Bert van Marwijk’s Socceroos reign gets off to rocky start in Norway and time is certainly not on his side
SOCCEROOS fans should hold off pressing the Russian panic button just yet, but Bert van Marwijk must find solutions quickly with their first World Cup clash against France just 10 weeks away.
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SOCCEROOS fans should hold off pressing the Russian panic button just yet, but Bert van Marwijk must find solutions quickly after a 4-1 debut drubbing.
Jackson Irvine’s bullet header was cancelled out as the new-look and disjointed Socceroos capitulated midway through, as an Ola Kamara hat-trick sealed a win in subzero conditions at Oslo’s Ulleavaal Stadium.
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Van Marwijk’s preference was for this friendly to be scrapped in favour of extra training and it was easy to see why, as his strategy had clearly not sunk in after four sessions.
The ex-Saudi Arabia coach’s “intimate” knowledge of the Socceroos’ qualifying campaign was a chief reason for his appointment but his maiden first XI was based as much off his month-long reconnasaince.
Experimentation granted, with the gutsy calls to pick Dimi Petratos and Andrew Nabbout ahead of hitherto regulars while sub Alex Susnjar also debuted.
But the defensive disunity can be attributed as much to the collective as the individuals.
Bailey Wright may play right-back for Bristol City and Milos Degenek stopper at Yokohama, but they’ve usually played the reverse for the Socceroos in their offense-minded system.
Coupled with Mark Milligan’s shift to stopper – he’s usually played midfield – while the impressive Aziz Behich only broke in during the playoffs, it was a new back four. Key man Trent Sainsbury’s absence also hurt.
The balance issue stretches to the middle. This is a chief reason Ange Postecoglou switched to a – dare I say it – back three, with the 3-2-4-1 (or 3-4-2-1 away) enabling him to squeeze four into the midfield.
Mile Jedinak, Aaron Mooy (holders) and Jackson Irvine (number 10/attacking midfield) started in Oslo, while Massimo Luongo and Tom Rogic started on the bench.
Irvine scored - and nets regularly for Hull City - Jedinak scored hat-trick against Honduras, Luongo is scoring for fun at QPR, Mooy is a Premier League star and Rogic is the X-factor.
Leaving room for three midfielders – Bert van Marwijk has long favoured the 4-2-3-1 – will require a hard call but, Rogic and Irvine for instance offer something completely different meaning the team’s game plan probably has to change accordingly.
“Yeah, I have to find the right combination. Now I can say it’s only the second or third day, we need all the time to find the (balance),’’ van Marwijk said.
There’s also an identity crisis, with the Socceroos appearing conservative.
It was always going to be more pragmatic than Postecoglou’s gung-ho approach, but the players appeared confused. Switching systems after four years of consistent messaging can do that.
Colombia on Wednesday (EDT) now becomes a huge test (they beat France 3-2 on Saturday EDT), while the Turkey-based pre-camp will be critical.
Originally published as Bert van Marwijk’s Socceroos reign gets off to rocky start in Norway and time is certainly not on his side