Match Analysis: Australia v Oman

This match analysis first appeared in the Canberra Times:

Tim Cahill, a man with an eye for goal, saved Australia again in Bangkok last night. Socceroos Coach Graham Arnold’s substitutions forced the change in a game Australia looked destined to lose, but there weren’t too many positives for Australia in this game.

The storm clouds grew darker and darker in monsoonal Bangkok last night as the Socceroos lacked the creativity and firepower to break a stubborn and talented Oman.

In truth Oman didn’t have to do much as the Australians produced a dismal performance.
In the World Cup last year Coach Guus Hiddink introduced a mobile style of football to the Socceroos game. The game centered around one striker, Mark Viduka. A five man midfield covered any defensive frailties. And Australia earned great success.

Last night Arnold, perhaps believing the hype around the quality of this Australian team, went for two forwards, thereby weakening the midfield, and exposing the new Socceroos defence.

Despite this new attacking potential, no real chance was created in the first half, and worryingly Mark Viduka looked out of sorts up front despite having Harry Kewell playing alongside for the opening 20 minutes.

Midfielders Vince Grella and Jason Culina were unable to control the centre of the field and as a result Oman was able to dictate the flow of the game with their quick incisive passing.

Ominously for the Socceroos chances of Asian Cup glory, Oman ripped through the heart of the new Socceroos defence, much the same as Singapore had done in the previous friendly. Oman pulled key defenders Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton all over the place and Al-Maimani could not have believed the amount of time and space he had to finish from inside the box. And finish he did

Arnold introduced John Aloisi, Tim Cahill and later Brett Holman as Australia pushed for the equalizer.

A Hiddink like strategy again proving successful for Australia and Arnold.
Positives for Australia were few. Aloisi’s energy and Mark Schwarzer perhaps the only standouts. And of course late on, a fit again, Tim Cahill. If Arnold got the starting format wrong his ability to force change was a positive. The negatives were many.

Australia started the game very slowly at the Rajamangala stadium. A big mistake. Going a goal behind in the heat of Bangkok is a hard task for any side, not least an Aussie side lacking pace and creativity.

Australia can only get better, and they must, if they are to have any hope of winning this tournament.