World Cup 2018: New Socceroos coach Graham Arnold plans to instil belief into goal-shy strikers

NEW Socceroos coach Graham Arnold paid tribute to Australia for giving a ‘good account’ of themselves in Russia, but also expected better things to come now that he is in charge.

Graham Arnold says Australia’s goalscoring woes can be solved mentally.

NEW Socceroos coach Graham Arnold believes the national team’s goalscoring woes can be solved between the ears.

Speaking for the first time since succeeding Bert van Marwijk in the top job, Arnold paid tribute to Australia for giving a “good account” of themselves at the World Cup in Russia, but also expected better things to come now that he is in charge.

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Graham Arnold says Australia’s goalscoring woes can be solved mentally.

The Socceroos failed to score from open play in their three matches against France, Denmark and Peru, with their only two goals coming from Mile Jedinak penalties.

“A lot of it these days is about the mind and what the mind tells you, and the mental aspect of the game,” Arnold told Macquarie Sports Radio.

“I think that’s the big improvement that you’ve seen in England.

“A lot of the top sides now use sports psychologists for the players, there’s a lot of negativity in social media around players and what they read. It can affect people.

“I just think that there’s a lot of talk that we don’t score goals... I think we’ve got the players there, but then it’s about the belief and backing yourself and giving yourself the opportunity to make a big impact.”

Arnold name-checked Aaron Mooy, Daniel Arzani, Mathew Leckie and Tom Rogic as four players who can help ease the goalscoring burden of the Socceroos, with the country’s all-time leading goalscorer Tim Cahill expected to retire after his fourth World Cup appearance.

But the former Sydney FC coach will look closer at his striking options for January’s Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Graham Arnold sees Daniel Arzani as having a vital goalscoring role for Australia.

Andrew Nabbout (shoulder) may not be fit for the tournament, where Australia will defend the title they won on home soil in 2015, while Tomi Juric was largely ineffective in Russia.

Arnold said the Socceroos would play a “possession-based game” under him, saying the team did too much needless running at the World Cup.

“The first game against France, we had seven or eight players running over 13km in the game compared to some of the French, who only ran eight or nine,” he said.

“Maintaining possession and making the opposition work - obviously the ball never gets tired - is something that is shown especially with the bigger team, the higher teams, it’s a great tactic for them.”

Arnold is expected to confirm the make-up of his Socceroos coaching panel and backroom staff this week.

Originally published as World Cup 2018: New Socceroos coach Graham Arnold plans to instil belief into goal-shy strikers