Despite favouritism and a team that exceeded all expectations in Germany last year, the Socceroos face an immense challenge first time out in Asia.
With Anthony Wild
Not only are the traditional heavyweights of the region in Japan, South Korea and Iran out to prove that the new team in the tournament aren’t going to have it all their way, we will also have to adapt quickly to the way the game is played against the largely unknown sides in Iraq, Oman and Thailand. Perhaps more tellingly, the Socceroos will also have to grow accustomed to how matches are refereed in Asia. Toss in the fact that Australia hasn’t exactly been welcomed into the AFC with open arms by some nations and the size of the task starts to come into focus. If caretaker manager Graham Arnold hopes to succeed, he will need all his Roos in a row.
Since the World Cup, the Socceroos have played a total of eight games. Our run into the first pool match against Oman on July 8 now features only two further friendlies against Uruguay (June 2) and Singapore (June 30) – the third scheduled match against a full-strength Argentine side having been postponed indefinitely. It’s a typically disjointed preparation for the national side whose last three hit-outs have yielded a win, a loss and a draw against China, Denmark and Ghana respectively. Unsurprisingly, the starting line-ups in each of those matches have been vastly different. It’s a situation we’re all familiar with and one that, in the long-term, should benefit Australian football. In the short-term, however, the lack of continuity and the shortage of matches in our build-up threatens to derail our campaign.
If Arnold has a full-strength squad to choose from, it’s unlikely he’ll use the 3-4-3 that took the park in Guangzhou against the Chinese. He could stick with the 4-1-2-3 he trotted out against Denmark back in February. If that’s the case, the starting line-up should look something like this: Middlesbrough’s No. 1 – Mark Schwarzer will have the gloves on with Lucas Neill (West Ham) and Michael Beauchamp (FC Nurnburg) combining in the centre of defence. Given the embarrassment of riches Australian football has in the midfield at present, it’s likely that the versatility of Blackburn’s Brett Emerton will see him at right-back while the opposite defensive flank may well be manned by the adaptable Luke Wilkshire (FC Twente). Expect Vince Grella (Parma) to do the dirty work just in front of the back four while Marco Bresciano (Palermo) and Tim Cahill (Everton) will do the hard yards in the centre of midfield. If he’s fit and available, look for Harry Kewell (Liverpool) to replace Brett Holman just off Viduka’s (Middlesbrough) shoulder on the left, while Mile Sterjovski (FC Basel) should start in a similar spot on the right.
John Aloisi and Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven) are likely to provide a spark from the bench however Arnold has used Aloisi as a starter in a number of previous matches. They’re likely to be joined by the likes of Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester City), Nick Carle (Newcastle Jets), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory), Shane Stefanutto (Lillestrom), Mark Milligan (Sydney FC), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough), Brett Holman (NEC Breda) and Michael Thwaite (Wisla Krakow).
On paper it’s a quality squad. In the stifling humidity of Asia it may well be a different story. The standard of the pitches, the unpredictability of the weather and the hostility of the crowds will all play a part. If you factor in long-term injuries to key players Kewell and Cahill, the aforementioned disjointed preparation, and the pressure of favouritism, and it would seem that the obstacles are too numerous to overcome. That is, unless some of our senior players, particularly Mark Viduka, can put their club form on the pitch for their country.
Despite having been a huge influence on most of the games he’s played for the national side, it’s widely acknowledged that the V-Bomber has been off target when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net. Now, with Australia being part of the AFC, Viduka has a gilt-edged opportunity to begin to rectify a record that’s hugely discordant with the rest of his career. Playing between Kewell and Sterjovski as the target man in a dynamic formation should take some of the pressure off his boots, freeing him up to create havoc with his deft touches and composed finishing.
Granted, the obstacles are huge and things have to go just right if we’re to become Champions of Asia at our first attempt but that’s what’s expected of the team by management, fans and the media alike. Fuelling those expectations, Socceroos captain Lucas Neill has recently been quoted as saying: “I expect us to go there and be undefeated. I really think that we’ve got a team now and a squad now that can handle the conditions. Enough of us have played on the bigger stage now that we won’t be intimidated by the teams we are going to play against.”
Critics have called it overconfident and antagonistic, but we argue that it’s tempting fate. Accordingly, Graham Arnold has adopted a more measured approach.
“We expect to top the group. I am not going there to do anything less than that,” he told Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph.
But, it’s fair to say that he’s going to have to set his sights somewhat higher than that to please his bosses.
FourFourTwo verdict
Are we bold enough to say we’ll win it?
Yes… just.
Not only are the traditional heavyweights of the region in Japan, South Korea and Iran out to prove that the new team in the tournament aren’t going to have it all their way, we will also have to adapt quickly to the way the game is played against the largely unknown sides in Iraq, Oman and Thailand. Perhaps more tellingly, the Socceroos will also have to grow accustomed to how matches are refereed in Asia. Toss in the fact that Australia hasn’t exactly been welcomed into the AFC with open arms by some nations and the size of the task starts to come into focus. If caretaker manager Graham Arnold hopes to succeed, he will need all his Roos in a row.
Since the World Cup, the Socceroos have played a total of eight games. Our run into the first pool match against Oman on July 8 now features only two further friendlies against Uruguay (June 2) and Singapore (June 30) – the third scheduled match against a full-strength Argentine side having been postponed indefinitely. It’s a typically disjointed preparation for the national side whose last three hit-outs have yielded a win, a loss and a draw against China, Denmark and Ghana respectively. Unsurprisingly, the starting line-ups in each of those matches have been vastly different. It’s a situation we’re all familiar with and one that, in the long-term, should benefit Australian football. In the short-term, however, the lack of continuity and the shortage of matches in our build-up threatens to derail our campaign.
If Arnold has a full-strength squad to choose from, it’s unlikely he’ll use the 3-4-3 that took the park in Guangzhou against the Chinese. He could stick with the 4-1-2-3 he trotted out against Denmark back in February. If that’s the case, the starting line-up should look something like this: Middlesbrough’s No. 1 – Mark Schwarzer will have the gloves on with Lucas Neill (West Ham) and Michael Beauchamp (FC Nurnburg) combining in the centre of defence. Given the embarrassment of riches Australian football has in the midfield at present, it’s likely that the versatility of Blackburn’s Brett Emerton will see him at right-back while the opposite defensive flank may well be manned by the adaptable Luke Wilkshire (FC Twente). Expect Vince Grella (Parma) to do the dirty work just in front of the back four while Marco Bresciano (Palermo) and Tim Cahill (Everton) will do the hard yards in the centre of midfield. If he’s fit and available, look for Harry Kewell (Liverpool) to replace Brett Holman just off Viduka’s (Middlesbrough) shoulder on the left, while Mile Sterjovski (FC Basel) should start in a similar spot on the right.
John Aloisi and Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven) are likely to provide a spark from the bench however Arnold has used Aloisi as a starter in a number of previous matches. They’re likely to be joined by the likes of Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester City), Nick Carle (Newcastle Jets), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory), Shane Stefanutto (Lillestrom), Mark Milligan (Sydney FC), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough), Brett Holman (NEC Breda) and Michael Thwaite (Wisla Krakow).
On paper it’s a quality squad. In the stifling humidity of Asia it may well be a different story. The standard of the pitches, the unpredictability of the weather and the hostility of the crowds will all play a part. If you factor in long-term injuries to key players Kewell and Cahill, the aforementioned disjointed preparation, and the pressure of favouritism, and it would seem that the obstacles are too numerous to overcome. That is, unless some of our senior players, particularly Mark Viduka, can put their club form on the pitch for their country.
Despite having been a huge influence on most of the games he’s played for the national side, it’s widely acknowledged that the V-Bomber has been off target when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net. Now, with Australia being part of the AFC, Viduka has a gilt-edged opportunity to begin to rectify a record that’s hugely discordant with the rest of his career. Playing between Kewell and Sterjovski as the target man in a dynamic formation should take some of the pressure off his boots, freeing him up to create havoc with his deft touches and composed finishing.
Granted, the obstacles are huge and things have to go just right if we’re to become Champions of Asia at our first attempt but that’s what’s expected of the team by management, fans and the media alike. Fuelling those expectations, Socceroos captain Lucas Neill has recently been quoted as saying: “I expect us to go there and be undefeated. I really think that we’ve got a team now and a squad now that can handle the conditions. Enough of us have played on the bigger stage now that we won’t be intimidated by the teams we are going to play against.”
Critics have called it overconfident and antagonistic, but we argue that it’s tempting fate. Accordingly, Graham Arnold has adopted a more measured approach.
“We expect to top the group. I am not going there to do anything less than that,” he told Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph.
But, it’s fair to say that he’s going to have to set his sights somewhat higher than that to please his bosses.
FourFourTwo verdict
Are we bold enough to say we’ll win it?
Yes… just.
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