Australia’s road to 2018 World Cup now a rocky one

SOCCEROO legends have urged Australia’s coach to urgently overhaul his game plan - or risk missing the next World Cup.

Head coach Ange Postecoglou of Australia looks on.

THE Socceroos’ quest for a fourth consecutive appearance at the World Cup lies in the hands of perhaps our biggest football enemy, Japan.

Rivals throughout our short time in the Asian confederation, the Blue Samurai must do Australia a favour to assist the Socceroos’ quest for the second automatic qualification berth out of Group A, after Ange Postecoglou’s side lost 2-0 in Saitama.

Japan secured qualification with the win, leaving Australia and Saudi Arabia to fight it out for second spot in Group B.

Australia must beat Thailand on Tuesday and hope Japan take points off the Saudi’s, as the Arab nation has a superior goal difference.

Australian players react to Japan's goal.

Socceroos’ legend Mark Bosnich criticised Australia for its performance, saying Japan simply played them off the park.

Australia offered little in the attacking third and “pretty much everywhere,” Bosnich said.

“We were well beaten. I can’t remember Kawashima having to make a real serious save.

“The Japanese players for me were fantastic for closing down the space, and they knew exactly how we played.”

GOAL Japan! JPN 1- 0 AUS 41' Japan have broken the deadlock from a stunning cross into the box. #JPNvAUS #9WWOS pic.twitter.com/uziWsVjqXC

— 9Go! (@9Go) August 31, 2017

Bosnich took aim at Socceroos’ boss Ange Postecoglou for his sides style of play, and team selection.

The likes of Tom Rogic, James Troisi and Jackson Irvine were hardly seen in attacking positions, as Japan commanded the midfield in Saitama.

Brad Smith, who has struggled for game time at AFC Bournemouth, struggled throughout the match and was at fault for Japan’s opening goal.

Australian head coach Ange Postecoglou (C) looks at his players.

Centre-back Trent Sainsbury has failed to play one minute of competitive action since the Confederations’ Cup in June also.

Bosnich urged the Socceroos’ to adapt, or face an arduous journey to Russia.

“I think that’s part of our problem,” Bosnich said.

“We are far too predictable. Once again we put (Tomi) Juric and (Tim) Cahill on, we still have to wait for four or five minutes for them to get a decent cross into the box.

“The penetration was poor, and some of the team selections as well, I thought left a lot to be desired.

“To pick Brad Smith when he is only playing reserve team football I think is unfair on him, when you have other players playing regularly.

“I thought (Trent) Sainsbury played well considering he has barely played and has been under an injury doubt.

“It was a disappointing performance, but in my opinion, due to the result the other night (Saudi Arabia’s loss to the UAE) — we will still qualify, automatically.”

GOAL Japan! JPN 2- 0 AUS 82' An aboslute ripper of a shot falls through. #9WWOS #JPNvAUS pic.twitter.com/lkpE8pnOq1

— 9Go! (@9Go) August 31, 2017

Fellow Socceroo legend Robbie Slater joined Bosnich in the criticism of the Socceroos’ performance, saying Japan were far superior.

“We were comprehensively beaten this evening by a better side,” Slater said.

“We had little periods here and there, but no, we were beaten by a much better side tonight.

“They stamped their authority on being the best team in this group by some way.”

Yosuke Ideguchi (second right) of Japan celebrates scoring his side's second goal.

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou struggled to put his finger on what went wrong post-match, saying his side never really got into the game.

“It’s a bit hard to sum it up right now, because obviously we’re disappointed in the outcome,” Postecoglou said.

“We had our moments, we just never really got control of the game. Particularly in the midfield we had some possession, but we never really threatened as much as we could of. The first goal really killed us, obviously disappointed.”

Weak as. No chance creation whatsoever. Grim #JPNvAUS

— Angelo Risso (@angelorisso92) August 31, 2017

Just not good enough. Where were the warriors who rattled Chile? #JPNvAUS

— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) August 31, 2017

Socceroos have been their own worst enemy tonight. Not the first time we've said that recently. Sloppy and wasteful in possession. #JPNvAUS

— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) August 31, 2017

He offered no excuses for the result, owning the performance after his team selection, that saw Robbie Kruse start as a lone striker, with Tim Cahill and Tomi Juric on the bench.

Postecoglou refused to blame the injury concerns surrounding Juric or the late withdrawal of Aaron Mooy for the defeat.

“We just don’t know. The team we put out there was certainly good enough to get the job done,” the Socceroos coach said.

“I’ll take responsibility for the team selection, the way we played, tonight’s result is on me, it’s not on the players or the ones missing.”

The Socceroos’ boss did not guarantee Australia will get the job done against lowly Thailand on Tuesday night in Melbourne, saying the sides performance at AAMI Park will determine its fate.

“We’ve got to play well first,” Postecoglou said.

“Being at home will make a difference. Unfortunately we have to rely on other results, but we’ll do our job and see what happens. The rest of it is secondary.”

Originally published as Australia’s road to 2018 World Cup now a rocky one