The Socceroos’ hopes of progressing out of the group stage remain alive following the 1-1 draw with Denmark in Samara on Thursday evening. However Australia is no longer the master of its own World Cup fate. The drawn game has left the Socceroos in third place in group D with an outside chance of progressing beyond the group stage.

But with just the one point from its opening two games, and trailing the Danes by three points, Australia needs to win its last group match against the already eliminated Peru in the early hours of Wednesday, and the already qualified France must defeat Denmark, which needs just a single point to ensure qualification ahead of Australia.

Socceroos boss Van Marwik opted to field an unchanged starting 11 against Denmark, but the team got off to a nervous start which proved costly when it conceded early to a goal from Danish danger man Christian Eriksen. Eriksen escaped his marker to fire a left foot volley past keeper Matt Ryan after the Socceroos defence was caught out in transition.

I’m disappointed and proud, and feel we deserved more.

The Danes opted for a very direct approach bombing long balls forward, however after the initial 15 minutes the Australian defence coped well with the Danish attacks. For Australia, Matthew Leckie with his pace and energy, and aerial threat looked the most likely to trouble the Danish defence. At the same time, midfielder Aaron Mooy was working hard defensively and had an increasing influence as the game progressed.

The Socceroos had VAR to thank for picking up a handball by Danish forward Poulson, as he defended a Leckie header from the corner. The ref consulted with the VAR and awarded Australia the penalty which an ice-cool Mile Jedinak converted despite every effort by Danish keeper Kasper Schmeichel, to put him off.

The Danes came out on the front foot early in the second half but Australia soon began to threaten again and enjoy the greater possession especially in midfield through Rogic and Mooy. The introduction of Daniel Arzani for Robbie Kruse gave the Socceroos an extra dimension in attack. Van Marwijk introduced Tommi Juric in preference to Tim Cahill when Andrew Nabbout was forced from the field with a shoulder injury in the 73rd minute.

Despite all of Australia’s efforts they couldn’t find the winner that would move it ahead of the Danes in the race for progressing out of the group stage.
After the match, coach Van Marwijk commented, “I feel we should have won. It’s like against France: I’m disappointed and proud, and feel we deserved more. I honestly think we’ve deserved four points from these two games. So I’m very disappointed…The last piece of the puzzle is we must be able to score one goal more than the opponent. Because I’m satisfied with a lot of things, almost all the things we ask them. From the first day the team improves everyday. They surprised me again today. ..At this level, when you create so many chances against Denmark, I must be satisfied about the way we play and the creation of chances. The only thing we have to do is put the ball in the goal.”