Australia’s Harry Kewell (left) competes for the ball with Eljero Elia of the Netherlands during the Socceroos v Netherlands soccer match at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Oct. 10, 2009. The teams drew 0-0. AAP Image/Paul Miller
It’s been a week since the World Cup draw revealed Australia’s group opponents in South Africa to be Germany, Serbia and Ghana. And with just over six months to go, it is time for the FFA to sit down and organize lead-up matches so the Roos can give the World Cup their best shot.
Indeed, these friendlies and lead-up matches should be organized on the basis of providing the national team with the best opportunity and preparation for the challenges which lie ahead in our group.
Already the FFA has announced the Socceroos will be one of the first teams to arrive in South Africa next year and they’ll be based at altitude to acclimatize to the conditions, as part of their preparations.
Nevertheless, between now and the end of the league season, there is only one FIFA match date (in early March), plus the two Asian Cup qualifiers on non-FIFA dates.
But when the league season ends in mid-May there will be a number of opportunities for warm-up games, similar to the last World Cup when Australia faced Greece, the Netherlands and Liechtenstein.
And these matches will be about the Socceroos honing their skills and preparing for what’s to come in South Africa.
So I took the liberty to get on the phone to the FFA’s Senior Football Media Advisor Rod Allen to ask him about plans for lead-up matches for the World Cup.
First off Allen told me; “Now the coach knows the style of the teams we’re scheduled to play against, he will be looking at potential opponents that would mirror the style of those opponents as lead-up matches.”
But, despite knowing the names of our opponents, we must ask what challenges will Germany, Serbia and Ghana actually present to the Socceroos? What is their style, their strengths and weaknesses? And who could be suitable opponents to replicate that style in lead-up matches?
Typically, the Germans will be strong, organized, efficient and ready to capitalize on errors, while Ghana offer pace and power, with Serbia a technical and well-defenced team. Nations with similar influences from similar regions will probably be the go for the FFA, with Croatia one touted in the press already.
Allen revealed, “There’s many options in mind and we’re talking to quite a large number of teams because they all have different schedules and different needs and requirements. And because the draw only happened last Saturday it’s early days.”
But Allen wouldn’t be drawn into speculation on the identity of those nations.
“We’re not going to go into naming teams who we are dealing with and who we are hoping for until we get those deals over the line, because as you can imagine there’s a fair bit of negotiation involved.”
Allen, though, did acknowledge another MCG send-off match was on the cards, even nominating a likely date for the fixture.
“It’s looking likely to be the case and potentially one date is the 26th (of May) on a Wednesday night at the MCG.
“We haven’t locked in an opponent yet but we are talking to several. So at this stage that is likely to be the farewell game for the Socceroos.”
And following New Zealand’s qualification for the World Cup, there have been a few suggestions in football forums recently of a Trans-Tasman friendly, although Allen was cool on the idea.
“There’s scope for a friendly with any team, but whether New Zealand fits in with the head coach’s plans is up to him. I’m not sure that he’s speaking to New Zealand, but I’m not sure that he’s not. But there’s no firm plans to play them at this stage.”
But for Pim Verbeek there remain many questions about his squad and the best way for him to find answers is by playing football matches against quality opponents similar to those we’ll face in South Africa.
Will Josh Kennedy be effective against taller opponents such as Serbia’s Nemanja Vidic or against the Germans who know his game so well having played there for almost a decade? If not, can Harry Kewell lead a fluent forward-line? Or will our ageing defence be too slow for these types of opponents?
The list goes on.
It is better we face those questions in lead-up matches rather than in the World Cup and that’s what this is all about. For now, it’s down to the FFA to negotiate the right deals with the right nations, whomever that may be.
Petar
Guest
Australia vs Croatia would be the ideal send off game. The game will be a sell out for sure, and along with the passionate croatian contingent there will no doubt be a great atmosphere. Not only that, but Croatia will have a lot to prove after failing to qualify, and you can guarantee that it will be a competitive game and ideal for Australia to play a high intensity game before they leave to South Africa. and To KingCroat, in regards to "Why should we help the Aussies perpare for Serbia?"....because there are tens of thousands of Croatians who are living in Australia, because Australia gave our parents and grand parents the opportunity for a better life (if not in terms of quality of living, then atleast in terms of jobs, money, security etc), because there will be ethnic croatians playing in the Australian team at the world cup (atleast we will have some croats there) and lastly because they have Serbia in their group, and why you would prefer that they win instead of australia is truly beyond me Yes we are firstly Croatians, we have immense pride and are a very patriotic people compared to 99 percent of other countries, but how ignorant is it to criticise the country we are living in, the country we are being educated in, the country we will be making money in etc etc. Don't get our pride tangled with hate. What happened at WC 06 is gone, and every ethnic Croatian in australia should be supporting Australia in the world cup zbogom
NCB619
Guest
Not gonna happen now since they are most likely our second round opponents (if we get that far)
pete
Guest
Socceroos have 2 Asian Cup matches in Jan & March then only another 2 games in May before they head over to South Africa. I reckon we'll play NZ then the farewell game obviously Croatia, Russia and Paraguay have been mentioned although I still heard the FFA's no.1 target is still for England to come over...
matty1974
Guest
For the home send off, Croatia would be perfect. For the two warm up games in South Africa, a game against a West African nation would be ideal, Nigeria, Cameroon or the Ivory Coast would be great. For the other game, a strong European nation, with an excellent world cup pedigree and one that is technically and tactically superior to Australia would replicate the German challenge. How about Italy? Would generate heaps of interest in Oz and I'm sure that I remember reading a couple of years ago about an agreement between the FFA and Italy for a rematch. Also, with NZ in Italy's group, I am sure that they would fancy a hitout against another antipodean nation.
Tifosi
Guest
I think the game could be against russia. Guus hiddink im sure would love to help us out with a prep game. Im sure he has a soft spot for us still.
Shahsan
Guest
True, but once a upon a time Zaire and Central American countries were pretty poor too. Even Australia.
Lazza
Guest
We'll need the very best preparation to get out of this group. Sometimes you wish FIFA was corrupt and rigged the tournament for 'emerging' nations like us. Anything is possible in World Football though and with a good preparation and a bit of luck we can make an impact again.
Realfootball
Guest
Shahsan Absolutely. NZ could get lucky facing, say, Uruguay. But that is what it would take. Player for player the All White's most salient quality is mediocrity.
Brian
Guest
Teams similar to Serbia should be easy to find. Croatia, Romania, Czech R, Bulgaria all missed the WC. Germany difficult cause of their standard, the Austrian's are a similar style but not as good only the Netherlands are somewhat like for like. Again for Ghana a like for like makes for tough preparation, play Ivory Coast or Nigeria. It may be a matter of getting used to the style, I'd suggest playing Angola, Togo or Mali
Last Minute Hero
Guest
Are you saying that you'd rather see Serbia win than Australia? Interesting.
Shahsan
Guest
Well summed up, Lazza. We've seen it happen many times before. Yah, maybe not my friends now too. Maybe many years ago.
Lazza
Guest
The pros would have all the possession, create many chances but fail to take any or the opposition keeper may just be playing the game of his life. The amateurs get one chance, usually some fluky long range effort and it goes in. The pros then launch a series of increasingly desperate attacks but the amateurs manage to hold them out and you've got a major upset on your hands. Wouldn't happen with me and my friends though. I'd have a heart attack just chasing one through pass these days.
Fisher Price
Guest
I reckon Bulgaria or Romania would be a good bet.
Fisher Price
Guest
Nothing like nationalism to ruin a blog.
Wee Willy Winky
Guest
Essien keeps tearing his hammy. With a bit of luck, he wont be about
Shahsan
Guest
I am not being hard on Croatian people. I don't judge people on their heritage but on what they say. It's a sports comments site and KIngCroat brings up heritage and tribalism.
Shahsan
Guest
It's not just the depth in the sport but the chancey nature of it. It is quite possible for you to gather 11 of the best amateur friends of yours to play the Socceroos and it is conceivable that they may not be beaten. You could crowd that goal area and nothing could get through. But you couldnt do that in most other sports. A bunch of amateurs couldnt scrummage against professionals, an amateur bastman wouldn't last one over against a pro. Both would be too dangerous.
Lazza
Guest
Spot on mate - that's what makes Football such a great game. The cream always rises to the top in a league/cup competition but on any given day anything can happen. The fact that some of these lesser teams can at least compete with the big boys and occasionally pull off an amazing upset is what drives the growth and popularity of the game. Our friends in Cricket and Rugby would love that kind of thing in their competitions. As David Campese said "having your national team belted 100-0 is not going to encourage a new generation of young kids to take up the sport."
Art Sapphire
Guest
The send off game at the MCG will be against Hungary. The game will be renamed The Official Les Murray World Cup Testimonal Send Off Johnny Warren will be making an appearance at half time to congratulate Les and to tell everyone at the ground 'I told you so" :)
dasilva
Guest
last world cup. our warm up match involves a friendly against liechtenstein. they are no better then New Zealand There's no reason why one of our warm up matches just before the world cup couldn't consist of a kick about with New Zealand after a few tough friendly