Can the Socceroos win the World Cup?
Columnist By Mike Tuckerman, 18 Aug 2009 Mike Tuckerman is a Roar Expert
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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.
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August 18th 2009 @ 8:30am
Tom said | August 18th 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment
I’m more concerned about whether we can make the second round or not. I believe there’s more depth in international football now than there was four years ago.
August 18th 2009 @ 8:55am
midfield general said | August 18th 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment
You’re right MIke, had they beaten Italy in last WC they could’ve made the semis – and anything could have happen from there. I think we’ll struggle against the cream – Brazil, Spain, France, Argentina etc., but anyone else I feel is within reach. No, I can’t see them winning it, however.
We seem to have less players at top clubs now and, at least on paper, not quite up to the level of 2006 campaign. I hope likes of Ruka, Williams, Carney, Spira, and even Danning step up at the club level over next 12 month, but not many of them are getting games as we speak.
August 18th 2009 @ 8:56am
Hammer said | August 18th 2009 @ 8:56am | Report comment
No – Australia don’t have the strikers to get the necessary goals for them to make it to the business end and may struggle to get out of their pool if they have the misfortune of getting into a tough one … the back four look short of pace also and while Schwarzer’s an excellent shot stopper he has problems with his decision making when to come for the ball in the air …
August 18th 2009 @ 8:56am
AndyRoo said | August 18th 2009 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Well we can win it, but where definietley not the favorites and I’m not putting any money on it.
I will say that 2010 is probably going to be our best chance for a while assuming 2018 is in Europe (don’t agree with it but it seems likely).
IF 2002 has been any lesson it shows that the best time for a non European team to do well is when the cup is outside of Europe and those teams are less comfortable, that means there are 15 teams are at least slightly below par. 2014 is in Brazil so the South American teams will all be tough, it is outside europe but it looks like our tema willl be in transition leading up to that tournament (we seem likely to have less and less EPL players each year).
The Europeans are much harder to beat when the tournament is in Europe, they play their club football there (as do the Aussies) as well as most of their internationals (WC Qualifying and Euro Qualifying). But we have the advantage of being based in Asia which means dealing with a lot more logistical problems and a varied climate. Puts the team in good stead to handle the South African challenge.
Coupled location with the fact we have a settled side and a couple of talents that are unlikely to ever be replaced in Kewell and Viduka then this is our best roll of the dice.
August 18th 2009 @ 9:12am
mahony said | August 18th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
It is very unlikely – but football is the most wonderfully cruel game ever devised by man – so anything is possible. To win it without an unlikely sequence of ‘good luck’ we are at least 20 years away – and this even assumes we get everything right in our developmental reforms. I love the prospect of a World Cup win. In an Australian sporting sense it would be our ‘moon landing’!
August 18th 2009 @ 9:29am
albe said | August 18th 2009 @ 9:29am | Report comment
We are good enough to progress from our group, and that can be the only realistic aim.
All this depends on the draw i guess. Though even in a ‘group of death’ scenario, it’d still see us as a chance.
Then once u get into the knockout phase … agree with mahony, anythings possible.
Its just great to be able to go into each world cup cycle now, knowing we’re a fair chance of qualifying. Thats a good position to build on for 2014, 18 etc…
August 18th 2009 @ 9:42am
Art Sapphire said | August 18th 2009 @ 9:42am | Report comment
Shouldn’t the question be – Can Pim emulate Guus and get Australia out of the group stage?
We barely got out of the group last time around and even if we are put in the 3rd pot come the WC draw, that means we will still have to face 2 countries with a higher pedigree than ours just to get to the knockout stage. Once we have done that we are still 4 wins away from winning the trophy. We have only ever won 1 WC game in our history.
I agree that the 2006 team would have beaten the Ukraine, but then every other team in the last 8 would have beaten them as well. And please people no more references to the Greece’s 2004 win. Even Denmark’s won a Euro.
The WC is much harder to win. That is why the WC has either been won by a strong host nation or a traditional powerhouse.
Our best chance will come in 2022, if we host the thing.
August 18th 2009 @ 10:55am
FIsher Price said | August 18th 2009 @ 10:55am | Report comment
Quite. ‘Will we win a match?’ might be a better question.
August 18th 2009 @ 9:42am
Redb said | August 18th 2009 @ 9:42am | Report comment
Very unlikely in 2010, maybe in 50 years.
Redb
August 18th 2009 @ 9:43am
Brian said | August 18th 2009 @ 9:43am | Report comment
No we can’t. Also people need to remember that FIFA/UEFA have admitted themselves that they made a scheduling error with 2002 and 2004, they didn’t allow enough time between the end of the league season and the start of a major tournament which resulted in major teams being underdone and more upsets than normal. They altered this for 2006 onwards and there were a lot less upsets than 2002 or 2004.
August 18th 2009 @ 9:58am
Towser said | August 18th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
Have to agree with Vinay on this one.
Historically everything is against Australia given the limited number of nations out of 18 World Cups that have won it. England won it in dubious circumstances at home, under conditions that suited them & Pele also had his legs kicked till he could no longer carry on.. France also at home in 1998 when something weird happened to Ronaldo & Brazil .These are countries with football pedigrees as long as your arm. Not only that but there are other countries in Europe & South America with outstanding football pedigrees who have never won it. Australia has zilch football history on the world stage.
Thats not to say they cant ever win it & shouldnt as Johnny Warren said strive to win it,but not just yet. He also spelt out a list of things that needed to happen in order to acheive this goal. As every one of them only started post Lowy, its a bit much to expect a miraculous transformation in our footbakll pedigree in such a short time frame. Football is a work in progress here in a country with admirable sporting credentials. The Key is to be a consistent qualifier learn,keep learning ,add that to the fighting qualities of Australian teams,something even the Dutch coaches wish Holland had & I,ve no doubt one day this country will celebrate a World Cup win.
August 18th 2009 @ 10:06am
vinay verma said | August 18th 2009 @ 10:06am | Report comment
Towser, dunno about Yorkshire pudd for you,Laddie,but two gulab jamuns will have to do!
August 18th 2009 @ 10:32am
Colin N said | August 18th 2009 @ 10:32am | Report comment
“England won it in dubious circumstances at home, under conditions that suited them”
Come on, it was well over the line