Australia 1 (Milligan 59') - 1 Cameroon (Anguissa 45+1')
So a fairly open, occasionally end-to-end game finishes 1-1, and probably finishes both teams chances of progression to the next round, too. They’ll both leave the pitch with fair claim to have emerged with full points, but deep down it will be Cameroon who will be disappointed they didn’t wrap this up.
Australia turned up today a little more solid than they did the Germany fixture, though there are still some fairly glaring holes in their setup. They were indeed neat in possession and probing on the flanks, but they were cut open fairly easily with balls over the top and into the channels - a legacy of three in the last line, not four, presumably.
Still, they pushed for victory and you better believe that Postecoglou plays to win. While the point is something to be reasonably happy with, Australia didn’t drop back at any stage to defend that result. It makes one wonder, paradoxically, how capable they will be of doing that when that scenario inevitably arrives in WC qualification.
Cameroon will have expected more from the match here - they shows signs of vibrancy and spark in attack, but it was all too sporadic. Their sit-back-and-counter approach was largely effective, though they’ll be disappointed not to have wrapped this up in the game’s final quarter.
For those who followed, and especially those who emailed through, a big thanks. I’ll catch you next time.
Over to you, commentariat.
Full-time: Australia 1 - 1 Cameroon
So nobody breaks the deadlock, and the match peters out to, well, a fair result. Be interesting to see Postecoglou’s thoughts after that, as well as the Australian commentariat. I’ll have a few thoughts to finish shortly.
90+2 mins: Free kick to Australia from Ronaldinho v England territory 2002. The box is crowded, it finds Cahill, but the ref blows a foul. That’ll just about be it.
90+1 mins: Australia has a corner, Mooy sweeps the ball in. It bobbles around inside the box for a small period before it’s punted away. Only a little bit of time to go now.
Three minutes of added time
89 mins: a semi counter attack for Australia results in Troisi being brought down on the halfway line by Mabouka. He’s shown a yellow card for his troubles.
87 mins: Another breakaway for Cameroon (which tells the story of Australia’s intentions), almost leading to a two-on-one. Aboubakar is snuffed out by Bailey Wright at the very last moment, making a vital tackle and averting danger for now.
86 mins: Cahill finally gets a sniff at a header, but it’s a little close to Ondoa. Melbourne City’s finest finds himself colliding with the keeper instead. He does get impressive air though.
Updated
84 mins: Another Lions right edge foray offers Aboubakar a chance at a swivel-volley, but he makes poor contact and it bounces wide. Play concentrated down this end now.
83 mins: Cameroon wins a corner. It’s partially dealt with by Australia, and the return ball causes a little more trouble. Ryan scurries out, doesn’t quite get there, but the referee blows his whistle for offside.
Yellow card: Bailey Wright (80’). He comes over the top of the ball in what looked an otherwise strong tackle. Slightly unlucky.
78 mins: Substitution Australia - Rogic off, Irvine on
Rogic’s been quiet this second half. Looking forward to seeing Irvine here - he’s been bright in the qualifiers. Meanwhile, thats Australia’s subs done with about 15 minutes to go.
77 mins: the ball is swung in to the area, but Aboubakar heads over. He had some power behind it too, but it was always going over. Methinks the Lions have just turned the dial on this match a little bit.
Updated
75 mins: Substitution Cameroon - Moukandjo off, Toko on
73 mins: Cameroon still sitting back, inviting Australia in. Right on cue, Mooy misplaces a pass and Cameroon drive at the defence. Mooy, in an act of atonement, doubles back to break things up. I wonder how structurally gung-ho Australia will be heading into the last ten. Would Postecoglou take a share of points against the indomitable Lions?
70 mins: Substitution Australia - Juric off, Cahill on
“Our Timmy”
69 mins: Cameroonian keeper, Ondoa, dummies Leckie outside the box, much to the crowd’s amusement. Approaching the home straight, Cameroon fashioning the most meaty chances, but Australia doing enough remain a sniff.
Interesting view on the penalty from Greg. Take it away:
“Watching the game with the volume muted for obvious reasons,” says Greg, “I only looked up there as the video review was in progress for the penalty decision, and initially thought they were reviewing a stamp on the Cameroon player’s leg. So in summary, VAR is only as good as the referees implementing it.”
The double-foul is always an interesting one. Too often we look at it like a binary question - in the criminal-victim sense. I saw the stamp too. Surely the primary foul was with Cameroon, though.
65 mins: Substitution Australia - Kruse off, Troisi on.
64 mins: ooof. Lovely move from the Lions, starting with a beautiful chest-control-swivel-pass motion that opened the space to begin with. Aboubakar couldn’t finish.
61 mins: The match resumes its rhythm of Australian possession and Cameroonian counter-attack, though it will be interesting to see whether Australia double-down, so to speak, or add caution given the score.
Updated
GOAL! Cameroon 1-1 Australia (Milligan 59')
Milligan strides in and comfortably converts, rolling the ball to the bottom-left corner. The keeper guessed correctly, but it was superbly placed. Cool stuff from the experienced midfielder. Game on, I guess.
Updated
Penalty? No! VAR!
Australia’s Gersbach is brought down (or is he?) in the area. It looks a penalty, it’s given a penalty. It will be Milligan to take it. Quick decision, seemed fair enough.
Updated
56 mins: Best chance of the game blown by the Lions. They get to the byline once again - the ball is cut back to Aboubakar, who’s in acres of space, and he side side-foots it wide. Golden chance.
52 mins: More possession for Australia, who are focusing their foray’s down Cameroon’s left hand side. They fancy Kruse to find some space, I feel. Still, the Lions look comfortable.
50 mins: Think Australia will still be rueing that miss from Juric, as Cameroon look to consolidate after the scare. A similar start here to the first half, where Australia look on top and Cameroon a little sleepy.
46 mins: A great chance for Australia! Leckie beats a sliding (two-footed!) challenge on the right touchline and squares the ball in to Juric. It’s a little behind him but he has time to get a shot away (and possibly time to play one more pass to an unmarked man at the far post) - he blasts it high and wide, much to Postecoglou’s poker-faced chagrin, I suspect. Australia’s best chance, comfortably.
45 mins: Peeeeeep!
I’ve seen others write that on the blog, I just wanted to feel what it was like, too. We’re back, if you were wondering.
A question via email while we’re here:
“Hey Sam,” writes Dan.
“Having seen brief glimpses of this first half and the NZ MEX game, is it fair to wonder whether AUS would still be the top dog in Oceania if they hadn’t already moved to Asian WCQs?
I guess it is easier to set up more defensively, but then again the Kiwis bossed large parts of that first half.
Just a thought, I have no horse in the race myself.”
I think Australia would still shade it from a depth perspective, but it’s a fair question as New Zealand don’t look bad at all.
Updated
HALF-TIME: 1-0 Cameroon
After 40 minutes of relative parity, Cameroon’s late goal will sting the Socceroos. The Lions grew into the half, and evidence of their vibrancy and potency built at a consistent rhythm as the half wore on. They deserve their lead.
I can’t imagine Postecoglou will be too unhappy, however, as his charges looked in decent control for the majority of the period. Kruse has managed to find some space down the right, and Gersbach has whipped in some delightful balls that you’d imagine will eventually find a head. Mooy and Rogic look capable of creating chances, and from an offensive point of view the back three have been safe enough.
It’s easily said now, but Australia has looked susceptible to the early ball over the top. Cameroon has been pummelling them with the tactic so far, and it eventually formed the route to their lead. They weren’t compact at all for the goal, and I can see now that people are starting to question Ryan’s positioning too. I think when the attacker is afforded that much space to run into the area then a keeper can viably be expected to come out like that.
While you’re waiting for the resumption of play, let me endorse to you this piece from Kieran Pender on the state of play in Russia ahead of the World Cup. A good read:
GOAL! 1-0 Cameroon (Anguissa, 45+1)
They were pushing, Cameroon, and they have the first goal through a smart ball in behind that (again) exposed Australia’s back three, followed by a delicate dink of the bouncing ball from Anguissa that’s too deft for Ryan’s onrushing body and hands. John Motson tells us it’s Anguissa’s first international goal, and it’s a wonderful way to open his account. They just about deserved that, Cameroon. That will be half-time. Some thoughts to follow.
Updated
45+1 mins: a minute added
Updated
41 mins: Swift counterattack from the Lions leaves Bassogog skinning Degenek. He gets one of those professional bumps on the striker that breaks his pace and balance, and Australia survive. They’d take this at half-time.
38 mins: They go short, then play it to the top of the area, but it comes to nothing. Another raid leaves Ryan running some distance to get the ball, but he flaps, and it’s another corner. Again, nothing. Juric then wins a free kick and it’s all okay.
37 mins: Aboubakar giving Sainsbury a bit of a headache here - running directly at him and nearly escaping his clutches to unleash on Ryan. They look dangerous when running at Australia’s defenders. Corner to come.
Updated
31 mins: Great ball in from Gersback - his second dangerous ball today. It finds Juric whose shot is straight at the keeper. It had a bit of sting but it would have been harder for the keeper to miss it than save it.
30 mins: Cameroon just warming into this now. Again they isolate Gersbach and almost find themselves in behind. They’re advancing the ball very quickly - no slow build up play from them - and are clearly backing themselves to get behind a high Australian line.
27 mins: Fairly even contest so far here. Australia look assured - they’re certainly looking as likely, if not a trifle more, than their counterparts. The much-maligned play around the back three has felt safe so far, and both Rogic and Mooy have started well.
24 mins: Cameroon have regularly found space behind Australia’s left edge, and Teikeu’s able to deliver a ball that results in a corner. As is the tale of the set piece today, it’s limp and it’s cleared by the first man. Of course, you could hear any Australian voice somewhere in there yelling ‘away!’. Why does someone always have to say it?
21 mins: But it’s Rogic, and his swinging left-footer fails to trouble the goalkeeper, and, by extension, the goal. It sails well over the bar - it could have been better.
20 mins: Australia with a free kick now from a preferable position - just beyond the ‘D’ that extends from the area. Mooy hovers over it...
18 mins: Another free kick for Cameroon from the same distance, but this time on the right. Bassogog shuns the blast for a dink - it evades everyone and bounces harmlessly away for a goal kick.
16 mins: #tacticswatch - Postecoglou has ditched Mooy in an advanced role, it would appear. He’s back in the quarterback/deep lying midfielder role today.
14 mins: Sainsbury needlessly brings down Aboubakar,which results in a free kick from a decent distance. Aboubakar fires into the wall - with fairly weak contact, and the follow-up shot balloons wide.
11 mins: Quieter period of possession for Cameroon, stroking it around the backline before sending a long ball forward in a bid to get seconds. They don’t, and that’s a good sign for Australia - who are sitting appreciably deeper than they were against Germany, though that’s not saying much.
9 mins: More patient build up play from Australia, Rogic moving well between lines and linking well with Kruse, who’s eventually jostled off the ball for a goal-kick. Neat stuff from Australia.
Updated
7 mins: Cameroon wins a free-kick on the left touchline. It fails to beat the first man but the second wave results in a hard volley from Aboubakar, who hits the side netting. Early warning signs for Australia.
Updated
4 mins: Early sense that this will be end-to-end. Two more reasonably attacking forays in the interim. Kruse crosses in but can’t find Juric’s head, quickly followed by a Cameroonian raid the resulted in a shot from a narrow angle.
2 mins: Bright start from the men in gold. They build from the back patiently, advance the ball forward and Kruse, who’s made his way into the starting line-up, contrives a shot from the right edge. It’s straight at the keeper.
Kick off
Australia kick-off, they’re running right-to-left on your TV screens. Can’t not say that with Ray Warren’s voice in my head. Sacrilegious in this forum, I know.
“G’day Sam,” says Alan.
“I’ll be watching the game this morning as well as following your comms - good luck, and I hope there’s plenty to keep you active and interested.
I hope we are not as thuggish as our Kiwi cousins.....”
Thanks for that, mate, I’m confident we aren’t. That was strange, wasn’t it?
Big stadium, small crowd. The #ALeague alumni in the #Socceroos squad will feel right at home... #ConfedCup #CMRAUS pic.twitter.com/DXvHWYbcTX
— Kieran Pender (@KieranPender) June 22, 2017
It’s a fairly sparsely populated crowd, without strategically ‘full’ pockets either. Everyone wants their own space. It’s like when you have a few seats to choose from on the train - be as far away from anyone else as possible. Or is that just me?
We could hear the Australian players singing the national anthem. They lacked lustre and melody. An omen?
Probably not.
The players are out on the field.
They’re in the tunnel, and start to make their purposeful stroll as I type. The real question today is: will Postecoglou persist with playing out from the back, and if so, how well will it work? Again, I’m well up for Australia aiming for a higher plane of football than we’re used to.
Now for an anthem.
Team News
Australia: Ryan, Degenek, Gersbach, Milligan, Leckie, Wright, Juric, Kruse, Mooy, Sainsbury, Rogic
Cameroon: Ondoa, Mabouka, Anguissa, Teikeu, Ngadeu-Ngadjui, Moukandjo, Aboubakar, Bassogog, Siani, Djoum, Fai
Preamble
Good afternoon, morning, evening, good middle of the night all,
What even is a Confederations Cup? The answer changes not just according to whom you ask, but how you’re performing too. For both Australia and Cameroon, a result today in St Petersburg would mean one team gets their campaign back on track, while the other suffers the ignominy of an early exit.
Not that the defeated will see it that way, of course. For those following in Australia, the din surrounding coach Ange Postecoglou’s tactics are rising steadily to a hum, so much so that there’s a faint air of him almost needing a reversal in form today to silence the critics. But he doesn’t really, though, does he? This is a competition that affords a bonus opportunity to groove structures and test players with no tangible impact to any pursuit of substance. But the Australian commentariat are as chastened by Postecoglou’s tactics as some Londoner’s are their heat this week. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s not dire. I welcome his ambition, which at the moment sits somewhere between admirably cavalier and suicidal. Just rein it in a little bit, mate.
The Socceroos opponents today, Cameroon, will be a tough ask. The Africa Cup of Nations winners have already declared their intention to dominate from the opening whistle, whereupon we will find out if they are, indeed, indomitable. Should be a fairly open one, I’d imagine. Team news next.
Sam will be here shortly. In the meantime, take a look at David Squires’ view on the Socceroos’ time in Russia so far:
Updated
