Humbled Australia brace for more lessons in Russia

Brazils players celebrate their fourth goal as Robbie Kruse C of Australia walks back during the friendly international football match between Brazil and Australia in Melbourne PicAFPAustralias 40 home loss to Brazil could be regarded as both the perfect preparation for the Confederations Cup and a stinging reality check for a side desperate to take a seat at the top table of international soccerDismantled in Melbourne by a team shorn of talisman Neymar and a host of other firstchoice players Ange Postecoglous men head to Russia bracing for further stiff tests against Germany Cameroon and Chile at the June 17July 2 tournamentThe squad of 23 will board the plane with doubts about their technical and physical measure against the worlds top nations but they can have no uncertainty about their place in the global pecking orderPostecoglou blamed himself for the secondhalf surrender at the Melbourne Cricket Ground having triggered a raft of substitutions before a threegoal blitz by the SelecaoIn reality it was only the acrobatics of number two goalkeeper Mitch Langerak and a raft of spurned chances by the visitors that spared them a greater humiliationYou never like getting defeated and you dont like a heavy defeat particularly at home Postecoglou told reporters That always has an effect It doesnt have to have a negative effect thoughFrom our perspective its about preparing for that game against Germany in about a weeks time Itll be good to get over there and knuckle down in preparation for that game Well be ready for thatThe margin of defeat was the greatest Australia have suffered since consecutive 60 away losses to France and Brazil in 2013 which triggered former coach Holger Osiecks dismissalAustralias head coach Ange Postecoglou speaks at a prematch press conference PicAFPPostecoglou took over and in a little more than a year was feted a hero for engineering an Asian Cup triumph on home soil in 2015 while fashioning a more enterprising unit than the stodgier outfit overseen by German OsieckBig fishLocal fans are accustomed to Australia being a big fish in Asias small pond however and Postecoglou has long aspired to build a side that can compete at the World Cup rather than just make up the numbersA year out from soccers showpiece having circumnavigated the globe to scout overseas talent and blooded a raft of new players the 51yearolds project is far from completionLast weeks 32 home win over Saudi Arabia boosted the sides hopes of qualifying for a fourth successive World Cup but it was another unconvincing display from a team that has laboured against Asian opponents they once dominatedThe core of the Asian Cupwinning team remains in place partly because the younger generation has failed to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors who cut their teeth in Europes top leaguesTim Cahill remains both an indispensable part of Postecoglous plans and a symbol of Australias inability to produce a goalscoring successor to the 37yearold veteranPostecoglou has tried to wring goals out of a new 3241 formation but no amount of tactical acumen could make up for the gulf in class between the sides on TuesdayAnother humbling experience against Germany looms in Sochi on Monday and Postecoglous critics will be out in force should that occurBut the football lessons in Russia could ultimately prove invaluable ahead of the next World Cup qualifier away to Japan in AugustAustralia are third in Group B of Asian qualifying but only one point adrift of leaders Japan and their matchup could prove decisive in the finals racePostecoglous hope of building a team that can challenge the worlds best remains a pipe dream but ensuring they return to Russia next year will at least keep the ambition alive