'Need for speed': New-look Australia target back-to-back Asian Cups
Australia are banking on
pace and versatility up front to win back-to-back Asian Cups as they embark on
a new era without stalwarts Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak.
The makeup of the
Socceroos squad for the 2019 Asian Cup is markedly changed to the one that
triumphed against South Korea in the final on home soil four years ago.
Gone is tough-as-teak
manager Ange Postecoglou, the architect of that Asian Cup success. At the helm
now is Graham Arnold, who returns to the international fold having last coached
his country in 2007 when the Aussies bowed out of the Asian Cup at the
quarter-final stage.
The majority of the
23-man squad in the UAE for the January 5-February 1 tournament have never
experienced the cut and thrust of Asian Cup football before.
Since taking the reins
after Australia's poor showing at their fourth consecutive World Cup in Russia
under Bert van Marwijk, Arnold has asserted his authority with the team
unbeaten in his four games in charge.
He has jettisoned
several players and changed the style of play.
For years Australia
relied on the goal threat of Cahill, who called time on his international
career after last summer's World Cup with 50 goals in 107 caps.
With Cahill gone, Arnold
favours an attacking troika. "The need for speed is up front," Arnold
declared, naming players who can "make a difference" in such a role -
Matt Leckie, Jamie Maclaren, Andrew Nabbout, Chris Ikonomidis, Awer Mabil,
Robbie Kruse and Tom Rogic.
"They're
technically very good but quick," he said. "People talk about the
goalscoring side of it - we've got goalscorers everywhere."
Arnold is keeping opposition
teams guessing who will lead the line. Maclaren and Leckie would seem to be the
frontrunners.
He was also banking on
Martin Boyle, but the Hibernian striker was ruled out of the eve of the
tournament after picking up a knee injury in their 5-0 rout of Oman in a
warm-up game on Sunday.
It is a blow for
Australia with Boyle already scoring two goals in three appearances for a
country he had never even visited until Arnold travelled to Edinburgh to
convince him to switch allegiances in recent months.
Australia are already
without their two most creative players. Midfielders Daniel Arzani and Aaron
Mooy of Manchester City and Huddersfield Town respectively have been ruled out
due to knee injuries.
Arnold has opted for a mix of old and new. Mark
Milligan, Kruse and Leckie have plenty of experience, while there are youthful
additions such as Chris Ikonomidis and Mabil, a Sudanese refugee who came to
Australia in 2006 and made his debut in October.
Only South Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia have
managed back-to-back Asian Cup titles. Australia first need to get through
Group B, which also includes Jordan, Syria and Palestine.
