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The Socceroos have thrown their support behind coach Ange Postecoglou's controversial tactics, despite a new attacking system failing to deliver in their disappointing 1-1 draw with Iraq.
Australia's chances of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia now hang in the balance after failing to win their past four group games, but a new-look 3-2-4-1 formation has not been blamed by the players for their latest struggles. Australia sits in third position on the table, three points adrift of Saudi Arabia and Japan in the two automatic qualifying spots in the group ahead of their crucial match against the UAE in Sydney on Tuesday night.
Socceroos draw with Iraq
The Socceroos have escaped with a 1-1 draw against Iraq in Tehran to leave their World Cup qualification hopes in the balance.
The highly-attacking system is likely to be deployed again for their must-win game against the UAE, despite its first test against Iraq on Thursday showing teething problems as Australia were exposed down the flanks, outnumbered in defence at times and susceptible to long-ball attacks.
The players believe the drastic change, particularly from a four-man backline with overlapping fullbacks to just three in defence, is the right step forward and urged patience from the public as they evolve their style of play.
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Kruse says a heavy, soaked, bumpy pitch at the PAS Stadium in Tehran made it difficult to execute their game plan that adhered to their philosophy of trying to play free-flowing, fluid football. By contrast, he believes Iraq's long-ball game plan was beneficial in the conditions.
"They were playing a lot more route-one football and probably, with the conditions that it was, it was good for them to do that," Kruse said. "But, like the boss and everyone says, we want to stick to the style that we want to play that is going to hopefully get us results when we qualify for the World Cup. Hopefully not just qualify, but make a stamp at the World Cup."
Australia has four games to rescue its chances of sealing direct qualification to the World Cup and avoid an intra-Asia play-off, likely against Uzbekistan or Syria, before a home-and-away play-off against the fourth-placed team from CONCACAF.
Australia plays UAE at Allianz Stadium on Tuesday, before facing Saudi Arabia in Adelaide on June 8. They then travel to Japan on August 31 before hosting Thailand on September 5 in their final group game.