The Socceroos went down 2-1 to South Korea in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup, just minutes away from holding on to a slender 1-0 lead after a 42nd-minute Craig Goodwin goal.
Substitute fullback Lewis Miller brought down Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min in the final minutes of injury time, resulting in a penalty.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-Chan smashed the spot-kick past Maty Ryan, before the unfortunate Miller fouled the penalty-taker again in extra time.
From the edge of the box Son curled in a superb free-kick up over Australia’s wall and down into the top left corner. After Aiden O’Neill was given his marching orders with a straight red card a few minutes later, the way back for Australia was insurmountable and South Korea ran out deserved 2-1 victors.
Graham Arnold relishes being the underdog against higher-ranked opponents and this game was made for classic Arnieball. Australia’s possession dropped as low as 20 per cent in the first half at one point, Australia often could not keep the ball, and South Korea repeatedly won the ball back, showing their technical superiority by keeping it for extended periods despite the Socceroos’ press.
Although South Korea did have a goal chalked off for offside, Australia’s backline held firm, the whole team working extremely well together in unison, restricting South Korea to zero shots and one corner for the half.
The result could have been very different had Australia taken their chances. Arnold’s side, despite having only 31 per cent possession, 367 to 1012 total passes, and a pass completion rate of 68 per cent versus 88 per cent, actually had more shots (13-12) than the Taegeuk Warriors, but tellingly, only five of their 13 shots were on target.
Connor Meltcalfe had two great chances to score but fluffed his lines, as did Mitchell Duke in the 53rd minute after Martin Boyle had two attempts saved. The ball fell to Duke chest high, and he blazed over in front of an open goal.
Duke was guilty of heading wide of an open goal again in the 83rd minute after a deflected Jordan Bos cross put the ball on a platter for him.
Much has been made recently of Arnold’s lack of cattle, especially compared to the “Golden Generation” where most of the team were playing top-level football in Europe.
(Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
South Korea have players in the Premier League with Son at Tottenham, Hwang at Wolves and Kim Ji-soo at Brentford, Kim Min-jae at Bayern Munich, and Lee at PSG, whereas the Australia squad currently only has only one player in any of those leagues: back-up goalkeeper Joe Gauci at Aston Villa, who only signed for the Villains a few days ago.
There has been quite a bit of moaning in the media, as well as here on The Roar, about the Socceroos “winning ugly”. Prior to the quarter-final, Australia were undefeated with eight goals scored and only one conceded.
It was the style and manner of these victories that upset some people.
Ange Postecoglou’s national team exploits, winning the Asian Cup and again more recently at Tottenham, has fans longing to see the Socceroos play a more expansive, possession-based style, but arguably the current players available to the national team simply aren’t good enough, they don’t have the technical ability to play that way, and would get cut to pieces by better teams if they tried to.
The Australian public needs to decide whether results are the most important thing, or if a more attractive style is. I believe most Socceroos fans would be more upset going down 5-3 or 4-2 trying to match the technical, possession-based style of better teams, than this narrow 2-1 loss to South Korea, only minutes away from a famous victory against a clearly better team.
And so Socceroos fans are left again with dreams of what might have been. I believe in this match Arnold mostly got his team selection, tactics, and substitutions right, which allowed Australia to come within a whisker of an upset, and if the clear-cut chances had been taken it could even have been a 2-0 or 3-0victory.
There will still be those calling for Arnie out, but if Football Australia were actually to sack Arnold, who would replace him?
beaversrevenge
Roar Rookie
Ok, this didn’t age particularly well
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
I didn’t watch the whole match, just the highlights, but how good did Jordan look against South Korea?! SK were missing the suspended Kim Min-Jae at the back, and it’s tempting to say they were tired, but they’d had a solid 4 day rest so that would be taking away from the excellent way Jordan played. Or at least the excellent and skillful way they took their chances, if only Australia had done the same in their match. Well done to Jordan and hope they go on to win the whole thing. I really don’t want Qatar or Iran to win it.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Disagree, you could also say we didn’t have the players to defend a “Low Block”. Arnie also tried to defend a lead in the Olympics with a “Low Block” and we went out similarly. Subs at the 70 min. should have had Kusini Yengi, and Marco Tilio, for the press in the top third (2 players full of running and skill) in a 442, Thomas Deng, at right back (knows how to jockey attackers in the box) instead of Miller’s naivety.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I liked the way Indonesia played, who was their coach?? Having said that, their attacking style saw them go down by 4 in the end.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I feel if he defended from the front third it would have been a disaster. That attacking line for Sth Korea was rapid and talented. All they would have required against a higher back line was a few well played balls, and we would have gone down by a lot more. We didnt have had the pace in our back line to compete. That is why Sth Korea struggled like us in the the previous matches. Teams that park the bus...Sorry "Low Block" dont allow for fast attacking teams to get in behind. Hence why Australia has had luck against better opposition. Leckie, and Duke were both lightning quick. As soon as that space closes down with the deep defence, we have no strike power.
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Must say I agree pretty much with your article.I am far from being an expert(or even being very knowledgeable)on football,mostly just cheering Aussies on in any sport,but I thought they played very smart football and were extremely unlucky to lose. Korea were obviously a more talented side and controlled possesion with their superior skills,but the Socceroos stuck with them.Goodwin's goal was brilliant, but they just needed to grab that extra one when the opportunity came and we would all be singing their praises.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
I said in other blogs here in The Roar that Arnold did not make the better substition. However, I do not want him to quit. I just want him to learn. When Arnold was the care taker of Socceroos decades ago, he failed. Despite that, he coached better, even much better, in the last World Cup finals (2022). Hope he learns.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
I would like Arnie to go just so that we can all reboot and start whinging about someone else.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
*like how he gives youth a chance
Campbell Ross
Roar Rookie
Waz, a domestic coach that has succeeded in the Asian Champions league would be a starting point, but it would have to be someone who has coached overseas at the very least. A league success is a tricky metric to use due to salary cap restrictions: coaches are often helping players develop rather than managing big game players and focusing on tactical planning. In any case would a Muscat or Popovic be interested?
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
I think the coach needs to be an Australian because of the travel involved and the knowledge of local football required. While I respect him as a coach, Talay hasn’t achieved anything yet. Popa would be a similar defensively-minded coach to Arnold IMO. Muscat is not going to give up his reported $6M salary at Shanghai Port. Montgomery, if he can be lured away from Hibs, could be an option. I think how he gives youth a chance.
chris1
Roar Rookie
People screaming for Arnie out. We actually were the better side last night and if Duke scores along with Boyle (who both should have) we are 3-0 up and its Klinsman with the "Jurgen out!" cries from all the experts. At times we were incisive, defensively sound and not looking like losing until Millers awful interventions. There are world class teams that play without the ball for long periods of time and then kill you on the break. We did that. Arnies tactics did that. We didn't finish with what were straightforward chances. All these experts that whine have probably never played at any decent level nor have any coaching experience (and no, coaching your kid on Saturday morning does not count) are usually the loudest. Am I disappointed ? - totally yes. Because we were 1 minute away and we deserved it.
Grem
Roar Rookie
The general public say that regularly. I just wish they realised that our cricketers (very little world, rugby league players (an even smaller world) and AFL players (no world) definitely are not. If only the Socceroos had to beat Samoa, India or no one to be a world champ after no qualification period was even necessary. Imagine a football world with no Brazil, France, Germany, Russia, etc like those other sports. We’d be world champions too.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
I’m not so sure about that beaversrevenge. Iran looked very good against Japan. What most people (especially the Eurosnobs) don’t realise, is that these days South Korea, Japan, and Iran have multiple players in the top European leagues. For example, Iran have Taremi at Porto, Azmoun at Roma, Jahanbakhsh at Feyenord, and Ghoddos at Brentford.
beaversrevenge
Roar Rookie
that very well may have been the final. I think Korea will go on and win the tournamanet fairly comfortably now. Japan and Australia are out of the way so its all Korea now. I think the Aussie public need to realise that the Socceroos just aren't that great. Certainly not world beaters.
Grem
Roar Rookie
No, I think he was quite ambiguous. A fence sitter if ever there was one.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Miller is at fault not Arnie for not getting the win in normal time. Arnie is at fault for failing to win the match in extra time. The last chance Australia had was the 84th minute, he decides to bring on Burgess on at the 86th minute . From that point on I dont think Australia had another shot. They had three center backs on the field, the change Arnie needed to make is get one off the field and bring in a mobile fast player to balance the team and give Australia a chance in attack. Fornaroli for Duke with three center backs on the field he did the reverse he made the team even more unbalanced.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Is Yengi the answer? I wasn’t a fan of him becoming a Socceroos striker when he was in the A Leagues. I liked him, his character and some of his runs, but his goal scoring was too low to be considered (and still is). Perhaps he is improved/improving. Perhaps he’s now injury free. Bruno is so talented, but he’s 36. Iredale? Not enough known about him or enough goals. For the future I like Mo Torre, but perhaps it’s still too early. Mo Tourre with Irankunda (as a sub), Goodwin, Leckie and having Robertson and a fit McGree and Jackson behind them could be more exciting. And giving Yengi some time to grow into the role as well. At the Asian Cup we also needed more goals and output from Boyle and McGree. And it was a shame that Goodwin was injured for a period of time and Leckie was completely out as they do contribute goals (Goodwin did well anyway).
Waz
Roar Rookie
Only Arnie can rationalise his team selection - but having taken Fornaroli, a very in form striker and totally match fit, there are questions over whether he used him wisely?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Agreed. And I’m not sure he has plans for a global search right now nor the spare cash to pay Arnie out. So I suspect we are stuck with Arnie up to the next WC.