Sunday, November 18, 2007
Almost There
It was a very good night for Australian teams, with the senior side knocking off Nigeria in a European friendly soon after the Olyroos had taken a large step towards qualification for Beijing, with a 2-0 win over Iraq in Gosford.
Sadly, because goal difference rather than head-to-head record is used to separate teams in the Asian Olympic qualifiers, the Olyroos are not quite home and dry just yet; they need to get a result against North Korea in Pyongyang on Wednesday, since Iraq will probably defeat Lebanon comfortably on home turf.
2-0, frankly, was better than the Olyroos deserved in a match which certainly showed up a few weaknesses in the youngsters' arsenal. True, Burns and Djite were absent, which did affect matters. But although Australia settled the more quickly and posed plenty of early danger (thanks mainly to the penetration offered by James Troisi on the left wing), when the Iraqis started pressing after conceding the opener, Graham Arnold's charges gave away the ball dreadfully cheaply at times, and often looked flat-footed by comparison to the Iraqis, especially in midfield.
I'm surprised that Ruben Zadkovich continues to be picked for the Olyroos in midfield; although he is full of running and occasionally makes himself useful in an attacking capacity, he is not really of international standard. When Nick Ward replaced him in the second half, Australia's general play improved markedly.
Another, rather more unexpected, worry is Danny Vukovic's distribution. The young Mariners keeper is a fine shot-stopper, his handling is good and his movement off his line is fairly sound, although there's certainly room for improvement there. But both his clearances and his goal-kicks were often badly misplaced last night - one of the many reasons why the Iraqis managed to dominate possession for long periods.
It's to be hoped that Graham Arnold doesn't approach the game in Pyongyang with an over-defensive mentality. If the Iraqis had offered better final balls and/or a capable finisher during their period of dominance, when Australia largely sat back, they would surely have come away from Gosford with a result.
Sadly, because goal difference rather than head-to-head record is used to separate teams in the Asian Olympic qualifiers, the Olyroos are not quite home and dry just yet; they need to get a result against North Korea in Pyongyang on Wednesday, since Iraq will probably defeat Lebanon comfortably on home turf.
2-0, frankly, was better than the Olyroos deserved in a match which certainly showed up a few weaknesses in the youngsters' arsenal. True, Burns and Djite were absent, which did affect matters. But although Australia settled the more quickly and posed plenty of early danger (thanks mainly to the penetration offered by James Troisi on the left wing), when the Iraqis started pressing after conceding the opener, Graham Arnold's charges gave away the ball dreadfully cheaply at times, and often looked flat-footed by comparison to the Iraqis, especially in midfield.
I'm surprised that Ruben Zadkovich continues to be picked for the Olyroos in midfield; although he is full of running and occasionally makes himself useful in an attacking capacity, he is not really of international standard. When Nick Ward replaced him in the second half, Australia's general play improved markedly.
Another, rather more unexpected, worry is Danny Vukovic's distribution. The young Mariners keeper is a fine shot-stopper, his handling is good and his movement off his line is fairly sound, although there's certainly room for improvement there. But both his clearances and his goal-kicks were often badly misplaced last night - one of the many reasons why the Iraqis managed to dominate possession for long periods.
It's to be hoped that Graham Arnold doesn't approach the game in Pyongyang with an over-defensive mentality. If the Iraqis had offered better final balls and/or a capable finisher during their period of dominance, when Australia largely sat back, they would surely have come away from Gosford with a result.
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Mike, have to agree with you on your point about Vukovic, fine shot stopper but distribution is ordinary. We were also very lucky to still have Milligan on the park when he scored that second goal. Should have really been sent off to that incident with the Iraqi goalkeeper. Two good results for the national teams, lets hope that they do us proud in Pyongyang. And on a final note, can everyone stop going on about the fact that we will be playing against North Korea on an artificial pitch. Its a fact that has been known for a long time and it smacks of looking for excuses before the game has been played if the result doesn't go our way.
The calls on Milligan being lucky not to receive a red are a bit harsh IMO. He was being manhandled by their No.18 and then had the keeper cowardly attacking him from behind, so Milligan was under some duress. Not to mention that the keeper wasn't averse to some grassrolling, so the ref probably didn't punish him for these reasons.
I had to laugh at the desperate looks on the Iraqi players' faces when Williams was being stretchered off near the end.
I had to laugh at the desperate looks on the Iraqi players' faces when Williams was being stretchered off near the end.
# posted by 
: November 18, 2007 at 12:27 PM
: November 18, 2007 at 12:27 PM
...The calls on Milligan being lucky not to receive a red are a bit harsh IMO....
Absolutely. Not really much in that, and as you say, he had the other bloke on his as well. The Iraqi keeper was definitely their actor-in-chief...luckily he didn't find a compliant ref to help him on this occasion.
...And on a final note, can everyone stop going on about the fact that we will be playing against North Korea on an artificial pitch. Its a fact that has been known for a long time and it smacks of looking for excuses before the game has been played if the result doesn't go our way....
If that excuse is good enough for Steve McLaren, it's good enough for GA. ;-)
Absolutely. Not really much in that, and as you say, he had the other bloke on his as well. The Iraqi keeper was definitely their actor-in-chief...luckily he didn't find a compliant ref to help him on this occasion.
...And on a final note, can everyone stop going on about the fact that we will be playing against North Korea on an artificial pitch. Its a fact that has been known for a long time and it smacks of looking for excuses before the game has been played if the result doesn't go our way....
If that excuse is good enough for Steve McLaren, it's good enough for GA. ;-)
tfo - regardless of what built up to it, Milligan should not be so reckless. Elbowing the 'keeper is just stooping to the level of a hacker, and he is a much better player than to be called a hack.
Vuko's distribution has been awful all season (I personally hate his lack of consistent follow-through when kicking from the hands). I think it's something that Crawley really needs to focus on, or that the FFA step in and hire a specialist goal-kicking coach. It would be an investment for the future.
Vuko's distribution has been awful all season (I personally hate his lack of consistent follow-through when kicking from the hands). I think it's something that Crawley really needs to focus on, or that the FFA step in and hire a specialist goal-kicking coach. It would be an investment for the future.
why is it Aussies are strting to have disciplinary problems on the field.
Mulligan should have been red carded.
Mulligan should have been red carded.
# posted by : November 19, 2007 at 8:39 AM
: November 19, 2007 at 8:39 AM
Yes he couldve easily been red carded
It was the luck of the draw that we got a really REALLY lenient Asian referee
i have complained that A-league refs are too lenient... but this guy was incredible...
Honestly if we get European refs at the olympics and Milligan does that.. say hello to Mr Red.
As for the actual game well what to say.. i for one wasnt that impressed, we wernt playing out from the back at all really.. just lumping it forward and often it would go out....
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It was the luck of the draw that we got a really REALLY lenient Asian referee
i have complained that A-league refs are too lenient... but this guy was incredible...
Honestly if we get European refs at the olympics and Milligan does that.. say hello to Mr Red.
As for the actual game well what to say.. i for one wasnt that impressed, we wernt playing out from the back at all really.. just lumping it forward and often it would go out....
# posted by : November 19, 2007 at 4:04 PM
: November 19, 2007 at 4:04 PM << Home
