Australia battle without potent weapon
The socceroo’s most memorable moment came in Kaiserlauten, when a spectacular 3-1 comeback win over Japan in the dying minutes of the match catapulted Australia from the group stage of the Germany 2006 to the second round. The team looked very good to go very far under the tutelage of Hinddink, but the controversial decision […]
The socceroo’s most memorable moment came in Kaiserlauten, when a spectacular 3-1 comeback win over Japan in the dying minutes of the match catapulted Australia from the group stage of the Germany 2006 to the second round. The team looked very good to go very far under the tutelage of Hinddink, but the controversial decision of the referee cut their journey in the football show piece short.
They suffered heartbreak via a late Francesco Totti penalty awarded for an infringement, which should have earned Luca Toni a yellow car instead. Going to South Africa, the Socceroo will have to put the disappointment of Germany round of 16 loss to the eventual winner, Italy, behind them in order to scale through the group comprising Germany, Serbia and Ghana.
Some of the Socceroo’s reliable players that will be flying the flag of Australia in South Africa in the next 32 days are in their 30s. Although, that did not show it their qualifier, at the world cup, they may find it difficult to have enough strength to carry their team on their shoulder to an enviable level. But if Pim Verbeek can blend the aging players with young blood, the experience of the former may be the key.
THE SQUAD
A team that managed to allow opponents to find the back of its net four time in the first round of their qualifier, can be described as having very solid, hyper-organised and unified defence. The defensive record has shown how much the players know one another’s playing style intimately. Most of the players have been together since when they first broke the nation’s World Cup drought four years ago. The strength of the team also lies in the understanding built by Guss Hiddink, which has been solidified by his successor, Pim Verbeek.
Emerging in a group containing Japan, Iraq and China in the first round of the qualifier with just only four goals conceded, cannot make Australia to be extraordinarily solid in the defence. Against high goal-scoring Germany and Serbia, the defensive record may crumble when it is put to test in South Africa come June.
Goal scoring is a major problem and the placebo is currently Tim Cahill. But once the world’s better defenders catch on that setting two defenders on Australia’s main man will largely nullify the Socceroo goal-scoring threat, who is there to step up? The absence of a prolific forward, proven at international level, is conspicuous. Also the squad lacks pace all over the park.
THE COACH
Under Coach Pim Verbeek, a relatively unknown football tactician, who was handed the job as a second – or possibly, third – choice by the Football Federation Australia (FFA) around 18 months ago, had his appointment questioned by analysts and commentators before he had even taken charge of his first game.
The Dutchman has taken over from where his country man left by silencing all his critics with a near-perfect qualifying record and some impressive competitive and non-competitive results along the way against the world’s bigger teams. He is an honest character who has a wonderful relationship with his players. His coaching style is a conservative one that prioritises discipline over aesthetics.
Verbeek’s teams usually employ two holding midfielders and a sole striker up front. His teams usually play a slow tempo and build up play and heavily relying on crosses. With all these, Verbeek has successfully guided Australia to its 3rd appearance at the World Cup, but has been criticised by mainstream media for playing ‘boring football’.
Verbeek’s response to these statements is that he is a results-oriented individual and if the team is achieving qualification for the World Cup, then he regards it as a success. His ambition is to surpass the record set by the man he worked with as an assistant coach in South Korea.
DANGER MEN
Irrefutably, Archie Thompson, who began his career in Bathurst, playing there in the 1995-1996 season, is the most potent striker to have come out of Australia. But, whether the dangerous and aging striker can still re-enact his old form is even a source of worry for the national coach, who once described the performance of the striker against Indonesia as ‘disappointing’.
With 19 goals for the national team, Mark Bresciano is one of Australian most talented footballers and has a legendary eye for goal. He usually plays his football on the left side of midfield but can also play as a forward and in the central or right midfield role. Bresciano is a versatile player who often assists in both attack and defence and is also a set-piece specialist.
Tim Cahill is another danger man who has continued his great form for the rest of the World Cup qualifying fixtures, especially scoring a double against Japan in the final game of his group to win the game 2-1 for the Socceroos. He also scored a double against the Republic of Ireland in a friendly match, and the 1-0 winner against Oman in an Asian Cup qualifier. Cahill became a talismanic figure under the reign of Pim Verbeek, as Australia began to rely heavily on his goals.
If these three players make it to the final team of Australia, Serbian, German and Ghanaian defences and goalkeepers must be ready for serious torments. But, the most difficult task for Australia will be how to beat German side that parade some of the most dangerous strikers and creative midfielders in the world. Serbian and Ghana too will not be easy opponents, as their youthful side are capable of springing some surprises.
ROUTE TO SOUTH AFRICA
The road to qualification for the first World Cup on the continent of Africa was very rosy for the Australia. In fact, it was a far cry from the emotional penalty shootout victory over Uruguay in 2005, when Australia became the last nation on the planet to book its place at football’s showpiece event. That night will largely remain a blur for most Australia fans and is a stark contrast to the clinical manner in which Pim Verbeek has steered the Socceroos through their first Asian qualification path.
They came through two groups, with Iraq and China headlining the first and Japan the second. They topped both of them and lost just one out of their fourteen matches, conceding only four times.
Australia’s final qualification game ended with a 2–1 victory over Japan, with Australia coming back from a goal in the 40th minute by Japan’s Marcus Tulio Tanaka with Tim Cahill’s equalising header in the 59th minute, and his winning goal 17 minutes later off a Nicky Carle corner. This victory left Australia top of Group A ahead of Japan by 5 clear points.
WORLD CUP HISTORY
1974: First round
2006: Round of 16
WORLD CUP HIGHLIGHT
The last few minutes of the match against Japan have been etched into Australian football folklore but in terms of historical significance, it has to be qualifying for the World Cup for the first time ever in 1974 and going on to face the eventual champions in Germany, Italy; that feat was performed by essentially amateur players and through a hellish Asian qualifying route.