Bert hits Oz low in Oslo

SOCCEROOS fans should hold off pressing the panic button, but Bert van Marwijk must find solutions quickly after a 4-1 debut drubbing.

Van Marwijk’s preference was for this friendly against Norway to be scrapped in favour of extra training and it was easy to see why.

His strategy had not sunk in after four sessions.

The ex-Saudi Arabia coach’s “intimate” knowledge of the Socceroos’ qualifying campaign was a chief reason for his appointment, but his first line-up was based on his month-long reconnaissance.

It was always going to be more pragmatic than Ange Postecoglou’s gung-ho approach, but the players appeared confused. Switching systems can do that.

“Yeah, I have to find the right combination. Now I can say it’s only the second or third day, we need all the time to find the (balance),’’ van Marwijk said.

Midfielder Jackson Irvine headed Australia into the lead after 19 minutes before a series of lapses opened the door for a comeback, with LA Galaxy striker Ola Kamara bagging a hat-trick at Ullevaal Stadium.

Experimentation granted, it was a gutsy call to pick Dimi Petratos and Andrew Nabbout. Aleksandar Susnjar also debuted. But the disunity can be attributed as much to the collective as the individuals.

Bailey Wright plays right back for Bristol City and Milos Degenek stopper at Yokohama, but they’ve played the reverse for the Socceroos. Mark Milligan shifted to stopper — he’s usually played in midfield — while Aziz Behich only broke in during the playoffs, so it was a new back four. The absence of Trent Sainsbury also hurt.

The balance issue stretches to the middle. This is a chief reason Postecoglou switched to a — dare I say it — back three, with the 3-2-4-1 (or 3-4-2-1 away) enabling him to squeeze four into the midfield. Mile Jedinak, Aaron Mooy (holding midfielders) and Jackson Irvine (attacking midfield) started, while Massimo Luongo and Tom Rogic were on the bench.

Jedinak scored a hat-trick against Honduras, Irvine scored yesterday and nets regularly for Hull City, Luongo is scoring for fun at QPR, Mooy is a Premier League star and Rogic is the Xfactor.

Leaving room for three midfielders — van Marwijk has long favoured the 4-2-3-1 — will require a hard call.

But Rogic and Irvine offer something different, meaning the team’s game plan probably has to change accordingly.

Colombia on Wednesday now becomes a huge test (it beat France 3-2 yesterday), and the Turkey-based pre-camp will be critical.