It was a case of another Socceroos outing, another set of selection surprises from Tony Popovic.
For Friday’s third group game against Paraguay, the head coach made six changes to the starting line-up that was outclassed by the United States last week. And while the pre-match focus was on the re-inclusion of Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, Australia actually discovered their most potent attacking outlet through a forced change.
The absence of right wing-back Jacob Italiano due to injury – while unfortunate – became the gateway to a reshuffle that saw Popovic shift Jordy Bos away from his left wing-back role and into the vacant right wing-back spot, with Aziz Behich slotting in on the left. Popovic also gave Christian Volpato the nod on the right side of attack, and it was Volpato’s combination with Bos that provided Australia’s best route to goal throughout a dominant first half.
The duo dovetailed brilliantly, rotating with sharpness throughout the opening 45 minutes, overlapping and overloading the right flank in a manner that repeatedly bamboozled Paraguay’s defence.
The above graphic depicts just one example, from the 36th minute. By this point, the pair had already exploited that side several times, but find joy once more through smart passing and movement.
As Alessandro Circati brings the ball past the halfway line, Bos makes himself available on the inside channel. Volpato stays wide, almost on the touchline, holding the width as Bos passes to Aiden O’Neill. Then Volpato, still wide, receives the ball from O’Neill and draws a defender in the process.
As he skirts around the defender and comes inside, Bos is free to position himself for a cutback. When it arrives, he runs onto it for a first-time shot with his left foot that draws a save from Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
Circati played an important role, too, in terms of build-up and defensive coverage. But it was Volpato’s destabilising presence that brought out the best in Bos, a world-class player still – until this match – searching for his moment.
Unlike this sequence, however, a large proportion of their industry and trickery was let down by a lack of presence in the middle to capitalise. That lack of execution left Australia scoreless at half-time and, from the point at which Volpato was subbed off in the 58th minute, the strength of the Socceroos’ threat on the right became diluted.
Bos, however, continues to plug away and create space where he can, and his efforts are almost rewarded in the 90th minute. In this sequence, he has the support of O’Neill and Circati. Bos receives the ball from Tete Yengi outside and to the top-right of the area. When he cannot initially find a way through, he passes back to Circati to circulate possession and have another go.
Circati feeds O’Neill and O’Neill passes short to Bos, who is stationed even wider this time. With both Julio Enciso and Matias Galarza closing in, Bos somehow jinks through the tight space between the pair and explodes into the box. It’s that left foot again in play as he sets himself up and then fizzes an angular finish that bends back towards the far post and only just misses.
The lack of a final ultimately let the Socceroos down against a compact Uruguay defence, leaving them with a (favourable, it must be said) scoreless draw. But Popovic will have much to think about over the coming week as his side prepare for next Saturday’s round-of-32 match, namely: is Bos actually deadlier on the right?
