<\/div>\n\u2018UTILITY\u2019 IRVINE STEPS UP FOR ABSENT MIDFIELD PARTNERS<\/b><\/p>\n
He opened the scoring, set up the second goal with his defensive pressure, and quite simply was everywhere for the Socceroos. Jackson Irvine had an absolute day out \u2013 and it\u2019s no surprise, given the form he is in at St Pauli in Germany\u2019s 2. Bundesliga.<\/p>\n
The captain of that club, he has started all-but-one game (and missed another through suspension) and led them on a promotion charge, scoring four goals and adding an assist in his last five league games. With Ajdin Hrustic and Aaron Mooy absent, he was in charge of the midfield on Friday night \u2013 and promoted forward to a number 10 position until youngster Alex Robertson was brought on with an hour to play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve played a variety of different roles throughout the national team and at my club. It all ties into the way I like to play which is obviously high energy, win the ball back, get in the box and be effective at both ends of the field,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Irvine led from the front last night.<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIrvine\u2019s impressive performance in that position \u2013 especially his link-up play with the attacking trio \u2013 could signal more minutes in that role in the future. <\/p>\n
Arnold said: \u201cI see him more as a bit more of a utility (than a 10). He can play at six and he\u2019s got the energy to go box to box. So if I restrict him to stay at six, then I don\u2019t think we\u2019re getting the best out of him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can play as 10 and play up beside Dukey (Mitch Duke), but against other teams that sit back further we can play one six (rather than two) and Jacko can go box to box, when we lose it he gets back into the block and the defensive unit.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s great at making late runs into the box. He\u2019s playing as a double six (double pivot) in St Pauli but he\u2019s in the box 20 times a game! So he can do both roles.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arnold said before the game that the development in the depth of the Socceroos at the six position (such as starting pair Keanu Baccus and debutant Aiden O\u2019Neill last night) could free him up to move Aaron Mooy to a more attacking role akin to how he plays at Celtic. Irvine might also be the beneficiary of the arrival of the young defensive midfielders \u2013 and it could prove a big boost for the Socceroos\u2019 attack and high-pressing defence in the future.<\/p>\n
<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\nMarvellous Mabil scores Socceroos second | 00:47<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n\u2018THE BROTHERHOOD IS BACK\u2019: ARNOLD\u2019S \u2018FAMILY\u2019 ON FULL DISPLAY<\/b><\/p>\n
For years, Graham Arnold has spoken of the Socceroos and the youth teams below the senior squad as a \u2018family\u2019. Unity and a selfless work ethic for the team have been at the core of a culture that the veteran manager and former Socceroos player himself has tried to instil.<\/p>\n
12 months before Friday\u2019s win \u2013 to the day \u2013 the Socceroos lost 2-0 to Japan in Sydney. It was a gutting defeat, even if both goals came in the dying embers of the game. Outplayed across the pitch, saved by the woodwork on multiple occasions, the Socceroos suddenly found themselves out of contention for automatic qualification to Qatar \u2013 and Graham Arnold found himself on the brink of being sacked. He wasn\u2019t, and the rest is history.<\/p>\n
Arnold\u2019s focus on developing that team culture was crucial to the success of the World Cup. <\/p>\n
But looking forward, it\u2019s Arnold\u2019s efforts to get the younger generation to buy into those ideals that could lay the foundations for even greater success.<\/p>\n
Arnold took charge of the under-23 team, the Olyroos, to guide them to the Tokyo Olympics. It not only developed their talents \u2013 and resulted in many of them earning transfers to Europe and becoming fully-fledged Socceroos \u2013 but it strengthened the ties between the veterans and the next generation.<\/p>\n
As 18-year-old Garang Kuol, who scored his maiden international goal, said after full-time: \u201cThe brotherhood is back, especially after the World Cup. It feels like a second family and a very special place being around the boys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even the injured Martin Boyle, who was anointed \u2018Chief Vibes Officer\u2019 at the World Cup, flew from Scotland to Australia to be a part of this camp.<\/p>\n
Just as impressive was captain and 80-cap veteran goalkeeper Mat Ryan sprinting the length of the field in the 84th minute to celebrate with Kuol and the entire XI after the teen tyro became the fourth-youngest Socceroos scorer in history.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Jackson Irvine poses for photographs with the crowd after the game.<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u2018PASSION\u2019 AND \u2018BITE\u2019 IS \u2018WHAT WE\u2019RE ALL ABOUT\u2019 <\/b><\/p>\n
It might have been a friendly in name, but the Socceroos burst out of the blocks with plenty of aggression and maintained the rage for the full 90 minutes.<\/p>\n
Jackson Irvine said in the post-match press conference: \u201cIt\u2019s gotta be the mentality when you play at home \u2026 everybody wanted to come out and show that aggressiveness from the beginning.\u201d <\/p>\n
His workrate in defence was second to none, and he created the second goal for Australia with a brilliant piece of team pressing to pinch the ball on the edge of Ecuador\u2019s box \u2013 the exemplification of Arnold\u2019s pressing defensive approach and the Socceroos\u2019 mindset. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing more satisfying sometimes than scoring a goal from a high press \u2026 that was the perfect example of what we\u2019re trying to do in those moments,\u201d Irvine added.<\/p>\n
But the most heated moment of the match came in stoppage time when Manchester City youngster and the first third-generation Socceroos player Alex Robertson went down in the box. He appeared to have been collected by a defender, but the referee waved away his penalty appeals \u2013 and instead brandished a yellow card towards the Aussie for simulation.<\/p>\n
An Ecuador player patted Robertson on the head as he lay on the ground, which incensed the 19-year-old, who leapt to his feet and sparked a melee.<\/p>\n
Players came rushing in from both sides to join the push-and-shove, with towering defender Harry Souttar playing bodyguard for his debutant teammate \u2013 and probably striking a dose of fear into the visitors\u2019 hearts with his immense frame.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m playing for my country, a country that means a lot to me and my family and I\u2019d do anything for the shirt and the team I\u2019m playing with. It comes with the passion,\u201d said Robertson.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Things got heated at the end!<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSouttar couldn\u2019t get enough of Robertson\u2019s attitude.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just said I love it from him. He is still young, he has that bit of bite and we love that. That\u2019s what we\u2019re all about,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Arnold had extremely limited time to drill his charges with tactical nuance before this clash, which makes the leadership of the veterans and the hardworking mentality of the team even more important.<\/p>\n
As Arnold said afterwards: \u201cThe messaging won\u2019t change much. The boys like it and it\u2019s simple \u2026 yesterday we were doing a tactical session and got wiped out by the lightning, so we didn\u2019t get that much of a session.\u201d <\/p>\n
Looking forward, there will surely be tactical tweaks and opportunities to try new things. But when it comes down to it, the Socceroos\u2019 never-say-die attitude is what sets them apart.<\/p>\n
Just how much do they believe? Ask Robertson, after just 30 minutes in the green and gold.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve obviously got to reach for the stars and win a World Cup,\u201d Robertson said, per AAP.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never know what can happen, you saw what the Socceroos did at the last one.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the next few years, building up to the next one, I think we can do some really big things in the future, why not say it? Let\u2019s try and win the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Or there was goalscorer and Young Australian of the Year Awer Mabil, who said: \u201cThis is a movie, and we want to keep directing that movie\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Awer Mabil is feeling the movie magic.<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u2018CAN\u2019T SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH\u2019: KIDS STAKE THEIR CLAIM<\/b><\/p>\n
Robertson delivered an eye-catching debut, never looking flustered under pressure with his ball movement and dribbling (9\/10 passes completed, two fouls won) and throwing himself about in defence (two tackles, four passes pressured, two forced turnovers).<\/p>\n
Arnold said the teen\u2019s performance was \u2018very very good\u2019, and was also \u2018extremely happy\u2019 with the performance of the night\u2019s other debutant, Melbourne City midfielder Aiden O\u2019Neill.<\/p>\n
Harry Souttar told Network 10 after the match: \u201cAiden O\u2019Neill making his debut, you\u2019re not going to get many better debuts than that.\u201d <\/p>\n
Irvine said: \u201cI thought Aiden was exceptional, you can see the kid\u2019s got class, composure, he wasn\u2019t fazed. Can\u2019t speak highly enough of his performance \u2026 (he\u2019s) got a good understanding of the game, he has that already at a very young age which is very impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Co-commentator Andy Harper said during the game on Channel 10: \u201cI couldn\u2019t be more impressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has not missed a beat. Looks completely at home I\u2019d say.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Aiden O’Neill of Australia tackles Angelo Preciado of Ecuador.<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nCombine that with the performances of Kuol (18), Marco Tilio (21) and the 24-year-old trio of Souttar, Kye Rowles, and Keanu Baccus, and it was a great day for Arnold\u2019s youth brigade. <\/p>\n
There are three more potential debutants in the second friendly against Ecuador on Tuesday in Melbourne \u2013 defender Jordan Bos, keeper Joe Gauci, and attacker Nestory Irankunda, who could become the youngest-ever Socceroo at 17.<\/p>\n
Asked whether Irankunda will take to the field on Tuesday night, Arnold closed his press conference with a smile and dead-batted: \u201cWe will see, we\u2019ll see.\u201d <\/p>\n
It\u2019s clear that the Socceroos boast greater depth across the park than they have for some years \u2013 and the young guns are staking their claim for a place in the core squad for the looming World Cup qualifiers and Asian Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese young boys are tapping the older boys on the shoulder, which is great,\u201d Arnold said with a rare smile.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Alex Robertson with the ball.<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWith Martin Boyle, Aaron Mooy, Ajdin Hrustic, Jamie Maclaren, and Mathew Leckie all out injured, Arnold has a fantastic opportunity to blood the next generation \u2013 and his bold decisions certainly paid off on Friday.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe will make changes. I didn\u2019t bring everyone here to not play!\u201d<\/p>\n
But for all the hype around Robertson, Kuol, O\u2019Neill and the other teen talents, Arnold had a word of caution.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s not get carried away because these kids need a heap of experience and plenty of game time at their club.\u201d<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s not get carried away, either, by last night\u2019s scoreline, especially considering the opening goal should almost certainly have been ruled out for off-side \u2013 and perhaps even Kuol\u2019s late goal too.<\/p>\n
But where\u2019s the fun in that? This was a celebration of the heroes in Qatar, and a night to celebrate and dream about the bright future of this team.<\/p>\n
As Robertson said: \u201cWhy not say it? Let\u2019s try and win the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why not, indeed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On Friday night, the Socceroos gave fans an insight into what the road to the next World Cup (2026, in Canada, the USA, and Mexico) might look like. There were young talents, plenty of guts and determination on show, and \u2013 perhaps most rewarding for the near-21,000 fans in Sydney \u2013 goals. Watch the world\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22015,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6807],"tags":[1417,11048,11052,9003,1800,11046,10954,1641,83,1736,11053,5706,2064,11056,9030,11063,7487,4781,1567,9004,1437,11061,1429,4849,11042,7715,4232,1425,7062,11039,11045,11059,10977,10361,5035,7007,2234,1433,2518,11062,1430,862,320,11064,11037,4598,1626,1533,1809,1427,1728,11041,3158,8873,9795,2588,11044,11043,2874,11040,5043,11049,5429,11054,10984,2450,1019,3166,11051,11065,11055,1792,11038,11057,11060,1465,1847,3150,4421,11050,11047,9436,10512,11058],"class_list":{"0":"post-22014","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leagues-cups","8":"tag-aaron-mooy","9":"tag-absent-midfield-partners","10":"tag-aiden-oneill","11":"tag-alex-robertson","12":"tag-america","13":"tag-andy-harper","14":"tag-angelo-preciado","15":"tag-asia","16":"tag-australia","17":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","18":"tag-automatic-qualification","19":"tag-ball-movement","20":"tag-canada","21":"tag-caps-epic","22":"tag-central-america","23":"tag-debutant-teammate","24":"tag-defensive-pressure","25":"tag-defensive-unit","26":"tag-eastern-asia","27":"tag-ecuador","28":"tag-efl-spfl","29":"tag-epic-show","30":"tag-europe","31":"tag-fantastic-opportunity","32":"tag-fouls-won","33":"tag-game-time","34":"tag-germany","35":"tag-getty-images-inc","36":"tag-graham-arnold","37":"tag-gutting-defeat","38":"tag-homecoming-gamefootball","39":"tag-immense-frame","40":"tag-international-friendly","41":"tag-jamie-maclaren","42":"tag-japan","43":"tag-joe-gauci","44":"tag-league-games","45":"tag-lega-calcio-serie-a","46":"tag-mark-kolbe","47":"tag-martin-boyle","48":"tag-mat-ryan","49":"tag-melbourne","50":"tag-mexico","51":"tag-mitch-duke","52":"tag-movie-magic","53":"tag-multiple-occasions","54":"tag-new-south-wales","55":"tag-north-america","56":"tag-northern-america","57":"tag-northern-europe","58":"tag-oceania","59":"tag-passes-pressured","60":"tag-player-ratings","61":"tag-positive-signs","62":"tag-post-match-press-conference","63":"tag-press-conference","64":"tag-pressing-defensive-approach","65":"tag-promotion-charge","66":"tag-qatar","67":"tag-rookies-shine","68":"tag-scotland","69":"tag-senior-squad","70":"tag-south-america","71":"tag-special-place","72":"tag-special-talent","73":"tag-stoppage-time","74":"tag-sydney","75":"tag-talking-points","76":"tag-team-culture","77":"tag-teen-talents","78":"tag-teen-tyro","79":"tag-united-states-of-america","80":"tag-veteran-goalkeeper","81":"tag-veteran-manager","82":"tag-vibes-officer","83":"tag-victoria","84":"tag-western-asia","85":"tag-western-europe","86":"tag-young-age","87":"tag-young-boys","88":"tag-young-defensive-midfielders","89":"tag-young-guns","90":"tag-young-talents","91":"tag-youth-teams"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22014"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22014\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}