Picking a Socceroos Starting XI that will not be embarrassed in Brazil.

Socceroos coach Holger Osieck has shown great loyalty to the same eleven players in the past three world c

up qualifiers against the likes of Japan, Jordan and Iraq. Whilst Australia did secure qualification, albeit not in a particularly convincing manner, if they are to put up any sort of a fight in Brazil then Osieck must find a system and a group of players who will be able to match it with the world’s best.

Osieck's current favoured starting 11 from the qualifiers.

Osieck’s favoured starting eleven has an average age of 30.6 years, a remarkable statistic, especially when contrasted against tonight’s opponents Iraq, whose average age was a spritely 21. Australia certainly showed their age in attack at Stadium Australia, as they struggled to string together anything that resembled a fluid move in attack. Their reliance upon cross after cross after cross was a testament to their patience but it simply wasn’t productive. In the end it took a decision by Marco Bresciano to actually try passing the ball in the final third to finally find Josh Kennedy's head and in turn the decisive goal that secured qualification for the under par Aussies.

If Australia are to score goals in Brazil then they must find a balance between experience and youth, speed and technical ability. Where they have previously employed a 4-2-3-1 formation, they would perhaps be more suited to a 4-3-3 which would allow them to use Tom Rogic through the middle, push Brett Holman out to the left wing and allow for Tommy Oar’s pace to be an asset off the bench.

Rogic brings a great deal of technical ability to the table and offers a different dimension to the Socceroos attack. Brett Holman showed in the 2010 world cup in South Africa just what a destructive force he can be playing on the left, and this is where he can provide the Aussies with a real threat coming from wide and cutting into the middle with a view of goal. As for Tommy Oar, he is simply not ready for international football yet, whilst he provides pace, youth and energy, his form is sporadic and he tends to go missing just when he is most needed.

A new look 4-3-3 formation could provide a new dimension to the Socceroos going forward.

In terms of defence, the Aussies are already playing their best back four aside from one small issue. Matt Mckay is simply not a left back and if Australia are to solidify their defensive structure then it will suit them to have a natural left back in the side whose positioning is spot on and who will not lose his man as Mckay has recently been prone to doing. Therein lies a depth issue in Australian football, there is no man in the squad who is an international quality left back and so Mckay will have to do for the Aussies into Brazil.

On the whole, the Socceroos and their German coach Holger Osieck should be over the moon about their qualification to Brazil but if they are to stay in such a happy mood changes must be made to their side or else they will be delivered a wakeup call by whichever of the world’s best sides they are drawn up against in the opening rounds. Against sides of the calibre of Iraq and Jordan they are expected to win easily and judging by their inability to cement their qualification earlier it would seem they are simply not up to the lofty standards of the 32 best footballing nations in the world.

That’s Rosey’s wrap on how the Socceroos should line up in Brazil,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten