Together, the substitutions and the flurry of goals reinforced a self-evident truth, one that could hardly be described as a learning for Popovic: the Socceroos are very good when their best players are on the field, and not quite as good when they’re not.
The result was, in a way, a bit harsh on the world No.81-ranked Curacao, who proved more than a handful for the Socceroos across the first hour of the match.
The visitors equalised 10 minutes after half-time, as Gervane Kastaneer beat Circati to a header that opened up Australia’s defensive half. Arjany Martha latched onto it, beat his marker Kye Rowles for pace and slid the ball underneath Maty Ryan – and Curacao were perhaps unlucky to have come away with only one goal.
But the same argument could be mounted for the Socceroos, who took the lead midway through the first half with Awer Mabil’s first international goal in two years – the direct result of Ajdin Hrustic’s pressure on Curacao captain Leandro Bacuna, who turned the ball over near the corner flag, enabling Kai Trewin to sweep the ball inboard to Mabil, via Deni Juric.
Mabil was unlucky to not have scored a brace, having slammed a volley from a Hrustic cross straight into the woodwork, just before the break.
Those moments aside, the Socceroos generally lacked fluency with the ball and potency in attack – until Popovic emptied his bench and let his big guns take over.
In the end, Curacao actually beat the home side for possession – they had 54 per cent of it – and also had four shots on target to Australia’s six.
Even the dodgy patches of the game would have been informative for Popovic as he assesses the make-up of his 26-man World Cup squad. His trial of Trewin at right wing-back may have unearned another break-glass option in Australia’s problem position, while question marks remain over the efficiency of the Aiden O’Neill-Connor Metcalfe central midfield combination that Popovic persisted with in both ‘FIFA Series’ matches.
