The Socceroos must belt Thailand with a different tactic or face the dire consequences of potential 2018 FIFA World Cup failure.

SOCCEROOS coach Ange Postecoglou must throw his playbook away.

Socceroos Robbie Kruse, Jackson Irvine and James Troisi look dejected after Japan's first goal during Australia’s 2-0 FIFA World Cup qualifying loss at Saitama Stadium (Getty Images)

SOCCEROOS coach Ange Postecoglou must throw his playbook away.

Frank Arok in the 1980s told his Socceroos to “fight like mad dogs” which is not a bad thought before Postecoglou’s Socceroos face Thailand in a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

The Socceroos need to win, with lots of goals and then Australia may qualify directly for Russia next year — if first placed Japan topples Saudi Arabia away.

Australia has to get into the face of the Thais with direct football, bombard the penalty box with aerial prowess and they also need to get very physical.

If the Socceroos take on Thailand with a technical game, the side ranked last in Group B will test Australia, they are very good with the ball at their feet. The two points the Socceroos lost in Thailand in a 2-2 draw last November is the obvious warning that the clash can turn real ugly if the Thais are invited to play ball on the deck.

But Australia was ripped apart by Japan 2-0 on Thursday night because the Blue Samurai knew the physically stronger Socceroos will play a game which doesn’t highlight the team’s strength.

Trying to be the aristocrats of Asia, playing a high risk possession game at all costs doesn’t suit this crop of Socceroos — it’s arguably the side’s greatest weakness.

The team lost the ball in key moments and Japan scored twice from turnovers.

The side lacked technical ability, pace and imagination especially when Tom Rogic and James Troisi weren’t on the park near the end.

The Socceroos greatest weapons has alway been — and this comes from FIFA World Cup technical study groups in Australia’s past three tournaments 2006, 2010 and 2014 —

counter-attacks, attacks using the width, strong, hardworking players, determination, mental strength/attitude, excellent team spirit, aerial dominance in defence and rapid transition from defence to attack and vice-versa

Compare this with Germany, Spain and Italy who won the past three World Cups where Australia participated.

The study group wrote these nations all had excellent passing games, good options for the player in possession and comfortable in possession when under pressure.

Australia never had those technical words put next to their name in three World Cup appearances.

So why force the agenda?

Australia has its own unique brand of football and it may not be pretty.

Just beat Thailand, do it the Australian way.

Follow @ValMigliaccio

Originally published as The Socceroos must belt Thailand with a different tactic or face the dire consequences of potential 2018 FIFA World Cup failure.