ANGE Postecoglou has taken a huge leap of faith with the Socceroos, reshaping his team dramatically in the midst of the campaign to qualify for the World Cup.
The Australian XI chosen for today’s qualifier with Iraq in Thailand will implement the new system Postecoglou has developed to take into the World Cup, with new roles for several players.
The Socceroos will play with a three-man defence anchored by Mark Milligan as sweeper, flanked by Bailey Wright and Milos Degenek, and two defensive midfielders in Mile Jedinak and Massimo Luongo. Ahead of them, Jackson Irvine and Aaron Mooy will be dual playmakers, with Mathew Leckie and Robbie Kruse give licence to roam the flanks without significant defensive responsibility.
EXPLAINED: Ange’s radical selection for Socceroos v Iraq
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Upfront Tomi Juric wil lead the line in attack, while Mithc Langerak is a surprise choice in goal ahead of Mat Ryan.
It marks a significant departure for the team, especially as it was only revealed to them at the start of this week when they gathered in camp in Tehran.
The new system is the one Postecoglou believes best uses his team’s resources, both now and considering players coming through, but will open him up to accusations of overconfidence if the Socceroos don’t take a positive result from tonight’s game.
Complicating matters, the below-par pitch at PAS Stadium is now saturated after rain fell steadily all day in the Iranian capital.
EQUATION: What’s at stake tonight in Iraq
BURNING QUESTIONS: Leckie, Kruse need to step up in Tehran
WORD FROM TEHRAN: Tom Smithies’ matchday blog
You can follow updates in our live blog below as well.
Line up: Langerak; Degenek, Milligan, Wright; Jedinak, Luongo; Kruse, Mooy, Irvine, Leckie; Juric.
Originally published as Live: Leckie heads Roos to lead, Mooy’s big miss
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