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Australia's Socceroos World Cup players, Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill and Harry Kewell pose for team photo in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill.
It’s been four long years since the Socceroos were bundled out of the World Cup in Germany in controversial circumstances, and at 4.30am EST Monday morning, Pim Verbeek’s men get their chance to get back on the big stage and have another crack.
In many ways, the Socceroos have done remarkably well to consolidate on their nation-inspiring qualification for Germany by making it to South Africa.
It was a long and logistical assignment through Asia, but Pim’s accumulators dotted their “i’s” and crossed their “t’s”. Even if it wasn’t always a job beautifully done, it was a job done.
Remember those barren and pain-filled 32 years between 1974 and 2006? In that respect, it’s just wonderful to be a part of this latest extravaganza.
How depressing would it be if the Roos weren’t a part of this? Just ask the Croatians, Turkish, Romanians, Irish, Czechs and Russians, or the Iranians or Saudis.
For that reason, we should be happy to be around. Backing-up is part of our ongoing development as a serious football nation. Look at the USA as an example.
But there’s little doubt the successful campaign four years ago raised the bar, in a big way. Australia now expects. Even to take it to a three-time world champion like Germany.
Monday morning we get a chance to measure how far we’ve come.
Verbeek has been able to get results in Asia, and in friendlies throughout Europe and against European opponents, but the Socceroos must now prove they can do it when and where it counts.
The level of organisation and functionality required in a World Cup is at a very high level, and the Roos must demonstrate, against the Germans, that they are organised defensively, that they remain composed, whether behind or in front, and that they offer some flow.
Moreover, Australia, as a developing football nation, must continue to paint a positive impression. More USA, Mexcio, South Africa and South Korea, rather than Greece, if you get my drift.
Against such a quality opponent, it won’t be easy.
What Australia might lack in comparison to the Germans from a technical perspective, they hope to make up for through tactical and mental discipline.
To that end, the tactics won’t be any surprise. The Germans will act, while the Socceroos react.
Under Verbeek we won’t offer anything like the control that Guus Hiddink brought to the team in Germany. That is for another day, maybe another generation.
As I noted in my technical dissection of Germany’s most recent friendly, Joachim Loew’s men will get on the front foot with a pro-active 4-4-1-1, where Mesut Ozil will play just off the central striker, expected to be experienced Miroslav Klose.
Ozil is the key, drifting right or into midfield, mixing subtlety with pace. Verbeek must have a plan to surround him and make his life difficult, but there are threats everywhere you look.
Their two central midfielders, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira don’t sit square, in a straight line, like our two holding midfielders. They play scattered, with Khedira slightly advanced of Schweinsteiger, always looking to press high.
On the left, Lucas Podolski “hugs the chalk”, offering width and pace, while Pitor Trochowski, on the other side, prefers to duck infield and link.
Threats are also posed from the fullbacks, especially Philipp Lahm, while Per Mertesacker is a monster at set pieces. And they pack a threat from the bench, with Cacau, Marko Marin, Mario Gomez, Thomas Muller and Toni Kroos all great options.
The Socceroos must to stay compact, disrupt, survive and apply a sucker punch.
Verbeek may spring a surprise by playing Jason Culina out on the left, with Carl Valeri slotting alongside Vince Grella, meaning Mark Bresciano starts from bench.
That would be as much about halting the threat of Lahm as it would be recognition that the Roos have looked far better with Valeri and Grella in midfield, and Culina higher up the pitch.
A Roos great, Brett Emerton, looks likely to resume his partnership with Luke Wilkshire down the right. As well as dealing with Podolski, they must try to take it to Holger Badstuber, if the youngster lines up at left back.
Harry Kewell might be thrust off the bench late if we are level or a goal behind.
Opportunities will be few, but when they do present, be that on the counter, or at a set piece, the Roos must pounce. If they are to get anything, it’s likely to be a classic smash and grab.
Right now, given where we are in the football world, that would do.
As Lucas Neill pointed out in the pre-match press conference, the Germans have earnt the right, we’re still trying to earn it.
A positive performance, even if not quite a positive result, would be a step in the right direction.
Join me here at 4.15am EST for a running analysis of the game in the comments section below and be sure to share your thoughts before, during and after the game.
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