Czech out Aussie victory
PRAGUE: Australia cruised to a 4-0 win against the Czech Republic yesterday, giving the Socceroos a much-needed confidence boost ahead of this month’s World Cup with their first victory abroad in nearly two years.
Australia, headed to their fourth straight World Cup, grabbed the lead against the run of play in the 32nd minute when Robbie Kruse knocked a pass from the far post to an unmarked Mathew Leckie who tapped the ball in.
The victory over a Czech side that failed to qualify for the tournament in Russia was the first for the Socceroos outside Australia since a 1-0 win over the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi in 2016.
With a lack of goals a problem in Australia’s qualifying campaign, yesterday’s attacking display gives the team’s Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk plenty to think about before he pares four players from his 27-man squad by Monday’s FIFA deadline.
Andrew Nabbout made his case for a World Cup role by scoring his first goal for Australia in the 54th minute when he won the ball on the right and his low, hard shot into the far corner beat Czech goalkeeper Tomas Koubek.
Leckie and a Jakub Jugas own goal rounded out the win against a Czech side that had started brightly but failed to show much vigour after going behind.
Australia play a final warm-up against Hungary on June 9 before heading to Russia, where they face France, Denmark and Peru in Group C. ■ South Korea were left with plenty to ponder ahead of the World Cup finals after Edin Visca scored a hat-trick to give Bosnia and Herzegovina a 3-1 victory in a friendly in Jeonju.
The Koreans had been hoping for a win in their final match on home soil before heading to Europe but lacked accuracy in attack and looked fragile with a three-man defence at the back.
Winger Visca gave the visitors a 28th-minute lead but midfielder Lee Jae-sung, rested for Monday’s 2-0 win over Honduras, immediately hit back with a cool finish on the back of a rare fluent attacking move from the home side.
Visca again found space down the right of the Korean defence to put Bosnia back in front on the stroke of halftime, though, and lashed home his third in the 80th minute.
Korea coach Shin Tae-yong will cut three players from his squad before they head to Austria to make their final preparations for the finals,they face Sweden, Mexico and Germany in Group F.
■ Germany’s Thomas Mueller and Mats Hummels will not travel with the world champions to Austria for their World Cup warm-up match today and get an extra day of rest, coach Joachim Loew said.
The Germans are facing Austria in Klagenfurt in their penultimate test. They also host Saudi Arabia on June 8 before leaving for Russia.
Mueller and Hummels will remain at their northern Italy training camp along with Bayern Munich team mate Jerome Boateng, working back towards full fitness following a muscle injury.
The Germans are in World Cup Group F with Sweden, South Korea and Mexico. – Reuters