Aussies don't score on first date with Osieck

Holger Osieck's opening night in charge of the Socceroos was always going to be a bit like a first date for his players.

With the nerves involved trying to impress the new coach and remembering all the right things to do, it was never going to be easy to seal the deal.

Against a disciplined but undermanned Switzerland, Australia had a 0-0 draw in St Gallen and they were a bit fortunate to finish with that scoreline.

Swiss skipper Alexander Frei missed the lot from the spot in the 60th minute and Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer had to be at his sharpest to keep a clean sheet in perfect conditions at AFG Arena.

And Australia can't say they did not have their chances as well.

Missed opportunities

Skipper Lucas Neill was still shaking his head post-match after putting the ball over the bar from point blank range on the 10-minute mark and the recalled Scott McDonald missed some good opportunities to open his international account.

"I actually had more time than I realised and had too much time to think, I am not going to get many more gifts like that to crack the goals in and nor will Scotty Mac but it is coming," Neill said.

"You have to be there to miss them.

"I will take the positives of a clean sheet."

Tactical changes

In terms of tactical changes, the most noticeable was ditching one man up front that had become so heavily criticised under Pim Verbeek's reign with McDonald joining Tim Cahill in a two-man forward line.

With one eye on Tuesday's Euro qualifier against England in Basel, Switzerland rested about half their regular starting lineup and utilised their bench early in the second half.

Osieck seemed comfortable with his side's first-up effort under his new regime before Tuesday's friendly against 2012 Euro co-hosts Poland in Krakow.

"I thought we played a very good half ... I thought we created some very good scoring opportunities we did not have the final touch that would have rewarded our fine play," he said.

"I thought the attitude of the team was very good.

"Second half after the Swiss put on the four substitutes .. we found it a bit difficult to adjust at first and our passing became a bit sloppy at times and we lost a bit of the red fire."

Osieck encouraged by players

But he was encouraged by the ability of the players to take on his ways.

Brett Emerton, clearly busting for a run after spending most of the past few weeks on the bench for Blackburn, proved a handful all evening down the right flank.

McDonald was his busy self, but has now gone 17 internationals without a goal.

The Middlesbrough man looked to have been played in at an angle in the 41st minute but slipped as he went to shoot and should have found the back of the net a minute out from halftime.

The man who made his name through his prolific scoring in Scotland, ghosted in but headed the bouncing ball wide.

Not for the first time, Australia had to depend on Schwarzer to get them out of trouble.

Just moments after Neill should have scored, the Fulham stopper saved the day by slapping away Albert Bunkaju's shot from close range.

The Fulham stopper, denied a move to Arsenal on Tuesday, was on his game all evening and showed his athleticism by getting his fingertips to turn Switzerland's Xavier Margairaz's header past the post just after the break.

As for the penalty, Schwarzer was diving the wrong way as Frei, who had scored 40 goals from 77 internationals before Friday night's match, missed the target.

"Whatever happened in the past week he shook it off because he is a very good professional," said Osieck.