I do not see Australia’s 1-0 loss to Jordan last night in the 2019 Asian Championship as a surprise.
We were very lucky to even be Asian champions in the first place and, if ever hosting a tournament gave one an advantage, the 2015 tournament in Australia was it.
The Socceroos were very ordinary and the win against South Korea in the 2015 final was a surprise.
We were also extremely lucky to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It required a marathon effort in terms of travel and number of games played to achieve qualification.
That was hardly the stuff of a confederation champion.
It happens to other countries, too, of course.
Germany, the World champions, did not get beyond the group stages of the last World Cup, so we are in illustrious company in a way.
It is true that against Jordan last night, the Socceroos were missing key players through injury.
The absence of Matt Leckie, Andrew Nabbout, Martin Boyle, Aaron Mooy and Daniel Arzani was a blow, but the job of the national-team coach is to cut one’s coat according to one’s cloth.
The first half-performance against Jordan was poor and we might well have been 2-0, or 2-1, down at the interval but for a fine fingertip save by keeper Matt Ryan from a vicious Jordanian free-kick.
We probably should have had a penalty, hence the possibility of a 2-1 deficit at half-time.
Australia’s players are technically deficient. Not one inspires confidence in tight situations, and the shooting skills are woeful.
How does Tom Rogic command a place in the Celtic team when he misses sitters like the late one against Jordan? The ball came to him on his preferred left foot, 12 yards from goal, and he skied it high over the bar.
It was very disappointing for a so-called international striker, with his side desperately needing a goal. It’s moments like these that separate the men from the boys. Oh for Martin Boyle.
Australia had 77 per cent possession and lost. That sort of statistic is becoming more common as teams intent on dominating possession lose to teams with a direct approach.
Australia try to play the possession game but are not up to it.
I was appalled at the kick-off. We began the game by kicking off backwards, which is, unfortunately, the trend nowadays, and we were forced to give it our own keeper before we played a ball forward. If that isn’t negative play, I don’t what is.
Awer Mabil was a glimmer of light amid the darkness. He loves to attack and he was desperately unlucky not to score when his blistering shot struck the near post and rebounded into play. He deserved to equalise.
The Socceroos did have the ball in the net at a late stage, but it was off-side.
The Australians were also lucky not to concede a penalty.
In summary, we are bigger than our boots. We are a mediocre side, and to lose to a side that is ranked 109th in FIFA’s list of world rankings, is a disgrace.
It’s a bad time for Australian international sports teams and the Socceroos proved it once again.
A little more humility would go a long way towards accepting such set-backs.
As for retaining the Asian title, pigs will fly first.
0 Yorumlar