Source : the age
San Diego: The Socceroos go into next week’s World Cup opener on the back of mixed form after a 1-1 draw with Switzerland showed flashes of both serious promise and concern for coach Tony Popovic.
The world 19th-ranked Swiss dominated possession and territory on Sunday morning (AEST) but were eventually wound back in by the Socceroos, with debutant striker Tete Yengi’s 56-minute equaliser a fitting reward for their hard-fought improvement that cancelled out Dan Ndoye’s early opener.
Popovic named an experimental starting XI, making seven changes to the team that faced Mexico last weekend, including starts for back-up goalkeeper Patrick Beach, livewire forward Nestory Irankunda, debutants Cristian Volpato and Yengi, and utility Kai Trewin – meaning any broader assessment based on this performance must be accompanied by a few asterisks.
Australia were at least five players short of what Popovic would likely consider his strongest line-up. He had said pre-match this would be an exercise in getting more minutes into players who needed them, rather than a full-blown dress rehearsal for their opening World Cup clash with Turkey next Sunday (AEST).
Also like last weekend, the Socceroos endured a dodgy start, but improved once they had settled. This time at least, nerves could not have been the issue, given barely 6000 turned out at Snapdragon Stadium compared to the intimidating presence of nearly 80,000 mostly Mexico supporters at the Rose Bowl.
For much of the first half, it felt as if the Swiss were capable of scoring every time they went forward, with clever one-twos, wall passes and triangles leaving Popovic’s men chasing shadows.
With the great Granit Xhaka pulling the strings and Ndoye running amok down the left, only a bit of luck stopped them from scoring in the eighth minute when Beach saved a shot from Ndoye and the ball ricocheted off Alessandro Circati and out for a corner.
A glorious Xhaka ball over the top of Australia’s defence nearly produced a goal moments later. The next one, in the 14th minute, actually did, splitting open the right-hand side for Ndoye to finish and give Switzerland a deserved lead.
The mid-half drinks break gave the Socceroos a chance to reset. Like last weekend, they were better for it, with their adjustments bringing the lively Irankunda more into the game. He was a constant threat with both his workrate in pressing and his combination play with teammates.
But the stats told their own story: at the break, Australia had generated zero shots from open play, and only one touch inside Switzerland’s attacking box, aside from two headers from set-piece opportunities.
Fortunately, they improved further in the second half, after four substitutions by Popovic at the break helped address deficiencies and introduced some fresh legs.
Irankunda forced Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel into a fingertip save that pushed a rasping shot onto the crossbar and out, before two of those subs – Cameron Burgess and Connor Metcalfe – combined for the equaliser.
A brilliant long pass from Burgess unlocked a counter-attacking opportunity for the Socceroos, with Metcalfe’s cutback then teeing up Yengi to sidefoot the ball into an open net.
But the second drinks break, coupled with another batch of substitutions, disrupted the momentum they had built, forcing Australia’s defence into a series of late scrambles to salvage a draw – an effort led by the irrepressible Harry Souttar, who wore the captain’s armband for the first time and turned the Swiss away time and again.
Vince’s match report has landed, and he will have more follow-up coverage today. Look out for it, and that’ll be all from me for now. Catch you on Tuesday for the Matildas’ second friendly against Mexico, and then next Sunday for the Socceroos against Turkey.
“It’s nice that we got a result in the end,” he tells the broadcast. “We’re playing a very, very strong nation, so I’m pleased about that. Good response in the second half … the young boys acquitted themselves well.”
Popovic acknowledges Yengi had a tough time in the first half and that his front three “were a bit disjointed – they weren’t quite sure what to do”, but praises their second-half improvement.
“It’s nice not to have any injuries after this game; that was the most important part,” he says. “We were competitive and we scored a really nice goal, so I’m happy and looking forward to next week.”
San Diego: The Socceroos go into next week’s World Cup opener on the back of mixed form after a 1-1 draw with Switzerland showed flashes of both serious promise and concern for coach Tony Popovic.
The world 19th-ranked Swiss dominated possession and territory on Sunday morning (AEST) but were eventually wound back in by the Socceroos, with debutant striker Tete Yengi’s 56-minute equaliser a fitting reward for their hard-fought improvement that cancelled out Dan Ndoye’s early opener.
Popovic named an experimental starting XI, making seven changes to the team that faced Mexico last weekend, including starts for back-up goalkeeper Patrick Beach, livewire forward Nestory Irankunda, debutants Cristian Volpato and Yengi, and utility Kai Trewin – meaning any broader assessment based on this performance must be accompanied by a few asterisks.
Australia were at least five players short of what Popovic would likely consider his strongest line-up. He had said pre-match this would be an exercise in getting more minutes into players who needed them, rather than a full-blown dress rehearsal for their opening World Cup clash with Turkey next Sunday (AEST).
The whistle blows and that’s time on this friendly, and on the Socceroos’ World Cup preparations. Yengi equalises on debut after Ndoye’s early goal. A better second half on all fronts, and successfully avoiding defeat in the last appearance before next weekend’s tournament opener against Turkiye. Those subs made the difference after the break, and it’ll be intriguing to think about who Popovic will start in that first match.
There is certainly an element of trying to shut the game down as the clock ticks towards the end of regulation time – in true Popovic style. But they are also still hoofing up the odd long ball in an attempt to claim victory. Toure almost gets on the end of one but misses and, two minutes later, has another chance but is too isolated up front.
There will be three minutes of added time.
Switzerland 1-1 Australia after 89 minutes
He does so within two minutes of coming on, for a high tackle on Italiano. He replaces Freuler in the latest subs for Switzerland, with Akanji making way for Comert and Xhaka handing over to Fassnacht.
For Australia, Degenek replaces Souttar and Devlin relieves Trewin.
Switzerland 1-1 Australia after 84 minutes
Here he is quick to clear a Swiss counter-attack and in general he’s been on the ball throughout, making quick decisions about when to come off his line and when to stay.
Beach is not worried, however, by a free header that Itten somehow manages to send into the sky. It’s still somewhere up there as this hit-out enters its final 10 minutes.
Switzerland 1-1 Australia after 79 minutes
The throng of subs warming up get their entrance.
For the Socceroos, Irvine replaces Okon-Engstler, Leckie replaces Irankunda, Bos goes on for Behich and Toure for Yengi.
Switzerland introduce Widmer, Rodriguez, Amdouni, Manzambi and Elvedi in place of Zakaria, Muheim, Itten, Jashari and Amenda.
Switzerland 1-1 Australia after 77 minutes
It wasn’t even he who brought down Xhaka – that was Italiano, who practically fell on top of the combustible captain in a challenge. But then Irankunda waltzed over and kicked the ball into Xhaka as he lay prone on the ground, and that obviously did not best please the referee. A mini-melee ensues before (sigh) a drinks break is called.
Switzerland 1-1 Australia after 69 minutes
