Podolski denies Socceroos famous upset
Australia coach Postecoglou delighted with 2-2 draw, Loew admits world champs Germany must improve
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany: Australia’s 2-2 friendly draw with Germany delighted their coach Ange Postecoglou on Wednesday, while the world champions’ boss Joachim Loew admits his side must improve.
Only an 81st- minute Lukas Podol sk i e qual i s er s aved Germany’s blushes with the Socceroos 2-1 up and heading for a second famous upset having beaten Germany at home in 2011.
Marco Reus’s early goal was cancelled out by a James Troisi header before Socceroos’ captain Mile Jedinak drilled in a 50thminute free- kick to give the visitors the lead.
Only Podolski’s equaliser denied Australia a second win over Germany in five meetings ahead of their next European friendly against Macedonia on Monday.
“I am very proud of the players, not just because of the result,” said Postecoglou.
“We were always dangerous in the first half.
“It was a fantastic performance, especially when most of them only got off the plane 48 hours ago.
“We attacked them from the start, we put them on the back foot and took the game to them.
“It’s 10am in Australia, so I think a lot of people are going to work happy – if they go to work at all.
“It was an honour to come here and play the world champions.
“Performances like today help to grow the sport and get the country behind us.”
With attacking talisman Tim Cahill out injured, Postecoglou blooded a three- man attack of Mathew Leckie, Nathan Burns and Troisi who caused the Germans no end of problems, much to their coaches delight.
“The front three were great, that is as dangerous as we’ve looked since I have been in charge,” said the 49-year- old, who took charge in October 2013.
“Every time we went forward we looked dangerous, Leckie had a complete performance and the only thing that was missing from him was a goal.
“There was plenty of movement from all three of them.”
Before kick- off, Loew had said the world champions are a long way from the form which swept them to the World Cup last year and his team’s performance only confirmed that.
With Germany joint second in their Euro 2016 qualifying group three points behind leaders Poland, Loew wants an improved performance in Sunday’s qualifier away to Georgia.
“The game was a bit hectic from our point of view,” said Loew.
“The first half went well for us, but the clarity in our game was missing in the second half.
“We didn’t implement what we had planned and we know that we must win on Sunday.”
It was an honour to come here and play the world champions (Germany). Performances like today help to grow the sport and get the country behind us.
Ange Postecoglou, Australia coach
Loew fielded a new 3 - 1- 42 formation, using attacking midfielders Mario Goetze and Marco Reus up front, but the experiment failed to pay off.
With first-choice players Manuel Neuer, Thomas Mueller, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels on the bench against Australia, Loew now needs his stars to perform in Georgia. — AFP