“From what I've learnt – and I might get criticised for saying for what I've learnt I should've known beforehand but no other Australian would've probably known beforehand – I've tried to teach these boys how to play Asian football,” Arnold said after Australia beat the Iraqis.

“If you don't start playing the way they play, it's very difficult. We had a bit of a mentality here in Australia that we go in gung-ho, 100mph – every tackle you've got to go through people.

“These boys have not had a yellow card now in the last five games – apart from Zadkovich tonight. We've prepared the boys at training for how Iraq would take the pace out of the game. They're very good at that.

“We've played games where stretchers have come on 14 times. And that breaks up momentum in the game. And it frustrates the hell out of our players because they are not used to it.”

Arnold added that the win “was payback for me”.

“We copped a 3-1 loss in the Asian Cup this year and they beat us in the quarter-finals of the 2004 Olympics, so for me it's a payback," he said.

"But the job isn't over.

“I've just had a chat to the boys. I've congratulated them on their performance, a great effort.

"But tomorrow we're going to North Korea, [playing on] artificial grass, zero degrees. And that's Asia.”

The Olyroo coach singled out Dario Vidosic and James Troisi for praise in a side that was missing four key players: Musailik, Djite, Kilkenny and Spiranovic.

“It shows our depth,” he noted.

As for Iraq, Arnold was fullsome in his praise. “They were outstanding. They don't have seven players in their senior national team for nothing.”

The latest Olyroo news is that Queensland Roar's young gun striker Robbie Kruse could be called in for striker David Williams, who did his hamstring and won't travel to North Korea. If a visa can be sorted out in time, Kruse will join teammate Michael Zullo in the travelling party.

The Olyroos will leave for Beijing on Sunday after a recovery session in Sydney. In China they will train on artificial grass for two days before flying into Pyongyang for their final Olympics 2008 quaifier against North Korea.

A win or a draw will ensure the side progresses irrespective of the result between Iraq and Lebanon.

“If you'd said before this long campaign had started that we'd be going into the final group game three points ahead of second place with our destiny in our own hands, I'd taken it,” added Arnold.