FOOTBALL GAINING SOME POPULARITY DOWN UNDER

Our next trip takes us down under the land of the Socceroos. This is the nickname of the Australian National team who will be playing in their 3rd FIFA World cup. They made a good name for themselves at the last edition four years ago, under the tutelage of Guus Hiddink and will be looking to improve on their second round exit at the hands of the eventual champions, Italy after an injury time penalty. This time, they will be coached by Pim Verbeek (full name Peter Tim Verbeek) another Dutchman the assistant manager of South Korea at the last 2 editions of the world cup under the former Socceroo manager, Hiddink and Dick Advocaat in 2002 and 2006 respectively.

In this nation where Rugby and cricket still reign supreme as the preferred choices of sport for many of the people, it has been difficult to gain the popularity the game enjoys all around the world. The local league, known as the A-league is trying the MLS approach used in the USA to bring in retiring stars to help raise the popularity of the game but I think nothing can help this cause more than another good outing in South Africa. They also opted to leave the Oceania qualification zone (allocated a half spot of 32) of the world cup to the Asian Zone to compete with the best of the East for one of their four automatic spots (Asia has four and a half spots and the best loser competes with the best of Oceania). I’m not sure how much this will help improve the game back home but it has paid dividends as they easily qualified top of their group at both rounds of qualification.

The Asian qualifiers gave us a chance to see how much Pim Verbeek had actually gathered serving under two great Dutch Managers and he didn’t disappoint. His tight and cautious approach to the game ensured that they came out of qualifying conceding the least amount of goals in the Asian qualification zone and scoring an average of about 1 a game. They even went an impressive seven games without conceding; a national record for both the Socceroos and their efficient goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. They lost 2 games in the first qualification round and still came out top. In the second group stage they went on to finish undefeated, head and shoulders above Japan, Bahrain, Qatar and Uzbekistan conceding only 1 goal in the process. A far less dramatic qualification as compared to four years ago but at the price of more traveling, traversing all around Asia and with home games in Australia, this meant most of the top stars were not available for all their games but they still emerged as one of the first teams to book their place in South Africa.

The danger man for the Socceroos has to be none other than Tim Cahill. The Everton attacking midfielder has a knack for arriving late into the box to grab that all important goal for the toffees. The same goes for his role in the national side making him their top scorer in qualifying notching in 4 goals. Standing at 5’ 10”, Tim has the leap of a Kangaroo and uncharacteristically scores most of his goals with his head. He has also shown he can play up front on his own if need be and this suits Pims style of playing with a lone striker. Harry Kewell will be battling to be fit in time to make it to what will be his last World cup should he make it. The former Liverpool winger, plying his trade now in Galatasaray has not really found his footing yet but is an experienced campaigner for the team and will be needed as a leader in the absence of the now retired Mark Viduka. Mark Schwarzer will want to carry over the form he has shown all season for Fulham (barring a few instances of rush of blood to his head) in what is regarded as the best season they have had in recent times as well as his national team form where he conceded 3 goals in 14 qualifying games. The Blackburn duo of Vince Grella and Brett Emerton need to apply the experience gained abroad in a team that consists mainly of home based A-league players and others in lowly clubs around Europe and Asia. Pim openly voiced his disapproval of Jason Culina’s decision to leave PSV Eindhoven to back to the A-league nevertheless he will remain an integral part of the team in the holding midfield role. Hopefully the aging legs of Lucas Neill and Mark Bresciano will carry them through this world cup and help the team repeat their exploits of 2006 or maybe even improve them.

Australia will line up against Germany, Serbia and Ghana three teams considered to be stronger than them and will have to work their socks off and pull up every trick in the hat to stand a chance of qualification from such a tough group. They will begin their campaign against Germany in Durban on the 13th of June, an uphill task to get any form of a result in that game. Pim will want to achieve a good showing at least in this world cup which will be his last assignment as the manager of the Aussies, he will be resuming as the manager of the Moroccan youth sides (U-17, U-20 and U-23) immediately after the world cup.

My Verdict: I don’t think they can make it to third place in this group. Need I say more? Maybe Pim and Tim will prove me wrong and come out with a bang. Cant wait.

Shortilsted players for the Australia squad

Goalkeepers: Adam Federici (Reading/England), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide Utd), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough/England), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham/England),

Defenders: Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira/United Arab Emirates), David Carney (FC Twente/Netherlands), Scott Chipperfield (Basel/Switzerland), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa/England), Mark Milligan (JEF United/Japan), Craig Moore (uncontracted), Lucas Neill (Galatasaray/Turkey), Jade North (Tromso/Norway), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow/Russia), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough/England)

Midfielders: Mark Bresciano (Palermo/Italy), Tim Cahill (Everton/England), Nick Carle (Crystal Palace/England), Jason Culina (Gold Coast Utd), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers/England), Richard Garcia (Hull City/England), Vince Grella (Blackburn Rovers/England), James Holland (AZ Alkmaar/Netherlands), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar/Netherlands), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor Kulubu/Turkey), Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht/Netherlands), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo/Italy), Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg/Germany),

Forwards: Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus/Japan), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray/Turkey), Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough/England), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente/Netherlands)