Socceroos vs Ghana: As it happened

Australia’s Harry Kewell, 3rd right, warms up during team training at Roodenpoort in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Australia will play the upcoming World Cup match against Ghana in Group D Saturday June 19. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

If the desperate Socceroos are to have any chance of getting the points tonight (midnight EST), as well as the players being in the right frame of mind to execute plans, Pim Verbeek must get his tactics absolutely spot on.

While he fluffed his lines in a big way against Germany, there have been other times when his tactics have worked. I think of Tashkent as an example.

Foremost, he must control Ghana’s powerful and pacey front five and then find a way to unlock their back four.

This is not about going all guns blazing and exposing ourselves defensively, but about controlling the opposition, laying the defensive foundation, and then controlling the play in our front third, where we need to create chances.

It won’t be easy, but here’s the template based on controlling Ghana and imposing something on them.

Let’s start at the back. Mark Schwarzer might have done a touch better with the superb Philipp Lahm cross that caught him and Lucas Neill out. Dealing with crosses has invariably been his one weakness.

But his best asset is his shot-stopping, and Asamoah Gyan and Co. can pack some punch from distance.

Speaking of Gyan, he is physical, quick and mobile, and he is at the centre of the Ghana attack. As the target, they play through him. The Roos need a player that can handle his power.

Sadly, he would toy with both Craig Moore and Lucas Neill, so the best man to deal with him is Michael Beauchamp, who loves the man-marking role. He is quick, likes to muscle-up and is best equipped to get in Gyan’s space. Be very aggressive, but not dirty.

That way Neill can cover him, picking up the second balls and starting our play. If Gyan gets on Neill, one v one, it could spell trouble.

While Brett Emerton might be a better option at right back, joining the attack late, from the last line, we need him elsewhere.

Luke Wilkshire struggled against Lukas Podolski, but has otherwise done a sterling job at right-back and is equipped to deal with the impressive Andre Ayew, son of Ghana legend Abedi Pele.

Ayew is not a monster, like so many of his teammates, but he is mobile and tricky. Wilkshire should be able to handle him physically, but must get close to him. Then he can think about joining the attack.

While Ghana can be expected to counter-attack in the main, don’t be surprised to see Milovan Rajevac on the front foot early, looking to test the Roos fragile mental state and apply the killer blow.

For that reason, the Roos 11 must be adaptable enough to defend, across the pitch, as well as attack.

If his legs are up for it, Chipperfield retains his spot on the left. First he must do the defensive job on Prince Tagoe and then, if the Roos are controlling, get forward down the left flank.

If Wilkshire, Beauchamp and Chipperfield get close to their men, then Neill can keep his defensive line a touch higher.

Pressure must be applied all over the pitch, a la the Mexicans against France yesterday.

In such a crucial game, Verbeek must also ditch his twin screeners. Given that Ghana only play with one screener, in Anthony Annan, playing two effectively surrenders any hope of controlling the game. You’re on the back foot.

To be pro-active, play one holder, have one slightly advanced, and a third even more advanced, playing right off the lone striker.

So, who to play in the holding role? Vince Grella’s injury means one less selection headache, but, realistically, on current form, he shouldn’t have been in the mix here anyway.

If the Ghana central midfield is anything, it is physical, very powerful. The most advanced of the midfield is Kwadwo Asamoah, an imposing presence and good technically. He needs to be controlled. For that reason, our only holding midfielder capable of handling him physically is Mile Jedinak.

Slightly advanced of him, to his right, is Brett Emerton. While he hasn’t been used in central midfield under Verbeek, Guus Hiddink recognised his potential there.

The reason to use him here is that he has the physical ability to handle the powerful and mobile Kevin-Prince Boateng.

On technique alone we are not going to beat Ghana, so we need to match them physically to have any hope.

As for the final spot in midfield, the advanced role, we need someone creative enough to hold up the ball and influence our play in the front third, linking with the lone striker and the two advanced wide midfielders.

There are only two players capable, Marco Bresciano and Harry Kewell.

Both should play centrally, Kewell at head of the formation, with Bresciano just in behind him.

While Josh Kennedy is available, his lack of mobility and strength on the ball would make life comfortable for Ghana’s back four. They were superb against Serbia.

They defended deep, dealing with the tall Nikola Zigic and shadow striker Marko Pantelic, and rarely allowed Serbia in behind. Milan Jovanovic managed to get in behind right back John Pantsil a couple of times, but otherwise it was very strong from the central pair Isaac Vorsah and captain John Mensah.

On Ghana’s left, Hans Sarpei took care of Milos Krasic.

Kennedy could be kept in reserve as a plan B, when we’re on the front foot or chasing something late.

Bresciano, playing off Kewell, might be able to combine and create a little bit of fantasy. That bit of interchange around the box might be the best way to break Ghana’s defence down.

With Bresciano and Kewell central, looking to influence and link, it saves both from having to track up and down the flanks.

Leave that for the younger blokes, Brett Holman on the left and Dario Vidosic on the right.

Holman should tuck in, allowing Chipperfield to provide some width down the left. It also allows Holman to get close to both Kewell and Bresciano, and get beyond Kewell.

Ditto Vidosic. While he should get wide and provide width down the right, he is also good at drifting infield and linking.

If the Socceroos get on top, and force Ghana onto their 18 yard box, then Emerton and Wilkshire can be swapped, allowing Emerton to become an overlapping fullback, another way to break a packed defence. Think Maicon, Mauricio Isla, Carlos Salcido, Michel Bastos, Arturo Vidal and Lahm.

And, if either Bresciano or Kewell are not deemed ready, then the other one should start just behind Nikita Rukavytsya.

What this Socceroos side needs, other than the right mental frame, is a plan and legs.

So here’s a Roos formation to take it to Ghana:

—————————–Schwarzer—————————–
——————————————————————-
———————Beauchamp———-Neill———————–
Wilkshire————————————————–Chipperfield
————————————-Jedinak————————
———————–Emerton————————————-
——–Vidosic ————————————Holman———-
———————————Bresciano————————–
—————————Kewell———————————–

Join me here at 11.45pm tonight EST for a LIVE running analysis of the game in the comments section below and be sure to share your thoughts before, during and after the game.