No sooner had we shuffled to allow the latest latecomers into the aisle when suddenly the Socceroos were behind to a fine Muqbali finish. The likeable Thwaite had seen the ball roll off the Omani's shoulder and fall neatly into a channel on the left. A fine touch and finish saw the ball go through Schwarzer's legs for 0-1. A collective groan rang out with the realisation that after just 6 minutes the road now had quite an incline. People looked desperately for reasons .....programmes were consulted and feverish iphone activity took place as disbelief took a hold. Only at this point did I have a good look at how the Aussies were lined up:
.......................Schwarzer
Wiltshire Cornthwaite Thwaite McKay
Kruse Holland Jedinak Holman
...........Brosque....Cahill
Yep a great side to put out in some away leg in snowy conditions in some former Soviet Republic where we need a point. Unfortunately, here we were on a balmy March evening playing at home against an Omani side which had scored just 4 goals in five games. True, they had pulled off a Asian Cup smash and grab against us down in Canberra a few years back but surely they couldn't hope to do that again?
McKay....Kruse....Holman and even Cahill were playing in less than optimum positions. The team had little natural width and contained no player whose normal game involved running at the opposition. The result being that the 39 minutes that followed the Omani goal were as sterile and frustrating as any under Pim or Farina. The Aussies failed to register a single shot first half. Their build up was pedestrian and first touch abysmal. Any side playing a slow 'pass pass' game like this is simple to defend against. Surely changes would be made at half time and the subdued crowd brought into the game. Whatever words Osiek spouted in his 15 minutes at half time never got a chance to have an impact. Within four minutes the hapless Jedinak had turned a right wing cross into his own net..... 0-2 we were now in deep trouble. A collective crowd vocabulary including such words as clueless, shit, boring and rubbish seemed to circulate without a single mobile phone being touched. One of our central midfield artisan twins...... Holland was quickly withdrawn. Bresciano entered the fray and brought a touch of subtlety and guile previously missing up to until this point. A string of crosses and corners at last reminded the Aussies that their renowned physicality might indeed be a help. Almost on cue Tim Cahill rose to head a fine goal inside an unguarded right hand post.....1-2..... the crowd at last remembered why they were at ANZ. Thompson replaced the out of place Kruse on the right and with 30 minutes remaining hope sprung eternal. Unfortunately Bresciano's game was to be just a cameo and he was replaced by the natural wide player Tommy Oar. Holman moving inside. Route one became the main Aussie tactic but they were still strangely lacking in energy with Oman picking up too much of the central midfield possession. In truth Oman had been comfortable for much of the night and played most of the best football on show. Australia maintained a back four that played absurdly deep for a side chasing the game in the last ten minutes. Then somehow Holman came left to right and unloaded a fine low shot that bounced before and away from keeper Al Habsi. Somehow it was 2-2 and an unlikely point the reward.
Somehow Australia needs to include both Aaaron Moye and Tommy Rogic in this shambolic side. Someone who passes comfortably and someone who can drop the shoulder and head through the heart of the oppostion back four. Whether these two get the opportunity in the 2014 World Cup is in doubt. Timing is everything Holger and your time is swiftly running out.
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