Posted June 26, 2017 10:08:57

Photo: There were no insecurities in Moscow as Australia looked like it belonged on the same stage as Chile. (AP: Pavel Golovkin)

The Socceroos' performance against South American champion Chile shows Australia needs no longer have an inferiority complex against the world's top teams.

That Australia could have won the game, maybe even by the two goals required to progress, should be an equal source of frustration as it is encouragement against such a top international side as La Roja.

Against FIFA's world number four team, the world number 48s showed they were no pushovers at Spartak Stadium.

Football, as they say, is a funny old game, which can see a team look mostly clueless against Germany's second string, then make six changes to its line-up to play so well against a rampant Chile.

On Monday morning (AEST) the Socceroos showed a significantly-improved pressing game, aggression in the tackle and the confidence on the ball to conduct a one-touch passing game, looking dangerous whenever it ventured forward.

For 90 minutes, it looked like Australia belonged at this level.

Photo: Chile super star Alexis Sanchez was shut down throughout the Confederations Cup clash. (AP: Pavel Golovkin)

Tim Cahill — earning his 100th cap for Australia — rolled back the years playing behind the striker. Mark Milligan deputised brilliantly in defence alongside Trent Sainsbury, who looks more and more the part at centre-back.

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No Tom Rogic? No Aaron Mooy? No problem. Free agent James Troisi, on the hunt for a club to play for, showed he's still one of Australia's best playmakers with probing passes forward, as well as a deft finisher.

Massimo Luongo put in a much better performance compared to his muddled showing against Germany, showcasing the tenacity that saw him blossom during the Asian Cup. Alongside him, Jackson Irvine looked confident and assured.

Against Germany, the Socceroos looked bereft of a plan. Against Chile, they found a template.

Photo: James Troisi's finish was deft and clinical, and Australia needs more of the same in future. (AP: Ivan Sekretarev)

If anything, the Confederations Cup exit can now focus the minds. Australia has two games of enormous import coming up against Japan and Thailand in our bid for qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia at first time of asking.

While many might hope we can fight out a draw in Tokyo, that would still put Australia at the mercy of results elsewhere in Group B in Asian qualifying.

But play like they did against Chile, and the Socceroos need not worry about that. Play like this, and they can beat Japan.

Japan has had the kibosh on Australia for the last few years, and its technical ability on the ball has often compounded an inferiority complex in Australian minds.

Photo: Ryan McGowan hacks the ball off the line as the Socceroos soak up the pressure. (AP: Alexander Zemlianichenko)

With lessons learned against Chile, Australia can take a four-point plan to Tokyo in August in an attempt to capture a crucial win:

• Show they mean business: Against Chile, the Socceroos soaked up pressure when they had to, but took the game to the South American champions when the ball came their way. That meant showing a good first touch and eye for a pass that has deserted the team several times of late.
• Press with purpose: There was no half-hearted lip service to closing down like we saw against Germany. When Australia pressured Chile, they did it with synchronised precision and plenty of heart. The winning back of possession, with Australian players hunting in packs in the centre of the pitch, was particularly thrilling.
• Stay switched on: When Alexis Sanchez had the ball, three Socceroos players converged on him every time. The Chilean superstar has the presence of mind to find an open team-mate with so many players focused on him, but goalkeeper Mat Ryan was in the zone, and Australia's defence was for the most sharp to react to off-the-ball danger.
• Be clinical: This is the big one, and a category that the Socceroos have struggled with since the departures of Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka. We saw the best and worst of Australia against Chile as Troisi clipped a composed finish past Claudio Bravo to open the scoring. But the number of chances that went begging to win the game clearly frustrated Ange Postecoglou, and must be corrected in time for Tokyo.

The days of Tim Cahill bailing the Socceroos out with his goals are coming to an end, and Ange Postecoglou needs to find create a new attacking spark. But how?

When all is said and done, what can Australia take home from its Confederations Cup journey? We could look on enviously at the talent at other nations' disposal and dream of what could be if similar playing cultures existed Down Under.

But even with technical shortcomings, football has shown that 'lesser' teams, at club and international level, can make plans to stymie and defeat the big guns.

It is in Australian sport's nature to want to be the best. You can see those intentions in Postecoglou's teams. And something germinated against Chile — an enthusiasm, married with pragmatism, sprinkled with some actual flourishes of technique — that showed there is hope for this team should they qualify for Russia 2018.

Now to traverse the Tokyo tightrope.

Topics: socceroos, soccer-world-cup, soccer, sport, russian-federation, chile, australia