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.

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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

AS-IT-HAPPENED: RELIVE THE ACTION FROM SUNCORP STADIUM

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)."