“We weren’t that good in the first half but made adjustments at the break and improved in the second period”, Japan boss Vahid Halihodzic was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.
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The Socceroos have lost their 2018 World Cup Qualifier against Jordan 2-0, at the Amman worldwide Stadium on Friday morning (AEDT).
The motivation for Jordan – should they take all three points – will be the chance to leap-frog Australia into top spot (Australia is on nine points, Jordan seven).
Hasan Abdel-Fattah’s 47th-minute penalty stunned the Socceroos before Hamza Al-Dardour sealed a famous victory for Jordan with six minutes remaining.
Get ready for fireworks as the top two sides meet in Group B when Jordan host the Socceroos in Amman.
“I’m not a winger so it’s a bit hard for me to get to a plan B side of the game”.
In fact, midway through the first half it appeared the section of the crowd nearest the small group of Socceroos supporters was more intrigued by the sight of a blonde woman waving an Australian flag than they were with anything happening on the pitch.
After just three minutes the Socceroos had the first chance of the match with Tommy Oar sending Mathew Leckie down the left wing.
Luongo, the player of the tournament as Australia won the Asian Cup on home soil in January, was adamant the Socceroos would make it through to the next round.
The first half was very even and could have been 1-1 after a post saved Adam Federici and Jordan’s goalkeeper stopped Matt Leckie in a double save.
“We’re not the finished product, we haven’t said we are and we’ve got a lot of improvement in us”.
Chasing the game, Postecoglou threw on forwards Nathan Burns, Tim Cahill and Tomi Juric – replacing two midfielders and defender Bailey Wright – without finding a goal. We played most of the football in their half and the only danger was if they cleared one and we talk about being switched on in those situations. “We tried to stick to our structure and play the way we want to, it just wasn’t happening tonight”.
“That’s part of football”.
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The Socceroos face Kyrgyzstan at home next month and what should be a straightforward trip to lowly Bangladesh before they finish their campaign in March by hosting Tajikistan and Jordan. “Whether he still wants me to play, I don’t know?”
