Socceroos v Norway: Worrying signs for Bert van Marwijk as World Cup warm-up falls flat
BERT van Marwijk’s preference was for the friendly against Norway to be scrapped in favour of extra training. After seeing the disjointed Socceroos crash to a heavy defeat, it’s easy to see why.
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THE Bert van Marwijk era got off to an inauspicious start, with the Socceroos losing 4-1 to Norway in Saturday morning’s (EDT) friendly.
The new-look Socceroos were disjointed as they let slip the lead to conceded three quickfire goals in near subzero conditions at Oslo’s Ulleavaal Stadium before striker Ola Kamara completed his hat-trick in stoppage time.
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.
While van Marwijk had a sound knowledge of the Socceroos system and personnel that qualified for Russia 2018, his maiden line-up had his own imprint.
He showed he was prepared to gamble on untried talent, handing debuts to Dimi Petratos, Andrew Nabbout and Alex Susnjar as a host of hitherto regulars started on the bench including Tom Rogic, Robbie Kruse, Massimo Luongo and Tomi Juric.
The Nabbout and Petratos selections were most intriguing, the other surprises being Bailey Wright at right-back - he plays there regularly for Bristol City but not the Socceroos - and Mark Milligan at stopper alongside Milos Degenek.
With qualifying top scorer Juric and Socceroos record scorer Tim Cahill starting on the bench, Nabbout started up front in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Petratos played off the left with Leckie on the right, as Aaron Mooy and captain Mile Jedinak played at the base of midfield.
The Socceroos controlled possession but Norway created the better chances in the first half, with the new-look defence at times struggling with the home side’s direct style.
Petratos, who was nervy, almost got on the end of a good build up involving Jackson Irvine, who was playing as a number 10 (attacking midfielder) and Leckie who provided a dangerous run and cross.
Irvine opened the scoring with a bullet header on 19 minutes from Mooy’s corner.
Nabbout, who won the corner that led to the goal, struggled to get many chances to run at the defence as Norway then retaliated and scored a deserved equaliser, although Mooy and Leckie had chances in the interim.
Mooy had a long-range chance after another well worked move while Leckie’s shot was blocked by desperate defenders after Petratos’ cross, with Mooy providing a classy release.
Unmarked stopper Tore Reginiussen should’ve done better when he headed wide from a corner before Ola Kamara, who was also unmarked after Norway exploited a gap down the left, had ample time to control and finish.
Van Marwijk’s half-time message barely had time to sink in before Norway scored a second, with Reginiussen atoning for his earlier miss by heading home a free-kick.
It prompted van Marwijk to make his first sub with Wright making way for left-footed defender Alex Susnjar, with Milligan switching to right-back as Degenek shuffled from left to right stopper to accommodate. Susnjar looked composed when he entered the fray.
A third Norwegian goal, via Kamara after an errant Mat Ryan pass, triggered a double sub with Rogic and Luongo replacing Irvine and Jedinak.
Juric followed moments later, replacing Nabbout whose 66-minute debut was solid albeit bereft of chances.
Robbie Kruse and Nikita Rukavytsya came on late as the Socceroos finished with a more familiar looking team as they settled and probed, but to no avail as Kamara curled one into the bottom corner to rub salt into the wound.
It was the first of just two games before he picks his extended World Cup squad, with Wednesday morning’s (EDT) clash with South American powerhouse Colombia set to be a bigger test.
Originally published as Socceroos v Norway: Worrying signs for Bert van Marwijk as World Cup warm-up falls flat