No matter the method, the Socceroos’ 2-0 win against India in their opening match of the Asian Cup was what Graham Arnold’s squad needed, almost.
In a nutshell, it was far from perfect yet also far from awful, as second-half goals to Jackson Irvine and Jordan Bos secured the three points and sent the Aussies straight to the top of Group B and in the box seat to qualify comfortably for the knock-out phase of the tournament.
Indian fans would be deeply disappointed that the performance offered against the Socceroos was the best their team could muster.
With a growing domestic league and more interest in the game on the subcontinent than ever before, Indian football should be in a better place; reflected in something better than the rubbish the team produced on Saturday night.
Against a rusty and new-look Socceroos team that was far from sharp and precise, India managed just 29 per cent possession, wasted it awfully and took on the shape of training cones in the second half, as the Socceroos finally started to make some serious inroads and build attacking waves.
The goals were always going to come for the Australians, yet took a little longer than was comfortable for fans watching back home. Irvine continued his golden form in national colours and when Bos popped up for the second goal, he reminded everyone of Arnold’s words some months back when he spoke of the young defender’s potential to allow the Socceroos to play in a way they had not previously.
The coach appears to see Bos as a generational type of player, one that sweeps down the left in a more proactive manner than any Australian left-back before him; whilst also possessing a true goal-scoring instinct that will see him pop up from time to time on the scoresheet.
Anyone disappointed with the Socceroo performance had best reflect on the World Cup of 2022 and remind themselves that the tyranny of distance does sometimes translate to clunky starts for the Aussies on the big stage.
In Qatar during the World Cup, by the time the team hit the pitch for its third match against Denmark, it was humming, confident and seemingly more organised and aware of the collective cohesiveness required.
Arnold will be hoping for something similar this time around and after Group B opponents Syria and Uzbekistan played out a 0-0 draw in their opener; without displaying anything that will have the Socceroos quaking in their boots, a better performance against the 91st-ranked Syria is looking far more likely than not.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
However, using the same 11 from the off against Syria is questionable. Defensively, the back four of Gethin Jones, Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles and Aziz Behich was rarely threatened, Irvine was as solid as always, yet Keanu Baccus, Connor Metcalfe and Craig Goodwin were probably entitled to create more and do so with a little more intent and crispness than they did.
Mitchell Duke and Martin Boyle would have enjoyed a little more ingenuity from those creative players and Riley McGree did provide a definite spark after entering the match from the bench.
Arnold also used Sam Silvera and Bruno Fornaroli in the second half and frankly, Duke’s starting spot must be questioned considering how well the Melbourne Victory striker slotted into a better-functioning attacking unit that McGree looked to be leading.
Aiden O’Neill will also be pushing for a spot in the starting 11 against Syria, another team likely to sit deep and soak up the Australian surges of attack.
Such an approach magnifies the importance of creativity. Perhaps Marco Tilio comes into the selection equation along with Bos, O’Neill, McGree and Fornaroli?
However, as India stifled, defended and offered little space in the attacking third for the Socceroos, the attacking group Arnold selected were not awful, just not as effective as fans would have hoped.
An improved performance is anticipated and expected and a win would almost certainly see the Australians qualify for the Round of 16, with the threshold to do so relatively low across just six groups and four third-placed teams advancing.
Arnold has taken a young and exciting squad to Qatar to win the Asian Cup, yet the team hardly found its way out of second gear against India.
It looks like the time to make some changes, find some spark and get the campaign rolling. Arnold has a penchant to swing a selection shock or two, the clash with Syria looks to be the perfect moment for that.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
you have a point
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I might be wrong Wes, but he did pretty well at the WC
Brendan
Roar Pro
Get Jason Cummings on the foghorn, Arnie. Play him as a super sub. His presence, experience & character is needed.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
Crux of it seems to be they are shutting down KeepUp………
Harry Brill
Roar Rookie
Good assessment Stu. The game wasn’t a disaster - and first game of the tournament against a bus is difficult when you have new players still trying to find chemistry. Overall, not a bad performance. There have to considerations across all thirds of the pitch. Jones looks decent but not our best option - I would player either Miller or Atkinson ahead of him. In the middle, McGree starts if he was fully fit and O’Neill isn’t a bad option either. Up front is the where real questions arise. Bos was productive when he came on and to his impact against a parked bus makes you wonder what he would against sides who are more open and playing toe-to-toe with us. I would have him play ahead of Goodwin. Boyle looked rusty almost - he never truly gave India problems and beat the man. I would play Silvera. And finally, the Duke vs Fornaroli discussion. I didn’t expect to say this a couple weeks ago, but I have to favour Bruno. His free kick was deadly, and his back-to-goal efforts were brilliant. If we’re playing with bulk possession, I would like to see us play through the opposition a bit more with Bruno plugged in.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I don’t think Goodwin has ever really played well in the green and gold, but put him in that red shirt and he never ceases to amaze me.
JAJI74
Roar Rookie
Key is if that major media business has rights to your sport they will flog your product. Look at Rugby Union - teetering on the brink after a group exit at the World Cup - News Ltd ignores it - Nine flog it as they need people to look at Stan. Our backerts media wise are all fragmented over numerous organisations
mrl
Roar Rookie
Yep...Syria 1.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Spot on Nick, if you look at a Syrian player, he'll be rolling on the ground with the equivalent of a shrapnel wound
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
What is the meaning of consolidation in this context. Does it mean they are issuing an adios to those that have failed in the media and communications realm and they are getting younger, more progressive and forward thinking minds in?
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
The major media is getting exactly what it wants. The bogan establishment that want only AFL NRL and Cricket as the limits to the entire sporting universe are winning. They are smothering the game. Australians with little or no football education have virtually no stream of information and therefore those people resort to the most obvious source of football, EPL. Thanks Mr Murdoch and Mr Stokes you ba@#$%#s
AGO74
Roar Rookie
We don't have the quality of player available to us to be able to play through stacked defences like India were and like what Syria will (presumably) be next up. Given that, this is why we rely on set pieces and we are usually good at this, but on saturday it was terrible. So many corners failed to get past near post. I think there was one decent corner in the entire match, despite having about 14 or 15 corners.
JAJI74
Roar Rookie
Jordy Bos looks the goods. Next club move going to be very interesting. Plays every week in Belgium and his side has climbed up the ladder. Would love for Ange to take a punt on a kid from his home town - will get a good price too
JAJI74
Roar Rookie
Shame - as the standard of play on the field and the rapid development of youngsters for the future of the national side has never been better. Many were fans when Simon Pearce of the City Football group led the rebellion from the Lowy Family.....how is that looking now. The solution is PR. They need to get the league talked about in the major media groups they have no incentive to cover the game -News and Nine.
NickA
Roar Rookie
I thought Baccus was one of the only ones trying to make things happen in the first half. I always think of O'Neill playing safe pass after safe pass and not really contributing. I see him as a player to bring on to control the game late on. Baccus is a little terrier and is much quicker with and without the ball.
NickA
Roar Rookie
Nice to see some Socceroos articles! I expect Syria will play like India but much better; and way more pathetic re gamesmanship, as all the West Asian nations are. If it stays 0-0 as long as the India game did, I fear Syria will hold out the entire time. We need an early goal. That being said, I’d like to see some more attacking changes – Drop Jones and play Miller/Atkinson; Drop Behich and play Bos (although acknowledge that Arnie won’t do this). I don’t think Goodwin needs dropping but you’ve got to get Bos into that team. Jones will get destroyed on the counter, as he did against India. Get Mgree in for Metcalfe. Baccus and Irvine have different roles – Irvine is box to box and Baccus the ball winner and both were relatively effective. The 3rd midfielder needs to be more creative and Metcalfe did not do that well enough against India. Other position is maybe the striker – although I think Bruno will be way more effective against tiring defences than what he would be from the beginning – and at this level, not sure he should be completing 90. Yengi and Iredale won’t start, so it probably will be Duke unless there is a change in formation (doubtful, seeing as that 3rd midfielder seems to operate as a second striker anyway). I think Arnie’s changes were fine last game – he didn’t wait too long to do them and they were the right changes. More of the same – with a better start – should be enough. A win would be good if that means we can mix it up a little in the 3rd game – rest those with niggles/who have played 2 90s/on yellow cards – in preparation for the quarters.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
MEGA HUGE BREAKING NEWS APL to ‘consolidate’ operations as financial problems lead to redundancies Horror crowds across the A-League’s Unite Round in Sydney compounded financial issues which have prompted huge job cuts to streamline operations. The A-League is in financial turmoil, with the Australian Professional Leagues undergoing an “organisational restructure” that has led to mass redundancies on the back of horror crowds at last weekend’s Unite Round in Sydney. The APL, which has run the A-League men’s and women’s competitions for the past three years, has confirmed staff cuts in an attempt to “consolidate” the business with suggestions as much as 75 per cent of staff had been made redundant on Tuesday. In a statement without attribution to A-League commissioner Nick Garcia, the APL stated a need to “create efficiencies through consolidation” as poor crowds continue to be a problem for the men’s and women’s competitions.
chris1
Roar Rookie
I think we are really missing Hrustic. Our whole style of play has had to change because of not having a ball playing midfielder. Its really obvious. The midfielders we have are all box to box athletes but none of them can get on the ball and control the tempo. I really hope Hrustic is back soon. Where the h ell is he??? He basically hasn't played for over 2 years.
chris1
Roar Rookie
We don't really know though whether he will cope or not. I suspect he will be ok as he looks to have a bit of speed and is strong. I don't think the Japanese are as great as people are saying. I saw lots of issues with them especially defensively. If you let them play, yes they will be hard to handle. But we have some players that can hurt them too. Time will tell.
NickA
Roar Rookie
Yeah I think if Bos is to start, it'll be on the wing, not at left back. Behich is dependable enough and I think it's clear now that Arnie likes using Bos further forward.