Socceroos find their shooting boots in Kazan

The Socceroos had their eye on the back of the net as Bert van Marwijk oversaw shooting drills during the first session with the entire 23-man squad in Kazan.

Andrew Nabbout

Andrew Nabbout unleashes an acrobatic volley during Socceroos training Source: Getty Images

Absentees from the first day's training - Trent Sainsbury, Andrew Nabbout, Tomi Juric and Tom Rogic - recovered from soreness to join in at Australia's Trudovye Rezervy Stadium training base.

Shooting practice was on the agenda, and typical of the Dutch coach's competitive style, he split the Socceroos into two groups to clash for honours.

Each side was given their own portion of the field and given a routine of shots and crosses, with the aim to out-score the other.

Under cloudy skies in Kazan, the race was on.
Tim Cahill showed his class by scoring an outrageous chip over Mat Ryan.

Aaron Mooy could hardly miss, picking a corner with ease almost every time.

Rogic showed his technical aptitude by leathering a variety of crosses.

And Daniel Arzani showed why he's exciting so many Socceroos fans, middling an overhead kick to bury a strike past Brad Jones.

Others struggled to find the net.

Nabbout couldn't find a rhythm, sending one shot sky high and forcing an FFA staffer to walk around a high fence to retrieve the ball.

The striker, likely to start against France, lashed out and kicked the goal frame in disgust at his efforts.

Mark Milligan, stationed further away from goal as one of the Socceroos' centre backs, couldn't buy a goal.

The veteran Socceroo's biggest contribution to his side was cheekily gathering the balls prior to kick off, ensuring his team had an advantage - before Jackson Irvine retrieved a portion to get his side underway.

Milos Degenek won the prize for best celebration, arrowing a long-range shot past Ryan before pointing to the sky and booming out his excitement.

The drill gathered pace when assistant Mark van Bommel declared a minute remaining.

And on time, van Marwijk declared a tie - there would be a penalty shoot-out to decide.

Nabbout confidently struck home the first.

Socceroos penalty-taker Mile Jedinak, who also struggled with his shooting, showed no problems from the spot, dispatching an effort with power.

Jamie Maclaren picked his spot to keep the game running.
Unfortunately for Juric, the match was lost when he crashed his effort onto the bar, bouncing down but away from goal.

Irvine led the gloating, gathering his side inside the goal for a mock winners' photo - much to the other side's mock disgust.

Bragging rights to Arzani, Degenek, Irvine, Maclaren, Nabbout, Rogic, Sainsbury, Dimi Petratos and Josh Risdon; better luck next time to the rest.


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Presented by Justin Sungil Park
Source: AAP

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