Qantas Socceroos head coach Holger Osieck said he was enormously disappointed in Australia’s shock 2-1 loss to Jordan, and admitted he was already planning to make changes to his team for the World Cup qualifier against Iraq in October.
Qantas Socceroos head coach Holger Osieck said he was enormously disappointed in Australia-s shock 2-1 loss to Jordan, and admitted he was already planning to make changes to his team for the World Cup qualifier against Iraq in October.
The national team boss was left frustrated after his side-s troubled performance in Amman, and couldn-t hide his feeling in the post-match interview.
“It-s very difficult to describe, the disappointment is enormous,” Oseick told Fox Sports after the game.
“We had a very, very poor first half; we didn-t get into the game, our passing was a disaster, we couldn-t get into our normal rhythm, we played a lot of long balls.
“I don-t know why that happened; there wasn-t enough movement in midfield. It was definitely very poor football in the first half.”
Despite the Qantas Socceroos missing a number of decent scoring opportunities and a highly debatable penalty decision, Osieck refused to deflect attention from his side-s shortcomings or his own decision to leave it so late bringing on goalscorer Archie Thompson to bolster Australia-s attack.
“In the second half we tried very hard, we should have scored but if you can-t capitalise on those opportunities you can-t blame anyone else.
“You know what you-re going to get in these countries and you have to calculate for a situation like that [penalty decision].
“Maybe I should have brought Archie on earlier. Normally Brett Holman is one of our key players, or Tim Cahill in the box; Robbie Kruse did a lot of running and tried hard... Maybe five minutes earlier [for Archie] but who knows - it-s hypothetical now.”
Osieck went on to admit that he had made his feeling very clear to his squad following the defeat and that he was already considering changes for the now crucial game against Iraq.
“A couple of words have been said in the dressing room already.
“As for Doha I already have my plans.”
The Qantas Socceroos resume their FIFA World Cup qualification campaign away to Iraq on October 16.
The Qantas Socceroos return to Australia in 2013, for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Oman at Sydney-s Stadium Australia at 7.30pm, Tuesday, 26 March, followed by Iraq, at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 18 June.
Tickets for both matches at Stadium Australia are on sale now through Ticketek or via phone, 132 849.