Can the Socceroos win the World Cup?
Columnist
By Mike Tuckerman, 18 Aug 2009 Mike Tuckerman is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- football, Socceroos, world cup soccer
Australia's Harry Kewell kicks ahead during the Australian Socceroos v Iraq World Cup qualifier - AAP Image/Dave Hunt
A second consecutive World Cup finals appearance. A confident line-up. A coach eager to make his mark on the big stage. With only ten months until the Socceroos run out in South Africa, why not ask the question: can Australia win the World Cup?
It may seem like a daft proposition.
When Japan coach Takeshi Okada boldly pronounced that his side was good enough to reach the World Cup semi-finals, most critics thought the po-faced tactician had finally lost it.
But if Australia are to realise the late Johnny Warren’s dream of not only participating in a World Cup – but winning it – it requires some strong leadership.
Only time will tell whether Pim Verbeek is the man to deliver it.
The quick-witted Dutchman is a results-driven pragmatist – but ultimately it’s the results he conjures in South Africa by which he will be judged.
His first major decision is to sort out this mess with Mark Viduka.
Big ‘Dukes’ is clearly in a class of his own when it comes to our striking personnel.
But despite being treated with kid gloves by Verbeek, Viduka is yet to play a single game under the Dutchman.
He may not get the chance, with Viduka currently club-less and seemingly headed into football oblivion.
But if he’s still keen to represent his country, then it’s time for Verbeek to demand a cast-iron commitment from Viduka.
Otherwise he should anoint Scott McDonald or Josh Kennedy as our undisputed first choice striker, and continue to blood youngsters Bruce Djite and Nikita Rukavytsya to further strengthen our depth.
McDonald’s glaring lack of goals for the national team is an obvious concern, and given Verbeek’s fondness for a 4-2-3-1 formation, it begs the question of whether Gençlerbirligi striker Bruce Djite shouldn’t be handed his chance in upcoming friendlies against Korea Republic and the Netherlands.
The choice of friendly opposition is another crucial one.
I was at the De Kuip Stadion in Rotterdam in 2006 when an heroic goalkeeping performance from Mark Schwarzer helped propel the Socceroos to a confidence- boosting 1-1 draw.
Australia meet the Dutch again in a friendly at the Sydney Football Stadium, but just as crucial a test is the upcoming friendly against Korea Republic in Seoul.
Deft in possession, the Koreans play the kind of high-tempo pressing game the Socceroos might encounter from certain Central and South American teams at the World Cup finals.
Moreover, the passionate confines of Seoul’s imposing World Cup Stadium will force the Socceroos to come out of their comfort zones.
Communication is vital, and with the deafening vuvuzela set to be unleashed again at the finals in South Africa, the test of our non-verbal communication skills should prove a useful one in Seoul.
How Verbeek handles the likes of Perth Glory trio Chris Coyne, Jacob Burns and Mile Sterjovski plying their trade in the A-League could also prove vital.
After questioning the standard of the league, Verbeek can ill-afford to let which country a player plays in dictate his squad selection.
If someone lights up the A-League with a mountain of goals – let’s use John Aloisi as a suitable example – he should be named in the squad, even if the A-League’s early finish is a hindrance.
The luck of the draw will ultimately play a key role in how the Socceroos fare.
However, preparation can also make a difference, as Guus Hiddink’s super-fit 2006 vintage will no doubt attest.
Getting the likes of Brett Emerton fully fit will be easier said than done, while the entire nation will hope that Tim Cahill keeps his metatarsal wrapped in cotton wool in the build-up to the big event.
He’s not a man to tinker extensively with his tactics, so it’s up to Verbeek and his assistants to consolidate a first-choice starting eleven, consider some alternatives, practice penalties and hope that Lady Luck shines upon us at the group stage draw.
It might sound far-fetched, but Australia came agonisingly close to a quarter-final showdown with Ukraine in 2006.
With that in mind, what would it take for the Socceroos to win the World Cup?
I’m keen to hear what you think.
Follow Mike on twitter @Mike_Tuckerman
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JonnyP said | August 18th 2009 @ 3:41am | Report comment
No.
don said | August 18th 2009 @ 3:51am | Report comment
its very very VERY unlikely, but with a boat load of luck… maybe.
you’ll probably get flak for this article, but this is the kind of attitude people should have. if you go into a tournament in ANY sport thinking you will not do well — thats exactly how you do. if you go in thinking you can win it, you might end up being wrong, but that determination will propel you to do better.
tifosi said | August 18th 2009 @ 5:58am | Report comment
No, but we can cause a few upsets along the way.
Australia will need a lot more development before we can get to that stage. At the moment we just have to concentrate on getting to world cups, despite what Johnny Warren used to say, winning is still awhile away.
sheek said | August 18th 2009 @ 6:32am | Report comment
Frankly, the Socceroos aren’t good enough to win, or shouldn’t be.
That said, I think they could surprise with a final 8, or even final 4 finish. And if they get that far, then who knows?
They are a solid team, apparently united. They are experienced, with many players in their ‘key’ age – late 20s/early 30s. They are comfortable with the coach, his formation, strategy & tactics. They know their role in the team, & they play above their collective abilities.
I’m proud of them & am hopeful they might at least make the quarters. That would be something!
onside said | August 18th 2009 @ 6:58am | Report comment
I have no doubt you know the answer Mike
vinay verma said | August 18th 2009 @ 7:04am | Report comment
Winning the World Cup is not realistic for Australia till at least 2018. Of the 18 played so far Brazil have won 5 and Italy 4. Germany have won 3 and Argentia and Uruguay 2 each. Throw in England and France with one each and only 7 countries have won. No African or Asian country has won and this is the reality. The pedigree of South America and Europe renders all other contenders as support cast and bits and pieces extras.
The riches of Solomon are not enough to deliver a World Cup to Saudi Arabia and the other sandcastle billionaires. Australia will be gallant but in defeat.
MVDave said | August 18th 2009 @ 7:08am | Report comment
Greecewere given no hope when Euro 2004 started and guess what?
Turkey and South Korea both reached the semis, against all odds, in 2002 WC…
Croatia reached the semis in France 1998…
Sweden the semis in USA 1994…
The Socceroos are very long odds to win SA 2010 but…they can surely cause some upsets and with luck and their best 11 on the park can reach the 1/4 finals. Once in the knockout stage anything can happen as it all comes down to conditions on the day.
The fact that the question can now be asked is a measure of the improvement of football in Oz. We are now ranked 16th in FIFA world rankings…unprecedented! As some politician in the US has stated in recent times…YES WE CAN!!!
vinay verma said | August 18th 2009 @ 7:17am | Report comment
MVDave,your optimism and generosity is laudable but to bookend this with a politician’s slogan”Yes we Can” is a curse in itself.
Agreed we must celebrate the improvement in the Socceroos but I wouldn’t be breaking out the bubbly just yet.
Pippinu said | August 18th 2009 @ 8:07am | Report comment
When I saw the title of this article on the right hand side of the page, I thought it was going to be another offering from one our breathlessly exuberant younger members – but I was surprised it was coming from the normally very earnest and thoroughly professional Mike Tuckerman!!
I’m going to provide two answers.
The first answer is of the sort that MVDave has offered. As the excitement builds on the eve of the WC, it’s impossible not to think that anyhting is possible.
It was Harry who said so famously at the last WC (perhaps after the draw against Croatia): “You turn up thinking you can win it” (or words to that effect).
In other words, if you turn up thinking you have zero chance – you automatically become cannon fodder for the opening round and you’re packing your bags before you know it.
I’ll close the wide eyed enthusiastic response with some hard cold facts.
Tournaments outside of Europe and South America (of which they’re haven’t been many) – always throw up suprises.
The first Asian WC threw up the most unusual top 4 ever witnessed.
South Africa willl do the same plus some – and if there is one nation capable of been amongst a surprising top 4 – it’s definitely Australia.
dm said | August 18th 2009 @ 5:08pm | Report comment
Analysis of previous world cups throws up some interesting patterns regarding the the ‘surprise package’. It is often the case that the surpise package one year is unable to back it up in the following world cup – Colombia; Romania; Croatia; Japan; Sth Korea; Nigeria; Cameroon.
Phutbol said | August 19th 2009 @ 6:22pm | Report comment
I thought that was Bob the Builder…
Midfielder said | August 18th 2009 @ 8:06am | Report comment
Well not in 2010, but over the next 10 WC there is a chance..
Pippinu said | August 18th 2009 @ 8:12am | Report comment
For my second response to the question, which was to be a hard, cold, calculated look at our squad, I wanted to copy an old post in which I did a line by line comparison between the current Socceros squad and the team that won the last WC, Italy.
but I can’t find it – and I’m far too lazy to replicate it.
Needless to say, the gap between the two teams is a yawning one.
Kazama said | August 18th 2009 @ 8:14am | Report comment
Not impossible, just highly improbable. Greece winning Euro 04 showed with a bit of luck and good organisation teams can punch well above their weight and sometimes even win the whole thing. But being totally honest, Australia winning the World Cup next year would be possibly the biggest sporting upset of all time.