A tougher task, a more technical opponent, a rough away trip in difficult conditions...and a complete blow out of a scoreline. See how the Socceroos rated in their 7-1 thrashing of Chinese Taipei.
Adam Taggart - 8
Arnie's formation tries to take the pressure off our strikers to do anything other than score goals. It's all about their runs, whether they're responding to quick through balls from central midfield on a transitional break, or pouncing on crosses from switches out wide.
So it's easy to watch Taggart or especially Maclaren and figure that they weren't that involved. But Taggart had actually had a very strong game. He was outmuscled a little, which against Taiwan is a bit meh, but his runs were solid and his positioning was first class.
He would have easily had a hat-trick had our through balls been more accurate in the first half.
Awer Mabil - 7
Stepped it up a notch after a mixed cameo against Nepal and put both feet firmly in that starting wing position. He's not only our most exciting attacker in one-on-ones, he's also the most adept at flick-ons and he made Brad Smith look good. Damn good.
He also intercepted a bucketload of defensive passes, tribute to his quick feet and impressive agility.
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Mustafa Amini - 6
He'll be hard-pressed to work his way into that midfield long-term. It's not that he has any particular weakness, he just doesn't have any standout strengths, either. His shooting is a perfect example.
It's likely that we're not seeing him in his desired role. At the Central Coast Mariners, he used to have this electric ability to manouevre through tight-spaces. But in the current Socceroos formation it's so rare that he's operating in those positions.
Ajdin Hrustic - 8
While it's so easy to get carried away with quick-passing and driving runs against the world number 127, he's another of Arnie's new inclusions that has the potential to shift Australia into a fast-paced, dynamic forward line. Two assists and an electric presence made sure he made an impact in his short stint off the bench.
Jamie Maclaren - 8
Who would have thought Maclaren and Taggart fighting it out for the starting striking role against some of the world's lowest football nations would be a spectator sport in itself.
Maclaren leading 3-2 so far after a very clinical effort to round out the scoring. Who knows, combined they might just make a world class striker.
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