The aftermath of a 4-0 loss brings heavy criticism. Given it was Australia losing to powerhouse Germany, it may come in a lesser form – but what we come to expect from an Australian side was not on show.
Coming up against a strong side, the Socceroos needed to show work ethic, desire, effort and a unity to get something out of the encounter.
All things strongly associated with Australian teams.
It didn’t happen.
Yes, it was a positive start but from the moment Lukas Podolski stung Mark Schwarzer’s gloves and found the net – the Socceroos fell away.
There was no fight.
Captain Lucas Neill and co called for offside decisions when they simply weren’t there.
Schwarzer was uncharacteristically caught out soon after when Miroslav Klose beat him to the ball in the air and headed into an empty net.
It was a struggle.
German midfielder Mesut Ozil was free to run amok in midfield.
Playing in the hole behind the striker’s, Ozil was left in plenty of space and he made it count.
Only Brett Emerton, Jason Culina, Luke Wilkshire and Verbeek’s trio of substitutes showed any real desire.
It went more pear-shaped in the second half.
First, a handball in the German defensive area went unspotted before Tim Cahill was wrongly sent off.
He slid from behind but contact was minimal – even Cahill was shocked by the decision.
Thomas Muller twisted and turned before finishing sensationally and Cacau had a simple finish after an Ozil cut back.
Neill’s defensive partner Craig Moore looked slow and largely at sixes and sevens in his positioning.
Even the ever-reliable Scott Chipperfield showed his ageing legs in a defence carved up at will in the 90 minutes.
There was too much space left by the defensive midfielders.
Verbeek’s tactics can be brought up for discussion particularly opting for a 4-4-2 after deciding not to bring Scott McDonald.
But regardless of the tactics and the 4-0 thumping, the Socceroos players lacked what fans appreciate from Australia.
There wasn’t the fight or the spirit and the team needs to regroup and show some emotional connection to the result in their next two games.
BEST GOAL: Thomas Muller (Germany) – fine turn and a perfect finish into the corner and off the post.
LOVE TO BE: Joachim Low (Germany) – the perfect way to start a major tournament.
HATE TO BE: Zdravko Kuzmanovic (Serbia) – came on as a substitute and gave away a penalty with a hanging hand in the air as his side went down 1-0.
drew777
Roar Pro
Yeah thought so, I love it how they go through 6 very specific and fair criteria, and then are just like "bugger it, all else failed, let's draw it from a hat!"
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
It's easy to say you wouldn't take people but you don't often use 23 players. You can afford to take risks on special talents like Kewell.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Drew, I also think it's goal difference but when they say previous matches they mean in the group stage i.e. if Ghana and Australia both have 4 points and Australia beat Ghana. Only results at the actual tournament are counted. Edit: its 100% goal difference that decides it. edit 2: The order is: a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches; b) goal difference in all group matches; c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches. If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings will be determined as follows: d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned; e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned; f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned; g) drawing of lots by the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup.
drew777
Roar Pro
are you sure about that? I thought it was goal difference in your group, not previous matches which could have been played 20 yrs ago....this seems quite irrelevant and stupid on FIFA's behalf if it is correct. Anyone know for sure? I will google it now for clarification.
albatross
Roar Pro
Stattoz has had a chat with Rale Rasic who has a bit to say on PVs team selection: "I would only have selected players who were fully match fit in the World Cup squad for South Africa. Kewell, Bresciano, Emerton, Grella, Moore and Culina were not fully match fit. It showed." More at http://www.stattoz.com.au/index.php/2010/06/rale-rasics-verdict/
Marcel Proust
Guest
What can Mr Verbeek do ? The players available are ( for the most part ) c**p. He cannot perform miracles. You don't have good players. What would Arrigo Sacchi do with that lot ?!?!?!?
Marcel Proust
Guest
People in England will be very upset about the rugby, Sheek. Those who go to the Public ( i.e. private ) Schools will be devastated. The rest of us will let it pass without much comment. The problem with criticising the class system is that the alternative in Australia i.e. a country with less sophistication. We need our class system because it makes us more civilised. "Talent and desire" gives you Aussies a country with no culture. When was the last time you saw a great Australian painting ????? Apart from that, I wish you well.
Fisher Price
Guest
Good post Drew, but Neill's head has swelled like a zepellin on viagra since 2006 (despite his horror shows for West Ham, club options thereafter limited) and I wouldn't pick him at all. Against Germany his moaning and "offside trap" were pathetic.
Fisher Price
Guest
Kewell is very rarely fit, so I doubt it.
Fisher Price
Guest
Tell me how the English football team picks players based on the country's "class system"?
drew777
Roar Pro
says a supporter from which country?
et
Guest
The Socceroos are nowhere near as good as they like to think. Guess what? you DID struggle to beat NZ. And nobody feelsl the least bit sorry for you guys because you have nothing but pure arrogance.
The Bear
Guest
We did struggle to beat NZ... the signs were there, lol ; )
Andyroo
Guest
Last time Hiddink was able to flog them to the point we had an advantage over the other teams.... this time around their dropping like flies injury wise and at the end of the first half they were sucking in the big ones. we were 2 goals own and a lot of the players just wanted to get to half time for a break. To be fair though Ozil moving the ball around had a lot to do with it.
Tom Dimanis
Roar Pro
You are so right in that there was a lack of intensity, particularly from the midfielders who allowed Ozil the freedom to set up German attacks. Every time Australia had possession there was always a German player closing them down. It's going to take a miracle to turn this disaster around.
Midfielder
Guest
On todays display we would struggle to beat NZ... I just hope we can keep the score respectable...
MVDave
Guest
Drew Pretty sure head to head record counts before GD. If we can beat Ghana on Saturday night and presuming Germany win all their games, a win vs Ghana and even a draw vs Serbia would be enough for the Socceroos.
drew777
Roar Pro
Game time for Kewell won't matter too much, he is class and will fit right in. My only thoughts about why he didn't play was that the game was lost by half time, why show your hand in a game where you are going to lose? I am pretty sure he and Bresciano will start against Ghana next.
drew777
Roar Pro
Goal difference is vital because as it's shaping up, if we win against Ghana and Serbia, and Germany qualify early, they can rest players against Ghana, who beat Serbia last night, and Ghana could get a win against a weakened Germany, putting us and Ghana on 6 points, then it comes to goal difference. It makes a difference because Kewell and Bresciano are a class above Garcia and Valeri. I wouldn't call us slow, I'd call our play slow. We have the pace in Cahill, Cullina, Wilkshire, Emerton, kewell, and Chipperfield. What we lack is the nous going forward to attack quickly and penetrate holes, OR hold the ball up and just knock it around, keeping it away from opposition, building the pressure like Germany did to us last night. Beat Germany? Unlikely. Draw? Should have been our aim, especially as we are seen as a defensive side. What we did uncover was that we are rubbish chasing a game.
drew777
Roar Pro
Didn't Garcia play on the right in a 4-2-3-1 like usual? Cahill was isolated for much of the match as he was one out up front. we lined up with wilkshire, neil, moore, chipperfield grellla, valeri emerton, garcia, cullina cahill Playing four men in defense caused more problems than it did good as when we did break down the German play it was attributed to stray balls, lucky positioning or the midfield actually working. It caused more problems because we held a high line that was meant to be flat but we were caught out playing them onside because no one was properly aware of everyone else.