Australia
Appearances at World Cup finals: 1974 – First Round, 2006 – Second Round
Best ever performance: Second Round in 2006 when Australia was narrowly beaten by Italy only due to a late and controversial penalty being awarded to the Italians.
Famous moment in WC history: When Australia defeated Uruguay in penalties in 2005 to send the Aussies to the World Cup for the first time in 32 years. The sight of John Aloisi running down the line after converting the winning penalty is a moment no Australian will ever forget.
The Lowdown:
The draw and Australia’s chances: The draw for the group stages in South Africa was not kind to the Aussies. Group G may be the ‘Group of Death’, however, Australia’s group is definitely a close second.
Pim Verbeek’s men were drawn alongside World Cup heavy weight Germany, African Nations Cup runners up Ghana and Serbia, who topped their qualifying group that contained 2006 World Cup runner’s up France. It will be a tall order for the Socceroos to match their 2006 performance, however, it is not an order too tall.
In order to qualify for the second round, Australia will need to get a point in their first game against Germany. If the Aussies succumb to defeat against the Germans, the task of making the second round may just be a beyond them.
Though victory against Germany is unlikely, the Aussies are very much capable of toppling either Ghana or Serbia. Not that this will be easy for the Socceroos. But, given their impressive qualifying campaign, the experience of 2006 and if all their key players are fit, Australia is definitely capable of making it to the second round.
Barring any surprises in group C, if the Aussies make it to the next round they will likely face off against England. A grudge match this will be, given the intense rivalry and history between these two nations in rugby and cricket and their historical colonial ties. Though a daunting prospect it would be, the Aussies can take heart from that memorable 3-1 win against England at Upton Park in 2003.
Tactics – Socceroo coach Pim Verbeek has come under heavy criticism from the footballing quarters in Australia due to the style of play his team employ. Whilst it is true that the Aussies are not playing the most stylish game under the Dutchman’s rule, it has been highly effective. Australia’s impressive route through the qualifiers is evidence.
Under Verbeek, the Socceroos play a 4-5-1 system that becomes a 4-3-3 when in attack. Two holding midfielders, usually in the shape of Vince Grella and Jason Culina sit in behind danger man Tim Cahill.
Josh Kennedy, a typical centre forward in the traditional sense, plays as the target man who is aided by the creative forces of Harry Kewell on one side and either Mark Bresciano or Brett Emerton on the other.
In defense, Lucas Neill will most likely partner under fire stopper Craig Moore, whilst full backs Luke Wilkshire and Scott Chipperfield are given license to attack. Though, given the quality of opposition the Aussies will face, the two full backs may have to be more conservative.
In attack, the wide players like Bresciano, Emerton and Kewell will be key for the Aussies. They will be the main form of support for target man Kennedy. Cahill will loom as ever dangerously in and around Kennedy, effectively playing the role of second striker when the Aussies go forward.
The two holding midfielders for Australia will be tasked with winning and getting the ball to the wide men. Grella will definitely be one of these players but Culina’s spot is not so certain after having spent a season in the A-League.
Verbeek’s pragmatic, efficient and organised approach to football has served the Aussies well so far. With such a difficult group, Australia will have to ensure they are all these three things if they are to navigate their way through to the second round. Perhaps a moment of brilliance from Harry Kewell will be required also.
Qualification: Despite testing conditions of qualifying through the AFC that took its toll on the Socceroos, nonetheless the Aussies secured their path to the next round of the AFC qualifiers, secured with an impressive win against joint leaders at the time, Qatar. Brett Emerton was the hero of the night with two goals and Harry Kewell’s strike sealed the win.
The experience of getting through a tough group under sometimes difficult conditions seemed to prepare the Socceroos well for the final round of the AFC World Cup Qualifiers. They made light work of a group containing Japan, Uzbekistan, Bahrain and Qatar. Verbeek’s men went about their business with meticulous efficiency as they qualified unbeaten and conceded just one goal.
The highlight of the round was the Socceroos thumping of Qatar at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane in October 2008. Brett Emerton again popped up with two goals with Timothy Cahill and Joshua Kennedy scoring either side of Emerton’s double. The display by the Aussies in this match is perhaps the best under head coach Pim Verbeek.
The qualifying campaign ended in style with a win over Japan at home in Melbourne in front of yet another great near capacity crowd. Tim Cahill’s double striker cancelled out Tulio’s opener for Japan to ensure the Aussies finished their qualifying campaign in fitting style.
Top scorer in qualifying: Tim Cahill and Brett Emerton – 4 goals.
All-time World Cup finals top scorer: Tim Cahill – 2 goals.
The Manager – Pim Verbeek pipped France’s Phillipe Troussier to become Australia’s head coach following the disastrous reign of Graham Arnold. Verbeek was brought in mainly due to his experience dealing with the challenging Asian world cup qualification stage and most likely because of his Dutch perspective on football, a perspective that is now a key feature Australia’s football development system.
Verbeek has a wealth of experience in coaching in places all over the world. Though he has predominantly been an assistant or staff member throughout his managerial career, Verbeek impressed with South Korea in 2007 when as head coach he led them to third place in the Asian Cup.
Six months after the Asian Cup, Verbeek was hired by the Football Federation of Australia.
Despite leading Australia to the 2010 World Cup on the back of some impressive results, Australia’s manager has been highly criticised. The main criticism charged towards Australia’s Dutch coach is that the team has been too defensive and the style of play too pragmatic. This charge is correct, however, in light of results it is completely unjustified.
Verbeek is set to become youth technical director of Morocco following the World Cup.
Key Player: Harry Kewell – Kewell is fighting to be fit in time for South Africa. He will most likely play, at some stage, but will probably not be 100%. However, so key is Kewell to this Australia side that even an 80% fit Kewell is better than nothing. In fact, it was the same case four years ago yet Kewell still managed to be Australia’s saviour after popping up to score that all important equaliser against Croatia.
One to Watch: Tim Cahill – Socceroos man of the moment. Following a string of impressive displays in qualification, the 2010 World Cup could be Tim Cahill’s big moment on the international stage.
On the move?: Joshua Kennedy – Having previously played in the Bundesliga, Joshua Kennedy is currently plying his trade for Nagoya Grampus. On the back of an impressive debut season for his new Japanese outfit, Kennedy is primed for a big tournament in South Africa. Kennedy is essential to Pim Verbeek’s side. His strength, height and aerial ability make him the ideal target man and the only the only Australian striker suited to Verbeek’s preference of playing a lone striker system.
Kennedy has been impressive for Australia in their qualifying, scoring three goals to add to his total of 14 goals in 25 national appearances. With Verbeek having selected just two other recognised strikers in Nikita Rukavystya and Harry Kewell, Kennedy is sure to feature prominently for the Socceroos. If he can knick a couple of goals for Australia, there is no doubt that his stock will rise and a move back to Europe may beckon once again.
