Australia’s World Cup was defined by good organisation in the middle third, and a lack of quality in both penalty boxes.
The key feature of Bert van Marwijk’s short tenure was the change in defensive system. Whereas Ange Postecoglou preferred high pressing, Van Marwijk implemented a midfield defensive block.
The side dropped back into a compact 4-4-2, protected the space between the lines and allowed teams to build up from inside their own half.
This was less about winning the ball back, more about stopping the opposition from creating high quality chances.
This type of defensive strategy has been very common at this World Cup – a modern, ‘European’ system. Van Marwijk deserves credit for how quickly he was able to organise the Socceroos into an approach very different from his predecessor.
On the whole, too, against France, Denmark and Peru, Australia were rarely opened up. It was difficult to find space between the lines, with Aaron Mooy and Mile Jedinak excellent at screening the zone in front of the centre-backs.
France, in particular, struggled for ideas. They moved the ball patiently in front of the block, but could not play through it.
The issue were the moments – few and far between, but still there – were teams could quickly play in behind the last line, particularly when the back four was caught higher up the pitch.
In the moment of transition, the Socceroos tried to get organised behind the ball quickly rather than put pressure on the ball. A quick early pass in behind, therefore, could cause problems.
Antoine Griezmann’s penalty is a good example of this, as is the initial ball in behind Trent Sainsbury in the build-up to Andre Carillo’s splendid volleyed goal.
The only way teams could really exploit the Socceroos was to get into the penalty box before the block was set.
Going forward, Australia had a surprising amount of possession against both Denmark and Peru. They were able to control the game with slow, patient build up, moving the ball from one side to the other to find a free man between the lines.
Van Marwijk believes they were able to do this successfully against Peru. “Every time we could build up and found our free man in the midfield,” said the outgoing coach, “so that was the main reason we could control the game for big parts.”
The free man against Peru was often Tom Rogic, who moved from his central 10 role to a position on the outside of Peru’s two defensive midfielders, where he could receive penetrating passes from Trent Sainsbury to turn and dribble at the back four.
This was Rogic’s best game of the tournament – he created two good opportunities by turning in between the lines then switching to an overlapping full-back, as well as memorably jinxing past four defenders before firing a low shot straight at the goalkeeper.
That, of course, was the most obvious weakness for Australia – finishing attacking moves. If it was not Rogic, it was Matthew Leckie or Robbie Kruse moving into narrow positions from the wing to receive similar passes in the build-up from Sainsbury and Milligan, with space created on the outside for an overlapping full-back.
Aziz Behich and Josh Risdon got forward on many occasions and delivered balls into the box, but Australia struggled to overload or get a free player in the penalty box to finish the move.
It was all neat, tidy passing football, but with no cutting edge. Bert van Marwijk put it succinctly – “everyone saw how we performed and played and we got a lot of compliments.”
“But you don’t win game with compliments, only goals and with that we had a problem.”
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Therefore, Australia failed to progress despite three solid, but not decisive, performances. If assessing the World Cup purely on the results in the three group games, a lack of individual quality in either penalty box was the decisive factor, particularly upfront.
On a more broader scale, of course, questions have to be asked of the long-term tactical direction of the side and the identity the Socceroos should represent.
Viewed in isolation, this tournament was sound: the Socceroos were well organised, competed excellently and were let down in areas of already known weaknesses.
Viewed in context, there needs to be greater clarity about how we can improve our player development to address these individual shortcomings, as well as a national direction on both the tactical strategy and the mindset required that can help turn valiant performances into victories.
jbinnie
Guest
Tim - Your assessment of how we played these 3 games is pretty accurate but one question remains unanswered. If we look at the first two games BVM's tactics appeared to incorporate two overlapping fullback,a packed mid-field and a lone front runner expending most of his energy running and harrowing defenders at all times. As you say we did appear to be a"difficult" task for our 2 opponents However come game 3, and a need for a win,,this deployment of players appeared to be "shelved" with Juric asked to do a task he is obviously not cut out to do, the aggressive non stop challenging of the back four. So did BVM change his tactics, for surely if continuity was to be achieved Leckie was far better equipped to do the task Nabbout had been doing. This would have cleared a wing position and either Arzani could have started, or Luongo could have been added to strengthen even more the midfield. None of this happened and once again we were back to the status quo., the no scoring challengers. Cheers jb.
Waz
Roar Rookie
There’s plenty of kids banging them in st youth level, just go and watch. How many get a go in the A League though?
punter
Guest
But he uses his hands & kicks it too high & still scores when he misses.
AusSokkah
Guest
I believe he started out in that role as a youth player, his pace and power suggests the job of running through on goal would not be beyond him. He's also got an eye for goal but it's a regular rather than prolific. At the end of the day you can build any attack you want as long as the other attackers complement the no.9. However I think it may come down to what types of movements come instinctually for him. He may not be good dropping deep to secure and receive from the defence, he may make all his runs out to the right and crowd the right winger, he may be too one footed and therefore too easy to defend. I'd suggest that his many coaches have taken all that into account and decided that he's more appropriate playing somewhere on the right side of the attack.
Martyn50
Guest
"We seem to lose a big forwards to Rugby/AFL I suppose." Buddy from 50 mtrs would look great
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
The footballroos exceeded my expectations under Aussie Bert and should be commended. They just lacked the skill and composure to make and convert scoring chances. The effort against Peru was the most disappointing letting in 2 goals and not appearing to try hard enough, given the prize at stake.
Redondo
Guest
I'm not just talking about what's left in the A-League. Ninkovic and Mierzejewski show up our national team players as well.
JamesH
Roar Guru
If Leckie ends up moving out of position for a more technical player then could he play as a 9 instead of going back? He's strong and quick, and has shown he can score. Genuine question.
JamesH
Roar Guru
That was my first reaction!
AusSokkah
Guest
Agreed but I also think that a lot of most promising technical players get whisked away to Europe at the first sign of any talent so what's left often isn't a great representation of what we're producing. At the same time, I don't think all the decisions of players to go overseas have been good ones. It's great if you can into an environment that allows you to develop your talent rather than restricts you or sees you regress due to lack of playing time.
Pablo
Roar Rookie
Redondo, Ninkovic and Mierzejews. I a am sure Arnie, would put them straight in, if they were available! Irvine a N0.9?
Redondo
Guest
Ninkovic and Mierzejewski - two players who couldn't make their country's world cup squads but who would walk into ours. Ninkovic, in particular, is a great example of a product of a football culture that values technique over physicality. Even less gifted players from that culture - Dimitrijevic for example - show up our local product when it comes to technique.
AusSokkah
Guest
Yes but we also suffer from not having the combined effect of all our attacking players at least being directly dangerous on the ball and creating space for the others. You could see the with the Belgian attack at this world cup where the combined danger of having to deal with technical Mertens, Hazard, De Bruyne and Witsel meant that a largely untechnical player like Lukaku could just power through into space 1 v 1 and score at will. Rogic and Arzani together would be a start, uncovering other technical attacking players would be the next step. Considering Arnie's use of Ninkovic and Mezierjewski at Sydney I hold hope that he too thinks this way. It may also see the likes of Leckie move back into a full back role, something that Ange did at times to allow a more technical player in front of him.
Redondo
Guest
It's definitely why Arzani and Rogic stand out.
Redondo
Guest
I hope so!
AusSokkah
Guest
The problem isn't limited to not having a world class no.9. Across our attacking players we are sorely lacking in players with the technical ability to turn on the ball and drive directly at their opponent and put them on their heels. It is why you often see Kruse get into really good positions 1 v 1 on the wing but turn around and dribble back down the line, he simply isn't good enough technically and definitely not powerful enough on the ball. Leckie on the other side is a much more powerful player but again, his touch and control of the ball while dribbling is average so he relies on trying to burn players with pace, which doesn't work against the top teams who can often match him. Juric is actually a decent hold up player but his positioning and coordinated movement with the team is lacking and again, he lacks the ability to go at players. A lot of our attacking play is reliant on players being able to beat their opponents and get into space behind the backline or shooting from distance and it is often dulled by teams that sit deep or teams that have players who are powerful and capable defenders in 1 v 1 situations. It's possible that this is why Arzani and Rogic stand out as players able to dribble and beat opponents to create their own shots. We have to be more than well a organised passing team and find and promote players with these attributes. They do exist but both Ange and BVM had largely ignored them for hard working players like Kruse and Leckie, but you would hope that players like McGree, Italiano, Da Silva etc. can make the step in future.
AusSokkah
Guest
I think the article is saying that when we don't have time to organise our defensive block and opponents can quickly get a ball in behind our back four then we tend to look vulnerable. Yes when we have our team organised defensively we don't let teams create much but that isn't so much the back four but the whole team working defensively to reduce the pressure on our back line.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Just get some elite coaching set up for strikers from a young age . Go Soviet style , minus the drugs and kids live in soccer schools and and a production line of kids from 8 years old to end of school. Get the Ffa to pay Juergen klinnsman or someone of his profile to be the strikers coach for these kids Strikers are selfish and different beasts , they need to be taught differently and be more self centred and confident then the mids and fullbacks. All the other clubs can teach the other kids how to pass around endlessly at a youth level
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
You spelt Viduka wrong :)
Pablo
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately, since, Arnold, we have never had a world class No.9. Cahill was a manufactured striker as no one else could score goals like him, and his many goals, have got us across the line many times, in crucial games. Maybe its time, Arnold looks at converting Jackson irvine into a 9. Juric just isnt dynamic enough, and Nabbnout, early days, but a hard worker, but not a goal poacher. We seem to lose a big forwards to Rugby/AFL I suppose. Arzani should turn into a world class player, but not another No.9 though. We were not badly outplayed in any game, so congratulation to the Socceroos. We just need to be better at goal scoring time, we created enough, just couldnt be clinical enough.