The honeymoon period is the time when you and your loved one can do no wrong in each other’s eyes – the time when all mistakes and slip-ups are forgiven.
This is the period in which Australian football finds itself in now with its national team.
Ever since the Asian Cup victory, the football community in Australia have been serenading coach Ange Postecoglou with lavish praise of his side’s revival and victory at the Asian Cup – and rightly so.
However football waits for nobody. Postecoglou knows this more than most. He knows his team must keep improving, must keep evolving and must not rest on its collective laurels.
The problem now – just like when Postecoglou first took over – is the Socceroos are back to there default position as the underdogs, the battlers, the team who have to overcome insurmountable odds to win. Another David and Goliath battle awaits the men in green and gold.
So as Australia prepares face the World Cup-winners Germany, where can they find the sling shot and stone?
First of all, Australia are not expected to deviate from the successful 4-3-3 formation that was used to great effect in the Asian Cup. However, Germany too play a version of the same formation – and they won the World Cup with it.
This was employed to play football at its free flowing best, forward passes from the centre backs was a main stay in the entire Asian Cup and Matt Ryan’s role as a sweeper keeper allowed Australia to recycle the ball across the defence to keep possession.
Against Germany, Australia are without Matthew Sprianovic due to a hamstring injury. Alex Wilkinson, the third choice centre back, will fill the position with Trent Sainsbury. Their role is to keep Australia playing forward with passes to the two full back and the playmakers in midfield.
Speaking of midfield, Socceroos’ captain Mile Jedinak is expected to screen in front of defence, breaking up attacks and laying on passes to the playmakers.
This role in a game against such an attacking and fluid team like Germany is going to be vital if the Socceroos are to gain traction in the match. In defence, Jedinak needs to be at his best, as Toni Kroos looks to play the ball into the channels and to the inside forward of Germany.
The role of the full backs in this game will be vital. They offer Australia the width they need when going forward.
They usually receive the ball first from the two centre backs as to stretch opposition midfields. In attack, it is a must that they are able to play the ball to the playmakers in midfield and also the inside forward in attack.
Any loose balls here will be intercepted by the German pressing game and could spell danger if Germany transition quick.
On the other side, the full backs will also need to be astute when it comes to defending. Germany have an array of attacking weapons including their own full backs. They are tasked with getting forward and pulling the Australian midfield out of position to make space for the inside forward to run into.
As for the central midfielders, Australia have their Asian Cup hero Massimo Luongo under an injury cloud but if cleared he should play his Asian Cup role. He needs to be smart with space and time, the German midfielders will press him when the ball is at his feet.
He will need willing intelligent runs to play the ball to, his role is vital to the way the team recycles the ball and the rest of the team will have to make the field as big as possible for him to succeed.
The other central midfielder, either Mark Milligan or Matt McKay, will be tasked with breaking up the flow of the German midfield passers, getting up and down the pitch supporting all aspects of play and recycling the ball to the wingers or the playmakers.
In attack is where we need to be the most potent, for this game Australia is missing a two of their regular front three from the the Asian Cup, Tim Cahill and Robbie Kruse. Nathan Burns looks the most likely to replace Cahill and Tommy Oar or James Troisi will replace Kruse.
The idea of the two inside forwards is to receive the ball, take it inside and play it to the central striker before making runs to a wide position to cross. Second fold is to link up with the midfield and full back and to take the ball wide and cross it into the middle.
The way Australia plays is to get the central striker to have one-on-one chances with the defenders, whether it be in the air or on the ground. Any slight chances Australia gets they will need to be ready to take them, the German defenders will be physical in the tackle and in the air. With the world’s best goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on duty, in-goal crosses and key passes will need to be accurate.
We all know that Australia have a very tough test ahead, but if the Socceroos stick to the game plan which has served them well, then win, lose or draw progress will have been made.
To test yourself against the best in the world is something that does not come around often and the team must relish the chance to put their game plan into action. Australia beat Germany last time they played and both teams now are in very different stages of development, but if the Socceroos can carry their Asian Cup form into this game then the honeymoon can last a while yet.
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