The least successful Australian team to have appeared at an Under 20 World Cup; the side with the second worst record at the tournament (only Tahiti achieved less); the only team in Asia who couldn’t manage to notch up a point from their three group games.
The list of disparaging titles this Young Socceroos team have earned themselves runs long.
Sifting through the ashes of a failed campaign like this, all sorts of questions arise. I couldn’t help wondering whether this is the worst performance from an Australian national team since the 2005 Confederations Cup?
Jan Versleijen’s young men had two years to prepare for their opening game with the Czech Republic, but provided a drab and uninspiring 90 minutes of football.
The number three then defined Australia’s last two games. Three errors in their second game with Costa Rica led to as many goals being conceded.
Three points was what the Young Socceroos needed heading into their final group game against Brazil and three goals was what they conceded, each goal coming directly after Australia had turned over possession of the ball.
On the surface, Australia’s campaign in Egypt doesn’t look good. However, looks can be deceiving.
The results might not have been there, but this was quite possibly the best performance from an Australian men’s youth team at a major international tournament.
I’ll let the words of Craig Foster, a man both more qualified and eloquent then myself, do the talking.
“For decades, SBS has been pushing for Australian teams to approach football in the correct fashion, to play a sophisticated passing game and to begin the process of Australia becoming a true football Nation,” wrote Foster in a letter, which was faxed to Young Socceroos captain James Holland late last week.
Foster adding that: “This cannot occur without an insistence on playing football with possession and relying on the quality of our play, not the physical qualities we are too well known for.
“Too often our under age national teams have approached World Cup tournaments with a reliance on running and fighting rather than playing football, and whilst many have gained better results than this tournament, none in my experience have been brave enough to take the world on face to face, to test our football against theirs, and to play with great technical courage, not just physical strength.
“In the past we have beaten all of Brazil, Argentina and West Germany however not by playing the quality of football required to develop top level international players, but by fighting away in the ‘old’ Australian style.”
Foster is right.
Having spent the last few days since the loss to Costa Rica pondering what we could draw from this tournament, I came to a similar conclusion.
I was buoyed when I heard about Foster’s letter and also yesterday upon reading comments from readers on The World Game.
It’s good to know that as a football nation, we’ve grown to a point where we can look past a result and judge the performance when it’s appropriate to do so.
Thankfully, there’s more than just the performance in Egypt to be happy about.
Unlike at the aforementioned Confederations Cup in 2005, a number of players from this squad leave with their reputations enhanced.
Aaron Mooy showed the potential that many at Bolton have been raving about for some time, James Holland recovered from a difficult first game to lead his team-mates from the front, and Ben Kantarovski is just a freak of a seventeen year old.
With five players eligible to play at the next tournament in 2011, should the Young Socceroos qualify, and in truth it’s the next group of players that Versleijen is truly excited about, there are promising signs for Australia.
Certainly, there were errors on everyone’s part during this campaign.
The pre-tournament preparations at a Cypriot beach resort are questionable (it’s notable that the other three teams the Young Socceroos played against in Cyprus also failed to get past the group stage). Tactically, questions need to be raised about some of Versleijen’s choices in the first game, as well.
To be fair, most of these were rectified in the following matches. But by then, the damage had been done
We’ve got a long way to go in our development as a football nation, and while not forgetting the mistakes and errors from this campaign, let’s also be happy we’ve taken another step forward.
As Foster wrote in his open letter, “One day, many years hence, when Australia wins the FIFA World Cup I will be telling people that the journey truly started this week, in Port Said, by a group of young Australians who found the courage to play attacking football, the way Australia must play to succeed.”
When that day comes, I look forward to backing you up on that, Fozz.
Alex
Guest
I think you have completely missed the point. I was more hinting at that you can turn almost anything into a positive if you want it badly enough.
cab711
Guest
Last comp we had a relatively similar group. We got through to the KO round top of the group only to lose against U.A.E. Just goes to show how flawed results can be and dont reflect the issues of our style of game. It is good to see that the FFA has chosen a style of football and asked all the players to learn and adopt it in our play. Its important to have some sort of national consensus so that players can slot into the national team quicker. Some of the players struggled to implement it especially against the Czechs showing poor decision making and technical ability. Defenders would hoof it up the park, midfielders would choose to lob instead of taking the easy passing options and attackers would take more touches than necessary when a first time shot would have been the best option. I watched the Dutch national team train yesterday, the ball moved so fast from player to player. Every player knew where he was going to pass before he even received the ball. I can see our boys positioning the same but the execution is too poor. I wonder what technical coaching our younger generation are being taught under our supposed new development system and what if anything has changed over the last decade or so? I like the Coerver personally.
Chris
Guest
I'd have like to see how the other asian teams would have gone in the group we were in. And i'd like to think what could have been if we were in the group Tahiti group
cab711
Guest
Haha, the only person that I have seen disagree with Foster sofar was Ange Postecoglou on Fox Sports FC. I dont think I need to say why, hes still a little burnt. I felt the boys trapping was a little poor for the quick passes. I still saw players taking 2-3 touches before taking a shot and players not seeing the space after making a pass and happy to just sit in the same position. Some strong individual efforts from players already named and when the boys played the system and trusted it they looked very good, was great to see that develop through the competition. Those long balls and throwins were embarrasing! One thing apparent from watching this game is that if these boys are to succeed they need to play 90mins at a high level, NOW! Start the pressure at a young age against the best and these kids could develop right. Its like Sydney FC, when they play on the ground and play the system they are very good but when they follow there instincts they turn to poop. You can see that Kofi didnt have the legs, the kids 18 and full of beans, he should be running rings round the A-League defences in the 85th minute but he only plays 65min games or introduced into the game as an impact player in the dying minutes.
eh
Guest
bad results mean a bright future? was playing the way they did a Sir Humphrey courageous decision? It seems to be a fantastical spin by some i think {and it doesnt really add up in my book} but with the fact that " Kofi Danning, Sam Gallagher, Rhyan Grant, Ben Kantarovski and Tommy Oar are all eligible to star again for the Young Socceroos in 2011, providing Versleijen can again secure Australia’s passage through" then maybe the overall situation isnt so bad. that's not saying that this u20 was a positive, just that hopefully next time, assuming they qualify, they wont be spun as only being "courageous"...
Robbos
Guest
Unfortunately, for some it's an excuse to boot the further boot into football. His views are similiar to that of mainstream media who I think enjoyed Australia losing in football during our Grand Final times.
AndyRoo
Guest
It's only been 5 years and only 1 year of the NYL. I think the combination of the NYL with expansion will mean a lot of these kids will end up on A league rosters. Some clubs are better than others. The Jets have been great and have produced plenty in their short time and are giving game time to Rooney, Panta and Kantarovski The Roar have gived lots of players opportunities but at the start of the year Nichols and devere were both on the bench for the first game in seasons I expected them to breakout. a lot of the roar boys seem to have stalled. SFC are giving time to a lot of kids Adelaide have been good too. Mariners, Glory and Melbourne have produced less but all seem to have at least one semi sucess. I guess Melbourne Victory sitting at the top of the entire VPL are probably the biggest dissapointment but then before the NYL Sydney FC havent done much for youth either.
David
Guest
The HAL team couldnt beat Kuwait, im just stating the facts and i was very dissapoint to see our young socceroos get knocked out of round one that Competition could have saved us from what seems to be a terrable talent drought. Mooy he was founded by the state premier league not the HAL n he was the best player Australia had. I grant that Vidoic, Ruka, Torisi and Jedi all came from the HAL but the turkish super league doesnt have a team in the Champions league so its not the best league going around SPL is better, Ruka isnt getting a game but is getting better, Leijer didnt get a game at FFC - However Vidoic shows promise but one out of how many isnt good enough Compare this to our Rivels South Korea and Japan who have player in Serie A, EPL, Germany, Scottland and Holland all leagues with Champions league spots and there players are mostly aged 25< playing 1st team football. Being from melbourne im disspointed with Victory and Merrick they have pretty much no youth development and we only had one player in the U/20 squad who bearly made the bench. I hope the new Melbourne team can produce players like the NSW teams are doing because we have very good local Talent but a HAL that doest support it at all.
In the Game
Roar Rookie
It has long been my worry that after the current crop of Socceroos, there would be a gulf and big let down for supporters of the Australian game. While I am pleased that the side displayed some good football qualities, I still have doubt over the next generation. It's not their fault. During the critical years of their development mentioned above 8 - 13, the previous football administration was still farting around trying to get their expense accounts balanced rather that developing a road map for future success. I still believe that even with the Curriculum now in place, it will take another generation of footballers for Australia to see any real rewards. Foz, as usual, overstated the achievement and maybe it was a case of bravery by Jan. Sadly, I believe that if it had been an Australian educated coach after the first game we would have reverted to the tactics that Australian football is so well known for. Let's face it as a sporting public we love to win. That's why at my local football park, parents still bitch about the SSG system not realising what we are trying to accomplish. Boys it was step in the right direction but let us be completely honest with ourselves. There is still plenty of work to be done and pain to be endured
dasilva
Guest
I kind of agree. At this age group, you can't really improve technique to such a great levels. The player should already be technically gifted. The fact that they failed to play Jan's system very well simply means that majority of the players won't be good enough for the national team. the only benefit I can see is as Foster said. You can't tell clubs not to worry about results and focus on playin good possession football and then abandon that principle at national levels. Therefore hopefully clubs underneath will attempt to play a more technical based football However it is not all doom and gloom Results at youth level rarely correlate to the amount of players who graduate to the senior team and although majority won't make it, there will be a few players that will make it (probably Aaron Mooy) The 1999 youth team was absolutely dismal in terms of result getting thrash 4-0 by Ireland and 3-1 by Mexico (they only defeated saudi arabia) getting knocked out in the group stages. However look at the players that came through there, Jason Culina, Mark Bresciano, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella, Mile Sterjovski who were all regular socceroos. Danny invincible and eddy bosnar was there and although they are uncapped, both had been in Pim's squad before (although eddy's club unfortunately pulled him out of the squad)l. There's also socceroos who played infrequently for australia as well such as Simon Colosimo and Joel Griffiths. Obviously that side was a lot more talented then their performance at youth levels. Maybe it's possible that this side is better then their performance as well (although right now I'm doubting that and it is a tough ask)
tifosi
Guest
i see what you are saying Vincentin, but i was referring to kids actually playing because they want to be the next Ronaldo or messi or kewell, not because their parents want them to do some phyiscal exercise. If Australia wants to be the best, the kids at this age must want it badly, it sounds silly i know, but if the kids in england, brazil or italy have that desire, aussie kids must as well.
Vicentin
Guest
Hey where you been Pip? The holy land (Melbourne) visiting the folks? Please expand on your thoughts - never thought I'd say that ....as if you normally need an invitation to do so.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
The idea that there are lots of positives to take out of this debacle sounds like rubbish to me.
Barca4LIfe
Guest
as foz said its about the short term pain which will be hard to swallow, but we must trust the FFA(Han Berger)s national football ciriculum process, that we can become better long term in the future!
Vicentin
Guest
Don't worry Tifosi that's actually a good age (8-13) to be "having fun" and trying to take the focus away from results. It is by forcing results into the development equation that people start looking for short cuts - the biggest, strongest, fastest kids as opposed to developing proper skilful allround footballers. There is nothing wrong with competition but all kids are competitive anyway - the problem here is where parents, coaches (and kids) think that winning at all costs (I've met too many I'm afraid) is the most important thing. These kids are getting short changed. There are plenty of skilful Asian kids so I wouldn't be too concerned about that comment - it shows we are looking at the rest of the world and trying to up our standards. a slight aside but very funny anyway (I hope anyway I've having to do this blind with no youtube access at work) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pn9cEsjv1w
Tifosi
Guest
People are forgetting that most teams arent sending first team squads as club teams arent obliged to release the best players. Australia sent its best squad and still got done. Han Berger's assessment that the Joey's team had less individual skill than players from singapore is a sad reflection of where Australia is at today at our junior levels. Han also makes the point that the critical age to develop technical skills is between the ages of 8 and 13. In australia at the moment these kids are playing only for fun. What we are seeing though is a change in that mentality so it will take time but Australia will one day get there.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
David 5 years isn’t very long but in that time we have produced a Bundisliga Player in Dario Vidosic and Adrian Leijer did go from the HAL to Fulham (but is now back) I can’t remember many NSL payers (over a much longer time) going straight to the EPL, Spain or Seira A Bosnich did go to Man Utd Kosmina to Arsenal Any others? Most went to the lower leagues first and the HAL has produced a lot of lower league players. The only worry I have is when we compare to a rival like Korea who sent a young player to Boltons first team (who is playing well) and another (who went to John Paul college in OZ) due to Glasgow Celtic in January.
David
Guest
Ok i agree with the artical fozza and the artical in the fact that it is a step forward in that we ar learning to play better technically n tachtically. But we got to also look at the facts not one of these players that are from the A-league will get contracted to a big club after such a poor preformance. Our current socceroos are on the verge of retierment and we simply dont have fresh players coming up. The U/20 WC has been the in the past where alot of our senior players get noticed, i was hoping Aus would have done better so quality players lik Danning would get signed by a club that specialised in youth players like Arsenal. This now wont happen. Also, in the 5 years of the A-league not one player has made it to the big three leagues and made the 1st team which mean we cant rely on the HAL atm to produce future socceroos. I guess what im saying is yes its a step forward but it also has potential to come back and destory as we need young promsing players look at our national team we dont have a suitable partner for Neil (moor is 34). Im gald we are trying to play a better game but we also need players for the future to play now if u look at Neil, Kewell, emmo and Cahill etc they were all playing 1st team football at that age in europe. I fear Dark days lay ahead for Australia after 2010
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
lIke you I want the youth team to play football. But when it comes to the national team proper I will take a win no matter how it is achieved :)
Vicentin
Guest
I was around and did see some of those sides you talk about but frankly don't really remember too much about the style but there were certainly some good players in them and ...as Foster has said elsewhere, largely the products of the old ethnic based clubs. I agree that Foster's comments after the game were somewhat over the top but as we all know he's hardly a "middle ground" type of guy is he? I don't think the side as a whole is exceptional but I think its a fair point to say that it was a side that actually tried to play real football rather than gamely hanging in for a draw or snagging a goal on a counter attack (a Robbie Cornthwaite header from corner in recent past under Arnie - was that Olyroos?). This is the correct path for all our junior teams even if occasionally their relative lack of technique and tactical nous will get shown up. I agree that this is a far braver way of trying to play football but I can see better long term results rather than the occasional win against a team like Brazil (usually based on guts and determination) then followed by regular thumpings by the same team in subsequent matches. This style will highlight our weaknesses in a positive way - these are things you need to work on now do it! Relatively good results while playing poorly has meant a malaise in Australian football for too long. That said - this is a development team, as much as I'd like the Socceroos to play beautiful football their too I will be a pragmatist to a point. I'd rather they played good football but I'll take a win. Also, those three of four players that come through and play for the full team will have had a few extra years "in the system" and will hopefully be tactically more aware than previous generations. Once we've had a few "graduates" of this system over the next six to eight years is should be a pretty awesome Socceroos squad.