Asian Cup Team Profile: Australia

Australia's surprised many at the World Cup and earned Ange Postecglou's some much-needed respect but since then it has been a struggle as the coach focussed on instilling his preferred style of play and ensuring the team will peak when it matters in this tournament.

Socceroos

Australia will have huge home support in its quest to be crowned Asian champion for the first time (AAP)

COACH: Ange POSTECOGLOU (AUS)
CAPTAIN: Mile JEDINAK (Crystal Palace/ENG)
NICKNAME: Socceroos
ASIAN CUP APPEARANCES: 2 (2007, 2011)
BEST FINISH: Runners-up (2011)
FIFA RANKING: 100
AFC RANKING: 10
HOW IT QUALIFIED: Qualified automatically as host.
RECENT FORM: The side's home form is immense – unbeaten in 20 matches – but the overall record in recent times is troubling. Of the past 12 matches there's just been two wins but it has been a long time since the side has played on home soil.

MAIN MAN: Matthew SPIRANOVIC (Western Sydney Wanderers)

Long heralded as one of the best defenders to have come out of Australia in recent times, Spiranovic is now seemingly a clear first-choice at the back and while the Socceroos may not be tested too heavily by Oman and Kuwait in the group stage, as the tournament progresses more and more pressure will be placed on both goalkeeper Mat Ryan and the defensive unit in front of him.

The other string to 26 year old Spiranovic's bow is his ball playing ability – if Australia is to claim a maiden Asian Cup, Spiranovic will have a key role to play.

ONE TO WATCH: Massimo LUONGO (Swindon Town/ENG)

The 22-year-old midfielder slipped through the cracks in many ways in that he made only a handful of appearances for Australia's youth sides but since Postecoglou's arrival he's firmly on the radar.

A talented ball playing central midfielder he’s well in the mix to occupy one of the two No. 8 roles that the side appears set to use with veteran schemer Mark Bresciano a big fan of Luongo's ability and style.
OVERVIEW

Barely a decade after joining the AFC, Australia has been handed the honour of hosting Asia's flagship tournament.

Predictably most of the focus has been on the Socceroos in the build-up and the reality of just what is at stake is growing day by day, yet to his credit Ange Postecoglou and the coaching staff have largely adopted an open-door approach to training and preparation.

The decision not to play any warm-up matches in the weeks leading up to the tournament has raised a few eyebrows but the coach has constantly maintained the mantra that he has to use all the time he has to work within the squad on adapting to how he wants the side to play.

That evolution, formation wise is likely to be a 4-1-2-3 with many of the same players from the World Cup involved.

While the goalkeeping position is relatively settled with Ryan the No.1 there has been intense competition for both full-back roles and the central defensive partner for Spiranovic.

Alex Wilkinson appears to have the edge over Trent Sainsbury for that role while Aziz Behich and Chris Herd look set to claim first rights on the full-back roles; with the lone No. 6 in front of them being the captain, Mile Jedinak.

Postecoglou's structure is likely to include two playmakers and one of those will likely be Mark Bresciano with Luongo and James Troisi fighting it out for the other role.

The two wide players in the front three are likely to be Tommy Oar on the left and Robbie Kruse on the right with Tim Cahill leading the line – although it's unlikely the 35 year-old superstar will start every match, with Tomi Juric coming firmly into calculations – possibly as soon as the opening match against Kuwait.

Just how Mathew Leckie is best used is another key consideration.

While the side's performances in Brazil earned much recognition, Postecoglou has been at pains to point it that results are what the squad craves.

Now is the time for the Socceroos; as has been shown at youth level it's becoming increasingly difficult for Australia to qualify – let alone win – tournaments and there may be not be a better chance to win the Asian Cup for a long, long time.

The side should have too much quality for Kuwait and while Oman will provide elements of danger, it appears that it's a battle with Korea Republic for top spot.

After that, with no clear standout from Group B, the side has an excellent chance of reaching the semi-finals.

That's where the big guns lay in wait – and it's probable that's where the run may end.

PREDICITION: SEMI-FINALS

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: 4-1-2-3





FULL SQUAD:

GOALKEEPERS: 1. Mathew RYAN (Club Brugge/BEL); 12. Mitch LANGERAK (Borussia Dortmund/GER); 18. Eugene GALEKOVIC (Adelaide United)

DEFENDERS: 2. Ivan FRANJIC (Torpedo Moscow/RUS); 3. Jason DAVIDSON (West Bromwich Albion/ENG); 6. Matthew SPIRANOVIC (Western Sydney Wanderers); 8. Chris HERD (Aston Villa/ENG); 13. Aziz BEHICH (Bursaspor/TUR); 20. Trent SAINSBURY (PEC Zwolle/NED); 22. Alex WILKINSON (Jeonbuk/KOR)

MIDFIELDERS: 5. Mark MILLIGAN (Melbourne Victory); 14. James TROISI (Zulte Waregem/BEL); 15. Mile JEDINAK (Crystal Palace/ENG); 16. Nathan BURNS (Wellington Phoenix); 17. Matt McKAY (Brisbane Roar); 19. Terry ANTONIS (Sydney FC); 21. Massimo LUONGO (Swindon Town/ENG); 23. Mark BRESCIANO (Al Gharafa/QAT)

FORWARDS: 4. Tim CAHILL (New York Red Bulls/USA); 7. Mathew LECKIE (Ingolstadt/GER); 9. Tomi JURIC (Western Sydney Wanderers); 10. Robbie KRUSE (Bayer Leverkusen/GER); 11. Tommy OAR (FC Utrecht/NED)

GROUP A FIXTURES:


Friday 9 January 2015
Australia v Kuwait, Melbourne

Tuesday 13 January 2015
Oman v Australia, Sydney

Saturday 17 January 2015
Australia v Korea Republic, Brisbane


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5 min read
Published 8 January 2015 1:00am
By Scott McIntyre
Source: SBS

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