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Han Berger had a plan. The idea was that during the 2011 Under-20 World Cup in Colombia and then the 2012 London Olympics, a new generation of Australian players would come to the fore and begin the regeneration of the Socceroos.
Australia’s brightest young talent would have the opportunity to gain experience in two major tournaments and still have time to play some senior international football during the second phase of World Cup qualifying.
Admittedly, it was a good plan, but with the Olyroos 1-0 loss to the U.A.E. in the early hours of this morning it was confirmed that Berger’s grand vision hadn’t worked.
First the Young Socceroos stumbled their way through in Colombia with coach Jan Versleijen going so far as to discard in the final group game the 4-3-3 system which is mandated of Australian national youth teams in a vane attempt to get a result against Spain. They lost 5-1.
Then came the Olyroos disappointment, where a raft of various issues has left them without a goal in qualifying and out of the race for the Olympics for the first time since 1984 (though it’s a statistic coloured by Australia having previously qualified through Oceania).
So the question now is was the issue Berger’s plan, the implementation of it or does blame lie at the players’ feet?
Socceroos coach Osieck hinted this week that the latter is at least part of the answer.
“You are never as good as you think you are,” said Osieck referring to young Australian players he’d hoped would be pushing for Socceroos places by now.
“You are always as good as others think you are.
“There are younger players that have the talent but you don’t see the desire. There have been a number of younger players that people would probably like to see…but, no.
“They have the odd action and you don’t see them for 20 minutes, then you have a one-one situation and everyone says: ‘Oh, did you see that?'”
They are stinging words from the German tactician and his frustration is palpable.
Whatever the reason, what was a well-considered plan by Berger has thus far failed to eventuate into any kind of success and so the real question is where to now for the Socceroos’ ageing squad?
Let’s hope Osieck and Berger have a back up plan.
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