The Football Tragic

It's always nice to have ninety minutes of football essentially summarise an entire campaign. And that is what we had with the Socceroos' 2-1 sign-off victory over Japan tonight.

There was:

The slow start

In our home games against Bahrain, Uzbekistan and Japan, we have looked languid (some might say woeful) in the first half: sitting too far back, not fashioning any decent linkage between defence and midfield, and relying too much on the aerial ball. Again, Australia's first-half efforts tonight, after an admittedly brisk start, did not enthuse.

The lack of any opposition presence up front

How much has Pim Verbeek's team owed to the lack of any truly commanding strikers in our World Cup group?

Tonight, once again, Japan produced plenty of intelligent, progressive play in the middle third, but there was no-one to take charge, or take the chances, up front. Around the hour mark, with Japan pressing but not penetrating, one always felt that the pendulum could swing quite easily.

Mark Schwarzer

Enough said.

I don't think anyone would deny him the title of the finest goalkeeper in the Asian confederation; realistically, only Seigo Narazaki and Lee Woon-Jae come remotely close. With the Fulham keeper between the sticks for the Socceroos, the defensive task becomes so much easier.

He was not unduly tested this evening, but was still there to snap up the corners, deal with the half-hearted shots, and generally lead the team from the back. Quite priceless.

The midfield axis of blah

Yep, the two screeners were there again.

Vince Grella may have added some impetus to the side in the previous game against Bahrain, but his predisposition to dangerous fouls (many of them quite close to goal) could have cost the Socceroos tonight, and may well do so once the team faces stronger opposition.

As for Jason Culina...well. He has been an ever-present under Verbeek when available, but there have been times when he has appeared supernumerary. He did at times this evening.

The opportunism

It's not just Tim Cahill. The Socceroos, in stark contrast to their Asian opponents, have shown an ability to score in adversity, shall we say. European experience? Physical dominance in the enemy area? Flapping opposition keepers? A bit of all three. But it has been an invaluable weapon for Australia throughout the campaign.

What to say about the fringers? Nick Carle had a quiet game until his crucial little cameo just prior to his substitution, but that did at least underline his value. Rhys Williams, after a nervous start, grew into the game quite well. Shane Stefanutto was threatened surprisingly little by the often dangerous Atsuto Uchida, and had a generally solid game.

Whatever the doubts over the team's readiness for stronger opposition in South Africa, it has been a splendidly successful campaign.