Enzo would certainly agree with your 2nd point.

Germany banked the 3 points they were expected to bank, and at this point, that's all they really care about (and maybe whether Leno deserves another chance after gifting Australia two goals with shoddy keeping).

If we didn't sub off Rogic i reckon he'd have actually gotten the equaliser with all the space which was being given in the final 20 minutes.

No-one in that German squad would be happy with their performance.  They were done after 70 minutes- no they didn't "take their foot off the peddle".  Its all they could manage.

Their keeper was poor- but ours has been poor since the World Cup.  What of it?

They would not be happy at letting so many good chances go begging after dominating the game for the first half.

They would not be happy at sloppy goalkeeping letting through two goals that should never have been let through.

They'll be happy about taking the 3 points, as any team in tournament play should.

The last 30 minutes was certainly chalk and cheese...whether it was the ball-losing influence of Luongo coming off, or a reshuffling of the back/DM line, I'm not sure. We passed through space to feet, kept possession, looked like a team in the same vicinity as Germany. In the first half, we just didn't.

The last 30 minutes helped restore some faith in the Socceroos

This was Kruse. Kruseys movement and mooy dropping deep. totally changed the game. And then came the belief.. the players started to believe 

Ex-striker over Germany's opponents

Agostino: "Actually the trainer is the star"
19.06.2017, 08:41 clock | Benjamin Zurmühl, online.de
Confed Cup: former striker Agostino over Germany's opponent Australia. Paul Agostino played for the TSV 1860 Munich from 1997 to 2007. (Source: imago / MIS)Paul Agostino played for the TSV 1860 Munich from 1997 to 2007. (Source: MIS / imago)
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Today at 5 pm ( in the Liveticker at t-online.de ) the German national team starts in the Confed Cup.Opponent is Australia, which is considered an outsider of group B. Nevertheless, the team of coach Ange Postecoglou is dangerous, says Paul Agostino. The 20-time national player from Australia (nine goals) and striker from 1860 Munich even believes in a victory of the "Socceroos".

MORE ON THE SUBJECT
Game Schedules , Teams and Results: Confed Cup 2017 Schedule
Stars, Stadiums, Security: Confed Cup: You should know
In an interview with t-online.de Agostino reveals who is the star of the Aussies and which Bundesliga team has a similar style.

Mr Agostino, what does the Australian football look like?

Paul Agostino (42): We are used to being the outsider. But no matter if it is football or tennis, we Australians are passionate fighters. Our team earlier was very compact, disciplined, combative. Ange Postecoglou (Australia's national coach, editor) has turned many things upside down in Australian football and changed the positive. This is a long way, but great for the future. This will bear fruit.

What football is Ange Postecoglou for?

It goes to full risk with very high pressing. He has already done this at Brisbane Roar when Thomas Broich played there. Postecoglou now also practices in Australia. This is a 3-6-1 system to give the midfield the ability to attack with a lot of players, while at the same time taking the path backwards. An unpredictable and variable way of playing. He does not want to see long balls and solve everything playfully. The only drawback is that we currently do not have many top players and then the system is doing something difficult. Unfortunately, the stars are missing, which can lead the team to victory against big teams.

So you still mourn players like Harry Kewell?

Absolute. Mark Schwarzer in the goal or Mark Viduka in the storm, plus a few Bundesliga players like me. It used to be a strong team. Currently there are not so many top players. At that time the coach had a wide selection.Why, there are currently no such players. For a victory against big teams, all players must call top performances.The system is risky, but super. Australia will be going to Germany with full steam.

Twenty times, Paul Agostino was on the pitch for Australia. (Source: imago / HJS)Twenty times, Paul Agostino was on the pitch for Australia. (Source: HJS / imago)

Who is the star of the team?

I am a big fan of Matthew Leckie, who is an absolute top boy. He always gives full throttle, marches without end, is physically robust and has an incomprehensible start. Leak needs only 10 to 15 per cent more goal danger, then he would be a player for a top team.

The role of the playmaker often falls back on Tom Rogic of Celtic Glasgow. How is he to judge?

He is a player who is strongly dependent on the day form. If it runs, it can be very dangerous for a team like Germany, but unlike Leckie, it lacks constancy.

How else is the team set up?

The midfield of Australia is very solid. Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town, editor) is one who will take a lot of responsibility. He has played a strong season and has been much praised. Mooy will be captain in the future, I'll go off. Actually, Robbie Kruse is very important, but lately out of shape. The coach was not very happy with him.Otherwise, much depends on the system. Postecoglou will leave the game to the opponent and then make a lot of pressure. For him, the actors have to adjust to the system and not vice versa. He is really a top coach, who belongs to a top team in Europe, when the national team's time is over. Actually, Ange Postecoglou is the star of the team.

Who is the boss in the team?

This is Tim Cahill. He has legendary status in Australia. I've met him personally, and I can tell you, Cahill is an absolute gentleman and an example for the children. I just do not know how to fit into the system. Unfortunately, he is no longer 19 to meet the high runner requirements. But he is the absolute leader in the team.

He is now 37. What is the strength of the Australian team? Is it running?

Yes of course. The team never gives up. She has a tremendous closeness, aggression and a great victory. So the virtues the Germans have (laughs). Under Postecoglou they try to play more soccer. This is his philosophy. He wants to conquer the ball as early as possible, to have a short path to the opposing goal.

This sounds very much like Bayer Leverkusen under Roger Schmidt ...

Yes, you could say that. There are, of course, differences in the system, but also some similarities. He will surprise Germany with his offensive style, as the team of Jogi Löw has to be careful.

What is their tip for the game?

When Australia is in the lead, they are growing beyond themselves and then it becomes a very interesting game.If Germany is in the lead, I think it will be a 2-0 or 3-0 win. Due to the fact that the German team is not played, the Postecoglou plays very well into the cards. Australia has quite good chances for me. I guess times a 2: 1 for us (laughs).

Paul Agostino is an absolute legend among the lion fans. (Source: imago / Lackovic)Paul Agostino is an absolute legend among the lion fans. (Source: Lackovic / imago)

This is what Paul Agostino does today:

After finishing his professional career in Australia in 2009, Paul Agostino spent two years at a football academy and scout. In 2011 he moved back to Munich, where he founded the "Munich Soccer Camp" , a football school for children. Together with former team-mates such as Roman Tyce (135 BL-games, 25 matches for the Czech Republic), he himself is on the training ground and passes on his knowledge to the next generation.

Has that last post broken anybody else's internet?

+1

I haven't read through this thread, but impressions of the game. Glad that we scored 2 past Germany, not that we lost, trying to find the positive. It also wasn't a total pantsing like against Brazil, we did actually have a few chances:
1. WTF is with us only being able to play for 45 minutes? Seriously if there is a theme to Oz football right now it is that for at least the first 45 we sort of forget to play. Atrocious passing, statuesque defending, slow running..... The last half dozen games have been the same, this is a pattern and it is bad. Is it that we lack the tactical insight to respond to teams and instead just flail around until half time when Ange gives them a solution?
2.Behich being a long way forward opened a big hole that was repeatedly exploited. I'm sure if I noticed it then everyone else did. Because of this we were getting pulled out of shape when we tried to compensate. This is the risk of a back 3
3. Mooy and Rogic in the first half were very high and especially Mooy were just constantly getting mugged. The 2 of them also lacked the pace to get it back when they lost it.
4. Ball watching by our defense cost us goals. Mooy lost his man for one goal I think, Wright fell over instead of covering.
5. Damian Duff is correct. The Germans applied a lot of pressure on our back 3 in the first half resulting in many turn overs. In comparison they transitioned quickly and weren't afraid to long ball it, change sides or diagonal long ball to cut through a pretty congested midfield. We tried doing this in the 2nd half and it nearly worked for us, nearly but for the accuracy and off side. Anyway it was something.
6. Poor passing all round in the first half. Luongo is a shadow of his former self. He desperately needs to go back to Swindon town or somewhere where he can refind himself. Degenek, Wright, Milligan, Troisi all had some poor passes.
7. When we applied a tighter press, like in the second half, we could turn it over and actually play.
8. Juric showed some great skill and vision at times, like how he can hold up the ball and isn't a one dimensional 'me striker me shoot' player, but looking to what he can add to the team. Sainsbury is a really good player. Leckie is aggresive and had some great moments I just wish he had a better touch of the ball. rogic great as well at times. Mooy frustrating. Kruse is improving, but still not there yet. 
9. The Germans played some fantastic, aggressive, fast football. There is a lot that we could learn from for our own game, just the speed at which they transition, their passing and their ability to switch play and pass over a midfield and behind a defense. At times it looked like we were playing in slow motion compared to them! Seriously Degenek and Wright both need some more explosive speed because they were struggling to keep up. Werner was a freaking rocket. 

This. Play Irvine who is a good ball winner as DMC. A back three of spira sains and millsy is class and resolves our ball playing issue

You said they didn't do that before the match.

Fixed it somewhat.

Click "paste as plain text" or whatever similar option your browser has in future, people.

Definitely need some steel in midfield to replace Milligan without Jedinak though.

Pity it's too late to call up Carl Valeri.

The German A team are less likely to, but understandable that the B team would once they had a 2 goal buffer.

I would hope you not one of those who honestly believe the Australian team had the quality of the German team.

I would expect better from you.

Really enjoyed Australia v Germany.

There was some very good football played by both teams, after Australia defended poorly in the first half when  Germany applied intense off the ball pressure.

The three at the back doesn't work as well when the other  team has the ball, as it does when Australia has the ball.

Jedi and Smith were not missed at all.

Totally disagree.

Milligan wins just as many hard balls Jedi, but is not as good in the air.

When the team has the ball, the combination of Milligan and Mooy, playing deeper, is the best quality we've had for some time.

It would be nice if Brillante can develop, just needs to improve on the ball a little but has a great workrate, great physicality and tackle, reads and breaks up the play well has a decent passing range and can chip in for a cracking long range goal.

Like the two goals he has scored in his professional career?

Have you watched any of the Bundesliga this season?? I watched many games and I was amazed at the speed and skill level of the teams (even the lower tier teams were pretty solid ... with a few exceptions). One RB Leipzig game I watched I thought it was ice hockey, they moved the ball so quickly ... I have never seen a team play with such intensity, pressing, ball movement and off the ball movement speed ever (they unfortunately faded later in the season). Werner plays for RB too.

It would be great if more Aussie's could crack it in the Bundesliga.

Ha ha I agree with a lot of what you say when you write earnestly.
It's just there is usually a lot of shit to wade through to find those few lines

Maybe there's something in that.

Is there a formation or a player smart enough/fit enough to play as a wing back in defence and then switch into midfield?

With players at this level there has to be someone fit enough and with smarts to play that role, if that is at all possible.

Not all opinions align, many will be different, that is the beauty of a discussion forum, and just because someone has a different opinion, that does not make them a troll.

In fact, I would argue that those who swear at me, use foul language, hurl personal abuse, etc are more likely to be trolls than I.

Incredibly, the other day a mod admitted to allowing a thread so as to troll me (but then gave me a warning when I put a post up in said thread, one which I didn't start).

Very strange behaviour.

Inside Sport should be proud of its mods and the quality of posts it attracts to this site.

Yes, exactly like them.

I refuse to even start reading any post with more than 2 lines.

For all the time it saves I don't believe I've missed much.

Is the word sfacciato in the vocabulary of the 12 languages you speak?

In everyday use, I'm far more familiar with the Sicilian equivalent:  faccitosta.

But I absolutely love the Dutch word:  brutaal.

It's a word for which you will find many interesting takes in the various European languages.  Norwegian has a nice word for it as well:  frekk.

Heard faccia tosta a lot growing up

I'm just listening to SEN radio now, Francis Leach talking to Carlos of the four Diegos.

He has expressed my thoughts perfectly, what happened in the last half hour of the game, when the sting was out of the game, it's completely irrelevant, ignore it, means nothing, just junk time (Leach's words).

What truly matters is what can you do when the game is on the line and your opponents are playing at maximum effort and putting the heat on you.