Aussie Analysis: The Socceroos Have Not Yet Adapted To Asia

They might have successfully negotiated their qualifying campaign with relative ease at the first time of asking but the Socceroos are yet to master Asia.

Ironically, it is the lesser known outfits and not the more continental-styled and more quality-laden opponents that are presenting Australia with its biggest challenges in the region.

The delicate contours of the Asian football landscape will take some more adapting.

This was evident when last night Tim Cahill was again required to spare Autsralian blushes, again arriving at centre-stage late in the game to break Omani hearts, just as he had done at the 2007 Asian Cup.

Yesterday’s performance was all too familiar, with shades of the directionless performances that saw the Socceroos crash out of that tournament evident in Melbourne.

Again the Socceroos were surprised – as much as they perhaps don’t want to admit it – by the technical quality and tactical savvy of their opponents.

Assuming that they were aware of the abilities of Claude Le Roy’s men, questions must then be asked about the decision to have a deep-lying back-line and defensive midfielders acting as auxiliary centre-backs.

It was the sort of game plan that proved Australia’s undoing in Vietnam two years ago.

Australia’s continuing struggle against Asia’s more humble opponents is surprising, given that they now don’t have the excuse of surprise or lack of knowledge of the reason.

This – combined with a questionable confidence heading into the tournament – was ultimately their undoing at the Asian Cup, where they were lead by the inexperienced Graham Arnold.

The man himself has spoken in the aftermath about the fact that he and his Socceroos squad largely didn’t know what they were walking into in Thailand, having taken up the role as assistant manager since.

His superior is none other than Dutchman Pim Verbeek, who lead the Korea Republic in that very same tournament.

Indeed, Verbeek in the past has hinted at an over-confidence that plagued Australia’s first Asian Cup campaign, having witnessed it first-hand.

The 53 year-old boasts vast experience both at domestic and international level on the continent, so would know of the relative strengths, weaknesses and styles of most nations.

Why then, did the Socceroos seem so out of ideas against Oman at times yesterday evening?

Too often were innocuous balls floated toward the head of the isolated Josh Kennedy – a reasonable tactic to employ but alternatives were required by virtue of a superb performance by Ali Al Habsi in the Oman goal.

Similarly, it seemed as though Australia’s back-line didn’t know whether to press or contain the likes of Fawzi Basheer as Oman too easily kept possession in the Socceroos’ half, Lucas Neill and his men bizarrely hesitant at times to close them down.

Ultimately, credit has to go to Oman and Le Roy for surprising their opponents with their willingness to push forward in numbers rather than succumb to pre-match predictions about a negative game plan.

Despite their undoubted abilities though, Australia still have much adapting to do to the contours of Asia, European-based players being exposed to a style of football unlike that to which they have become accustomed on a weekly basis with their club side.

Part of that process of adapting is the sort of humility that is now starting to dominate pre-match and post-match press dealings, rather than bold predictions about winning tournaments.

The Socceroos now know that results and respect are entwined within the Asian Football Confederation, where Australia remain guests of more established powers and commoners.

And both will be difficult to come by.

Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com

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