Mark Schwarzer Typically stoic performance by Schwarzer and what we‘ve come to expect from the 40 year old after 103 matches for the Socceroos. Still no clues as to how Mat Ryan or Mitch Langerak would have handled Romania. 6 Lucas Neill May have been released by Al Wasl but showed he still has plenty to offer potential A-League suitors. Marshalled the defence well before watching it fall apart from the sidelines after being substituted in the 57th minute. Will be hoping the view from the bench is better against Oman. 7 Luke Wilkshire Out of ideas in attack with too many lofted speculators into the forward line. Partly made up for the route-one stuff with a cool conversion from the spot for Australia’s opening goal. 5 Robert Cornthwaite After a tentative start, grew in confidence, playing out from the back and showing improved positioning. Was in the right place to put Australia into the lead with his third goal in five matches for the Socceroos. Produced a solid tackle to deny Gabriel Torje on the hour mark. 7.5 Michael Zullo Holger Osieck reckons Zullo is Australia’s long-term solution at left back, but fans could be forgiven for wondering why Jason Davidson wasn’t given some game time to disprove him. 4 James Holland Has spoken of a desire to move to the Bundesliga, but may want to edit the first 20 minutes out of this match in his highlights reel. Struggled to find his passing range early as Romania pressed high, but once the game and space opened up, Holland grew in confidence. 6 Brett Holman Can’t get a run at Aston Villa for some reason and seemed to spend most of the first hour preoccupied by the splinters in his backside. Once the match opened up, Holman started doing what he does best, darting in between the lines and creating chances. 5.5 Matt McKay Hard to spot McKay without the head gear. His inability to get on the ball early didn’t help. Replaced by Rukavytsya just after the hour mark. 4 Mark Bresciano Joined by a fellow creator, Holland, in Australia’s midfield and seemed harried by the on-rushing Romania attack. Found it difficult to create many chances but showed his class with some trademark deft touches. Replaced by Mark Milligan in the 80th minute. 6 Robbie Kruse On fire for Fortuna Dusseldorf and it showed. Australia’s go-to man in attack and willing to take on the man in defence. Chose the wrong option deep into the second half, after using his pace to beat the final defender and cutting the ball back into the box instead of shooting on a tight angle. Otherwise hard to fault an inventive performance from a player in his pomp. 8 Alex Brosque A victim of his midfield’s inability to cope with Romania’s pressure in the first half. Brosque’s first decisive moment came in the final throws of the opening stanza, earning the penalty that brought Australia level. Was given 30 more minutes to do something before being replaced by Mathew Leckie. 5.5 Substitutes: Rhys Williams Proved that Lucas Neill is not only a hard act to follow, but not too old to run the show down the back. Caught out of position for Romania’s second goal and looked indecisive on the ball. All the better for a cobweb-clearing run in the green and gold. 4.5 Adam Federici Had a much busier time than his predecessor in goal after coming on early in the second half. Made two good saves but was reduced to a curious bystander for Romania’s world-class winner. Did enough to suggest he can handle life in the pressure cooker. 7 Mark Milligan Ten minutes wasn’t enough time for Milligan to prove his value as a replacement for Bresciano in a play-making midfield role. The Melbourne Victory defender Could be forgiven for ruing his late call-up with a derby match against Adelaide United looming. 3 Ryan McGowan Replaced Wilkshire and immediately set about keeping the ball on the ground. The jury’s still out on whether his move to China from Scotland was a good one. 4 Nikita Rukavytsya Can’t get a run for Mainz in the Bundesliga and it showed. Missed a sitter which cannoned off his right boot and looked short of a gallop on the ball. Showed what he can do during the EAFF East Asian Cup qualifiers but needs to be doing it more often for his club. 3 Mathew Leckie A quarter of an hour plus injury-time is about a third of the time Leckie needs to show what he can do. As a result, he spent most of his time on the pitch sight unseen. 3 Jason Davidson By all reports Davidson kept the bench nice and warm. Not rated http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/socceroos/news/1139980/Socceroos-player-ratings
Squad: Socceroos squad: Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa, Qatar), Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls, US), Robert Cornthwaite (Chunnam Dragons, South Korea), Mitchell Duke (Central Coast Mariners), James Holland (FK Austria, Austria), Brett Holman (Al Nasr Sports Club, UAE), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace, England), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus, Japan), Robbie Kruse (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Ryan McGowan (Shandong Luneng Taishan, China), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Lucas Neill (Omiya Ardija, Japan), Tommy Oar (Utrecht, Netherlands), Sasa Ognenovski (Umm Salal SC, Qatar), Tom Rogic (Celtic, Scotland), Mat Ryan (Brugge, Belgium), Mark Schwarzer (Chelsea, England), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow, Russia), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough, England).
Injured Cahill to miss Socceroos game http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/socceroos/news/1166115/injured-cahill-to-miss-socceroos-game
lol Can't expect any different unless we have at least 11 players regularly appearing for the biggest clubs in Europe. And even then, look how Japan struggled against them. On to France now...
A better showing would be nice. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-20/socceroos-to-play-in-france/4898480
That was an old fashioned Brasilian arse kicking. You're right though, defensively we were terrible. Some of the passing was shocking. They're hard enough to beat anyway without handing it to them. I love the samba boys though. As good as they are at football, wait until you see them on the strings, and the Conga's. They'll blow you away.
"Late injuries to Hulk and Dani Alves did little to reduce the quality that oozed throughout Brazil’s 4-3-3." actually, these injuries did a lot to INCREASE the quality of the team. Daniel Alves has been horrible since... well, since ALWAYS in the brazilian national team. In fact, he was also the responsible for Brazil´s defeat to Switzerland (match before Australia) when he scored a beautiful goal... OWN goal.
Even if he'd played on Saturday, I don't think it would've made that much difference to the scoreline.
In all honesty though, Australia are better than that. I think we got a bit of stage fright. And we copped them on their National day, at home and coming off a loss. Added the ability they have and we never stood a chance.
Ha. And according to Millsy, its un-Australian. Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/socc...ng-milligan-20130917-2tx9s.html#ixzz2fDeHvUNs
He left the Schwarz out! http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-24/schwarzer-out-of-socceroos-squad-for-friendlies/4977804
So the squad is: Socceroos squad: Oliver Bozanic (FC Luzern), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa), Tim Cahill (NY Red Bulls), David Carney (NY Red Bulls), Jason Davidson (SC Heracles), James Holland (Austria Vienna), Brett Holman (Al Nasr), Jackson Irvine, (Kilmarnock), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus), Robbie Kruse (Bayer Leverkusen), Mitchell Langerak (gk, Borussia Dortmund), Matthew Leckie (Frankfurt), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Lucas Neill (Omiya Ardija), Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht), Sasa Ogenovski (Umm Salal), Tommy Rogic (Celtic), Nikita Rukavytsya (Frankfurt), Mat Ryan (gk, Club Brugge), Dario Vidosic (FC Sion), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow), Rhys Williams (Middlesborough).
Its stuff like this that doesn't come out: http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1168293/Socceroos-boss-Osieck-hits-back-at-his-critics
Davidson believes the Canada game is where he'll play, and Carney to get this game: http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/socceroos/news/1168603/Davidson-to-fight-for-left-back-role