I told you so. They are the famous words of our most beloved football icon, Johnny Warren, and they ring true following Monday morning’s performance against Germany.
I have written two previous posts in regards to Pim Verbeek’s lack of competence, but I was vilified. As much as I don’t want so say this but, I told you so.
The performance against Germany (if you can even call it a performance) was hopeless in every aspect that I had previously mentioned; a lack of goals, creativity, strikers and forward thinking.
In the lead up to the match, I had abandoned by focus on Verbeek’s incompetence and turned to giving it my all to support the boys. I got up at 4:15am with great hope in my heart that the Socceroos could abandon the junk football played over the previous couple of years and play like they did under Guus again. But no, it was never to be.
The instant that I saw the starting line up on the screen I went, “bugger, there goes the game.” Not a single actual striker was starting! I then went on the think, “oh well, if we are parking the bus at least we won’t lose.” But I was wrong again, a goal down after seven minutes. That’s all it took, seven minutes to expose Verbeek’s severely flawed game plan. Then the goals rained in and in and in, I went to bed after the fourth goal. I just couldn’t bear it any more.
To be honest, the game could have been very different, had just a few things gone Australia’s way. If Richard Garcia had of struck that shot anywhere but dead straight we could have won, providing we were able to hold out Germany for 88 minuted of football. That’s a big ‘if’. Then immediately after half time, when the Socceroos still had 11 men on the park, a blatant handball in the box. The linesman was too busy admiring the stadium, and the referee was too busy applying the next gallon of oil to his hair.
It could have been 2-1 with 40 minutes to go. Japan in 2006 anyone? Nonetheless we were looking more dangerous in the second half, then the nail in the coffin. Possibly one of the worst red card’s in football history. A half slide, half fall, shin bump which grazed Schweinsteiger heels. Out comes the red card.
What on earth did Cahill do to deserve that? Anyway the point I am getting to is that throughout the qualifying campaign we have got lucky and so many occasions that we had almost come to rely on luck. We got lucky against Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Japan and also in the final send-off against New Zealand.
Wins were built on luck, not a solid results driven scheme. A collection of little cracks which were evident throughout the last three years turned into the Grand Canyon in 90 minutes of football. Lack of goals, check. Poor defence, check. Little creativity, check. Relying on Cahill and Schwarzer, check. The result against Germany was a disaster Australia had to have to move away from the last three years of non-football and return to paying with pride and guts, like we Aussies are renowned for.
We were 10 times more competitive against the German’s at the Confederations Cup of 2005 under the much criticised Frank Farina. It was 4-3 if a remember right, a great game of football. Attack minded yet very close game. Although some results must be obtained, and losing every game at the Confederations Cup is not good enough.
As much as it hurts to say so, I told you so. I told you Australia was going to fail under Verbeek. But it just had to happen for Australian football to evolve. Hopefully FFA have learnt some big lessons from the worst and second worst Australian coaches of all time; Verbeek and Arnold respectively.
I hope Timmy Cahill; get’s a review of that red card, as we sure need him for the rest of the tournament. We are Australian, there is still hope if we ignore Verbeek and try to play like true Aussies.
C’mon the ‘Roos! Australia 2022!
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
Nestory Irankunda has sensationally rejected the chance to play at the Paris Olympics this June after a late bid from the Olyroos to include…
Mathew Ryan's tenure at AZ Alkmaar appears to be over, as the Eredivisie side are seemingly moving on from the 93-time Socceroo. The decision…
One down 49 to go. Socceroos striker Kusini Yengi raised some eyebrows this week when he declared himself to be the talisman striker the…
