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Aussie Analysis: Australia's Dutch Performance Was A Taste Of The World Cup
The Socceroos spoiled and battled for 90 minutes against the Dutch in Sydney and Goal.com's Chris Paraskevas expects more of the same come South Africa in a few months time.
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Oct 11, 2009 4:51:42 AM
The general consensus amongst the Socceroos as they emerged through the narrow passageway of the media mixed zone was that they had been outplayed by one of the best football sides in the world.
Certainly, there is no shame in holding even an under strength Netherlands outfit to a scoreless draw.
Humility is perhaps the best word to describe the reaction of Pim Verbeek’s men – including the coach himself – after a result that they could have played up as something more than it actually was.
Instead though of claiming that the Socceroos had matched the Dutch, the former Korea Republic boss spoke of his side being taught a lesson in football by the visiting Oranje.
Indeed, the sentiment tied in nicely with the general view amongst the playing group that there was still a long way to go before Australia could truly match a team like the Netherlands on the world stage.
For the moment, qualities such as organization, discipline and work ethic would need to suffice against the world’s best.
Importantly though, there remains an ambition amongst the current crop of Socceroos to continue to scale the heights of world football and achieve a level that two decades ago it appeared almost offensive to consider.
Senior squad members Jason Culina and Lucas Neill both maintained that, whilst there was a satisfaction with the result within the change rooms after the match, there was a hunger to one day be able to force a team like the Netherlands on to the back foot.
The Australia captain even went as far as to say that the aim was to break into the top ten circle of the world’s best football outfits, a claim that is perhaps more admirable than realistic.
“We’ve taken the team from 50th in the world to 14th,” Neill told reporters after the game.
“We’re going to drop a few now that other teams are playing tonight but the idea is to break into the top ten in the world and who would have thought that a couple of years ago.
“We just need to make sure that we keep winning games and most importantly don’t lose games, like tonight and that’s the dogged mentality that this team has now.
“Clean sheets and not losing has become a good habit for this national team and long may that continue.
“Every time you keep a clean sheet you know you’ve got a chance of winning and that’s the mentality now.”
South Africa 2010 will of course provide the most legitimate stage for the Socceroos to test out their newly acquired ranking and standing in the international arena.
It is highly doubtful though – in fact, impossible – that they will be able to make such strides as a squad soas to match the Netherlands on a technical, tactical and stylistic level during a period of eight or nine months.
“It’s difficult. The Dutch team wasn’t made overnight, the way they play wasn’t thought about overnight, it’s been the way they’ve played for many years and obviously a lot of great players have come from Holland, and that helps,” Culina told Goal.com after the match.
“They’re all playing at the biggest clubs in the world and it helps them with their level.
“It’s going to be hard; we’re a long way behind them in terms of the way they play but we’re slowly getting there.
“If we were to play them at the World Cup and get a draw like we did tonight, it would be a great point.”
Both sets of comments – combined with the nature of the performance - are particularly revealing just a few months out from the World Cup.
National team boss Pim Verbeek might have been coy about whether the pragmatic and cautious mentality taken against the Dutch in Sydney was a pre-cursor to the type of performance one could expect from Australia against a similarly superior opposition at the World Cup but the reality is that it a dress rehearsal for such a scenario.
Fans should brace themselves for a cautious Australia in South Africa, particularly against technically superior opposition.
It is the reality brought about by having a playing squad whose best traits lie in their cohesion and discipline, rather than any stylistic qualities.
The Socceroos will not have the luxury of being able to play a fluid and cavalier style of football at the World Cup, as much as the purists and most fans would like to see them do so; quite simply, it would not bring success.
Instead, the sort of battling performance that was produced against Bert van Marwijk’s men – relying on set pieces and looking to out-muscle rather than out-pass in midfield and wide areas – will be their best chance of success.
Clearly, the Australian players don’t see any shame in such an approach – and neither should their fans.
Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
Get all the Australian football coverage you need on the Goal.com Australia homepage!
Certainly, there is no shame in holding even an under strength Netherlands outfit to a scoreless draw.
Humility is perhaps the best word to describe the reaction of Pim Verbeek’s men – including the coach himself – after a result that they could have played up as something more than it actually was.
Instead though of claiming that the Socceroos had matched the Dutch, the former Korea Republic boss spoke of his side being taught a lesson in football by the visiting Oranje.
Indeed, the sentiment tied in nicely with the general view amongst the playing group that there was still a long way to go before Australia could truly match a team like the Netherlands on the world stage.
For the moment, qualities such as organization, discipline and work ethic would need to suffice against the world’s best.
Importantly though, there remains an ambition amongst the current crop of Socceroos to continue to scale the heights of world football and achieve a level that two decades ago it appeared almost offensive to consider.
Senior squad members Jason Culina and Lucas Neill both maintained that, whilst there was a satisfaction with the result within the change rooms after the match, there was a hunger to one day be able to force a team like the Netherlands on to the back foot.
The Australia captain even went as far as to say that the aim was to break into the top ten circle of the world’s best football outfits, a claim that is perhaps more admirable than realistic.
“We’ve taken the team from 50th in the world to 14th,” Neill told reporters after the game.
“We’re going to drop a few now that other teams are playing tonight but the idea is to break into the top ten in the world and who would have thought that a couple of years ago.
“We just need to make sure that we keep winning games and most importantly don’t lose games, like tonight and that’s the dogged mentality that this team has now.
“Clean sheets and not losing has become a good habit for this national team and long may that continue.
“Every time you keep a clean sheet you know you’ve got a chance of winning and that’s the mentality now.”
South Africa 2010 will of course provide the most legitimate stage for the Socceroos to test out their newly acquired ranking and standing in the international arena.
It is highly doubtful though – in fact, impossible – that they will be able to make such strides as a squad soas to match the Netherlands on a technical, tactical and stylistic level during a period of eight or nine months.
“It’s difficult. The Dutch team wasn’t made overnight, the way they play wasn’t thought about overnight, it’s been the way they’ve played for many years and obviously a lot of great players have come from Holland, and that helps,” Culina told Goal.com after the match.
“They’re all playing at the biggest clubs in the world and it helps them with their level.
“It’s going to be hard; we’re a long way behind them in terms of the way they play but we’re slowly getting there.
“If we were to play them at the World Cup and get a draw like we did tonight, it would be a great point.”
Both sets of comments – combined with the nature of the performance - are particularly revealing just a few months out from the World Cup.
National team boss Pim Verbeek might have been coy about whether the pragmatic and cautious mentality taken against the Dutch in Sydney was a pre-cursor to the type of performance one could expect from Australia against a similarly superior opposition at the World Cup but the reality is that it a dress rehearsal for such a scenario.
Fans should brace themselves for a cautious Australia in South Africa, particularly against technically superior opposition.
It is the reality brought about by having a playing squad whose best traits lie in their cohesion and discipline, rather than any stylistic qualities.
The Socceroos will not have the luxury of being able to play a fluid and cavalier style of football at the World Cup, as much as the purists and most fans would like to see them do so; quite simply, it would not bring success.
Instead, the sort of battling performance that was produced against Bert van Marwijk’s men – relying on set pieces and looking to out-muscle rather than out-pass in midfield and wide areas – will be their best chance of success.
Clearly, the Australian players don’t see any shame in such an approach – and neither should their fans.
Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
Get all the Australian football coverage you need on the Goal.com Australia homepage!
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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