By Vince Rugari
The Socceroos have ticked another box in their quest for a second Asian Cup crown but the big questions about their on-field identity remain frustratingly unresolved.
Those looking for the result got what they wanted: a 4-0 victory over Indonesia. But those looking for improvement on the ball would have come away disappointed. Unable to retain possession for much longer than a few passes, Australia’s constant turnovers kept inviting the world No.146-ranked minnows into the game, and a better team might have accepted the kind offer.
A better team now awaits. The Socceroos will play their quarter-final on Saturday morning (2.30am AEDT) against either Roberto Mancini’s Saudi Arabia or Jurgen Klinsmann’s South Korea, who meet on Wednesday (3am AEDT). As a side that tends to rise to the level of their opponents, it will be a telling examination.
Neither the Saudis nor Koreans will be quaking in their boots about the prospect of facing them on this evidence – but for all the debate about their performances, Australia are now just three wins from lifting the trophy. In what looks a pretty even tournament, it’s not that hard to fathom them doing it, even if the football itself sometimes suggests otherwise.
Coach Graham Arnold admits there is plenty of room for improvement in all facets of Australia’s game. “We get a couple of days off now to rest and recover which is crucial,” he said. “The most important thing is we get our game right, we get our brains cleared, our brains ready, and then the boys know their jobs and they can go out and get it done.”
The scoreboard made this outing appear more convincing than it really was, since Australia’s third and fourth goals came in the final minutes, when Indonesia’s brave resistance finally ran out of steam.
The second goal hits the back of the net.Credit: AP
In truth, the Socceroos lacked penetration, but once again, they found a way regardless. They had just one shot in the first half, but they ended it with two goals.
Jackson Irvine deserves the credit for creating the opener, but it was recorded as an own goal after his attempt, from Australia’s first real attacking foray in the 12th minute, deflected off the left foot of Elkan Baggott and bent its way into the near post.
That gave them some breathing space, which was just as well, because Indonesia crackled out of the gates. They defended stoutly without parking the bus, and looked dangerous when swarming in numbers on the counter-attack, but lacked the quality to finish their moves. All things considered, Team Garuda gave an excellent account of themselves.
“They made it tough for us,” Arnold said. “Physically, they were very big and strong. It was a tough game, but the quality that we’ve got up front came through today, and stuff that we’ve been working on at training and with the attacking combinations, probably now, the boys are starting to believe more and more in it, and it’s working.”
Indonesia had taken five shots on goal by the time Australia finally fired theirs off just before half-time. The architect was Gethin Jones, who delivered a magnificent cross in the 45th minute to set up Martin Boyle at the far post, meeting it low with a diving header and almost colliding with the woodwork in the process.
It was a compelling response by Jones to his many critics. Plucked out of relative anonymity for this tournament by Graham Arnold, the 28-year-old was born in Perth but represented Wales at junior level and once said he felt “100 per cent Welsh”. He was parachuted into the starting team for the first two matches, to decidedly mixed reviews. Here, like the team, he made an incremental improvement, but his involvement in the rest of the campaign is in doubt after being taken to hospital post-match for scans on his injured groin.
Jones’ return at right-back was one of two changes made by Arnold – the other saw Bruno Fornaroli, the naturalised Uruguayan veteran in career-best form at Melbourne Victory – replace Kusini Yengi up front.
Socceroo Gethin Jones and Indonesia’s Marselino Ferdinan compete for the ball.Credit: AP
But Fornaroli struggled to get involved, denting the argument that his street smarts and back-to-play ability was the missing piece in Australia’s attack. He was withdrawn on the hour mark for Mitch Duke, who has overcome his hamstring injury to put himself in the frame to start the quarter-final.
Craig Goodwin also came off the bench to prove his fitness and tucked away the third goal in the 89th minute, and then set up big Harry Souttar at a set piece for the sealer.
“I know there’s people back in Australia asking for, or wanting to see where an impact player is off the bench,” Arnold said. “Maybe that’s a good role for Craig Goodwin.”
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