Asian Cup 2015: five things Socceroos must do to defeat UAE and book their place in final

THE Socceroos are just 90 minutes away from the Asian Cup final, with just United Arab Emirates standing in their way tonight. Here’s how they can do it.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Australian players embrace for the national anthem before the 2015 Asian Cup match between China PR and the Australian Socceroos at Suncorp Stadium on January 22, 2015 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

A SEMI-FINAL appearance was the expectation for the Socceroos heading into the Asian Cup, but now that they’ve got that far, they’ll be desperate to go all the way and claim the first major piece of international silverware.

Standing in their way tonight in Newcastle is the surprise packet of the tournament, the United Arab Emirates, who sent Japan home with a shock quarterfinal victory over the holders.

Get past UAE tonight and it’s a final against Korea Republic for the title of the continent’s best nation, though it’s much easier said than done.

GREAT GROUP STAGE, UNBELIEVABLE QUARTERS

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SOCCEROOS SELECTOR: WHO GETS THE NOD IN YOUR XI?

Here are the keys to the game as the Socceroos look to book their place in the decider.

FINISHING THE MIDFIELD PUZZLE

Ange Postecoglou has the full complement of his 23 players to pick from, but it’s the final spot in his three-man midfield that has the coach scratching his head. Skipper Mile Jedinak will sit in front of the back four - and will be much better for the run-out against China - while Massimo Luongo is one of the first names on the team sheet thanks to a string of superb performances. Either James Troisi or Matt McKay is set to get the nod, though Postecoglou is giving nothing away, and in truth, up to five players – Troisi, McKay, Mark Milligan, Mark Bresciano and Tommy Oar - could take the vacant position, with Troisi (26%) marginally edging Milligan (24%) and Bresciano (20%) in our online poll of peoples’ preference.

Who Ange names tonight should offer plenty of insight into his mindset against the Emratis. Bresciano looked undercooked against China, but, like Jedinak, will be better for it, and his delivery could be a productive avenue to goal with Tim Cahill in deadly touch up front. Mark Milligan offers defensive stability, McKay’s energy was an asset against Oman, Troisi’s pace could trouble UAE’s defence while Tommy Oar is coming off his best season yet in the Netherlands.

UAE-BASED HOLMAN SAYS BE CAREFUL

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DOES CAHILL HAVE MORE MAGIC IN HIM?

Robbie Slater says Tim Cahill is our greatest ever footballer – in any code – and it’s hard to disagree with him following the 35-year-old’s deadly double act against China. Young defender Trent Sainsbury says it’s about the collaborative effort, but Timmy’s ability to produce the spectacular makes him Ange’s trump card. He might seem ageless – producing back-bending acrobatics that would leave most mid 30-year-old’s needing a trip to the chiropractor - but the odds are stacked against Cahill making it to the 2018 World Cup, meaning this very well could be our record goalscorer’s last hurrah. Does he have another magic moment in him? Don’t bet against it.

NULLIFYING THE DANGEROUS ABDULRAHMAN

Trent Sainsbury noted UAE playmaker Omar Abdulrahman’s disdain for defending, but when you can produce the kind of magic the big-haired No.10 does, you can get away with shirking that side of the game. The 23-year-old – dubbed ‘the Emrati Maradona’ is one of the continent’s most talented players and has showed why this tournament, his quick feet and incisive passing the key to his country getting this far. Mile Jedinak will have to stick tight to him and help out his back four as Abdulrahman is at his most effective when operating in the space between the opposition’s midfield and defence, though UAE are no one-man team.

SOCCEROOS BEWARE: MEET THE EMIRATI MARADONA

Striker Ali Mabkhout is the tournament’s top scorer with four goals and provided the killer finish against Japan in the quarters. Matthew Spiranovic returns from suspension at Alex Wilkinson’s expense while wingbacks Ivan Franjic and Jason Davidson –who’ve shown their worth going forward -will be relied on to not get caught up the pitch against a side dangerous on the counter.

START ME UP

You wouldn’t call it their Achilles heel, but the Socceroos under Ange Postecoglou have developed a bad habit of starting matches slowly. They went behind to Kuwait in their opener and only started playing against China after their half-time oranges. It’s yet to really cost them, though Postecoglou will be drilling in the message to fly out of the blocks. A productive start will set the tone and put the Emiratis on the back foot, while on the other hand, going behind will make for a very nervy night in Newcastle. You don’t want to be chasing a lead in knockout football.

CAN SOCCEROOS AVOID GIANTKILLING TRAP?

Japan and Iran, are Australia next? The quarterfinals produced two shock results, tournament favourites the Samurai Blue and Team Meli bowing out to UAE and Iraq respectively. Iran’s cause far from helped by a highly controversial red card while Japan simply didn’t turn up and paid the price. That result in Sydney will have buoyed an already confident UAE side that will be hellbent on repeating the dose tonight.

Newcastle Stadium’s smaller capacity has seen the AFC come under plenty of stick, but the parochial home crowd will have an important part to play in settling the nerves and ensuring the Socceroos don’t experience the same fate of Iran and Japan. After a tumultuous first year under Ange Postecoglou, the Socceroos are just 90 minutes away from a dream home final. Reach out and touch it.

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: five things Socceroos must do to defeat UAE and book their place in final