Socceroos must learn from Greece loss: Mooy

Caltex Socceroo playmaker Aaron Mooy said Australia were outshone by an eye-catching Greece to lose 2-1 at Etihad Stadium in a friendly on Tuesday night and he hopes they learn from the Greeks' tactics.

After winning the first of the two-match Dodoni Series 1-0 in Sydney, a flat Australian side struggled to back up that eye-catching performance in Melbourne.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure. The Greeks were probably sharper to the ball. And they were dominating us a lot,” he told reporters after the game.

Caltex Socceroos lose to classy Greece in Melbourne

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“It was just a disappointing game. We didn’t pass the ball around well and we were always scrapping around for the ball, it felt.

Alex Gersbach.

“We didn’t start well. It was the same as the last game we didn’t start well. It’s something we have to work on.

“We’ve got to learn to deal with these tactics.”

Fatigue after the England game on May 27 and the travel back to Australia for the June 4 clash with Greece was mentioned as a possible reason for the Socceroos’ sluggishness.

Mooy, however, poured cold water over that theory.

“It’s the same for them. There are no excuses for us. They were very sharp tonight.”

The Melbourne City star added coach Ange Postecoglou was “upset” at half time and gave the side a “rev up”.

As for the incredible second goal by Iaonnis Maniatis – a strike from inside his own half that caught Socceroo keeper Adam Federici off his line – Mooy was impressed.

“An unbelievable strike. Fair play. I’ve seen strikes like that on TV and YouTube but never in real life.”