Graham Arnold looks set to back the bulk of his trusted performers for the Socceroos’ 2022 moment of destiny, on Thursday morning (2am AEDT) when they face off against Denmark for a spot in the FIFA Men’s World Cup Round of 16.
Socceroos great John Aloisi dubbed the Al Janoub Stadium showdown as ‘the Croatia match of 2006’ in his KEEPUP column, claiming it had the ingredients to replicate that dramatic night in Stuttgart which he labelled the most chaotic game he’s ever played.
While a win would secure the Socceroos’ last-16 berth, a draw would be enough should reigning world champions France win or draw against Tunisia in the simultaneous Group D kick-off. A loss would see Denmark through ahead of the Socceroos.
Arnold and the Australian players have cut collectively focused figures in the 72 hours since Tunisia, with players urged to stay off social media after the feat, the Socceroos’ third World Cup win, and the first since 2010,
There are no major injury concerns, although Arnold revealed that he won’t decide on his team until matchday, giving him and conditioning guru Andrew Clark until the 11th hour to assess each player after the high-octane France and Tunisia games within the last eight days.
“It’ll probably be the first time in four years I won’t name the starting line up tonight. I’ll wait to wait to see how the boys pulled up,” Arnold said.
“It’s not often you get to go to a World Cup and I have been saying this to the boys, to enjoy the journey, enjoy the ride. We have gone through difficult periods over four and half years, through (COVID), playing four games out of 20 at home.
“It’s all about the belief within the group and the energy. Full focus on ourselves and getting our game right. I feel really relaxed and ready.”
Attacker Ajdin Hrustic, who is pushing for a start after making his injury return off the bench in a 1-0 win over Tunisia, said the Socceroos must heed the lessons from the first two games and take it to Denmark.
“It’s very important (we be aggressive) because if you go into a game with a mindset that a draw is enough, it can be difficult and it can be a long 90 minutes,” Hrustic said.
“But with the mindset we had and if you watch the game back against Tunisia, we pressed as much as we could and we always had pressure on the ball, which means the opponents have less time to think.
“If we go in the right mindset and head up in the park confident can be a great result for us.”
THE TACTICS
The Socceroos have laid out identical formations on paper, but the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 has been executed differently in the two games, reverting to a 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 defensive block that sat far deeper against France.
Whilst the Socceroos will attempt to replicate the Tunisian gameplan, it will in likelihood be somewhere in between, as they balance the greater attacking threat posed by Denmark.
Arnold expected Denmark, who have underperformed to date, to come out and attack the Socceroos.
“When you look at when they perform well they do the same. Maybe the one thing they underestimate us on is our quality – we want to walk away from here not just being fighting kangaroos, or the Australians who fight all the time. But the quality we can bring as well,” Arnold said.
Danish great Thomas Sorensen expected Denmark to tweak their formation and push Eriksen further forward after being caught deep in their opening two games that has yielded just one point.
“I feel a 4-3-3 will suit us better, we’ll still cope with the counter attacks from the Socceroos and it’ll just add a Christian Norgaard (Brentford) in midfield and it can push Eriksen a bit further forward,” Sorensen told KEEPUP.
“Then having, you know Andreas Skov Olsen (Club Brugge), Jesper Lindstrom (Eintracht Frankfurt), maybe Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford) coming infield, which will leave space for Joakim Maehle (Atalanta) and Rasmus Kristensen (Leeds United) on the right side to overlap.
“Those players haven’t featured. That was one of the strengths of the Danish side for so long. And so far they’ve been kept pretty quiet. The formation change would just free them up.”
THE DEFENCE
Right-back is the only defensive question mark, with France and Tunisia substitute Milos Degenek an option, whilst Nathaniel Atkinson may also be considered if he is passed fit after he was ruled out of the Tunisia game.
Harry Souttar and Kye Rowles will persist as stoppers, with the super consistent Aziz Behich at left-back. Experienced Sunderland defender Bailey Wright is on standby should anything happen to either stopper.
Souttar’s Tunisia performance was lauded as one of the best Socceroos defensive performances of all-time by team-mate Jackson Irvine. Stoke City head physio Nick Meace said his performances have been remarkable considering it was just his third game back post knee reconstruction.
“This was the toughest rehab I’ve been involved in but he actually made it seem easy.”
THE MIDFIELD
While Mooy earnt plaudits for his superb display, Aloisi hailed Jackson Irvine’s underrated performance as Mile Jedinak-esque, adding he will play a crucial role muzzling Manchester United star Christian Eriksen.
“Irvine was good in terms of breaking up the play the other day and I thought he went unnoticed because he wasn’t on the ball a lot. He put pressure on the ball and you could see that he was up for the occasion, rallying the boys around him,” Aloisi said.
“You need that in your team. In 2018 it was Mile Jedinak, when he was captaining the Socceroos. Whenever the boys needed lifting, it was always Mile doing that. Irvine is more vocal than anyone else in that midfield. And so he’s going to have another important role to play.”
The only question is whether Arnold persists with Middlesbrough midfielder Riley McGree or brings in Hellas Verona’s Ajdin Hrustic.
THE ATTACK
The Socceroos’ front three has performed superbly and done a power of work, with and without the ball, as Craig Goodwin and Mitchell Duke have become just the seventh and eighth players to score at a World Cup.
Mathew Leckie supplied the precision cross for Goodwin’s France opener, while Adelaide United winger’s deflected cross was headed home by Duke, who’s defied the critics to make history and entrench himself in the first XI.
The Duke respect has from is team-mates and fellow attackers is clear.
“How you see Dukey on the field is almost how he is off the field. He fights for every ball. It was a fantastic moment for him to score and a great moment for the country to win,” Goodwin said.
“We’ve worked hard at training at putting balls into the box and getting in the right areas, and Dukey did fantastic with the header.”
Jamie Maclaren, Awer Mabil, Jason Cummings and Garang Kuol have all come on, with Marco Tilio the only attacker yet to see minutes.
THE SUBS
Arnold has already used 19 of the 26-man squad, and the five subs will depend on how the game pans out.
McGree or Hrustic will start on the bench, and one of them will be a key substitute, especially is the Socceroos must force the issue and score.
Ditto Maclaren, who impressed in his Tunisia cameo, with the three-time A-League Men golden boot winner almost turning supplier, as Melbourne City team-mate Leckie was inches away from doubling Australia’s lead.
Cadiz winger Mabil, who many tipped to start ahead of Goodwin coming into the tournament, epitomised the team harmony within the Socceroos, declaring he was happy to fill any role.
“That’s football, everybody’s got a job to do. If you’re called up to start, you start. If you’re coming off the bench that’s your job. We all have to do our job and do the best we can,” Mabil said.
Hearts midfielder Cameron Devlin could be an option to come on late should the Socceroos need to shut up shop.
Box-to-box St Mirren midfielder Keanu Baccus also provided good energy in the closing minutes and is an option if Arnold needs legs.
THE OPPONENTS
Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand, who is under pressure back home after securing just one from a possible six points, expected Australia to come at them.
“They won’t just be sitting, they will run against us, we will be put under pressure. They will try to get close to us and get close in the duels and I don’t just expect them to be sitting and waiting,” Hjulmand said.
Danish presenter Jasper Amter from TV2SPORTdk told KEEPUP expectations could not have been higher back home coming into Qatar 2022.
“Thus far it’s been a huge disappointment. Going into this World Cup there’s never ever been higher expectations going in for a Danish national team,” Amter said.
“After the Euros, semi-finals, also the situation with Christian Eriksen collapsing on the field, coming back strong into the Danish national team where he’s struggled in the past. Now he’s the biggest star.
“Everyone expected this would be the time for a record for the Danish national team, not only quarter finals but let’s get to the semi-finals. After these first two games, there’s not too much hope for semi-finals in Denmark.
“They’ve just played too slow. The Danish coach said it as well – it’s like we’ve forgotten our playing style. We have to go back on the training field and repeat, repeat, repeat what made us one of the most feared teams in Europe and underdogs going into this World Cup.”
The scene is set for a dramatic and potentially historic night for Australian football.
