On Sunday the 8th of July the Socceroos will complete the final stage of the 2004 Football Revolution by competing for the first time in the premier football competition this side of the Urals (I would’ve said the Bosphorus but Turkey and indeed Kazakhstan are part of Europe as far as football is concerned), the AFC Asian Cup. Prior to this the Socceroos had squared off against the likes of American Samoa and Kiribati in the Oceania Nations Cup — the victories were many and comfortable but the quality of the opposition was less than impressive, the only serious challenge coming in the form of the All-Whites*.
The Asian Cup is a somewhat weightier competition, featuring World Cup regulars Iran and Japan — teams we have, shall we say a “history” with — alongside 2002 semifinalists South Korea and a bevvy of established and cashed-up teams from West Asia. This years comp also has a unique (as in never to be repeated, sayeth AFC supremos) format with four host nations: Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.
While on paper Australia’s squad appears second to none, encompassing our full strike and midfield lineup and most of our European ‘A’ players, easy progress is far from assured even in the Group Stage. Thailand, Oman and Iraq aren’t barnstorming up the (admittedly crap) FIFA ranking tables, but none are to be underestimated and each will play to their considerable strengths and push the Socceroos to their limits. As last Sunday’s friendly with Singapore and Sydney FC’s experience in the Champion’s League demonstrated, even low/middle ranked Asian teams can be very dangerous. No doubt the combination of aggressive, counterattacking play and stifling climate has been playing on Graham Arnold and co.’s minds for quite some time; and their rigorous acclimatisation program and training schedule appeared to pay some dividends fitness-wise if nothing else.
However, defensive woes remain. Australa’s leftback drought has been exacerbated by the recent retirement of several defensive players among them left-sided specialist Stan Lazaridis and capable left fullback Tony Vidmar, and the decisions of central defensive lynchpin Craig Moore and leftback Scott Chipperfield to give this one a miss**. Their absence has left the Socceroos backline decidely unsettled, in Singapore neither Patrick Kisnorbo or Michael Beauchamp looked effective paired in the centre with The Man With The $2000 Soul Patch***, and Luke Wilkshire didn’t convince at leftback. This Sydney FC fan suspects that had Alvin Ceccoli stayed on for the ACL campaign he might well have been called up to fill just this gap — his departure to Avispa Fukuoka in the Japanese second division appears to have put him off Arnie’s radar, which is apparently Europe and Australia-focused to the exclusion of anywhere else.
Some pundits have stated that anything other than a finals appearance would be a disgrace, I’m a lot less sanguine — while this isn’t Germany 2006, the conditions are going to be no less trying. Arnie’s Socceroos may find themselves missing the searing oven of Kaiserslauten by the end of their South East Asian sojourn.
*Behold the contested nature of NZ football terminology: hyperlink says ‘New_Zealand_national_soccer_team’, wiki headline is ‘New Zealand national football team’. You work it out.
** Chippers is spending time with his newborn son, Moore is ‘considering his international career’ whatever that means.
*** known to some as “Lucas Neill”
33 responses so far ↓
Bring Back CL's Blog // Jul 9, 2007 at 9:47 am
They were dreadful last night.
I am sick and tired of hearing they aren’t used to the conditions.
Why has the defence crumbled over two games?
Oman should have won 4-2 at worst. Schwarzer had a blinder but Grella and Stervo had shockers and Lucas was not distributing well.
On the positive side Wilkshire played well as left back.
Perhaps we try Beachamp.
Leinad // Jul 9, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Homer, has anyone told you you’re a hard taskmaster recently? Most of our guys play in European winter, they wilt at 35C and 60% humidity — even the A-League players flop at that (cf. Sydney FC in Solo City). Oman played with discipline and skill, we went off the boil inside 20 minutes. The heat’s obviously stuffing with their minds in a big way.
Our defence crumbles because we don’t have a solid centre pairing, our fullbacks are natural wide midfielders and Kisnorbo keeps getting out of place going forward. You could replace him with Beauchamp, but I don’t think it would make a lot of difference and possibly wreck what little signs of improvement there were from Singapore.
I’m a bit miffed at Grella – is Culina eating his lunch? He’s been pretty anonymous going forward and back, something’s up with that guy. The Sterj was class against Uruguay, he’s probably just adapting like the rest.
Mungo Amanda // Jul 9, 2007 at 4:41 pm
I don’t buy the heat excuse — and if it a problem, its the same for everyone and we’ve had years to prepare. Bad/non existant tactics, poor discipline and general confusion as to roles on field are to blame
That said, its not the end of the world and could all be forgotten with a commanding performance Friday. Bring it on!
Leinad // Jul 9, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Amanda: you’re probably right viz. heat; I just read that Oman played four practice matches in Singapore, including their 2-2 draw with Saudi. Puts our ‘acclimatisation’ efforts into perspective.
I think Arnold is staring to slide into serious Farina-ism — he didn’t adjust anything from the Singapore game save putting Kewell in the hole, a waste of his considerable talents. More egregiously he’s stuck with Culina AND Grella in deep midfiled: one or the other, not both. Euro-favouritism is also showing, putting Holman on at 70 rather than Carle right about when we needed his playmaking ability, He persisted with Bresciano at left when the guy’s been tootheless for the national team since Greece in 2006. With our suspect defense he’s still trying to shoehore midfielders into a back four rather than switch to a 3-5-2 or the 3-4-3 that stomped all over China back in March.
Leinad // Jul 9, 2007 at 4:58 pm
‘shoehorn’ …sheesh
Bring Back CL's Blog // Jul 9, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Beacham is quicker than Kisnorbo.
Marco was hopeless and I prefer Carle to do something.
Emmo was off his game, Kewell didn’t know what he was supposed to do.
They are damned professionals .Don’t whinge play!
Holman doesn’t have the ball control nor the nerve for internationals and Alosoi is simply too slow and lacks skill. Give Archie a go
Mungo Amanda // Jul 9, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Hey, where is everyone watching the games? Those of us without Fox at home anyway.
I was at Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL in my replica 1974 world cup top, they had three big screens in the auditorium and a decent crowd to watch. Very comfy and will be back there friday night.
Leinad // Jul 9, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Amanda: I was over at a friend’s as I couldn’t get a big group up for Oman, but that setup sounds sweet, and closer to mine than Burwood. Depending, we may bump into each other (if so I’m the loudmouth weedy dude with shaggy hair in a SFC jersey (or one of them, anyway)).
Bring Back CL's Blog // Jul 9, 2007 at 9:13 pm
I was at a mate’s place with my two kiddies but on Friday I will be at the Eastwwod club
Bring Back CL's Blog // Jul 10, 2007 at 8:00 am
there is one good point from the match.
Winners of tournaments always start slow and we started werry werry slow
Leinad // Jul 10, 2007 at 3:05 pm
heh, I’m sure that’s what the French were telling themselves in 2002, Homer
.
Ah crap, now I’ve been hit with a wave of nostalgia for 2002…
Bring Back CL's blog // Jul 11, 2007 at 8:29 am
it happened four years previously as well only somewhat better!
Mungo Amanda // Jul 11, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Worth readin’
http://blogs.foxsports.com.au/football/index.php/foxsports/comments/the_emmo_conundrum
Leinad // Jul 11, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Nice catch, Amanda. Now that I think about it Emmo didn’t cop much flak from anyone, it all got slated to Neill and Kisnorbo. Though I think Jesse’s too harsh on the ‘no structure under Arnie’ point — China is a neat example of where he has employed and it did work. But he’s been making Farina-like chops and changes ever since, so I’m not surprised players are ‘taking liberties’ when they’re being played out of their instinctive positions so often.
Bring Back CL's blog // Jul 11, 2007 at 3:44 pm
We need Emmo to motor down the right wing and TRY although he is very poor at it to cross the ball not come inside all the time denying us width.
Neil is brilliant at long balls to the wing but why is he going down the centre. Has Rudie Guttendorf reappeared?
Agree with Carney at left back.
Bring in Archie for some sharpness up front.
Is it only me that thinks apart from having no skill, pace and vision Alosio is brilliant.
Leave our Arry up front. He can BEAT players and will only get better.
The players are talking too much and are using the weather as an excuse.
Leinad // Jul 11, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Total nix on the Carney=Chipperfield idea. Carney is not a left back. He just isn’t defensive minded, and if you play him there you’ll have a repeat of the Emerton problem in spades.
Archie might pair well with ‘Dukes, but our ‘Arry isn’t an centre forward, Homer, he’s much better cutting in from the left and playing around Big Dukes than he would be trying to hold the ball up front with 3-4 marking at all times. Aloisi was pretty blah, but no one had any idea what to do anyway and Neill had started hoofing up the park at that stage anyway.
Mungo Amanda // Jul 12, 2007 at 8:49 am
Update on the CHPRSL if anyone cares. There is some weirdo girl group in the auditorium on Fri night but I emailed the club about plans and:
We will be showing the match on the big screen in the Bayview Area
(where we have the duo’s late at night) and it will be with audio.
This is not quite as good — pokiepalooza adjacent and in bistro area, but on the upside you can still see the screen while you’re at the bar — but I’ll be there.
Bring Back CL's blog // Jul 12, 2007 at 10:04 am
Leinad you are mixing up Carney on the right side when he goes inside and on the left side when he goes on the outside. A left footer can more easily defend as well at left back.
Our Arry had only his first full game and given his ability to beat a player I would use him.
Will we be between Iraq and a hard place?
Bring Back CL's blog // Jul 12, 2007 at 11:55 am
My changes for friday night.
Carney for Wilkshire, Beachamp for Kisnorbo ( faster, plays in a better league and was playing regularly and is class), Archie for Miles ( faster, more skillful and has a better nose for goal.)
Leinad // Jul 12, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Homer: the problem isn’t his left foot, it’s that he likes to get up front – he’s attacking minded, hasn’t played a defensive role in his SFC career. Put him at left back and he’ll be caught out all night like Emmo was.
I’d really like to see Arnie try a 3-4-3 with wingbacks, something like this:
Beauchamp—Neill—Milligan
Emerton—————Grella——————–Wilkshire
——————————-Carle————————–
–Cahill—————–Viduka————–Kewell
Bring Back CL's blog // Jul 12, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Timmy is apparently not up to full fitness.
for Carney the same could have been said for Chippers before The MIGHTY Guus put him there
Leinad // Jul 12, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Well that was Chippers and that was Guus. This is Carney and Arnold. I’m not so sanguine.
I dunno who I’d replace Cahill with, tbh, the Sterj has been anonymous, so has Bresc. I guess that leaves Archie or Culina, so probably Archie.
Mungo Amanda // Jul 13, 2007 at 11:28 pm
OK. I just left a whole suicide note here. And it didn’t go thougt somehow.
How anti-climatic.
Mungo Amanda // Jul 13, 2007 at 11:31 pm
OMG. And Arnie post match dummy spit.
OMG. Woe.
Leinad // Jul 14, 2007 at 1:17 am
Amanda: pub was too loud, missed the dummy spit, but I am tendering to FFA to replace Arnie, and I suggest you jump onboard too (though being lowest-bidder types they might bypass us and hire a talking Boony Doll).
Fark, Homer you were right. This really is the pits.
Mungo Amanda // Jul 14, 2007 at 8:26 am
How much do you want? I’ve been on that bandwagon for a while. I am a foreign coach partisan, I think only an outsider can crack the whip, have them all worried for their possies and make them sit up straighter when he walks in the room.
Leinad // Jul 14, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Two words for you: Branko. Culina.
Hell, Ernie Merrick, Lawrie McKinna, Gary Van Egmond, anyone.
Arnie’s coaching experience is what, two years with Northern Spirit? Kossie’s managed to wrangle Adelaide a premiership and two finals flops while playing as dull as possible. What an exciting pair – they couldn’t crack a whip on a show dog.
Johann Neeskens we hardly knew ye…
Mungo Amanda // Jul 14, 2007 at 12:44 pm
oh Jesus Neeskens. Don’t even get me started about that.
Plus I got 0/2 in the mungo tipping.
Mungo Amanda // Jul 14, 2007 at 12:55 pm
You’re right it doesn’t have to be a furriner but I do thnk the above qualifications should be the first things on the list. It is obvious without ruthless discipline thrust upon them and screwed down with twenty inch bolts we are a mob of one legged browns cows, not a football team.
I do heart Branko and was stoked we got him.
Leinad // Jul 14, 2007 at 1:02 pm
gah. I’m finding it hard to post about this mess without spoiling Sidelined’s family friendly atmosphere…
Bring Back CL's blog // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:48 am
assuming the 1st Bahrain game was an outlier all other games in hot humid Asian countries have been a disaster under Arnie with out stars.
He simply has no idea of how to play. Except for the VERY EXCELLENT goal we have been getting worse.
I would be tempted to replace the whole lot with A-league players against Thailand.
How can anyone think we can beat Thailand at home when we have no system to play with.
Neil and Grella are hopeless at present. No midfielder defends well and Kisnorbo longs for Leicester.
I am going out to shoot myself and enquire whether Rudi Gutendorf is coaching us
Leinad // Jul 15, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Ah… so you’re saying maybe the weather is a factor, Homer?
I find it utterly amazing that after being found wanting in Singapore and against Oman our defense remained unchanged, and A-League players with substantial Asian experience (esp. Milligan and Carney) weren’t given a look in, even in the selection process Arnie didn’t think to bolster his weak defense with some competent A-Leaguers. Seeing how crap Kisnorbo and Neill have been I don’t see how Rudan, Ceccoli, Costanzo, hell, even Muscat could do worse, and the first three have more experience with Asian teams that Lucas has in his soul patch.
The Japanese have only retained two Euro players for this comp, and the Koreans have left out Ahn Jung-Hwan and Park Ji-Sung, while we’ve still got this cringe over the A-League that makes it so toxic we can’t risk even a proven performer like Milligan…
How do you spell Frank Farina?
G. R. A. H. A. M. A. R. N. O. L. D.
Bring Back CL's blog // Jul 15, 2007 at 4:43 pm
ONLY in their heads.
The coach picks his squad. He then can’t whinge about the players.
He clearly learns nothing from playing in hot humid conditions