Taking the lead in the second half, Australia earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Denmark to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 for just the second time in their history
Denmark came rearing out the blocks for the opening half an hour, controlling possession and having the lion’s share of the shots keeping Mat Ryan busy with a crucial save to the top left corner in the eleventh minute followed by a number of driven crosses low into the six-yard box where Ryan collected ahead of onrushing attackers for the next 15 minutes.
Mathew Leckie opened the scoring for Australia on the hour mark, collecting the ball just past halfway before driving towards the goal to take on his man after looking around and seeing he was on his own. After dribbling to the edge of the box he superbly got a shot off with his left foot that was placed perfectly in the bottom right of the goal.
The goal provided a lift to an Australia that had been fiercely defending for the majority of the game, encapsulated by a sequence of Mitchell Duke attempting a back-heel pass in the opposition’s third that was collected by Aziz Behich, continuing on a mazy run into the box, beating three defenders before his cut-back was blocked.
Australia grew into the game and became more assertive with ten minutes remaining in the first half, beginning to aggressively press Denmark high up the pitch and reaped the benefits, winning the ball back high a number of times and were able to register a number of shots from outside the box and create chances.
Denmark were not ones to be disheartened by the Australian goal, continuing to attack against an increasingly confident Australia until the latter stages of the match. In the final ten minutes Australia withstood an immense rush as Schmeichel barely was seen within his own box, instead collecting the ball just shy of halfway and launching balls forward to attack. With defensive solidity and composure at defending set-pieces, Denmark left empty-handed despite their efforts.
Australia can compete with the best
The Socceroos have shown that they can compete with the world’s best and have earned their place on the world’s biggest stage. Australia can take heart from the proven methods to defend that was shown against an aggressive Tunisia and again against Denmark.
Withstanding a late barrage of attacks from Denmark, with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel more at home in the Australian defensive box than his own for the final five minutes as well as launching attacks from deep.
While Australia was critiqued for appearing to lack a plan after taking the lead from France, those fears can be quelled following this performance, and Australia can take expect that as they head forward they have the ability to compete with the worlds best.
Australia not cohesive in attack, but getting the job done
Throughout the group stage, Australia has not been provided with an abundance of goalscoring opportunities, and this largely can be put down to a lack of cohesion between the attacking members of the squad.
Australia often found themselves with misplayed passes to the opposition, or players dribbling themselves into a sturdy defence that dispossesses them with relative ease. With the best inter-passing being between the defensive unit, it has been rare to see a sequence of passes to create opportunities for Australia, holding up the play instead rather than capitalising on turnovers high up the pitch.
But that will not matter to Graham Arnold, as snatching a one-goal lead is all that matters when you hold onto the pragmatic side of the game with a defensively solid unit. While it is key to note that further work must be done further forward, on passing sequences as well as crosses from wide, it still registers that Australia is capable of getting a goal with minimal clear-cut chances.
Australia are through to the Knockouts
For the second time in Australia’s history, they have made it out of the group stage and are into the knockouts of the FIFA World Cup. It came at no small effort, coming up against two sides ranked in the top 10 in the world and a strong Tunisia side, escaping the group was no easy feat.
Going into the next round it will be crucial for Australia to emulate the efforts against both Tunisia and Denmark. The key to both victories was disciplined defending, choosing moments to press high and clearly having pressing traps well drilled into the side. Defensively it appeared as though Australia funnelled attacks out wide, trying to utilise the height of Souttar to defend crosses into the box.
In attack, Australia has looked the best when playing aggressive football on the front foot. Trying to win back the ball high and attack with speed has been the source of Australia’s goals and will be crucial to be replicated in the knockouts.
FIFA World Cup 2022 Group Stage Match 3
Australia (Leckie 60’)
Denmark
Australia: Ryan (GK, C), Degenek, Souttar, Rowles, Behich, Leckie (Hrustic 89’), Irvine, Mooy, Goodwin (Baccus 46’), McGree (Wright 74’), Duke (Maclaren 82’)
Denmark: Schmeichel (GK), Kristensen (Bah 46’) , Andersen, Christensen, Maehle, Højbjerg, Jensen (Damsgaard 59’), Olsen, Erikson ( C ), Lindstøm, Braithwaite (Dolberg 59’)
