Congratulations to Jordan, who came at Australia with a game plan and executed it to perfection in their 1-0 win over the Socceroos last night.
Not exactly an ideal start to an Asian Cup title defence, was it?
The Jordanians pulled off a classic piece of tournament football, stacking their defence, running down the clock at every opportunity and stunning the Socceroos with an expertly taken set-piece goal.
It means Australia have now lost a group stage game in three of their four Asian Cup appearances to date.
And while the chance to avoid Japan in the quarter-finals might be a blessing in disguise, the Socceroos won’t even reach the knock-out stage if they play like they did last night against Palestine and Syria.
It had shades of the 2007 Asian Cup all over it, with the nervy team display littered with questionable decision-making and some poor individual performances.
Forget the refereeing – which didn’t help, but was the same for both teams – there seemed to be a few key issues that Graham Arnold needs to sort out.
Namely what to do with Tom Rogic, whether to rejig the front third and how better to apply some game management to Australia’s tournament football.
Has there been a more Jekyll and Hyde type of player to pull on a Socceroos jersey of late than Tom Rogic?
At times he resembles a world-beater at Celtic, but he can’t even beat the first defender with the Socceroos.
(ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
He was woeful last night, and if we wondered if he could ever play effectively alongside Aaron Mooy, we learned last night that he can barely play without him.
It’s never nice to single out individuals for criticism – and with Arnold unlikely to ring in mass changes, Rogic will probably receive a stay of execution – but the so-called playmaker needs to actually do some playmaking against Palestine.
As for the rest? Rhyan Grant is a better option than Josh Risdon at right back thanks to his marauding raids forward, Chris Ikonomidis must start against the Palestinians, and Awer Mabil looks by far Australia’s biggest goal-scoring threat.
Where does that leave Jamie Maclaren? Probably not in the starting side next time out, you’d imagine.
You had to feel sorry for the Hibernian striker when he had what appeared to be the equaliser chalked off for straying marginally offside, but while Maclaren is a serviceable goal poacher, there are very few other strings to his game.
Arnold will be praying Andrew Nabbout is fit enough to start against Palestine, but if he’s not, it might be worth playing Ikonomidis at the point of the attack.
Andrew Nabbout didn’t play against Jordan due to injury. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
It might also be worth Arnold instructing his players to have a think about some better game management strategies as well.
Jordan’s goal through Anas Bani Yaseen’s towering header from a well-worked short corner routine came with three Australian players strung out in a line across the six-yard box, marking thin air.
Here’s a thought – how about stationing one of those players on the near post?
Maybe that way, instead of standing and staring in disbelief as the winning goal flashes in, one of those players could have cleared it instead?
But the slavish adherence to zonal marking isn’t even the most frustrating part of Australia’s game.
It’s the inability to clear the first defender from corners. It’s the tendency to turn backwards into trouble. It’s the unwillingness to take responsibility in front of goal, faffing about with a series of fruitless passes before unleashing a speculative effort that flashes high and wide.
Some of the Socceroos’ decision-making leaves an awful lot to be desired.
It’s up to Arnold and skipper Mark Milligan to sharpen those instincts ahead of Friday’s clash with minnows Palestine.
Nothing less than drastic improvement will mean a swift end to Australia’s Asian Cup title defence.
On the basis of last night’s performance, that’s just about what the Socceroos deserve.
BWM
Guest
Some of our finest came from the AIS which was shut down by Gov, not the FFA.
Matsu
Roar Rookie
Lionheart- Not sure if that was intended as a joke. If so, sorry for the scorn. Ange in Yokohama, has one of the top budgets in the league, a strong fan base and a pool of players who have been finishing in the top half for 20+ years. He barely managed to avoid relegation (only clinched survival on the last day of the season). His contract was renewed mainly because he did a much better job of playing the 人間関係 (human relationships) game than Arnie did (for the record, Arnold lasted just seven weeks, and earned just one point from those matches). No, neither of those coaches had the quality needed to even stay competitive in Japan. Popovic, on the other hand, did a pretty good job in Hiroshima (though in a very different era). I think there is something to be said in their defense, because J.League coaching is a very different thing from what they are familiar with. Ange had to completely change tactics while Arnie never had the chance - he went straight to the bottom of the pond and never resurfaced. Who knows, Ange might learn from his mistakes in 2018 and achieve better results next season. But I wouldnt hold my breath. At the moment he is top of the list for punters asking who will be the first coach firedc in 2019.
oldpsyco
Guest
As the National Coach, the buck stops with you Arnie! FFA selected a National Coach with NO runs on the board at this level, and put him in charge for a major tournament !!!! Another Major FAIL for the old guard! Players injured in warm-ups = insufficient preparation = Coaching issue Players not prepared psychologically = Coaching issue Players not good enough = Selection fail = Coaching issue Players not released from clubs soon enough = National Coach does not command international respect! Problem FFA chose the wrong coach. Looking after a mate rather than looking after the sport, but that's not unusual for the old regime.
shirtpants
Roar Guru
Yes but also making a massive resurgence. I meant it more in the sense that you know most teams, especially those generally considered inferior, will play this way in current tournaments. If you cant break it down then thats a managers personnel/tactical/technical issue.
Kaks
Roar Guru
I would too if I had to control a ball that was driven at me from 10m away.
Will
Guest
They will promote one of there favourites in old timer Ron Smith as TD as the media dudes like Slater, Bozza, Kosmina think the Dutch revolution has killed off our production line where there isn’t any evidence that’s doing so...
Will
Guest
Tom Rogic has an overated first touch which doesn’t help either.
Evan Askew
Guest
Very few East European footballers in the 80s and 90s playing in the too leagues? Igor Belanov, Alex Zavarov, Sergei Aleinikov, Rinat Dassaev, Alexei Mickailichenko, Igor Shalimov, pavel Kolivanov, Hristo Stoichkov, Thomas Skhuravy, Franz Straka, Dragan Stoickovic. There are much more, I have just named a tithe of the numbers ou f Ir ou n curtain players playing in Italy, Spain, Geemany, France and England from the mid 80s to 2000.
Evan askew
Guest
Just ignore
Waz
Roar Rookie
I’m not deflecting blame, I’m merely telling you what I believe. He did lose “the football media” which is - by in large - the “ex-Socceroos Mafia” and I would argue public opinion followed the media. Like you I think at the end change couldn’t come quick enough but Ange wasn’t given a fair-go. It’s crucial Arnie doesnt fail but if he does there will be egg on quite a few faces. If you want Exhibit B on this BS have a look at the protected species that is John Aloisi. Has he been criticised at all for the past two years or is the inference that somehow it’s not his fault, it’s “the club”. I don’t know who you support but don’t be surprised if JA arrives at your club sometime soon lol. Mates club. That’s what’s going on and it’s been happening for 3-4 years. Just watch that TD role at the FFA.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
No Australian coach has coached in the Serie A...or the Italian top tier. I could understand them not making it in one or the other, but to miss out on both is damning.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
APOEL is a decent club. Not sure of the point your making, often do well in European comps.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Those tactics are as old as the hills.
Mark
Guest
Let’s stop deflecting blame here. Ange lost the support of much of the Australian football public and media because of his predictable tactics, poor results and arrogant attitude. If GA goes down the same route, I expect he won’t last long either, and without all the goodwill Ange built up (before he squandered it) he won’t last anywhere near as long as Ange did.
Waz
Roar Rookie
“Anges tenure couldn’t end soon enough” … Anges tenure was ground down over an 18-24 month period by the “ex-Socceroos Mafia” who have an interest in their mates over the good of the game. Worse still, they actually believe the good of the game and the good of their mates is the same thing. If left unchecked we are in for a decade of misery at multiple levels in this country as “mates” fill positions they are not qualified for and better candidates are overlooked. The next one will be the FFAs TD – you watch, he’ll be mates of the usual suspects with no obvious criteria for the role other than he’s “an ex-Socceroo”. Ange should not have been ground down the way he was.
stu
Guest
Defeated San Marino twice. Last time Scotland played Australia 3-1. However the subject was Rogic. If playing against 3rd rate teams as claimed and playing in the Australian national team, we have a problem with our stocks. His performance against a lowely rated Jordan enhances his failings and the natural assumption would be that Jordan ain't that bad (ie better than 3rd rate). Would Scotland beat Jordan, I have no idea but we do know that WE were lacking last night.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
I was disappointed when I heard the result. Thought Jordan was one person & he beat us single handed. Now I realise that they had the same number of player as us, there's no shame in losing to one of the giants of World Football. Well done Arnie. Who said we need an overseas coach?
stu
Guest
Firstly, the team he plays for does not win each game by 4 goals, so we can put that to bed. However, yes they are the strongest team in the league. As far as a potential move, he had a good chance when out of contract 18 months or so past but made his choice to stay were he was. If he was good enough, the big clubs would have been knocking at the door, I can't recall that happening, one could say the market has spoke.
sheek
Roar Guru
I did acknowledge Ange won the Asian Cup.
Nick Symonds
Guest
"Is it harsh to compare the Socceroos play with virgins on their wedding night?" - Rogic missed the target from point blank and sent his shot way over the top into the crowd who were watching on stunned in complete disbelief at his terrible performance. Make of that what you will...