Match Analysis: Socceroos v Singapore

This match analysis first appeared in the Canberra Times:

Can Australian win their first ever Asia Cup? Well if, the golden boys of Australian football, Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka perform to their best then the chances are good.

Australia defeated Singapore 3-0 on Saturday night in The National Stadium of Singapore, in their last International before their opening Asia Cup game against Oman on Sunday.

Singapore are ranked 146th in the world but they caused Australia’s new defence plenty of problems. They hit the bar and post before Australia scored and had a couple of further clear-cut chances which should give Socceroos coach Graham Arnold some sleepless nights before next week’s opening game.

Hopes in Australia are high after their exciting World Cup campaign in Germany last year. Many fans expect Australia to win at a canter. They won’t.

Defensively the Socceroos have a new line-up and it’s not settled. Brett Emerton will play right back. He has played there before for Feyenoord some years ago, but he often drifts out of position when defending. Craig Moore will be replaced by Leicester City’s Patrick Kisnorbo or FC Nurnberg’s Michael Beauchamp. Neither are the finished article in international football. Lucas Neill stands out, but with the left back position still undecided there is plenty there for opponents to exploit and they will.

Former Coach Guus Hiddink’s favourite midfielder Luke Wilkshire played left-back against Singapore. Michael Thwaites, who plays his football in Poland, was left-back against Uruguay. Neither is naturally left footed nor looks completely comfortable when defending.

Wilshire supports the forwards better than Thwaites does, but with Scott Chipperfield’s non-attendance at this tournament, Australia has lost a dynamic option to their attacking play.

Australia’s first opponents, Oman and Iraq, both have quick wide players. Singapore could and should have been two nil up before Australia scored last night. Better teams may not allow Australia to play themselves into the game.

In the World Cup, crisp incisive passing by Australia caused Brazil, and Italy problems. Singapore was rarely troubled in the first half.

There were good signs. Midfield general Vince Grella looked sharp and composed on the ball. Brett Holman looked lively and had the best opportunities in the first-half.

But if Kewell is fit, and on last night’s form he looks close, he is capable of making a major contribution to Australia’s historic Asian Cup campaign. He scored one and produced a marvellous moment to provide for Viduka.

Significantly Viduka, with only 6 goals from 38 internationals before Saturday’s game, scored two.

He couldn’t score in the World Cup against defences of the quality of Brazil and Italy, but he should score in Asia. Asia is not the World Cup and Viduka at least in the early stages should get many opportunities to increase his tally.

Big players win big games. Kewell and Viduka are the best footballers Australia has ever produced. With the golden boys firing Australia can win the Asian Cup.
It won’t be easy and with the heat restricting Australia’s mobile style of play the slow slow quick tempo of many Asian teams will severely test the Socceroos unstable defence.

Australia lifted when Kewell came on. And maybe in the early games Kewell will be used sparingly.

Saturday’s workout will have given Coach Graham Arnold much to ponder, particularly his defensive frailties.