Did selections cost Socceroos top spot?

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IN the Socceroos' eyes, they created enough chances to win a hatful of games. Indeed, Australia's 23 shots on target at the Asian Cup compares to 28 from the rest of Group A combined.

But the tale of the tape shows Ange Postecoglou's side succumb 1-0 to a very well organised, stubborn South Korean outfit and the path to continental glory will now likely see paths cross with Japan one round earlier than many green and gold fans will have hoped, should the hosts prevail past China in the quarter-final in Brisbane on Thursday.

Had one of those many chances gone in, no one would be discussing the selections. But the inevitability is that the decision to start the first choice front three on the bench, while running the yellow card gauntlet with Mathew Spiranovic, now becomes a focal point of the Socceroos' analysis.

Have your say in the comments field at the foot of the page.

The intensity went up a gear on the previous two group matches but Uli Stielike's game plan, plus a lack of killer punch despite the 63 per cent possession, 13 shots on target and 451 passes completed (compared to 160 from South Korea), saw the hosts come up short.

VIDEO: THE MOMENTS THAT MATTERED IN SOCCEROOS LOSS

PLAYER RATINGS: CAST YOUR VOTE IN OUR INTERACTIVE GRADES

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ANALYSIS: SOCCEROOS' WAKE-UP CALL

ANGE SLAMS PITCH, BACKS SELECTION

"(It was a) nail biting second-half. I thought we completely controlled it," Mark Bosnich said on the Fox Sports post game show.

"We were very unlucky not to get a point. We had all the possession but in certain instances in the last third the quality wasn't quite there like it was in (the other two games)."

There's little cause for alarm; the heat and standard of the pitch made life difficult, but after the glow of the first two games, the loss is a disappointing chink in the Socceroos' journey.

John Aloisi said: "They came up with a game plan to frustrate the Australians and they did that.

"When we moved the ball slowly … we struggled to break them down until Kruse came on.

"We did hurt them a few times in transition, but we were unlucky not to get a draw out of that game. Even though the Koreans defended well, we deserved more because their goalkeeper was outstanding."

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We run the rule over the Socceroos 1-0 loss:

GOALKEEPER

The centre of attention after being linked to Liverpool during the week, Mat Ryan's distribution remains impeccable and he made a superb one-on-one in the dying stages.

While he couldn't be faulted for the goal, former Socceroos goalkeeper Bosnich noted that since he hedged forward and tried to cut out the cross from the left, but didn't, he may have been better off staying on his line to try make a reflex save.

GRADE: B

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DEFENCE

On a physical, busy night for the defence, it was the toughest test of the tournament yet.

There was some excellent scrambling and Spiranovic and Sainsbury won plenty in the air but the group failed miserably at the key moment in the 32nd minute, when South Korea tore the right side of the defence apart.

Former Socceroos defender Sasa Ognenovski said on Fox Sports: "(There was a) lack of communication (for the goal).

How the Socceroos were caught out of shape for the goal. Source: FoxSports

"All of them take a man each and the problem is solved."

Bosnich added: "The three Australian players were just watching the ball, no one keeping their eye on the man."

Aziz Behich and Ivan Franjic got through a mountain of work and tried desperately to create an offensive outlet out wide for the side when creativity was lacking through a crowded middle. Their service was a mixed bag, but they certainly worked their socks off.

GRADE: B-

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MIDFIELD

Australia's tempo and energy against Oman and Kuwait was noticeable, but South Korea made it extremely difficult for the Socceroos to reach full fluency with a brilliant game plan.

Sung-Yueng Ki and Joo-Ho Park made sure it was difficult for Australia's defence to link forward to Mark Milligan and Matt McKay, and it took enormous vision for Mass Luongo or James Troisi to squeeze themselves into pockets between the lines.

South Korea made it hard for Australia to play out. Source: FoxSports

While Australia tried to harass and force turnovers, with more success late in the game, to try and attack South Korea when they weren't set, the final touch wasn't there to seal the deal.

Massimo Luongo was again the catalyst with a couple of surging runs, although without the same impact as against Oman and Kuwait.

"When we won the ball back and played it forward quickly in transition (we looked dangerous)," Aloisi said.

"When they (South Korea) got into position, we found it a lot harder to break them down."

Skipper Mile Jedinak will be a welcome addition to the side against China.

GRADE: C+

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ATTACK

It was a big opportunity for Nathan Burns, Tomi Juric and James Troisi. Plenty was created, but the finished product wasn't there.

Burns was particularly dangerous when he was able to get into trademark positions to weave into the box and Troisi had a glorious first-half chance to level proceedings on the back of a Luongo pass.

Juric found himself in the right areas to nab the equaliser, but couldn't produce his deftest touch or finish when called the key moments came. He did, however, provide a fabulous link for the best chance of the game, a one-two that saw Kruse burst clear on goal.

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When Postecoglou turned to his heavyweights off the bench, the Socceroos pounded South Korea's goal. But chasing the game, with white shirts camped in retreat in a claustrophobic attacking third, it was not enough to carve open their resolute rear-guard.

"(There wasn't much wrong) until we got until the final third," Ognenovski assessed.

"The delivery played into the Koreans' hands – they had numbers in the box. Maybe (we could) look to get to the byline and cut the ball back to the edge of the 18 (yard-box).

"I don't think we had that creativity tonight.

"Mass Luongo looked a bit flat from the outset. Probably a Bresh (Mark Bresciano) coming on and playing that No.10 role (would have provided a spark)."

GRADE: C+

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Hewitt optimistic after Open draw

Lleyton Hewitt is optimistic about this year's Australian Open. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Corp Australia

AUSTRALIAN Open dreamer Lleyton Hewitt has admitted to some relief at finally ending his horror run of seeded first-round opponents.

Hewitt suffered first-round defeats at the hands of seeded players like Janko Tipsarevic and David Nalbandian in four of his past six Opens, but will face Chinese wildcard Zhang Ze on Tuesday.

"It's nice not to play one of the real top guys," Hewitt said on Saturday.

"But you've got to be prepared to play anyone. I try not to worry about it leading into the draw obviously.

"He's a dangerous player. He swings from the hip on a lot of shots. He's got a good serve, nice forehand, backhand and likes changing direction off both sides."

Hewitt still dreams of winning his home Open, but the veteran isn't making any bold predictions on the eve of this grand slam tilt.

Lleyton Hewitt will take it a match at a time. Source: News Corp Australia

Turning 34 next month, the former world No. 1 is long odds to achieve that goal, but is determined to enter his campaign for a third grand slam title with a positive mindset.

"When you start the tournament, that dream's still there for everyone, the 128 of us that are in the draw," Hewitt said.

"Nothing changes in that aspect. Over the years I think I pride myself on not looking too far ahead anyway.

"Even when I was No. 1 in the world, I always played every match on its merits, gave the utmost respect to my opponents, who I had to play.

"I've said it so many times — it's a matter of trying to get through the first week of a grand slam."

Despite his advanced years, Hewitt isn't entering his 19th straight Open thinking it will be his last.

"I think once those thoughts sort of enter your mind it can probably distract you and be a little bit of a negative influence when you're trying to perform at your best out there," he said.

"I'm that big a competitor. I think once I hit the match court out there my focus will basically be on the one-on-one aspect and to try to get the best out of myself."

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Phil Gould set to quit Panthers

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PHIL Gould is close to walking away from his role as Penrith general manager.

When Gould took the job in 2011, the Panthers were close to rock bottom.

In the four years since, he has helped rebuild the club as a genuine premiership contender while overhauling the off-field operations.

Now, he says his job is nearing completion — and once that day arrives he will walk away from the club he captained as a 20-year-old in 1978 and coached to its first premiership in 1991.

Gould is contracted to the club until the end of 2017, but he hasn't ruled out leaving earlier if all goes to plan.

Phil Gould has overhauled the Panthers. Source: News Corp Australia

"My aim is to get to a point where my job becomes redundant and the club moves on, and we're getting close to that," Gould told The Sunday Telegraph.

"But, at the moment, there is still a little way to go and I'll just keep working along and building the club that we want it to be.

"I'd been in the game for 35 years when I arrived back here at Penrith and it's been tremendous for me.

"A lot of that experience, relationships I've built and contacts I've had have been very beneficial for us in the journey and the job we've done so far."

In a wide-ranging interview, Gould also opens up on the pain of letting locally-bred Origin stars ­Michael Jennings and Luke Lewis leave, his relationship with coach Ivan Cleary and the depths of the problems when he first arrived.

Phil Gould was behind the signing of Jamie Soward. Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

THE FUTURE 

ON the day Gould took over in May 2011, he said it would take five years to rebuild the club.

Based on the Panthers' surge to last year's preliminary final and the emergence of a number of young stars, they are on track to achieve the goal within the ambitious time frame.

Gould's aim is for Penrith to become one of the most prominent sporting organisations in Australia to go with one of the nation's biggest and best sporting precincts.

"It will happen," said Gould, who plans to have a $10 million training and education facility funded by Crown Casino completed by 2017.

"It's not a matter of if, it's when, and we're always working towards that. I'm very comfortable with where we are at the moment with our development processes and where the salary cap is.

"This year we are about to start work on our new rugby league academy and we'll have facilities better than any other.

"We know where we want to be in five years' time and 10 years, so we've got all sorts of plans.

"I've always said the challenge of running a football club is to get short-term results with a long-term plan. Sometimes those short-term plans don't occur for you, but you've got to be on track with your long-term plan.

"That's where we are and my head is still three, four and five years down the track and that never changes, and I never get to an end point.

"My job is to shape what the club will look like in three or four years and that's with the assistance of a lot of people."

There is a new expectation of professionalism at the Panthers. Source: News Corp Australia

CONTRACTS 

THE Panthers have 17 players coming off contract at the end of the season, but Gould said the club had the situation under control.

"I don't think we'll have any trouble retaining the players we want to retain," he said. "Certainly our indications are that all players are keen to remain here.

"We've got a number of off-contract players at the end of this year and again at the end of 2016. But what we are creating here is a club that no one wants to leave and that they are all happy playing here.

"I think the players can sense they are building towards a successful environment that can be very productive for them over a number of years."

Ivan Cleary is doing a stunning job as Penrith coach. Source: News Limited

IVAN CLEARY 

GOULD has always rated Ivan Cleary highly as a coach.

It's why he lured him from the Warriors and it's why Gould believes the former fullback has a job for life at Penrith.

"I can see Ivan being the long-term coach of this club and I don't see an end point to his time here at all," Gould said.

"I think he is very much a part of what we are building and he is also the coach that once it is built, he'll take advantage of it.

"Ivan has been terrific and I said at the time that he was the perfect person for what our club was about to go through.

"I needed a coach who could put up with a couple of tough years and come out the other side.

"I also wanted someone who could buy into a long-term plan and had a reputation and demeanour for handling the short-term results, which I said to him at the time won't be great for a while.

"It was great to see both the coaching staff and the players get rewards for their effort."

Phil Gould let key juniors leave the club. Source: News Corp Australia

LOST STARS 

WHEN Penrith lost Lewis and Jennings it ripped at the heart of every Penrith supporter.

Gould said it was a necessary evil at the time due to significant salary cap and financial pressures, but he has vowed it will not happen again.

"I don't think anyone truly understands what the situation was here at Penrith," said Gould, who had to convince good mate and billionaire James Packer to give the Panthers Group a loan — just days within liquidation of debts amounting to $90 million.

"Anything that we've done at the club in the past was always done in the best long-term interests of the club and so we wouldn't ever have to go through that pain again.

"We never want to have to go through the pain of allowing a Luke Lewis, Michael Jennings, Lachlan Coote and Tim Grant to have to leave the club. But that's been a necessity and decisions that have been made in the best long-term interests of the club, so we can establish within the club so it never has to happen ever again."

ROAD GAMES

A COMBINATION of poor crowd figures, scheduling and a tough financial climate have forced Penrith to move home games away from Sydney, but Gould ­insists Sportingbet Stadium will always be the Panthers' home.

"In our current facility, it's hard to grow this business any bigger than it is," he reasoned. "That's why we've looked at taking a game away to Bathurst for the next five years and we are looking at other opportunities. But you'll never take the Panthers out of Penrith and this is where we are to remain.

"And when we have a stadium where we can make ends meet from the business, then this is where we will be.

"I thought our crowds (last year) were pretty good given the scheduling and the weather.

"I think as our performances improve we'll start to get greater attention from broadcasters and perhaps our draw will become better.

"But we've got to work hard towards that and we'll do what we can.

"There's a financial reality to our business and we've got to make ends meet, and we've got to be financially responsible."

Phil Gould after coaching Penrith to their first grand final Source: News Corp Australia

KING OF THE MOUNTAIN

>> Phil Gould's Panthers career

1976 First-grade debut

1978 Youngest ever Penrith captain at 20

1990 Takes over as coach of the club

1991 Leads Panthers to first premiership

2011 Takes over as club's general manager

THE REBUILDING BLOCKS

2011

Matt Elliott is sacked in April and Steve Georgallis takes over

Georgallis is told he will not be coach in 2012

Petero Civoniceva is allowed to leave

2012

Ivan Cleary signs as coach

Origin stars and local juniors Luke Lewis and Michael Jennings are allowed to leave

Recruitment drive begins with Dean Whare, Sika Manu, Lewis Brown and James Segeyaro among the signings

2013

Club win grand final of the National Youth Competition. Bryce Cartwright and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak graduate to first grade

Penrith Panthers named the most valuable sporting brand in the country, valued at $46.2 million by Brand Finance and Landor Associates

2014

Jamal Idris is signed from the Gold Coast as part of a swap deal with Brad Tighe

Jamie Soward, Peter Wallace and Elijah Taylor join club

Gould signs as GM for four more years

Memberships jump from 6500 to 16,400

Panthers reach preliminary final, losing to the Bulldogs

RISING PRICE OF GOULD

2011 12th

2012 15th

2013 10th

2014 4th

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KP, Stars cruise to victory over Thunder

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THE Sydney Thunder have been torpedoed out of Big Bash finals contention for the fourth year running, with a batting masterclass from Melbourne Stars captain Kevin Pietersen extinguishing their season.

Chasing a meagre 107 for victory, the Stars all but guaranteed a place in the finals courtesy of a silky innings from ex-England batsman Pietersen.

VIDEO: LALOR'S CATCH GIVES CRICKET WORLD HEADACHE

Questions about the Spotless Stadium wicket were once again raised after the home side struggled to grind to 107, with Thunder ambassador Mark Waugh joking in Channel Ten's commentary it was a "mine field".

But any concerns about the dangerous wicket dished up in the first-ever T20 match at Spotless Stadium last weekend were blasted all over the park once the Stars took to the crease, with Pietersen and Cameron White wreaking havoc.

Kevin Pietersen 67 off 42 balls for the Stars. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

Pietersen blasted eight fours and two sixes on his way to surpassing 50 before finishing the match on 67 off 42 balls.

By the time Peter Handscomb hit the winning runs, KP had hammered 10 fours and one six.

"To be honest, since the first net I had in Australia, I've lost all the pain in my knee and I feel like a different player," Pietersen said. "Since I've turned up here, I've thoroughly enjoyed it and gone out to have fun and win games of cricket.

"When I played here in the Ashes, I was nowhere. I had a horrendous time. I was on the physio bench three or four times a day. It's just nice to be playing with freedom. At the moment, touchwood, it (the pain) is staying away and I can just enjoy my cricket."

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Stars paceman Jackson Bird said Pietersen's contributions this summer had been invaluable.

"He's a class player. He's shown that throughout the Big Bash and he's shown that on the field by getting around the boys," Bird said.

Debate raged after Josh Lalor came from outside the boundary rope to leap and catch Cameron White, who was given out for 23.

White was left shaking his head and declaring there was no way it was out, as were numerous cricket experts. White maintained it should have been six runs.

"The last point of contact he made when he threw the ball up was outside the field of play," White said.

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"When he throws it up, my understanding is that he has to come back into the field of play, touch the field then touch the ball.

"But I just have to accept the decision."

Thankfully, it had no bearing on the final result, with the Stars cruising to victory with six overs to spare.

"Our bowlers were absolutely outstanding. The way that they ran in, the way that they hit their lengths," Pietersen said.

"It probably worked for us that we bowled first because the history of last week was probably in the batters heads, thinking "goodness, what's the wicket going to do"?

Kevin Pietersen shakes hands with Jacques Kallis after the Stars won the match. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

"We got on top and when negativity sets in and they're not scoring as quickly as they should be then they're on the back foot.

"As the temperature dropped I think the wicket got a lot better for us to bat on."

To be fair, the Thunder was missing captain Michael Hussey, Usman Khawaja and fast bowler Pat Cummins, but it could well be time to take a punt on a young gun like Jake Doran.

Next Thursday's all-Sydney derby at the SCG against the Sixers will now be a case of the Thunder attempting to spoil the Sixers finals aspirations.

Already out of finals contention, it could be a golden opportunity to blood rookie Doran.

Jacques Kallis was dismissed early by Jackson Bird. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

The Thunder struggled early, collapsing to 3-9 inside the opening four overs as Bird grabbed two wickets and Stars spinner Michael Beer chimed in with one in the opening over.

"The boys have been on a roll over the last four games. I think we started well in the first six overs with our bowling end. Over the past couple of weeks, we've been bowling really well as a team," Bird said.

Boundaries were at a premium, with the Thunder managing just two fours inside the opening 10 overs courtesy of Daniel Hughes and Andrew McDonald.

Clint McKay played his first BBL04 game and picked up the wicket of Nathan Hauritz. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

It hardly improved in the second half of the home side's innings either, with back-to-back boundaries from Aiden Blizzard on the way to the Thunder's top score of 45 a rare glimpse of action.

By the time they finished, the innings had entered the record books for recording the least amount of fours in Big Bash history.

The Thunder managed to grind to 100 with two overs remaining, but it was painstakingly slow and awkward to watch.

Two wickets in succession had Clint McKay on a hat trick in his first BBL match for the season in the final over for the Thunder, but the home side managed to avoid it.

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Alves may be off to Man United

Barcelona's Dani Alves, from Brazil. Source: Manu Fernandez / AP

MANCHESTER United are reportedly close to signing Dani Alves from Barcelona at the end of the season.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu indicated the full-back's future at the cup may be drawing to a close.

"What concerns us now is that he plays and contributes to the team," Bartomeu told Catalunya Radio. "What is to come, will come. We never explain what we do on the issue of contracts.

"If it is done, it will be done discretely, like always," he said.

Barcelona's French defender Dani Alves vies with Real Sociedad's defender Inigo Martinez (R). Source: AFP

It comes as three other players were reportedly being eyed by the Red Devils. Nathaniel Clyne, Mats Hummels and Kevin Strootman are all being considered.

Those deals may be scuttled by Manchester City though — the club recently outlayed almost $50 million for Wilfried Bony and its spending spree is unlikely to be over.

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Aussie Price third in Dakar Rally

Toby Price has come third in the Dakar Rally. Source: News Limited

SPAIN'S defending champion Marc Coma claimed his fifth Dakar Rally motorbike title after the 13th and final stage concluded in Baradero north of Buenos Aires on Saturday.

The 38-year-old KTM rider from Catalonia equalled the number of titles held by French duo Cyril Neveu and Cyril Despres, who now competes in the car category for Peugeot, and one behind another Frenchman, Stephane Peterhansel.

Coma was joined on the final podium by Paulo Goncalves, riding a Honda and almost 17 minutes adrift, while Australian rookie Toby Price, the winner of the previous day's stage, finished third in the overall standings.

For KTM this was a 14th Dakar success.

Saturday's closing 393 kilometre (101km timed) stage between Rosario and Baradero was won by Ivan Jakes of Slovakia.

Australian Toby Price (R) jokes with another biker before the start of the Stage 13 of the Dakar 2015 between Rosario and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Source: AFP

He was followed across the line by compatriot Stefan Svitko with Price taking third for a KTM 1-2-3.

Organisers were forced to shorten the stage as heavy rain had rendered sections of the road too dangerous.

Coma, who came in fifth on Saturday, inherited the lead in the overall standings from Honda's Joan Barreda after the eighth stage.

Coma opened his Dakar account in Africa in 2006, he then won again in 2009, the first time it was held in South America, adding the 2011, 2014 and now this year's title.

Finishing in ninth place overall came Laia Sanz, the 29-year-old Spaniard who bettered by one place the highest ever finish for a woman rider.

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Eagles, Dockers ready to raid the east

Alex Rance is being targeted by West Australian clubs. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

EASTERN states AFL clubs have instigated strict border control policies as they move to stop a possible exodus of expatriate WA stars at the end of the 2015 season.

All-Australian defender Alex Rance is the latest big man target in Fremantle's now annual assault to win a ready-made key position replacement for veteran superstars Matthew Pavlich and Luke McPharlin.

Rance, out of contract with Richmond at the end of the season, continues to delay talks on a new deal, leaving the full-back open to approaches from Dockers management to consider a move back to his home state after six seasons and 107 games at the Tigers.

Rance, 25, is tipped to stay with the rising Tigers with a new three to four-year deal early into the new playing season, but a delay in talks has fuelled prospects that he could leave.

Cale Hooker is on Fremantle's wish list. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Corp Australia

One eastern states club is understood to have declared their intentions to keep a leash on their WA-bred stars as a "border protection" plan.

Gold Coast is most vulnerable to raids with such a band of WA expatriate draftees.

Jaeger O'Meara, Harley Bennell, David Swallow, Brandon Matera and Jack Martin at the Suns as well as Stephen Coniglio with Greater Western Sydney are all expected to be headhunted to return home.

Versatile Essendon duo Cale Hooker and Tayte Pears are others on the radar for tempting lures to return west along with Brisbane midfielder Daniel Rich and Hawthorn's Bradley Hill.

Harley Bennell was drafted out of Western Australia. Picture: David Clark Source: News Corp Australia

North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow is another potential target when he becomes a free agent alongside brother David if they can be lured home together.

One football operations boss said contracts would not be a barrier after last season.

"You don't worry about contracts, they mean nothing anymore," he said.

That was evidenced at last year's unsavoury trade period when a host of players still in contract switched clubs.

Western Bulldogs captain Ryan Griffin quitting for Greater Western Sydney, first-year top draft pick Tom Boyd leaving the Giants while still in contract and Collingwood hero Dayne Beams heading to Brisbane were just some of the moves at the height of an ugly trade period.

Perennial strugglers the Bulldogs also lost Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney to Essendon still with time to serve on a deal.

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