It's interesting to see how most of our most recent goals have come in something of an instant. We seem very at home in transition phases and when we have a bit of space against an unconcentrated opponent.
4 of 5 China goals, 4 against NZ, 2 Indonesia, 1 KSA, and even Japan home came from quick decision in transition which see a chance present itself.
This is to do with the tactics of the opposition.
Since Indo, China in the second half, Japan, Saudi and now the Kiwis, they all gegenpressed / Full Pressed and intensively Squeezed in our defensive half in Ball Possession Opposition.
They've considered it paramount to disturb our build ups in our own half. All have lost trying to do it against the Poparoos.
Conversely, China did it in the first half, and Bahrain did it in both games - played Half Presses and Partial Presses, defending deep. Hence, we had a lot more easy ball access in our defensive half, even the defensive and midfield thirds of the pitch in Possession. Lots of fans criticised our inability to be creative in these scenarios.
This is where Hrustic excels. He does not have to do do much chasing the ball when the other team has it, and has plenty of easy ball himself. H e does not have to work hard. Arzani is also ideal for these scenarios.
So getting back to Indo, China second half, Saudi, Japan and Kiwis, disturbing the Aus build ups was paramount. We rarely had more than one unmarked player opening a passing lane to build up.
The opposition effectively negated most of our players receiving effectively to play forwards- with their body shape often facing backwards when receiving.
By committing so many opposition players forward and aggressively sprinting to close down space, space is either vacant between the opposition midfield and defensive lines, or if in the scenario of a high defensive line, the space is behind the opposition defensive line. Hence, accelerated attacks worked for Aus - at times.
Remember all those games Aus have dominated, being sucked into committing players forward, only to see an effective counterattack launched by the the opposition.
Conversely, in recent times Aus has needed to play early balls whilst the opposition defence has been stretched.
Notice in the second Ashes game, the Kiwis started running out of gas in the 60th min mark. In the first game they lasted to closer to 70 mins. This time they really flagged.
Aus were able to play against far less Squeezing pressure in the latter parts of those games. Players had more time and space on the ball.
It is hard to coach coordinated gegenpressing. We have to credit Indo, Saudi, Japan and Kiwis. Popa plays more of a Half Press and doesn't Squeeze as much - trying to keep the defensive shape compact at all times.
It has worked. The opposition has rarely broken through, forcing the Aus defensive line to defend running facing their own defensive goal.
