Socceroos Player Ratings v Iraq

Our resident Socceroos fanatic delivers his verdict on how the national team performed against Iraq.

Our resident Socceroos fanatic delivers his verdict on how the national team performed against Iraq.

Mark Schwarzer: The Socceroos custodian had little to do until right at the detah when a tantalising cross came his way and he punched clear with authority. Had a couple of slippery moments early on. Rating 7

Luke Wilkshire: As is his wont he worked hard throughout the match and provided good attacking impetus down the right flank throughout the match and defended well. Rating 7

Lucas Neill: Another solid display by the skipper in the centre of defence, he was never really troubled and mostly did well with the ball at his feet. Rating 7.5

Sasa Ognenovski: The towering centre-back should have put the Socceroos ahead in the first half when he sent his diving header skyward and over the bar, in defence though he was strong and played his role well. Rating 7.5

Matt McKay: He did some good things and a few others didn't work. McKay is trying hard but it's hard to see him as the long-term solution at left-back. Not really his best performance. Rating 6

Robbie Kruse: Played a very attacking game down the right but some loose passing from him was not really what Socceroos fans would have liked to see. Kruse did find the net but his goal was disallowed due to a Tim Cahill foul. Rating 8

Mark Milligan: The defensive centre mid continued his rich vein of form and was everywhere for the Socceroos throughout the match. His physical presence was important as he made several key challenges and distributed the ball well. Rating 8.5

Mark Bresciano: Much like Milligan he was the glue that helped to hold the Socceroos together. Given no space by Iraq in the first 45 he came good in the second and his creativity came to the fore when he provided the assist for Josh Kennedy's goal. Rating 8.5

Tommy Oar: The youngster again turned on the jets several times to burn Iraq, but there were times much like Kruse where his passing and overexuberance let him down. Rating 6.5

Brett Holman: It simply wasn't Holman's night. He struggled to have any impact and was quite rightly subed on 60 minutes. Rating 4

TIm Cahill: Toiled hard and put up with some poor distribution to him, for most of the game he looked Australia's best chance of scorong a goal only to find himself subbed off for Josh Kennedy. Had his chances and didn't take them. Rating 7.5

SUBS

Tom Rogic: The youngster got 30 minutes and a taste of what a famous Socceroos victory is all about. In that 30 minutes he was driven and created chances, causing havoc for Iraq even if his final touch eluded him at times. Rating 7

Josh Kennedy: More than a year out of the game and he becomes the hero. It was the second coming for the man they used to dub 'Jesus'. Headed goals are his thing, much like they are Miroslav Klose's. Rating 8

Archie Thompson: Came on late for Kruse and didn't really have the time to make an impact. Rating NA