Perhaps the the most pleasing aspects of a great World Cup in Brazil were watching Australia fall back in love with the Socceroos and more and more in love with the round ball.
If tournaments are defined by their football, then this was a World Cup where the output was generally of a positive and attacking nature, but there was much more in Brazil.
Those on the ground talk of an incredible party atmosphere from a host nation obsessed with the Selecao and having a good time. It appeared to welcome the world, and the world contributed to ensuring the nation, at least for one great month, forgot about much of its social inequality.
It’s not that Brazilians or fans around the world could forgot about Sepp Blatter and his regime, the social injustice gripping much of the nation or the many conflicts around the globe, but the football gave people an outlet, a sense of connecting to the biggest thing on the planet.
The flow of images and stories through traditional and social media, painting this connection across the globe, only added the allure of the World Cup.
It was great to see Australia embrace the festive mood, and undoubtedly the efforts of a very fresh Socceroos played a big part in making the nation feel good about this latest World Cup.
It was only nine or so months ago that Australians were very despondent about the hopes of the nation team, so the turn around is a huge credit to Ange Postecoglou in particular.
The fact the Socceroos went to Brazil with an Australian at the helm, restoring the offensive values of the national team, is a credit to how far the game has come down-under.
What it should do more than ever is give Australians a sense they not only belong on the world stage, but, with the right planning and personnel, can compete.
It should send a message that the prize of being competitive on the biggest stage isn’t impossible, and that we can do it with our own.
After all, here was a team of Australian educated managers taking it to one of the greatest managers the world will remember.
I don’t recall any team in Brazil quite taking it to the undefeated Netherlands and their manager Louis van Gaal like the Socceroos and Postecoglou did in Porto Alegre.
As I described at the time (http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/06/19/ange-and-his-young-roos-will-learn-from-the-errors/), Postecoglou built a plan to disrupt the Dutch high, and, what’s better, the strategy was almost perfectly executed.
But for the naive defending, which unfortunately was the biggest blight on the Roos campaign, this was an outstanding performance.
Van Gaal being van Gaal didn’t heap much praise on Postecoglou and his men after the match, but deep down he knew he had gotten out of jail, and was glad to see the back of the men in green and gold.
Van Gaal’s was a tough game-plan to beat, built around a tight, impenetrable defence, and the most rapid of counter-attacks centred around Arjen Robben. We saw it to frightening effect in their opening demolition of the world champions Spain.
Yet Postecoglou was unwavered, finding a weakness by disrupting the Dutch high, not allowing the ball into the feet of the likes of Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie.
While van Gaal eventually adjusted after an injury to one of his defenders, this was a tactical performance of the highest standard, only undone by the type of error you can forgive from a team so freshly assembled.
For some context on the strength of Australia’s display that afternoon, the Dutch only conceded two other goals in almost 700 minutes of football. That’s six other games, two of which went to extra time.
For some further context, only the much loved Mexican manager Miguel Herrera and Argentine’s Alejandro Sabella had plans worthy of similar acclaim, and neither of them quite had the bravado of Postecoglou.
The Netherlands were arguably the second best team in Brazil behind world champion Germany, so it was a big tick to Australian football that the world was not only talking about Tim Cahill’s left foot volley, but the quality of the showing.
But it will mean nothing if Australian football isn’t about to learn from the entire exercise.
The next step is to try and go back to a World Cup and not only produce the proactive football we saw in Brazil, but do it with a sense of security at the back, composure and multiple solutions up front, and a level of mental strength that can hold-up over three or more games.
It is no good having strategies that make an impression one game and then fall to bits the next, as we saw against Spain (http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/06/24/socceroos-wilt-possession-suffer-pain-spains-passing-game/).
The end game is to have a fool-proof game featuring an adaptable squad of clever, rounded, worldly players, but still playing to Australia’s renowned strengths, including the physical and offensive.
What Australia and its football community should take heart from is the fact the past two winners of the World Cup, Spain and now Germany, are nations that have implemented systems and styles built on technical proficient players, and reaped the rewards.
It’s ironic, when you think about it, that Australia has implemented a curriculum based on Dutch ideals, yet it’s the Dutch who have taken a reactive approach to try and win the past two World Cups.
While they’ve gotten very close under Bert van Marwijk and now van Gaal, it’s perhaps just that they weren’t able to snare the prize after deviating from their proactive ideals.
Brazil is another example of a nation struggling with its football identity, and look at the result here.
What Australia at least re-discovered after an insipid period under Pim Verbeek and Holger Osieck is that it can be competitive by understanding the end game and sticking to the path.
Watching Postecoglou progress the team and nation from here should make for fun viewing.
But behind him we need to have other managers ready to carry on the job, so the ongoing football education of the nation remains paramount.
Arto
Guest
At the risk of not moving on, what do you really expect from this forum? That everyone simply agrees with your view? I thought the point is that people discuss these issues and that the more comments, the better - obviously without making things personal or offensive. Even though I took issue with your statements regarding Postecoglu & his influence on the Socceroos players you mentioned, I still agree with you that FFA needs to spend more money on making our NT a top team by global standards so it seems strange to hear your defensive tone - especially given your PRO status here on The Roar... :-)
Brian Orange
Roar Guru
Honestly guys, just forget I ever said it and move on. If there is no connection between Postecoglou, Brisbane Roar and the Socceroos then I sincerely apologise,
Arto
Guest
@ Brian Orange: Sorry Brian, but I don't agree with a couple of points in this comment - Postecoglu didn't cut his teeth at Roar, he actually had 4 years as coach of Sth Melb in the NSL winning 2 titles and then he was also coach of the Young Socceroos (& other youth NTs) for 7 yrs after that before he was hired by Roar in late 2009. Additionally, this point in your comment gives the impression that Postecoglu suddenly woke up one day with an idea of how to play successful football - it doesn't work that way, his ideas have been formed by his experience as both a player & coach and are in constant refinement as the game develops. Almost all the players on your list of taking "a risk on unknown players" and those he "helped develop" are false - Sarota, Zullo & Oar were sold by him to Dutch football shortly after he came to the club (4mths later!!). I'm not sure which Williams you are referring to - David Williams (now of Melb City) left the club in 2006 (3 yrs before Postecoglu arrived) and Rhys Williams (of Middelsborough) has never played for the club - so they can also be crossed off your list too. Alex Brosque played for Roar in HAL Season 1 before moving to SFC. Dario Vidosic left Roar in 2007, Sasa Ognenovski left Roar in 2008. Robbie Kruse left in 2009 (a month before Postecoglu's appointment!) Jade North started playing for Roar in Jan 2013 at the ripe old age of 31 (only 10mths before Postecoglu took the Socceroos job!!). The only players on your list I would agree with giving Postecoglu credit for "taking a risk on" and developing are Ivan Franjic, Matt McKay & Mitch Nichols! However, he CAN take credit for finding previously unknown gems such as Thomas Broich, Besart Berisha, Sayed Adnan & Erik Paartalu.
Brian Orange
Roar Guru
jb I don't understand why you don't understand the connection. AP coached the Roar and that's where he developed his tactics and style of play, which he now uses for the Socceroos. Back to my original point, the FFA has very little money and there is no hope in hell that they can spend $1 billion dollars developing a world cup winning team. We just can't compete with other nations that can afford that sort of investment and have to be happy with what we have got.
Brian Orange
Roar Guru
I don't think anyone is bagging Schwarzer or anyone else from the Golden Era for that matter. He probably could have played better than Ryan and helped us win against Chile or Holland. Noone knows what was said between Schwarzer and Ange, but Ange had a mandate to prepare for the Asian Cup and beyond and maybe he chose to leave out Schwarzer and bank on youth for the future instead. Whatever he decided, he's the one responsible for the results ATEOTD.
j binnie
Guest
Brian- once again don't follow your logic. (1) Of the players you mention as having been developed by Brisbane Roar under Ange, 7 out of the 12 were gone from Roar before Ange took over in 2009.Mackay,Williams Brosque Oganovski and Vidosic had all been at Roar during 2005 to 2008 with Kruse just coming under his influence in the team in 2009 after having played from 2007 Likewise Zullo who played 2007 to 2010. (2)With the FFA being poor are we to assume Verbeek and Olger were earning less than Ange was being paid at Roar.?????? Comments on these ????.jb
Arto
Guest
@ j binnie: It's not hogwash - it's been proven around the world in many different countries, particularly in Europe (eg: Spain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, all the Scandanavian countries to name some) that 4-3-3 offers the greatets benefits in terms of youth development. I have no issue with your point about managers choosing a system based upon the players at their disposal - but that is at senior NT & club level. At youth development levels however, most countries use a 4-3-3 or variation of it so that the players can improve their capabilities on a tactical level. This is for 2 main reasons; 1) it minimises the amount players run without the ball, thus focusing more on technical skills as opposed to physical skills and 2) it encourages players to be more aware of both their surroundings and the perspectives of their teammates (ie: what their teammates may see). If we compare this with say 4-4-2, there is more flexibility in the 4-3-3 system as players (particularly those in wider positions) can vary their roles more (eg: the wide attackers can vary their level of defensive pressing up & down the pitch) and this thus creates a greater understanding of the tactical side of the game as well as improves their technical abilities. I'm sorry if what I've written here is already common knowledge to you and my intention is not to patronise, but I'm merely trying to point out the benefits of the 4-3-3 system as tool for learning football and thus give a reason for supporting what FFA has done recently. I take your points regarding player exports and coaches changing their tactics to suit the players they have available (Ancelotti last year with Real Madrid is as a good example as he has pretty much sworn to the 4-4-2 all his life, both as a player & coach, and then changed to a 4-3-3 once he saw need to change to accomodate the players he had).
Tony Tannous
Expert
In case you haven't seen it, video of one of Awer Mabil's goals, a brilliant free-kick....huge fan of this kids, massive front third game... http://on.fb.me/1r5NIUC Any other highlights of the game floating about?
Griffo
Roar Guru
Agree with that AZ...
Griffo
Roar Guru
In further youth news: Aussie U12 Foxtel All-Star boys and girls teams are carving it up in Orlando, USA at the moment as well: http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/all-star-aussie-kids-reach-disneying-heights Tim Cahill is their mentor for the tournament...
AZ_RBB
Guest
Mabil is just a little rough around the edges. But he has the foundations of an excellent footballer.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Agree Ben, hoping de Silva gets more game time this season at Perth. Have to remember he is still only 17. Hope his youth isn't a disadvantage. I also hope Mabil continues to grow as well. One thing I noted in the last game between Jets and Adelaide was how good the battle between Mabil and Brillante (at right back) was. Mabil was a handful for an excellent Brillante who didn't let Mabil get his own way, but Mabil did not always make the best decisions when he got clear. If he can improve his decision making first half of the season, then who knows...
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Thanks for this, Griffo. Much appreciated.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Looking forward to seeing if some of these lads can bring their form through to the A-League this season. Mabil has already shown he has value last season with Adelaide though as I noted elsewhere I am very keen to see de Silva develop; he's still only 17!.
Griffo
Roar Guru
USA beat Chile 2-1 after being 0-1 down to the South Americans in the first half... A report of the Australia v Bermuda game: http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/07/15/00/40/140714-ber-vs-aus-u20s
Griffo
Roar Guru
:twisted: Such strength to come from behind, after letting in four goals, to win the match is going to serve those guys well in the future, and for some the NT as well. I fear a big away trip and late kickoff for kids football match on Saturday will mean I'll miss their live stream of USA game on www.ussoccer.com at midday AEST.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Young Socceroos beat Chile 5-4 this morning!!! :D :D Up 2-0. Chile score 4 unanswered. Goal machine Mabil scores a brace. Then De Silva with the winner!
Futbanous
Guest
Would agree bobbym with your judgement,given that for Ange it's not just about results but style of play,which takes some time to implement. Would love to be suprised at the Asian Cup(ie win it) but would be happy with your semi final prediction.
bobbym
Guest
They are still 2 years away from reaching anywhere near peak. Don't think they'll win Asian Cup but should make semi finals.
Futbanous
Guest
Reading back through all the posts on here it matters not a jot what your opinion or approach is to this subject. In the end it comes down to one man Ange and his vision and insight into Australian football derived from his background. Does he have the magic formula which incorporates many things already discussed on here, least of all where are the quality players,the game-changers going to come from and the Craig Moore's in defence? Something outside his control, as often succeeding overseas in the top leagues comes down to sheer mental strength, given players of equal ability fighting for a spot. Many fans are talking up the style,others are more blunt & see results, both views are valid. Ange knows better than anybody in Australian football that his task is to combine playing style acceptable to Aussies and getting results,the World cup merely gave us a hint of both, due to the limited time he had in control. All will be revealed regarding progress on both fronts very shortly anyway, with friendly matches, then the Asian cup looming next January.