Ahead of the Subway Socceroos’ all-important showdown with Bahrain on Wednesday morning, Jackson Irvine spoke about responding to our recent World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia, the state of the qualification in Group C and more.
Irvine has enjoyed a stellar start to his first season in the Bundesliga as captain of St Pauli, where he’s won the most duels of any midfielder in the competition while playing every minute in the league for his side.
With the Socceroos seeking revenge after a disappointing home defeat to Bahrain a few months ago, Irvine spoke of the importance of avoiding ‘dark arts’ and their game plan, while touching on the need to play through the press and being clinical in the final third.
Here’s what he had to say when he faced the media.
On approaching the Bahrain game
It is an opportunity. I think that's definitely the way we're approaching it this week. We've taken big strides forward again, I think another step forward on Thursday night. It wasn't the result we were really hoping for. But I think especially the second half performance gave us a lot to build on. And if we reach those performance levels that we reached in the second half on Thursday, we have a really good chance to win on Tuesday.
On the plan for the match
It's not really a specific plan for any one game, but it's the structure that we've been working on over these last two camps, about finding that new identity, those new patterns of play within our possession, but also within our defensive structure. So it's about building on all of those things.
And we showed against China, in a tough moment where we go behind and we have to battle our way back into the game that we're capable of fighting through those difficult moments, and we're expecting there'll be a lot of those tomorrow night. When we maintain our discipline and focus on performing within the structure of the framework that we've been set, we believe that'll be enough for us to get three points.
On being more clinical as a team
It's tough to say. I think when you look at each individual moment, you can understand the decisions that were made within the context of each of those moments within the game. It's when you probably look at them all together that it looks like we need to have that more clinical edge. Whether it's someone taking more responsibility earlier and without hesitation, or whether it's squaring the ball in the right time for someone else to have an easier moment. There's no right or wrong answer.
It's just about making sure that we find that clinical edge individually and, collectively, to be able to put the ball in the back of the net. I think we showed in those moments we're capable of creating chances in different ways. We had a couple of good ball-wins high up in their final third, a couple of times at the end of the first half. And also a set-piece moment with Harry early on, and a couple of good moments in the second half where we played through the lines and created something well. So we're showing we can create all different types of chances. We just need to clamp down on that clinical edge and make sure we put it in the net.
On playing through the press
The main focus of training yesterday was looking at that, especially in and around our box and being calm and trying to find solutions in those areas. That was a topic of conversation post-game after Saudi, and we've looked at it this week. And, hopefully, if the same situation arises tomorrow night, we'll be more equipped to deal with that.
On avoiding Bahrain’s ‘dark arts’
There are two ways of looking at it. Number one is you want to maintain that discipline and not allow it to rattle us away from our game. But at the same time, you don't want to allow teams to get away with certain kinds of behaviour and you need to have each other's backs and try and manage the game. Of course, you want to leave it alone as much as you can, but there are moments when you have to manage that situation as well.
Probably in the first game against them, we didn't find that balance well enough. We allowed it to become the story of the game, and that's the biggest thing you want to avoid. You want that drama not to be the centre of the game. You want our performance to be the main focus. And of course, these things will happen, but the way we deal with it in terms of not allowing it to take away from our football and then leaving it to the older players and the coaches on the side to manage the things we can't control.
On adapting to different problems from opponents
I think it's probably a question of sometimes the players on the pitch being able to identify solutions in those moments, about trying to find answers quicker. I've talked about that a lot this week, about playing in Bundesliga and the difference in level and stuff, and it’s the same at international level. Players are so adaptive and flexible, and you need to constantly be looking to find different answers for the way that they come at you. I think that's probably something we can improve on.
Saudi came out with a very high man-orientated press at the beginning of the game. We weren't able to, one, play through that and then two, win enough second balls to maintain possession further up the field. They had no chances against us in that time, but for us, just to be able to settle into games a little bit quicker, we need to be able to identify where the spaces are, the best way to kind of find our way into the game and then use that to settle ourselves down. You're never quite sure what's going to come at you again tomorrow night. It could be a high press, it could be a very deep block - you never quite know. We have to identify that on the pitch and try and settle into the game a little bit quicker.
On his current form
In the last couple of years, I feel like I've progressed massively in every aspect of my career and my game, individually, with the situation of my club now playing at the highest level. The biggest thing with me is I never, never want to stand still at any point in my career, and at this moment in particular, where I'm carrying probably a little bit more responsibility than I've carried in the past as well. It's even more important that you maintain those performance levels and continue to grow because despite all of those things, it can change very quickly as well.
So I don't take it for granted, and I've probably never been more focused and driven and motivated to not only maintain the level of my performance, but grow on and build on it again and a chance to take another big step forward in the next nine months to maintain Bundesliga status and make sure that this team goes to another World Cup. There's a lot to play for, and you need to be at the very top of your game to make sure that not only you're contributing in the best way possible, but also to make sure that you're constantly available and can be there for the team in those moments.
On Craig Goodwin’s return from suspension
His quality is undeniable, and he offers so much. His strong mentality, he's a really popular guy among the group, and his work rate. That ability to find that end product in key moments has been why he's been such an important player for us over the last couple of years. In set-piece moments and in open play, he’s capable of delivering at the right time. So there’s no doubt he'll have a big role to play for us tomorrow night.
On his relationship with Mathew Ryan
We have a really good dynamic. We always have among the senior players in the squad, and myself and Maty in particular. And the boss is absolutely right. Maty is, of course, the captain of this team and we lean on his experience, his mental capacity, what he brings, the dedication he's put into this team over the last 10 years. He's done it all, he's been through all those moments. At the moment, it's me that's out there on the pitch, but his experience and his leadership is undeniable.
For us, it's just always about finding balance. We have got players like Aziz [Behich] and now players like Harry [Souttar] and Aiden O'Neill who are captaining their clubs and showing leadership across the board. So it's great to have that amongst the squad. But we've always had a really good dynamic within this team and finding ways to make sure that everybody's getting what they need.
On Anthony Caceres and Max Balard
I've been a big fan of Cass [Caceres] for a long time. I think he's long overdue an opportunity to be a part of this team. He's shown at training, and even in his moments on the pitch the other night, that he's what he's capable of and his qualities. He's such a useful player in the middle of the pitch - someone who can break pressure, can take the ball, and always wants to do something positive. And he's definitely added that and great personality among the team as well. I know he has known a lot of the boys personally for a long time as well, which helps settling in.
And young Max, I've had a good chance to speak with him a couple of times over the last week. He's got that real energy and enthusiasm that you love to see from a young player that's not only grateful to be here, but wants to come in and show something at training and try and to earn a chance to get on the pitch. He's doing great things at his club. Playing week in, week out in Holland in his first season in Europe is no easy achievement. Those boys in particular have impressed me, looking from a midfielder's perspective.
Next Match
Bahrain v Subway Socceroos
Tuesday 19 November 2024
Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa
Kick-off: 9.15pm local (5.15am AEDT – Wednesday, 20 November)
Broadcast: Paramount+