COACH Ange Postecoglou shouldered the blame after Cherries goalkeeper Adam Federici was beaten from the halfway line in Australia's 2-1 defeat to Greece yesterday.

Federici was several paces outside his penalty area when Giannis Maniatis let fly with his effort from more than 50 yards out in Melbourne and was unable to get back.

But Greek Postecoglou leapt to the defence of the custodian he had given the nod to ahead of regular number-one Mathew Ryan, insisting the long-distance goal was down to his tactics.

"It wasn't a horrible mistake. Fedders was doing what he's supposed to be doing," said the Socceroos' Greek head coach.

"That goal was not his responsibility. It is my responsibility because that is how we want our goalkeeper to play.

"Every now and again, that will happen and we accept that. Longer term, it sets us up for being the team we want to be and I certainly don't hold Adam responsible.

"In the 30-odd games I've been in charge, that's the first time it's happened. If it takes another 30 for it to happen again I'll cop that, as long as we're able to play our football."

Cherries colleague Artur Boruc played the second 45 minutes of Poland's 0-0 draw with Lithuania on Monday.