Socceroos Report Card

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"It's a starting point and we want to get better".

Ange Postecoglou might not have been doing cartwheels, but he was certainly a satisfied man after the Socceroos opened his account as coach with a 1-0 win over Costa Rica.

There was evidence of what the side worked on at training, signs of a renewed spirit and energy, the return of a structure and organised set-up and glimpses in attack to bury the memories of a torrid few months for the green and gold.

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It's only a step forward and the 1-0 win against an underwhelming Costa Rica is nothing to get carried away over. As Mark Bosnich noted on Fox Sports after the match, there's a long way to go just to be competitive in Brazil next year, but it's a hell of an improvement.

We run the rule over the first performance in the Postecoglou era.

OVERALL/TACTICS

The pride in the green and gold returned, and they are starting to remember what it's like to play with the ball again.

It was fascinating hearing veteran Mark Bresciano elaborate on the difference over the past week: "(It was) different (under Ange). I think you can see the boys are enjoying their football again, we showed that tonight - keeping possession, looking to play ... We got our enthusiasm back."

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The Socceroos pressed the Costa Rican midfield well for the majority of the 90 minutes, which went a long way to winning the midfield battle, and retrieving the ball promptly if we did happen to turn it over.

If that high tempo, energised style is to become a hallmark under Postecoglou, then we're going to see a return to a type of character that once again befits our national side.

Postecoglou is making no secrets of his approach. Mat Ryan was preferred because of his comfort with the ball at his feet; the coach singled out his full-backs for their energetic performances, and even in the dying moments of the match, you could hear the coach barking "keep the ball, keep the ball".

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A confidence returned to the side on the ball and there were more forward passes played than in a long time. Sure, the opponents didn't put a great deal of pressure on the Socceroos this time around, but the signs of the work in progress are promising.

There was always pace available in midfield - and in stark contrast to some of the recent performances under Holger Osieck, there was mobility and structure that helped support Bresciano, Neill and co, and build towards the clean sheet.

Was there cohesion for 90 minutes? Not at all; even Postecoglou said it was far from the fluency he would like. But it was certainly a step in the right direction - in attitude, demeanour and performance.

Mark : B+

MATCH REPORT: ANGE ERA OFF TO WINNING START

ANALYSIS: PLENTY OF POSITIVES FOR ANGE

TIRADE: NEILL: 'WHY ARE YOU F***IN BOOING?'

AS IT HAPPENED: RE-LIVE OUR INTERACTIVE BLOG

PLAYER RATING: WHO SHONE FOR THE SOCCEROOS?

DEFENCE

All the talk in the days leading into the game were that Mitchell Langerak would get the nod between the sticks, but game time for Club Brugge and his ability to sweep off his line and distribute saw Ryan get the nod. Barring two nervous miscommunications with Jason Davidson and Lucas Neill in the first-half, the former Central Coast Mariners stopper had little to worry about.

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That had a lot to do with a terrific performance from the back-four. Ivan Franjic is arguably the epitome of the type of player Postecoglou wants in his side, and he did not look out of place at this level, feeding Kruse cleanly all night, was on the money defensively at right back and often the man scrambling back to defuse dangerous situations.

Davidson, playing with Hercules in the Dutch first division, enjoyed his best 90 minute display for the Socceroos - recovering well after almost enduring a horror start when he headed past Ryan and scoring another international own goal. With the country craving a genuine left-back to step up to the plate, he now finds himself in the box seat, and was lavished with praise from Postecoglou after the match.

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A lot of focus was on captain Lucas Neill at the back, but alongside Rhys Williams, then Ryan McGowan, they were hardly troubled. Australia drifted a bit too deep midway through the first-half, but the back-four returned to squeezing further up the field in the second term, and Neill was quick to pressure Joel Campbell or Jonathan McDonald when they had their back to goal.

It's hard to remember Ryan having to make a save of note, so it was a job well done by the back-four.

"I thought he (Neill) marshalled the defence really well," Postecoglou said. "He kept us nice and compact.

"Rhys has been fantastic all week - he tweaked his groin yesterday, so to get through 60 minutes was (great)."

Mark: B

MIDFIELD

What an encouraging performance from Mark Milligan and Mile Jedinak playing alongside each other as the screening 'two' in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

"It's the first time I've played with him (Mile) at international level ... and when one was going, one was sitting," Milligan said after the game.

Indeed, the balance was solid as Australia dominated midfield and possession. Jedinak's work-rate was outstanding, but what was particularly impressive was his distribution - after a wobbly start, it was one of his sharpest displays in green and gold. Alongside Milligan, they consistently broke down Costa Rica's attack and it's a combination that looks promising going forward.

Further down the pitch, the more we see Robbie Kruse on the ball, the better. The Bayer Leverkusen man is a menace and a vital outlet. He almost put one on a platter for Matthew Leckie in the first-half, and his pace, movement and footwork are a treat to watch. He lures an incredible amount of fouls on him, which can put Australia into valuable set-piece territory, and also makes some incisive darts through the heart of the defence.

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It makes such a difference to Milligan and Jedinak to have pace to hit out wide, and if need be, a shrewd ballplayer in front of them. To start with, it was Mark Bresciano. It wasn't his most dangerous or consistent display in green and gold, but he put a tough week behind him to show signs of his importance - although it must be said, Costa Rica weren't putting a great deal of pressure on the Aussies on the ball.

The veteran, though, was arguably upstaged by Tom Rogic's cameo. In his stint, we saw glimpses of his surreal talent as he burst through the heart of midfield. The Celtic man needs more game time at club level, and if he develops that killer instinct, he will be the vital cog in the Roos XI.

Tommy Oar added another dimension when he replaced Dario Vidosic, who was involved in some nice interplay but probably didn't grab his opening with both hands. Oar was a slippery customer on the left.

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Can the midfield move the ball quicker, press more consistently and provide more incisive goal scoring opportunities? Of course. But as flat as Costa Rica were, a lot of it had a to do with the energy resonating from the Socceroos' engine room.

It was a hell of an improvement on recent outings and the intent was there.

Mark: B

UP FRONT

The more things change, the more they stay the same. You can throw all the analysis out the window, because at the end of the day, it was Australia's talisman who scored the way he has so many times for the national side - soaring above the pack with his head off a set piece.

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Cahill certainly provided an excellent focal point when he came on, but credit has to go to Mathew Leckie for his first big outing at international level. Alone up front, he drifted into space, was able to hold the ball up and link with the oncoming midfielders. On another day, would have had a goal.

We didn't see a lot of Cahill and Kennedy together, but there mere fact they were on together is another sign that there is a new coach in charge, prepared to try things.

Raga Seni