It was barely 18 degrees in California, but that was reason enough for Fifa to pause the Mexico versus Australia friendly today. The Rose Bowl witnessed a classic case of bureaucratic overreach when, with just eleven minutes left on the clock, players were ordered off the pitch to hydrate.
The temperature wasn't exactly Sahara desert out there. Even the players looked confused, as most of them were substitutes who had barely broken a sweat. The match had already been stretched into an eternity by a nineteen-minute half-time break, leaving the 78,479 fans in attendance wondering if they were watching a sport or a hostage negotiation with the clock.
Fifa, you are ruining the sport over which you have custody.
Things weren't much better on the pitch in terms of flow, either. Harry Souttar and Santiago Gimenez got into a proper tussle around the 86th minute. It ended with Gimenez hitting the deck and looking for a scrap, only for Alessandro Circati to jump in as the designated peacemaker. It was petty drama that makes international friendlies worth watching, even if the actual football left a bit to be desired.
Nesting inside the substitution madness was the debut of Victor Vargas, who holds the title of the first Alaskan-born international footballer. He joined the fray alongside Gilberto Mora, Mexico’s youngest-ever international player when he made his debut at just 16. It's a young man's game, clearly, though the old guard like Guillermo Ochoa was still busy smothering one-on-one chances as late as the 65th minute.
The Tactical Shift
Australia looked like the better side for large chunks of the second half, managing to control about two-thirds of the possession at one point. This was largely down to a more aggressive, high-pressing approach that forced Mexico to scramble. The Socceroos were dragging the pitch wide, particularly through the efforts of Jordan Bos, who kept the Mexican defence on their toes.
Australia's approach was effective, and they managed to control the possession, with Jordan Bos keeping the Mexican defence on their toes.
Missing the Mark
For Australia, the missed opportunities will be the talking point back in the dressing room. Nestory Irankunda had a go at a bicycle kick in the 87th minute that never quite materialised into a proper chance, while Ajdin Hrustic failed to bury a golden one-on-one opportunity earlier in the half. The lack of clinical finishing might cost them when the competitive matches begin for real.
By the time the match hit stoppage time, the subs were flying in thick and fast – Mabil replaced Jackson Irvine and Jake Burgess replaced Lewis Herrington. The intensity of the high press was the standout feature for the Aussies, even if it didn't ultimately result in the win they clearly felt they deserved on the balance of play. It was a scrappy, disjointed affair, underscored by an officiating style that seemed designed to frustrate everyone in the stadium.