally indicate numbers drop off in League after a certain age in youth from their experience in the game. It's more the other way around that they can't handle the tackles by larger players in their age groups. And those are returning to football...
Kangas
Roar Rookie
strikers should be the selfish kids , not the team oriented pass first philosophy
Griffo
Roar Guru
A couple of things, and some of this in the discussion: * We can be a difficult team to play against given our ranking in the mid-30s - there is no doubt France and Denmark found it difficult - against a tight grouping of top 12 sides. Also implies how narrow the competition can be and how mistakes and quality can be the difference, on any day. * We respond well to coaching: we do have good players so being setup to our strength gets us so far. (Notwithstanding an extended camp for the World Cup to work on nothing but formation and tactics vs a few days before a qualifier). * Obvious areas we could do with certain players, but also tactically to be setup to make do with what we've got. Cahill is obvious example of cross and head for goal: Kennedy was another; Leckie not the best at this. Cahill assumed retirement may force a rethink. * We have some creative and ball playing midfielders: While Ange tried to fit them all in and increase numbers in attack, perhaps BvM had too few. numbers.. * Fourth straight World Cup doesn't imply a weakness of AFC for us. What it does imply is that we are a good chance of making the next one where once that wasn't the case... This comes back to how we can become a Pot 3 or even Pot 2 nation. Can that occur over the next 3-4 years, or over the next 2-3 World Cup cycles, irrespective of the future formats? Amongst all the talk, Craig Foster has a few points on overriding philosophy, and how coaches are selected, and from other comments, development. That is as much about what the FFA does and how it does it for the national team, some is short term, while others are medium or long term decisions. Given their comments on an expected (automatic) crowd surge for the A-League based off national World Cup interest, you could be forgiven for thinking not much will change in the immediate future if FFA remains unchanged in processes, if not the people making decisions. So we are yet to see what will transpire with Arnold, who appears a little more BvM in approach than Ange. Short term can we: * Reach the Asian Cup final at least to offer a defence? * Qualify directly for the next World Cup? I hope Arnold does well but will we remain asking the same questions in 2022 around getting out of the group phase? If it all goes wrong, we could be looking at a disrupted World Cup qualification campaign - and assuming it gets back on track and we make 2022 - will there be a short term plan again for an appointment? While Ange got increasingly testy with the press, they won't have that luxury with Arnold should it not go according to plan early. We generally don't want to just qualify anymore. Four years is too long for FFA to just hope it'll sort itself out, or a big name coach will give a shot in the arm at a World Cup to collect fees and box checking. The next six-to-twelve months seem key for putting a few things in place that may give us a chance of a better outcome over this next cycle. It might also be enough time for the likes of Foster to make a statement on where this will end up...
Kangas
Roar Rookie
France are less then the sum of their parts They have been ordinary for all their star players
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Exactly We have to delve into the talent pool of kids of African heritage too in Australia. Just look at Belgium I think we need a klinnsman to coach the young strikers for 4 years
Griffo
Roar Guru
Agree here Fadida although with a pass and possession-centric philosophy for a number of years I wonder if this has hindered current shoot first mindset, given the amount of touch then think in the box. BvM also hinted (probably unrelatedly) how we do exactly as we are told without much improvisation. Still doesn't explain what does/doesn't happen at club level and is just a thought, but we certainly show few options in attack, which can't be fully cured by any coach short or long term.
Waz
Roar Rookie
No, but he did have Arzani Arghhhhhhhh ....
Waz
Roar Rookie
The cupboard is anything but “bare” ... but you’d have to follow football inbetween world cups to realise that. Theo. Borello. Mauk. Taggart. DDS. The Victory kid at Ajax. McGree. Akbari. Wales. Atkinson. Italiano. And I’m not even trying there. There are plenty to add to Arzani, Petratos, Maclaren that were actually there ... we’re doing okay. Cut the doom n gloom please ?
Waz
Roar Rookie
“And the majority of kids who loved the game from 5 to 13 or 14 drift into the AFL or rugby /NRL when they feel strong enough to take the tackles. The junior development is bull“ No they don’t. That’s not what the statistics say anyway.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
I don't know i think Rogic has more to give, Loungo and Irvine as well....Mooys probably at his peak but will be the wrong side of 30 by Qatar if we make it. Risdon and Sainsbury need to get a move to a better league and get first team football and i think they'll improve. I think you'll see 2 or 3 players emerge in the next 4 years as well.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
What I don't know about the world game is pretty much everything. Having said that watching last night, there was a definite change in tempo after Cahill came on and with a few corners he was in the action. It is well reported that he didn't have much recent paddock time in his legs but he is there as a finisher. Australia had opportunities on the games I saw this world cup. They could get to the net and in position, they just couldn't finish off with the ball in the net. Cahill has a better than fair record of putting ball A into pocket B.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Hopefully what we have achieved here is set the foundations for a more improved Socceroos squad that will make an even bigger impact at the next WC, a squad still young enough here to make it to the next one. The thing is, that's what the last World Cup was supposed to be. Eventually we need to have a World Cup that's not just laying foundations for the next one. Let's just hope that Arnold and others who's job is to take it from here don't look at it like "we just needed more luck" and instead can really see all the areas in which we simply weren't good enough and come up with strategies for improving in those areas. And really, I think one thing that is needed to improve in those areas is to actually give each player certain challenges to go away and work on during the year as they are with their clubs, so they can improve the quality in the areas that we are missing. We need to get our current players to improve, we can't just be sitting around hoping for some awesome striker to come along and fix our problems up front.