Returning duo hope to unlock Socceroos creative keys

Michael Lynch: Back from injury, Riley McGree and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos hope to unlock the Socceroos creative keys against China

Australia's problems in breaking down massed defences and teams who employ a low block have been its Achilles heel in this World Cup qualifying tournament.

Bahrain, who defended in depth and also tried to slow down the game and disrupt its flow through delaying tactics and theatrical falls after any sort of physical challenge, gained the ultimate reward when they pulled off a shock 1-0 win on the Gold Coast when Australia last played at home.

Indonesia didn't offer that much of a threat when the two played out a goalless draw in Jakarta last month either, a frustrating night that left Australia in a perilous position after just two games of the third phase of Asian World Cup qualification.

Anyone expecting anything at all different on Thursday night when China faces Australia in Adelaide is being more than optimistic.

The one certainty is that China, pointless and adrift at the bottom of the table, will batten down the hatches and cram their own defensive area in the hope they can stem the tide of Australian attacks.

While the Socceroos can take heart from the fact that the Chinese have shipped nine goals in two games, the Chinese will themselves take some succour from the fact that the Socceroos have not managed to hit the target in two games either.

That said, no one is forecasting this to be a dull draw between two teams who rarely offer any threat. There is a feeling that the Socceroos will be able to turn things around, particularly under a new coach in Tony Popovic.

Most teams gain a new manager bounce when a new boss takes charge, and the mood in the Australian camp is upbeat.

If they are to rediscover their scoring touch and add some much-needed creativity then two players who missed the disappointments in Jakarta and on the Gold Coast might be able to provide it.

Riley McGree and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, two South Australians who began their careers at Adelaide United, were injured and unavailable for the Bahrain and Indonesia matches.

Now they are relishing the chance to put their stamp on this qualifying competition and be the difference makers every team needs.

The former is in his third season in the rough and tumble of the English championship with Middlesborough, the latter is in a positive frame of mind having scored his first goal for Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.

McGree says the shake-up at the top has put everyone on notice but warns that if China does try to kill the game Australia cannot become frustrated

''Having Tony coming in now with a new direction going forward is a very exciting time,” he said.

''As a team, we come up against these teams who do sit off and I think going forward (and in the past) we have had to and are going to have to find ways to break these teams down, find a way to win.

''We are all attacking players with quality and we all know and have shown we can break teams down, score and assist. It’s not down to any one individual, it’s about on the day making that happen.''

Stamatoulopolos concurs and believes he can make a difference if given the opportunity.

''Wherever I go I believe I can score,” he said. “[With] a new coach [there may be] more intensity maybe different tactics.''

Image Credit: Socceroos/Aleksandar Jason