Crucial Hungary lesson for Socceroos
IT was the starkest possible reminder of the challenge facing Australia when the World Cup kicks off against France on Saturday night (AEST).
But the Socceroos’ cumbersome 2-1 defeat of Hungary yesterday offers valuable les- sons for that date with the French, winger Robbie Kruse has insisted.
Daniel Arzani’s debut international goal was the only highlight in a sloppy display slammed by coach Bert van Marwijk afterwards.
But Kruse said the Australian side could see where it had gone wrong, and understood what the central ethos had to be in Kazan on Saturday.
France will come into that game with build-up problems of their own, after scraping a 1-1 draw with the USA in Lyon on Saturday.
But they remain one of the favourites for the tournament.
“We need to stay compact, especially at the beginning,” Kruse said. “If you can grind out the first 20 or 30 minutes and keep it at 0-0, they’re going to get a bit more angry and frustrated.
“We’ve been working the last three weeks on our defensive discipline and closing passing lanes and closing spaces. I think we’re doing that really well.”