Socceroos chipped

The Socceroos went down 1-0 in the Dubai desert, courtesy of a wonderful sand-wedge from Emad Mohamed half-way through the first half.

In reality the game was lost in Brisbane, as Coach Verbeek sent out a team to cover the threats from the previous week.

And it worked.

Iraq had little goal threat. Chris Coyne added to the defence, Carl Valeri to the midfield, Brett Emerton and David Carney told to sit back and tick in.

There was no way through for Iraq.

So with wonderful precision and improvisation. They went over. Over the defence, over the previous match hero Mark Schzarwer, but under the bar, just.

Great goal, great vision. Of course the Aussie keeper can be blamed for trying to impersonate David Seaman of Ronaldhino fame, but in reality the Aussies created little and when they did, they fluffed their lines.

There was little or no attack from Australia in the first half. Harry Kewell threatened not once, but twice. And that was it.

A possible penalty claim by Jason Culina was a highlight in an attacking sense.

But really just like against China it was an ultra cautious approach from Caoch Verbeek, and it backfired.

There was no pace upfront, no quick breakaways. Something Australia lack is real pace.

Australia and Verbeek responded well in the second half. Carney and Emerton were pushed on. Grella, booked so he misses the Qatar game, got dragged. Brett Holman and eventually Josh Kennedy and Scott MacDonald joined the fray.

Brett Holman. I like him. Others don't. But he is so positive and always creates a chance or gets into a goalscoring position. How many other Aussies do either?

If he could increase his conversion rate, Australia would have few problems. And he had a great chance again in this game, bu his shot was tame.

Josh Kennedy, known as Jesus to the Aussie fans, came on fo Harry Kewell.

If Jesus saves, MacDonald should surely net the rebound.
But it was hit high and hope.

Shades of Aussie Guus bring on all the tall timber and other forwards and pump the ball in. It lacked sophistication

But Australian did dominate the whole of the second half, often at pace, and interestingly in the desert heat.

Pim must regret his cautious approach. A lack of belief in his team meant he conceded the space and ultimately the game to Iraq.

Could he have started more aggressively, pushed Emerton and Carney high for 10 minute spells? To confuse Iraq, to challenge Iraq and support Kewell.

We didn't score, created few chances and with Qatar beating China overnight the group remains interesting.

Men of note:
Jade North,
Brett Holman..in parts
Michael Beauchamp
Jason Culina

But who can create in this team?

Lucky Guus, the tag was passed to lucky Pim.

Suddenly the "lucky" result in China, and the "lucky" result last week against Iraq makes our group position less sound.

Qatar created enough in Melbourne in the second half to expose the Socceroos. Should be a very interesting, if tense night in Qatar.

Here's hoping an Aussie Pim side can win through style rather than luck...just once.