He blasted the backroom beancounters who get in the way of the players and management.

“For way too long, administrators in this country have been making football decisions. If a coach needs six weeks, he needs six weeks to prepare,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“In the future, it’s all about preparation. FFA has to look at it.

“In saying that, I was speaking with one of the players who said they were getting worked very hard early on. Maybe they got their taper wrong."

The Jets coach nevertheless was proud of how the Socceroos battled against Japan. “Obviously they were difficult conditions. The Japanese were technical and classy and kept the ball well and coped with the conditions.

“The Socceroos were gallant in defeat.”

The national team's next outing will be on home soil against Argentina in Melbourne on September 11.

What are your thoughts? Next time, do we need to prepare longer in similar conditions? Do we need younger players for the Asian Cup, say a core of Olyroos?