By Tony Tannous
January 8th 2010 @ 2:58am
Vidosic shines, but life’s a pitch for others in Kuwait
Australia's striker Luke Wilkshire, left, fights for the ball with Kuwait's player B. Almotawa. The match ended with a 2-2 draw. AP Photo/Gustavo Ferrari
If any fringe player pushed his case for inclusion in Pim Verbeek’s 23 man World Cup squad in appalling conditions in Kuwait City yesterday morning (our time), it was Nurnberg wide-man Dario Vidosic.
Make no mistake, this was a difficult game against very good opposition, played on a terrible surface.
The Socceroos went to the Middle East early and had an excellent preparation, geared around playing possession-based football.
But with all the resources in the world, why didn’t anyone know anything about the state of the pitch till 24 hours prior? A question that needs to be asked.
Given all that, and the fact Verbeek’s team featured seven A-Leaguers and three Europeans who haven’t had a game for over a month (Luke Wilkshire, Nick Carle and Vidosic), the Socceroos did very well to earn a share of the points.
It leaves them in a good position to qualify for Qatar. A draw against Indonesia in Brisbane in March will do, but it shouldn’t be taken for granted.
While Indonesia only have three points, and no chance of progressing, the fact they have drawn three of their five games, lost the other two by only one goal, and held the Socceroos to a scoreless draw a year ago, suggests they are no easy-beats.
Hopefully the surface at Suncorp will be better than the one dished up here.
It made for a scrappy affair, gripping though it was thanks to some constant shifts in momentum.
The Socceroos bossed the early proceedings, bagging two early strikes after reacting first to the fall of the ball at a pair of set pieces.
Scrappy, but effective, the goals summed up life under Verbeek.
It was a fantasy five minutes, calming the nerves and giving the midfield duo of Wilkshire and Mile Jedinak the confidence to go about their job of running the game.
Jedinak, in particular was at his destructive best, and the Kuwaitis couldn’t live with him for the first half hour or so.
But Kuwait manager Goran Tufegdzic played an early card, bringing on an extra attacker in Hamad Al Enezi to partner Yousef Nasser and the little gem, Bader Al Mutwa.
Suddenly the Kuwaitis started going long, and early.
The plan was clear and two-fold; to bypass Jedinak and Wilkshire, and try and expose the Socceroos defence through the pace of Al Enezi and Al Mutwa.
Tufegdzic targeted both the centre of defence, where Simon Colosimo and Craig Moore made errors to allow Al Enezi in for the first, and both Socceroos fullbacks, Dean Heffernan and Matthew Kemp, who are inexperienced at this level.
It is an area I had alluded to as a Socceroos weakness on Wednesday, and the Kuwaitis were bright enough to identify it and, even better, exploit it.
For the second goal, Al Mutwa took up a position in behind Dean Heffernan, got on the end of another long ball, ducked inside and teed up a delightful diagonal ball in behind Kemp. Nasser pounced.
Eugene Galekovic was slow to react for both goals.
The Socceroos were shaky, and the early part of the second period promised more.
Fortunately they were able to survive some dicey moments, and gradually exerted control over the second half, without every really threatening in the front third.
Vidosic caught the eye, taming the tricky surface with some good dribbling and movement infield, but the rest of the front third will be disappointed about an opportunity missed, and will spend endless nights wondering whether Verbeek will given them another one.
Archie Thompson tried as hard as he ever has in green and gold, but was often left isolated and unsure about his touch.
Carle kept receiving the ball with his back to goal and a Kuwaiti midfielder applying the heat from behind, but was never able to turn and face the goal, and I can’t remember one moment when he combined decisively with Thompson or his wide men.
Instead, he seemed content to get the ball, control it under difficult circumstances, and release it backwards. It is hard to remember such a conservative Carle performance.
On the positive front, he did win and provide the set piece that lead to Heffernan’s goal, and at least showed he could control the ball consistently on this surface.
Meanwhile, Mile Sterjovski was anonymous.
Given the surface and Thompson’s isolation from the rest of the team, it was a mystery was why Bruce Djite, a robust striker, wasn’t introduced earlier than two minutes into stoppage time.
The other ongoing worry for Verbeek is the recent form of Moore, who has much on his mind, admitting he is yet to sign any release from the Brisbane Roar.
A point keeps the Asian Cup dream alive, but there remains much to ponder in the upcoming months.
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(9)
Davstar said | January 8th 2010 @ 8:18am | Report comment
I have to agree Vidoic and Wilkshire played very well. But Moore is the big worry for me the last couple games I’ve seen him play for both club and country his really struggled.
whiskeymac said | January 8th 2010 @ 9:26am | Report comment
good read it’s a pity ruky, djite didn’t play for very long – especially when the starters in those positions didnt do much throughout the match.
with moore/ colosimo constantly exposed for pace a shame spira or lowry didnt get some game time.
Dogz R Barkn said | January 8th 2010 @ 11:57am | Report comment
Moore is now on the brink.
Gibbo said | January 8th 2010 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
cant disagree with any of that tony. another measured peice. cheers.
The Bear said | January 8th 2010 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
Bit off topic, but, Jedinak did well. I prefer him to Valeri and Culina. After Grella and Wilkshire there has to be our Jedi.
Australian Football said | January 8th 2010 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
Tony,
thanks for another interesting column and I am a fan of Nicky Carle and think he deserves a spot in the 23 Roos squad at the very least… I did not see the game and so I can’t comment, but ask questions.. From reading your analysis; do you think Carle was given the role of holding up the ball with his back to goal and then passing the ball back to on coming midfielders leaving Archie free to attack the goal at will when he gets a pass…?? From your description of what Carle was doing in the match, It made me think that, he may have been instructed to try and hold the ball up and play it back…
~~~~~~
AF
Tony Tannous said | January 8th 2010 @ 9:43pm | Report comment
AF, watching the match I kept thinking to myself that surely Carle had had the shackles put on him, for he simply wasn’t trying to turn and face the opposition, and look to link with his front three. Thus, Archie was isolated, and didnt get the service. Kuwait did a great job of nulifying Carle, but I felt his lack of mobility, fitness, confidence and form made it easier for them.
He seemed content to get the ball, hold off his defensive midfielder, and play it backward, to one of his screening mids, or centre backs. The problem was he did it time and time again.
A confident and in form Carle would be looking to hold it up and take his man on, or hold it up and flick it by his defensive midfielder, thus getting him facing the right way.
We all know Veerbeek is conservative, and I sensed Carle may have been under instructions not to lose the ball. His mindset, already fragile from his dramas at Crystal Palace, even moreso at initally having to play second fiddle to Brosque (he only got his start due to the injury), meant he might have thus been afraid to try things.
Verbeek doesn’t strike me as the type to say “go out there and express yourself son, try things, don’t worry if you make a few mistakes, just as long as you make a difference for me”.
That’s what Carle needs, a man to utterly and truly believe in him, and right now neither his club or national team manager convince.
As you would know if you’ve been reading TRBA from day 1, I’m a huge admirer of Carle, and lead the calls for his inclusion in the national team, but right now he really needs to find regular first team football, and build his confidence.
He has the ability to make a difference, but sadly I reckon it would need a manager with an attacking philosophy like Wenger or Hiddink to appreciate what he brings. Instead he has Warnock and Verbeek. Bad luck or bad management?
At clubland, he has himself to blame. Why stay? For the national team, for now, it’s bad luck and timing.
Davstar said | January 8th 2010 @ 10:19pm | Report comment
I agree with all your points here Verbeek is conservative, boring and safe but it works and its worked well so far. Whether Carle was instructed to play that way and the fact the pitch probably didn’t help his game, the other night must be considered. The fact remains he had a below-par game i wouldn’t put carle infront; Vidoic, Holman, Emmo or Brece. Also Carle laziness is his fault he refuses to move and im feed up with him sitting on the bench when there are younger better players getting time more often than him. His 2 this year his lost cause our whether his overrated of he just doesn’t suit Verbeeks play of playing there is only 6 months till the world cup his ships sailed.
But i agree our next coach needs to play a more exciting style football, there is nothing wrong with having a good defence personally i think the 4-3-3 is way to open for Australian players but i think a 4-1-2-1-2 would suit. We can’t expect our national team to go out and attack every match that’s stupid too but we should expect friendly matches played at home should be attacking and forceful and fast.
clayton said | January 9th 2010 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
Hi Tony
What are your thoughts about Verbeek`s in-game coaching?