All Whites’ defence still remains a concern
OPINION: For 87 minutes on Friday night, things were going pretty well for the All Whites.
Against Japan in the wet at Toyota Stadium in Nagoya, they weathered an early storm, and grew into the game, to a point where they were playing better than in any of their five other outings against non-Oceania opposition this year - all of which came in June.
They weren’t resorting to panicked long balls, and trying to turn Chris Wood into the target man he never was and never will be. They were being patient, looking to take their time, and make use of the skills of Kosta Barbarouses, Marco Rojas, Michael McGlinchey, and Ryan Thomas - all players who like to pass and move, but also to dribble when it’s called for.
They were slightly more pragmatic than they have been when it comes to their pressing game, opting to sit off a bit more, and pick their moments to launch forward. But when they sensed a chance to pin Japan back, they pounced, and they did a fairly good job of it.
There were a couple of extended periods where they built pressure, and though they often found themselves coming up short when they approached the box, they did create a good goal in the 59th minute, when Rojas got to the byline and played a lovely lofted ball to Wood in the middle of the box, who made no mistake in heading home, equalising nine minutes after Japan had gone in front from the penalty spot.
It was slightly concerning that the goal came from their only major chance - Wood and Thomas each had a snap shot from the edge of the area, but otherwise, that was it - although that’s probably how it’s going to be next month, when they play their final World Cup qualifiers.
It’s also going to be the case that whenever their opponent is level or behind, - and it could be any of Chile, Colombia, Peru, Argentina or Paraguay, after a wild day of South American qualifiers on Friday - they are going to be attacking the All Whites with a ferocious intensity, probably greater than that Japan mustered, given that this was just a friendly, after all.
But for 29 minutes after they had drawn level, the All Whites looked to be on their way to leaving Japan with a 1-1 draw. It wouldn’t have been a performance or a result to make you sit up and take notice, whether you’re a Kiwi, or a Chilean, a Colombian, a Peruvian, an Argentinian, or a Paraguayan, but it would have been creditable, a few boxes ticked, and a relatively positive note to head into November on.
We can be under the pump and come out the other end, it would have said. Do the same thing twice more, in Wellington and wherever - Santiago, Barranquilla, Lima, Buenos Aires, or Asuncion - and we might just find ourselves in Russia next June, the players and staff could have told themselves. They would have to ride their luck, as they did in Nagoya, but good fortune has helped plenty of teams around the world do crazier things.
Then, in the 88th minute, with the final whistle fast approaching, the kind of defensive calamity the current crop of All Whites always have in them took place.
Wingback Dane Ingham was facing Takashi Inui on the right flank and he decided to stand off, and let the Japanese winger have all the time in the world to send in a cross. In the box, the All Whites had four defenders on four attackers, but they lost track of them, Hiroki Sakai won a free header at the far post, and Shu Kurata then headed home from right in front, while dropping to his knees, probably in disbelief at how easy it was.
The difference between a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 loss is fine, but the significance of that moment is everything. It was a reminder that teams who make the All Whites bend are likely to make them break. Northern Ireland, Belarus, Russia, Mexico and Portugal all did it in June, to differing extents, and now Japan has done it as well.
The All Whites’ defence is their fatal flaw, and even with Winston Reid in the heart of it, it cannot withstand the amount of pressure it is being put under.
If Tommy Smith returns for November’s games, and joins Reid and Michael Boxall, it will be the first time that trio has played together in a back three. If he joins Reid and Andrew Durante, it will be a trio with one game under their belts - a 0-0 draw with Trinidad and Tobago four years ago, which, coincidentally, was the last time Reid and Smith played together. Expecting raw combinations to hold strong against an attack sharpened by 18 games of South American qualifying is asking for trouble (and, it should be noted, a problem that is largely the result of bad luck, at least as far as the oftinjured Reid is concerned).
There were times early in the game on Friday where Japan’s attacking midfielder, Shinji Kagawa, would have been giddy with excitement at the space he was finding in front of the Al Whites’ defensive line. There were acres of it, and he made good use of it, pulling the strings as Japan unleashed an early onslaught, but somehow didn’t score. Give the same space to a South American attacking midfielder, and the All Whites will find themselves in the same situation, praying the outcome doesn’t differ.
Then, at the end of the game, with Bill Tuiloma and Themi Tzimopoulos on in midfield as defensive-minded subs, Japan found another target, one that Mexico picked on in June - the 18-year-old Ingham, who played 90 minutes, five weeks after being deemed too unfit to even stay in camp.
It’s not clear whether he would have started on Friday had Deklan Wynne not had a hamstring niggle, and Stuff has not been given a chance to interview Hudson and try to find out, but he has now started three games in a row against non-Oceania opposition, which is as good a clue as any.
If Ingham was in the gaffer’s plans for November before Friday, he surely cannot be now. He has played in 13 games of senior football and his inexperience is showing.
Japan went hunting down his flank and found a late winner. Whoever is left standing on Wednesday, when South
American qualifying comes to an end, will see it too.