Australia put up a good show in Russia but couldn’t win because it lacked a killer blow

THE 2018 World Cup has been a feast of colour and action but please don’t call the Socceroos ‘brave’ - they didn’t win a game because they refused to attack the opposition until it was too late, says Graham Cornes

Australia's Aziz Behich looks to cross to Tim Cahill during their final FIFA World Cup group match against Peru. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

CAN it be a love affair if the passion only rises every four years?

Perhaps not, but there is so much to love about the FIFA World Cup. The vision from Russia has been astonishing.

The cynics and the naysayers prepared us for the worst in that country of totalitarian authority.

Tourists were warned about going out after dark. The visas of Australians who had bought tickets to attend were suddenly and inexplicably withdrawn. Many cancelled their plans to go because of the perceived threat to their safety.

It all seemed too scary. But the reports from those who are there and the palpable emotions evident from the television footage have quashed all that negativity.

The stadiums are spectacular, the colours of the teams somehow seem more vivid in 2018 and the excitement of the matches has been unprecedented.

It might be that we now can watch in high definition but there has never been so much life in a soccer tournament.

Unfortunately, our Socceroos couldn’t win a game and couldn’t progress. We can say they were brave and competitive but that is pandering to mediocrity.

The Socceroos went into this tournament ranked 36th in the world. They were reasonably sound defensively and knocked the ball around competently, but there was no adventure in their play and no urgency to score.

We are a nation that is characterised by a tough, aggressive will to win. None of that was evident in Russia. Too few of the Socceroos performed to their potential.

Countries ranked below us (Japan and Russia) progressed to the final 16 and South Korea, ranked 57, stunned the reigning world champion and world No.1, Germany.

It’s one thing to maintain possession in the back half, but to win you eventually have to go forward and score.

The Socceroos showed none of the urgency of the other two teams from our Asian confederation, particularly the Japanese (ranked 61) who scored the first two goals and pushed the No.3 ranked Belgium to the last gasp of its round of 16 knockout match.

Those critics of Ange Postecoglou, who effectively drove him from the game, won’t accept any responsibility but they are just as responsible for our mediocre performances as the coach and the players.

Australia's Tim Cahill after the loss to Peru. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Bert van Marwijk, who took over when Postecoglou walked out, did the best with what he had but the Socceroos needed more than regimented structure in defence.

Eventually you have to go forward and score. In that respect it was reminiscent of Port Adelaide in the AFL, whose players seem so reluctant to attack the goals.

Nothing makes defenders more nervous and desperate than that long ball coming into the goalsquare on a football ground or the penalty box on a soccer pitch.

But at least Port Adelaide can find other ways to win. The Socceroos never really looked like winning.

The other problem that has always plagued the Socceroos in their World Cup campaigns is a lack of explosive pace both in attack and defence.

Mathew Leckie and Robbie Kruse were selected in part for that reason but neither really threatened the keepers.

With four years to prepare for any World Cup qualifying campaign, there would seem to be plenty of time to develop speedsters capable of providing incisive run and scoring — or at least make the opposition defend desperately.

Individually, the Socceroos were disappointing although Aziz Behich, Trent Sainsbury, Aaron Mooy and the youngster, Daniel Arzani, could hold their heads high.

From outside looking in, there seemed to be a definite leadership vacuum in this Socceroos World Cup campaign.

Van Marwijk did not have long enough with the team to assert himself. Tim Cahill, the spiritual leader seemed frozen out by the coach. And Mile Jedinak, the captain, was stolid but uninspiring — save for his ability to score from the penalty spot. (The beard surely has to go!)

Unlike previous campaigns, when there was so much to love about the Socceroos, this time they could not return the love.

Conversely, the host nation, Russia, an underdog ranked 70th in the world, has remarkably progressed to a quarter-final showdown against Croatia.

And England, that perennial loser who can find seemingly impossible ways to turn victory into defeat, is still alive — at least until Saturday when Sweden will surely beat them.

Just another reason to love this tournament.