Former Socceroo Robbie says coach Ange Postecoglou got tactics right against Honduras and expects team to finish the job in Sydney

AFTER what we saw in Honduras, I expect the Socceroos to be packing their bags for Russia on Wednesday night, writes Robbie Slater.

AFTER what we saw in Honduras, I expect the Socceroos to be packing their bags for Russia on Wednesday night.

Apart from the finishing, it was a solid performance and credit this time has to be given to Ange Postecoglou.

In what has been a difficult qualifying campaign, when we needed it the most his tactics were spot on.

People might say it was a no brainer to bring Mile Jedinak back, but really, it was a big call because he hadn’t started a game in so long.

MATCH: Draw gives Socceroos slight edge for Sydney

And he certainly didn’t disappoint; Jedinak was superb in front of the back three.

The hardest decision Ange will probably have to make is whether or not he will start Jedinak again on Wednesday night.

He seemed to get through the game without any problems and, though he’ll certainly have tired legs, the chartered flight will help him recover.

Mile Jedinak was outstanding in his return for the Socceroos against Honduras on Saturday.

Ange has the benefit of adding some fresh legs for the return leg at ANZ Stadium, with Mark Milligan, Mathew Leckie, Robbie Kruse and Tim Cahill hopefully all available.

So there’s plenty of quality coming in, plus the chartered flight home is a massive bonus for us because we’ll arrive 24 hours before the Hondurans.

Of course we have to be careful; 0-0 is a dangerous result because any scored draw would see Honduras go through. But nothing we saw from them should make us worried.

If we’re anywhere near our best, and we convert our chances, we should win the game.

But how do we improve our finishing? Scoring goals has been the problem all campaign and was again in Honduras.

They are not going to have much time to work on it before Wednesday, with the next few days just be about freshening everyone up and building up that belief.

And anyway, there’s not much more you can work on in respect to putting the ball in the back of the net because the lead up play is good and the areas the players are getting into are good. It really is about a player, as we saw with Cahill against Syria, applying the finishing touch.

Is Timmy going to be fit enough?

If he is fit you’d be pretty sure he’ll start, like he did against Syria, and it worked to perfection. We know what Timmy gives us, there’s no question mark there, and I’m sure if that ankle is right to go he’ll be starting.

Everything is pointing to a real party atmosphere at ANZ Stadium and, no matter who starts, I have full confidence that we will win, and we’ll win well.