Socceroos look for leadership
The Socceroos have learnt their lesson, says captain Mile Jedinak.
But he says whether they can put it into practice against Spain is another thing.
Jedinak says reviews of World Cup losses against Chile and the Netherlands taught the Australians a valuable lesson.
“An error in judgment or a lapse in concentration has let us down,” Jedinak told reporters in Curitiba on Sunday.
“What we learned from that is: can we stay concentrated and disciplined for 90, 95 minutes?
“Because we know we’re going to have to, especially against a very strong and quality Spanish opposition.”
Jedinak and the Socceroos meet Spain on Monday (Tuesday morning SA time) – the last fixture for the nations in Brazil, with both failing to advance through the group stage.
Australia’s side has been weakened by the suspension of striker Tim Cahill and hip injury to creative midfielder Mark Bresciano.
The absence of the stalwarts, who possess 148 internationals between them, leaves a leadership gulf which Jedinak expects others to help him fill.
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“It’s not going to be solely on my shoulders,” he said.
“Those guys will still play a huge part in calming the nerves and speaking to the boys, that is how it has been all the way through.
“On the pitch when the match starts, someone is going to have the voice and it will more than likely be me.
“But there are other guys that have stepped up to the plate and started to have a voice in this team.
“And that is what we have needed. We have needed guys to stand up and be counted and that is what we have got.”
In today’s matches Algeria put themselves in pole position to reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time with a 4-2 win over South Korea in Porto Alegre.
It was the first time an African team had scored four goals in a World Cup match and ended a 32 year win drought at the finals for the Desert Foxes.
First half goals from Islam Slimani, Rafik Halliche and Abdelmoume Djabou put Algeria in total control.
Yacine Brahimi’s second half strike, sandwiched by efforts from Son Heung-Min and Koo Ja-Cheol, ensured Algeria moved up to second in Group H behind Belgium.
Having been knocked out in the group stages of their three previous tournament appearances, and not won a World Cup match in their last seven attempts, Algeria were looking for a lift at the Beira Rio stadium.
They were off to a dream start as Slimani, one of five changes from their opening 2-1 defeat to Belgium, outmuscled Korea’s two centrebacks to latch onto a long ball forward and jab home.
Within three minutes, Halliche had doubled the lead with a powerful header from a corner.
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Djabou, another player promoted to the starting line-up, fired home the third as Korea’s hapless defence once again went missing.
The Asians were a different proposition in the second half and quickly pulled a goal back through Son, who fired through goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi’s legs.
Mbolhi then made a brilliant save to deny Ki Sung-Yeung as the Koreans continued to push before Brahimi virtually killed the game after finishing off a slick passing move.
Koo slotted home a cross from Lee Keun-Ho but it wasn’t enough to spare Korea’s blushes, meaning they must now beat Belgium in their final group game on Friday (AEST) to stand any chance of progressing.
A superb header by Silvestre Varela in the final minute of time added on saved world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal from crashing out of the World Cup finals as they secured a 2-2 draw with the United States.
The USA looked to be safely into the last 16 after second-half goals from Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey saw them come back from 1-0 down, after a goal by Nani gave Portugal the lead.
However, with only seconds remaining, one sublime cross from a pretty anonymous Ronaldo was met by Varela and it soared past Tim Howard to give them a lifeline as a further defeat after the 4-0 hammering by Germany in the opening game would have seen them out.
The United States, who reached the last 16 in 2010 only to lose to Ghana, are on four points along with Germany, who they play in their final group game, and who their coach Jurgen Klinsmann coached at the 2006 finals.
SNAPSHOT OF DAY 10 OF THE WORLD CUP
AT A GLANCE: Belgium scrape past Russia 1-0, Algeria win 4-2 against Korea Republic, USA and Portugal draw 2-2.
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Portugal’s Silvestre Varela scores a neat header in the final minute against the USA to keep his country’s chances of advancing through the group alive.
TALKING POINT: Belgium. Odds on the pre-tournament smokies are shortening after another win maintained their record of never losing a competitive match under coach Marc Wilmots.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m just assuming they (Brazil) will do their sporting duty, but then again it’s always a matter of discussion if you do that.” Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal questions whether the host nation will doctor the result of their last group match so they can avoid the Dutch in the round of 16.
STAT OF THE DAY: Four. The number of countries comprising Group G – Germany, Ghana, Portugal and the USA – and all still have an opportunity to progress, pending the outcomes of their last group games.
THE AUSTRALIANS: Unable to hold their game-eve training at the Curitiba match venue because officials wanted to protect the pitch, the Socceroos trained at another ground ahead of their encounter with Spain on Monday (Tuesday AEST).
