Beware of Australia's initiative to "show weakness", Indonesia is a lesson from the past!

The reporter reported coldly With a 5-1 win over Indonesia, Australia, who gave up possession at home, played "at their best". Indonesia missed two great chances to score in the opening period, while Australia won from set-pieces and counter-attacks. Five days later in Hangzhou, Australia may replicate this style of play.

Australian coach Popovich still lined up with the 343 formation he took over in October last year to ensure stability. The main central defender Suta is injured, and Burgess, who has played three main games, forms a three-center back with Rawls and Jeria, and the three have started or cooperated in the previous four games. Defender O'Neill played four games before that, with Owen partnering him in two starters. Besich and Miller on both wings have also started two of their last four last-18 games.

Popovich took the initiative to show weakness, and in the first half, the home team Australia conceded possession, but the counter-attack was sharp, scoring three goals from four shots on target. Of course, there was a lot of luck in the big win – in the opening seven minutes, centre-back Burgess rose to the top and Rawls tripped Stryk in the box, but Indonesia's naturalised right-wing-back Dix took the penalty at the centre. This season, Dicks is the first penalty taker in the Danish Super FC Copenhagen, all 10 goals are penalties, but he didn't expect to miss, and this is the second time he has missed a penalty in his career, if Indonesia leads 1-0 away and changes to defense, the Australian may not be able to break the deadlock quickly.

Australia's set-pieces, especially corners, require extra attention. In the 16th minute, when Zhou Yaan, a naturalized Chinese player of the Indonesian team, was defending a corner kick, the right wingback Miller, who fell into the penalty area, was awarded a penalty, and the right winger Royle broke the deadlock. Australia's fourth and fifth goals also came from corners, with Miller heading through Indonesian centre-back Ezes and midfielder Owen scoring twice from a corner kick by substitute Goodwin. In the first leg, the national football team played away to Australia, and the first goal conceded was also a free kick from the left side of Goodwin's penalty area, and Miller's header equalized. In the second half, Jerry almost took advantage of a corner kick opportunity to break through the national football team.

Miller's attacking attack down the right and Australia's counter-attacking midfielders aggressively pushed forward into the box were a big threat. In addition to set-pieces dominated by corners, Australia's third goal came when right wing-back Miller stepped forward into the box and combined with Owen in the middle to open up the attacking space, who scored in succession. Miller was outstanding in the game, being involved in three of his five goals. Australia's set-piece tactics and Miller's attacking channel on the right side must be paid attention to by the national football team.

In addition, Australia's aggressive efforts in midfield counter-attack created more attacking opportunities. Defender Michael Owen scored twice, and right wing-back Miller stepped forward into the box and scored.

Australia scored five goals and two were counter-attacked. Centre-forward Tagart stepped forward and stepped back to get the ball on the counter-attack, with Velupile's second goal coming from a succession of passes from right winger Boyle and Tagart, who provided an assist over the top. Australia maintained their attacking efficiency, scoring three goals with four shots on target against the national team in the first leg, and the same was true in the first half against Indonesia, scoring five of seven shots on target.

Compared with the first national football team in October last year, the Australian team was more skilled in the tactics of the Indonesian team. After leading 3-0 at half-time, Popovich replaced Taggat and Boyle, and substitute Goodwin joined up Miller on the right to provide the assist. In addition to the bad luck of not scoring a penalty kick in the opening game, the Indonesian team's heavy defeat was due to the overconfident dominance of the attack, which gave the Australians a chance.

Of course, the Australian team is not without weaknesses, with Jeria on the right side of the three central defenders being the weakest link in the defence, and Indonesia's attacking chances close to scoring are mostly opened up from his side. Including the penalty made by Stryk in the opening period, and Romeni's last-minute face-saving goal, which was also scored after shaking Jería.

After the big win over Indonesia, Australia accumulated 10 points and continued to rank second in the group, firmly grasping the initiative to qualify. Japan defeated Bahrain 2-0 at home to qualify three rounds ahead of schedule and become the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Japanese team will then play Saudi Arabia at home, Australia away in June, and Indonesia at home.

For the Saudis, the double disadvantage of points and goal difference means that they will not only need to face Australia in the final round, but also the second leg against Bahrain. In contrast, Indonesia, Bahrain and the national football team have a tendency to fall behind. From the perspective of the schedule, Bahrain, which ranks behind Indonesia because of the disadvantage in the number of goals, has the worst schedule, and the life-and-death matches with Indonesia and the national football team are all away, and at home they have to face the vengeful Saudi Arabia; Indonesia has the greatest schedule advantage, with the national football team and Bahrain both at home.

For the national football team, at present, it is basically possible to give up the illusion of getting the top two directly to qualify for the World Cup, plus the current goal difference behind Indonesia and Bahrain as many as 4, and even the last three rounds of 4 points, there is also the possibility of looking at the face of others, only in the last two rounds to strive for consecutive victories over Indonesia and Bahrain, can we ensure the top four in the group and participate in the play-offs. The next round against Australia is a matter of morale boost, and it is also necessary to give it a go.