The Socceroos weren’t at their best but it mattered little as they secured a 2-0 win over India to kick off their Asian Cup campaign.
Second half goals from Jackson Irvine and Jordan Bos did the business for the Aussies as a resolute India side were left to rue a costly defensive error.
Foxsports.com.au analyses the win in Socceroos Talking Points!
PLAYER RATINGS: Trio deliver the goods but stuttering stars cast dim light
MATCH REPORT: Brutal error proves costly for minnows as sluggish Socceroos secure win
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AUSSIES’ ACHILLES HEEL REARS UGLY HEAD AGAIN
Death, taxes and the Socceroos struggling to unlock teams who sit deep and happily cede possession.
It was a familiar old tale against India, with Graham Arnold’s side needing 50 minutes — and an error from Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu — to open the scoring via Jackson Irvine.
Once the deadlock was broken, high quality chances were easier to come by for the Socceroos.
But the fact remains the Socceroos simply couldn’t find inventive ways to get through the sea of blue shirts that, to their credit, defended incredibly well and flung themselves in the way of every shot.
By half time, the Socceroos had 72 per cent possession and had taken 14 shots but did not have anything to show for their dominance.
Craig Goodwin and Martin Boyle crossed balls in like they depended on it, with 31 crosses being whipped in before Irvine finally scored.
In fact, Australia crossed the ball a staggering 42 times across the 90 minutes.
Against teams who sit deep and pack numbers into the box, is this bombardment of crosses going to be the best way forward, especially if the Socceroos are likely to be outnumbered in the area?
Time will tell on that front but for now, the lack of inventiveness against weaker opposition who sit deep needs to change.
On the flip side, it did mean India provided very little attacking threat.
But on one of the rare occasions they did decide to throw numbers forward, India very nearly took the lead but skipper Sunil Chhetri directed his header wide of the post.
Such lapses in concentration will be severely punished by better teams.
THE ARNIE MOVE THAT PROVIDED ‘BIG IMPACT’ SOCCEROOS CRAVED
Speaking of how the Socceroos might be able to unlock those packed defences, the introductions of Riley McGree, Jordan Bos and Bruno Fornaroli off the bench did just that.
All three played a key role in the Socceroos’ second goal: McGree provided the assist, Fornaroli made an intelligent run to drag defenders away and Bos slotted home into an empty net with his first touch of the game.
In fact, Bos’ goal came just 40 seconds after coming on in place of Craig Goodwin.
Granted, the trio had the added benefit of entering the contest when India’s entire team had been run ragged and were physically and mentally knackered.
However, it does not take away from their willingness to get on the ball and run directly at India’s players, something the Socceroos did not do often in the first half.
So much so that six of the Socceroos’ nine completed dribbles for the entire game came via Bos, Fornaroli and McGree and it was no coincidence the Aussies looked more of an attacking threat once those three were on the field.
“I think what Graham Arnold did with the substitutes was really good tonight,” former Socceroo Alex Brosque said on Channel 10’s coverage.
Luke Wilkshire added: “I think they made a big impact.”
Of course, the three substitutes offer different qualities to the ones they replaced in Mitchell Duke (Fornaroli), Connor Metcalfe (McGree) and Craig Goodwin (Bos).
Sometimes it might be a horses-for-courses approach when Arnold decides who will start.
But if anything, the trio showed they must be in the conversation to start against teams who will sit deep.
SOCCEROOS’ GAME-CHANGING WEAPON STIFLED … BY THEMSELVES
Prior to the Asian Cup opener against India, Arnold stressed the importance of set pieces.
“It is very important … we get our set pieces right, because set pieces can change the game as well,” Arnold said.
Set pieces have constantly been an avenue for Australia to bully their Asian rivals in, especially with a 200cm centre back in the form of Harry Souttar in the line-up.
There’s several iconic pictures of rival defenders doubling and in rare cases tripling up on Souttar, such is his aerial threat in the box.
Further, the Socceroos also boasted Kye Rowles (185cm), Jackson Irvine (189cm) and Mitchell Duke (187cm) in the starting team against India.
But the Socceroos failed to score a single goal from set pieces as India somehow repelled their larger rivals every single time.
It’s not like the Aussies didn’t have several chances from set pieces, either.
The Socceroos had 14 corners and earned multiple free kicks in dangerous positions but ultimately had nothing to show for it.
Craig Goodwin, who is normally one of the Socceroos’ most reliable in dead ball situations, was out-of-sorts when whipping in corners as he failed to beat the first man multiple times.
The left winger was even briefly taken off corner duties in place of Martin Boyle, although once Goodwin returned to whip in set pieces he seemed to find his range a little better.
Should the Aussies enjoy as many corners as they did against India when they take on other opponents at the Asian Cup, they cannot afford to let the opportunities slip.
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