Luckless ‘Roos need to learn tricks of trade

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By Dejan Kalinic, 20 Jun 2010 Dejan Kalinic is a Roar Pro

Tagged:: 2010 World Cup, football, Ghana, Harry Kewell, Socceroos, socceroos vs ghana, World Cup

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As the Socceroos battled out a courageous draw with Ghana that all but ended their World Cup, a lesson of tricks of the trade must surely be considered in the near future.

No one likes it, but diving and refereeing are part and parcel of football that must be effectively utilized on the pitch.

Australia was the better team, with 11 and 10 men on the pitch against a side they should feel they should have beaten.

But the stark contrast could be seen throughout the encounter.

We may call using the following methods as un-Australian, but this is football and if you want to win, as every Australian does, it’s time to put these into place.

The first example came early on as golden boy Harry Kewell beat his marker in the area before tangling feet with his opponent.

No penalty. Fair enough. But were there protests from the Australians? Only from Harry, who was attempting to utilize his experience.

On 24 minutes, when the man himself was dealt a cruel blow on his goal line, things were different.

The ball struck Harry’s arm, yes, but the Ghanaian players ran to the referee and demanded a red card.

They got it.

Whether it was or not is open for discussion, but had Kewell been in another area in the box, it would have been a yellow, and outside of the box, probably nothing.

He may have denied a clear goal, but his arms were up against his body the whole time.

I’m no judge, but FIFA will more than likely approve the referee’s decision.

But when Ghana’s Lee Addy brought Mark Bresciano down with a crude tackle on half way, protests were somewhat muted by the Aussies.

It was late, from behind, and could have caused serious injury.

A Ghanaian midfielder was seen clasping his hands in a praying motion to the referee. Yellow card.

The missing Kewell may have been the number one speaker on this occasion, but the other experienced heads in the side should have been up in arms.

They should have remembered teammate Tim Cahill was sent off for a challenge nowhere near as reckless as this one.

Differences throughout were in challenges across the ground.

Late in the game, Josh Kennedy should have felt obliged to drop to his knees in protest of a foul in the air.

He didn’t and the ball went up the other end for a Ghanaian striker to suffer the same treatment, falling over and winning the free kick in a dangerous position.

It happened throughout, be it aerially or not.

Early in the first half, the impressive Brett Holman had his opportunity to go tumbling to the ground on the left hand side after another late challenge.

He didn’t.

In a gutsy performance, the Aussies deserved more.

They now rely on Ghana beating Germany and they beating Serbia – without Kewell and Moore, with Cahill returning.

This might not be the way we play football, but is it time to think about it?

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The Crowd Says (71) | Page 1 of Comments

NY said | June 20th 2010 @ 3:22am | Report comment

“As the Socceroos battled out a courageous draw with Ghana that all but ended their World Cup”

There is still hope for us if we beat the Serbs convincingly, and the Germans beat the Ghanians convincingly. Hard to achieve, but still gives us something to play for.

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- Dejan Kalinic said | June 20th 2010 @ 8:03am | Report comment
  
  “all but…” – destiny no longer in own hands.
  
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moo cow said | June 20th 2010 @ 3:23am | Report comment

Another possibility is Germany smashing Ghana and the Aussies beating Serbia.

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Gary said | June 20th 2010 @ 7:44am | Report comment

This article smacks of desperation. Of course it was hard luck on Harry but there’s no doubt it was a penalty and therefore the red card was inevitable.
As for the plea that the Socceroos should start moaning, harassing the ref for decisions, do me a favour – as soon as I saw the dreaded word ‘Un-Australian’ I caught the unmistakable whiff of reckless despair.
I can’t believe that no one – including the so called ‘experts’ – has acknowledged that we only started to look dangerous when we resorted to belting long balls into the Ghanian box. Which rattled them, incidentally. What does this tell you? That teams with limited ability – like Australia – have their best chance by relying on pressure football – knocking it long and high into the last third – not pretty but effective, especially if you can’t do the pretty short pass stuff.
And finally, what about Basheer’s commentary – embarrassingl one eyed and ill-informed. I’m over the SBS coverage generally, especially the unremittingly chummy use of nicknames – Johno, Demps, Foz etc. I’d rather listen to the vuvezulas.

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- Dejan Kalinic said | June 20th 2010 @ 8:07am | Report comment
  
  You can bang long balls into the area forever… you need to be able to score goals from your pressure.
  
  I completely agree. Once long balls started being played the Ghanaian defence was rattled and in the end, fortunate to hang on.
  
  At the same time, I thought the short passing in the first half was the best I have seen the Socceroos under Pim Verbeek’s reign.
  
  Reckless despair? I want to know your opinion on it. I’ve given you a number of examples and I’ll watch a replay and give you many more.
  
  It was even more clear when I heard Kevin Muscat speaking – the best man at refereeing the game.
  
  It’s part of football and every nation/club does it.
  
  Reply
  - Gary said | June 20th 2010 @ 8:47am | Report comment
    
    So should we start playing ugly? I think so – it suits our up and at ‘em mentality. Fozzie won’t like it of course so that’s a plus right away.
    Did you really think the ref was that bad? I didn’t – no worse than usual anyway. We didn’t get the breaks but the tackle from behind – despite what the experts said – wasn’t a sending off. Worse than Cahill’s – no it wasn’t – Cahill’s was late, the one last night was from behind, a significant difference. I think we should play according to the opposition’s weaknesess – Ghana had an inexperienced backline so we should have given it the Dad’s Army approach – ie – they don’t like it up ‘em. We don’t have the players to do the fancy dan short passing stuff – we’d b e tons more effective getting the ball into the box – that’s where most goals are scored isn’t it?
    
    Reply
    - Dejan Kalinic said | June 20th 2010 @ 8:57am | Report comment
      
      Not a fan of Foster then, we can speak.
      
      Yeah but Gary, “no worse than usual” – this is a World Cup… it should be good.
      
      I yelled for a sending off as soon as it happened – stuff what the experts say, but I would have loved to see the Aussie players say to the ref, well, what the hell was that?
      
      Cahill didn’t tackle, he pulled out before he hit his man. They were both from behind, Ghanaian one was more reckless and capable of doing more damage. Did you see his teammate praying to the ref?
      
      The only issue with pumping balls into the box (not a bad idea against Ghana) with 10 men is that it opens the game wide open in midfield. It forces you to be running hundreds of metres up and down the ground, a contrast to the compact defensive game we played for all but the last 15 minutes.
      
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      - Gary said | June 20th 2010 @ 9:13am | Report comment
        
        Dejan – the WC is famous for terrible refereeing – it’s part of the deal – blokes from the Seychelles etc who usually officiate infront of 3 men and a dog find themselves in the spotlight and – like most refs – think it’s all about them.
        Foster is an imposter – I’m not saying he’s doesn’t know a bit about the game but so do millions of blokes in the pub. His contention that his view is somehow more pertinent because he played at the highest level doesn’t hold up on the basis of a handful of games at Palace and half a season somewhere else – Portsmouth wasn’t it?
        We don’t have enough quality players – our best last night were the honest (in football terms) old sweats who gave their all for the cause. Craig Moore was heroic for sure but let’s face it, he’s hardly Jinky Johnstone is he?
        
        Reply
        
        Dejan Kalinic said | June 20th 2010 @ 9:24am | Report comment
        
        I thought Moore was heroic in the last 15 minutes, but poor to start with.
        
        Too slow, skinned and turned around too easily.
        
        Fair effort though. He made some huge intercepts late on.
- El Diego said | June 20th 2010 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
  
  get off it princess
  
  Reply
sheek said | June 20th 2010 @ 8:44am | Report comment

I’m going to say this on every Roar blog about football.

I’m very proud of the Socceroos & I’m also proud of Harry Kewell.

Let’s use these setbacks to make us stronger in the future…..

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- Dejan Kalinic said | June 20th 2010 @ 8:59am | Report comment
  
  Sheek, good on you mate.
  
  I completely agree. I also applaud Kewell.
  
  I’d love to know your thoughts though.
  
  Am I clutching at straws here? Or do we need to develop our game with some of these tactics? Maybe not all players, but at least some. (Other than Harry)
  
  It was even greater with 10 men – when you’d love a breather with a free kick.
  
  Reply
  - sheek said | June 20th 2010 @ 10:28pm | Report comment
    
    Dejan,
    
    Sorry, emotions were raw this morning, as you’d understand.
    
    Yes, Aussies are perhaps naive, but should we follow the rest of the world with cynical tactics? One day in the future our players will be better skilled technically. We mightn’t need to be cynical then?
    
    I have this belief that players should stay on their feet at all times, whilst ever possible. The ball is the thing, & the opportunity that lies ahead.
    
    I have watched games where players have tried to milk a free kick/penalty by diving, but missed a possible opportunity had they stayed on their feet. This applies equally to defence as to attack.
    
    At present, Australia has this reputation for being physically crude, & the refs punish us accordingly. In the future, they might realise the Aussie player will stay on his feet at all costs, & penalise the other player accordingly.
    
    Perception seems to be everything…..
    
    Reply
M-Rod said | June 20th 2010 @ 9:08am | Report comment

yes much better effort but we have to learn we make our own luck.

things were fine for the first 10-15mins, after which we reverted to some weird conservative passing game amongst our backs that changed the game momentum and invited Ghana into our attack zone, and it lust took a couple of defensive lapses to set the scene for the Kewell disaster.

had we kept on the front foot we had the Ghanans rattled, and had their measure. Should have hammered it home relentlessly in the first half, and should not have taken our foot off the gas.

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Brad said | June 20th 2010 @ 11:51am | Report comment

Despite what happened, whether it was red card or not (I was gutted), we can be proud of the boys and they can hold their heads high with the spirited performance they showed this morning. As Craig Foster said on SBS, “when it comes to this situation, no one has this (points to heart) like the Aussies.” So, so true.

All is not lost on the ‘Roos, but. We either pray that Ghana beat Germany (doubt it, they were rattled by 10 of us last night!), or Germany thrash them by 3+ goals. What’s more realistic? There’s still hope.

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betty b said | June 20th 2010 @ 12:24pm | Report comment

I’m no tech expert on football Dejan, but I agree with your point. Harry’s experience showed in his short stint. Screaming appeals to the ref are there in every game but yes, you rarely see the Socceroos appealing until after the decision. I think Gary’s point about only looking dangerous after we started the long balls is, well, weird. Didn’t he watch the first 20 mins when they looked very dangerous. And I think it would be dishonest not to acknowledge the Socceroos defence throughout, especially with a man down. It was great.
I wouldn’t consider appealing for decisions to the ref un-Australian by the way (it happens in all other ball sports). It’s when the appeals are unwarranted, overdone or when they stink of bad sportmanship that they become un Australian.
I’m confused by the red card rule by the way. Some experts have said that the ref had no choice. I’ve read others, quoting the rule book, that says not even a yellow was warranted, just a penalty. Regardless of the book, it surely was accidental, only partly arm, and thus a ridiculously unfair send off.

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- Gary said | June 20th 2010 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
  
  Betty – I’m basing my view on the fact that, apart from the goal (which was an embarrasingly bad keeper howler from a bloke who, in the last 4 years has played more often for his country than his team) we barely made a single chance. Face facts, we’re not good enough to play the short passing game. Look at the squad – not a single player at a genuine top club. If we’d thrown caution to the wind and started lumping it forward as soon as the 2nd half started we might have won.
  (Of course it helped us a lot that Ghana persisted with their tactic of shooting every time they advanced over the halfway line. Now, THAT really was weird.
  
  Reply
  - Art Sapphire said | June 20th 2010 @ 1:36pm | Report comment
    
    Gary – we could not go long ball too early as that would have stretched the game and with Ghana having the numerical advantage on the pitch this would have been too risky.
    
    Another observation. The English team play for big clubs and yet they can’t even play a short passing game.
    You need to have flexiblity with your approach play to have any chance of winning at international football.
    Which sort of explains why the English have failed to win anything in the last 44 years.
    
    Reply
    - Gary said | June 20th 2010 @ 2:24pm | Report comment
      
      But what rationale explains why Australia have never won anything, ever?
      
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      - Mister Football said | June 20th 2010 @ 2:36pm | Report comment
        
        Gary
        You are incorrect there.
        
        Australia won the Merlion Cup in 1982 and 1983, the first two events, and the only two in which Australia put in a full strength squad.
        
        Liverpool won the Merlion Cup last year.
        
        Australia also won numerous Oceania Nations Cups.
        
        Also, let us not forget that the Matildas recently won the women’s Asian Nations Cup.
        
        Reply
        
        GaryJ said | June 20th 2010 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
        
        In the words of Ray Stokes – ‘Are you having a laugh?’
        
        Andyroo said | June 20th 2010 @ 7:06pm | Report comment
        
        Garry, you need to get your hands on “the Glory days of Oceania” it’s a great DVD.
        
        Continental champions 4 times is pretty fantastic and a lot better than any of those Euro nations who get seeded at the world cup can manage .
      - dasilva said | June 20th 2010 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
        
        There was also a friendship cup where Australia sent a team to Vietnam in the middle of the war. In fact after Australia won that trophy. One journalist penned the team the Socceroos and a legend was born.
        
        Reply
Fisher Price said | June 20th 2010 @ 12:41pm | Report comment

Kewell dives regularly, which Dejan seems to be saying is a good thing.

Foster champions good football but then lauds Australia’s backs-to-the-wall, fighting approach replete with long balls to Kennedy. He’s a man of contradictions.

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- Art Sapphire said | June 20th 2010 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
  
  Fisher – isn’t it a pity the English have not shown anything this tournament so far. Unlike the gallant Socceroos last night.
  
  As for long ball, most teams with 10 men and a goal down chasing the win would be employing the same tactics in the last period of the game. Especially, against such an uncertain an immature defence such as Ghana’s yersterday.
  
  Most of your comments today have been risible. Australians are proud of how the boys performed last night.
  
  Unlike, the English, who have nothing to be proud about. Let’s see if they turn up against Slovenia.
  
  Reply
  - Fisher Price said | June 20th 2010 @ 7:19pm | Report comment
    
    Risible. You flatter me so.
    
    a) The English have been awful and I think it’s funny. I’m not sure they’ll get a result against Slovenia.
    b) Yopu can be as proud as you like but it doesn’t help passes find their mark.
    c) Do you actually believe Australia play good football?
    
    Reply
Beaver fever said | June 20th 2010 @ 12:55pm | Report comment

Quite frankly for a competition that is supposedly the biggest in the world, the refereeing is a farce and amatuerish at best.
I will never complain about a AFL umpire again.
It did go both ways last night, players tripping over their own feet and getting free kicks, video replays would have sorted out many incidents last night, the technology is available —- use it !!.

Just as rugby call their game “the game they play in heaven” is ridiculous, so is soccer being called “the beautiful game “, just looked like a heap of guys tripping over themselves and each other.

If soccer is to advance in the Australin physche, then changes must be made world wide to stamp out blatant obvious diving, lack of respect for officials, and officials who can properly officiate.

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- Art Sapphire said | June 20th 2010 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
  
  BF – I think you will find that AFL umpires make even more mistakes in a game of Aussie Rules. The sound of booing the umps at AFL games is sometimes more constant than the vuvzuelas at this World Cup. Some perspective please.
  
  Reply
  - Beaver fever said | June 20th 2010 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
    
    They may have more descisions to make, so they may get more wrong, but % wise i dont know.
    
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    - Art Sapphire said | June 20th 2010 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
      
      Neither do I BF. I’d reckon all things being equal it would be about the same. Where’s Michael C when you need him. He can do the research and come back with an answer. That would keep him busy for a couple of week
      
      Reply
dasilva said | June 20th 2010 @ 1:03pm | Report comment

Let just say that if Viduka didn’t try so damn hard to stand up towards Simunic bear hug. We probably would have won the penalty against Croatia

I personally am ok of not necessarily diving but if our players were fouled, don’t try hard to stay on your feet to ensure you win the foul that you deserve.

However diving with no contact or embarrassing injury feigns, getting stretchered off to waste time. I can’t stand by that and I do think it’s the type of thing that the World needs to get rid of rather than us play ball. It’s hardly part of the game.

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