Socceroos coach Graham Arnold had warned the French to fear the ‘Aussie DNA’. On this showing ‘DNA’ clearly stood for ‘Do Not Attack’.
Although the Socceroos went ahead on five minutes thanks to an astonishing piece of high quality football, they chose that moment to retreat, allowing the incredible talents of France to run and create at will.
In the end the 4-1 scoreline flattered the Australians. “In all fairness it could have been more,” former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich said on SBS.
An array of former Socceroos were assembled to pontificate on the game for SBS and it was a sobering night for them and Australia’s fans.
While Arnold’s defensive tactics were questions, Bosnich expanded his scope.
“You’re seeing there the result of people in France, way back in 1994 when they missed out [on the World Cup finals in 1990 and ’94] who sat down and put together a massive plan.
“The result of that is you see the difference in the class of quality. The biggest question is what Australian football going to do to see our players be like that one day?
“Five straight World Cups is all well and good but for what – one last 16 place in over 100 years? So what are you going to do about that?”
The Socceroos’ first World Cup finals appearance was in 1974 but it wasn’t until 2006 they qualified again. That year they reached the knockout stages but have been eliminated at the group stages in the past three editions and now face a mountain to get through, although Denmark’s draw with Tunisia earlier offers a glimmer.
No one really expected the Socceroos to get a result out of this game, despite Arnold’s pre-game bullishness.
But his tactics are under the microscope once again.
“I think the question is for Graham, whether he should have changed the game earlier,” said Craig Foster on SBS.
“We were 2-1 down but we also were conceding a lot of really good chances.
“I was surprised that he took so long to change – right at the end of the game. The other question is the ambition. In the second half at 2-1 down, we came out in the second and the same the pattern of the game was exactly the same.
“So at what point are we going to go up now start to press them?
“You obviously needed those fresh legs on the wings in particular [earlier], as you saw, which ultimately happened with Kuol and Mabil.
“Bring the team up to and start to put some pressure on them and take some more risks.”
He said that typically when a team was 2-1 down at halftime they would come out on the front foot – but Australia stayed in their shell.
“We never really did that. And all of a sudden, you’re down 3-1 and then 4-1 and the game is over. There are questions around whether Graham could have changed the approach, because the pattern of the game was already set,” said Foster.
Harry Kewell, whose 2006 goal against Croatia sent Australia into the knockout stages, made his commentary debut on SBS and was clearly frustrated by Arnold’s lack of intent.
“I just think if we had got them on the back foot, got the back line of France turning, we could have just caused them a little bit more trouble,” he said.
“And it has turned out to be such an easy game for France.”
After the match Arnold pointed to differences in quality, but also physique.
They were just so much bigger and faster and stronger than us today,” Arnold said.
Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe looked to be playing a different at times to the Australians and gave his opposite number Nathaniel Atkinson a torrid time.
Arnold was positive about the Hearts defender’s performance.
Kylian Mbappe casts a spell on Nathaniel Atkinson. (Photo by Fareed Kotb/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“The kid actually did decently well,” Arnold said. “He did his best against one of the best players in the world. In the first half he had Leckie and Jackson Irvine helping, when Mbappe had the ball three of them got out there and helped but how do you stop someone so quick?
“That’s very difficult. So it’s a great lesson for the kid and he’ll move on.”
Arnold must try to lift spirits quickly ahead of the clash with Tunisia.
“We’ve built the belief and the energy and the focus. The way we started I think that they believed in that and we just got punished by our mistakes.”
chris
Guest
Another deluded Aussie sports fan. Yes all our world beaters are currently playing other sports! Lets see, AFL where we can't even beat an Irish amateur team. Rugby league where we struggled to beat NZL who are, not only a tiny nation, don't even have a rugby league competition of their own. And...last by no means least Rugby! Where Italy (yes Italy) recently beat our elite team of rugby athletes.
rodney mcminge
Guest
At least once a week, i see in my mind, 2006. Us Vs Brasil. First half brasil played wide. 2nd half, they played up the middle and Guus hadn't planned for that. To me Guus dropped the ball at that moment. As much as i love Guus, i still can't get that vision out of my skull.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Our sporting identity is not based on physicality/size
Rodney McMinge
Guest
There are so many questions to ponder. Like, why do we play in summer when we're expected to be able to attack for 90 minutes ? That's never going to happen. I don't see how a team can make progress in our country where elsewhere in the world, the game is becoming a front foot game ? Bigger, faster, stronger ? I forsee in time an australian squad mainly made up of Afro/Australian , with Asian/Australian interspersed for their low center of gravity skills. The need for a coach who can at least spell the word "tactics ". To put it bluntly, we are half arsed and deserve nothing at this stage. Knowing we had France first up , i din't go into panic mode. I knew there could only be 2 results a)...the french flog us..or b) the french self implode and beat themselves. I was praying for the latter. Somehow we need to make this a winter sport....again. How else are we going to be an attacking side if we don't practise that " on the pitch " during the seaon. It's not a trick you can pull out of a hat. You MUST play that way all season. That's all i want to say for now, as we know, there's a deep well of issues.
Ben
Guest
Guus had the squad in top physical condition and it showed as they were able to run teams down in the latter stages - if the Italy game went into ET we would have been all over them. This time around half the squad seemed to be in the injury ward less than a month ago and are lucky they can even play let alone dominate another team. Past Aussie teams were known for their physicality and toughness, if not skill, but in the 2006 team both came together. Where are our big, physical players now? Souttar is there but where are the other beanpole players who can soar above a pack or cover half the goal with their wingspan? They're running around your local AFL ground or jumping in the rugby lineout. Your tough, physical winger who can run a 10-11s 100m whilst not being bumped off the ball is suiting up in the NRL, your "pocket rocket" who can be at full speed in 2-3 steps and worm his way through a crowded defensive line is passing the ball from the back of a ruck/scrum or winning the Brownlow in an AFL midfield. We just don't have the cattle coming through anymore from the huge junior ranks - only those who could afford it are able to go to the development academies - there doesn't appear to be the same rep team pathways open to all like the other football codes where all you have to be is a skilled player to get picked. Until football becomes the favourite sport in a very uniquely crowded sporting market in Australia for a relatively small population I don't think we will get the pick of the athletes to take us to the next level.
Johnb
Guest
Not sure why this gets forgotten, but the 1974 finals had 16 teams. Getting to those finals was getting to the last 16.
Free flowing FC
Roar Rookie
Back in Bosnich’s days we often played a quality South American opponent (Uruguay & Argentina), sometimes it was a Central American one
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
I applaud ambition and the will to improve, but in Bosnich’s day they couldn’t even make the finals.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The Australian way in all sports is to play without fear and to try and dominate and score. Under Arnold we are not that. Only Ange and Gus actually got teams to play to the national psyche
MH01
Guest
You are correct , my mistake
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Yeh, Mooy has been a good servant but he's well past his best. Early on, he was cutting off a few balls into the box from the French left. I posted at the time, this is good, but can he keep that up for 90+ minutes. We soon had our answer.
Ad-O
Guest
The ex-manager of the US had a theory that because of the Nations League in Europe and South America they are not getting to play some of the big European and South American teams in friendlies and it's hurting their development. There might be something in that. I also think if you look at our.golden generation a lot of the went to the AIS. That no longer exists but a centralised national youth academy seems like it may have merit. France have got one.
Ad-O
Guest
Argentina played bad today. Their front 3 looked slow and this may be a tournament too far. The Saudis took a big risk playing that high line and had a lot of luck. Their possession and shots actually wasn't too much different to ours. Like any game it's what you do with your opportunities that matters and they had the individual quality to take advantage of theirs coupled with an Argentina that didn't offer much. Australia wasn't so lucky. I'd wait until the end of the group stage before making a judgement on how wise it is to play like that. Certainly Mexico and Poland have enough to hurt them and will be looking to take advantage of all that space.
Ad-O
Guest
The Saudis are.better than Australia, as they proved in qualifying. Argentina also.played like trash and France played to their potential. With a mismatch like we saw today, it's really not about what Australia does it's about whether France turn up and once they decided to play there was only ever gonna be one outcome.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
i think a good side will have a balanced mix of players with different strengths in terms of attributes.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
So much bigger stronger and faster? Who picked Mooy? I would guess Mooy is one of the lightest, weakest and slowest at the world cup, the Argentian short players look strong. Is he the lightest I would put money on his being the weakest and slowest. Goodwin and Behich on the left aren't a power duo but they have some speed. Cummins is short and slow. Are we in dreamland, why would you pick Mooy if thats what you say.
Marcel
Guest
Agree MH....we should have copied the Saudis 3 disallowed goals tactic..it was a stroke of genius.
Tony Harper
Editor
In rugby maybe. In football it was 1-1 in 2010
Joe
Guest
We expected Australia to play with a little bit of intent. Instead we just went into our shell after scoring the early goal. Such negative tactics just handed the match to France on a platter. No one expected a result, but at least go down swinging - show a bit of Aussie fighting spirit!
MH01
Guest
Do Argentina and Saudi Arabia …… you don’t base your national team performance based on individual players ….. remember NZ beating Italy …. ;)