Stan Lazaridis: Pim's way frustrates opponents

* Stan Lazaridis
* From: The Sunday Times

PLENTY has been said about the Dutch influence on Australian soccer during the past five years.

First, Guus Hiddink led us to our first World Cup in 32 years, and now his compatriot Pim Verbeek has guided the Socceroos to South Africa.

While there's undeniably a Dutch influence about the way the Socceroos play, Australia has borrowed just as much from another great football nation.

Whether we'd like to admit it or not, the Socceroos have adopted the mentality of our 2006 conqueror, Italy.

I'm not saying that our XI compares with the world champions individually, but collectively Italy is what we've become.

Throughout history, the Italians have been labelled as uninspiring and even boring to watch, but they get results and they win things.

Sound familiar?

While Australian fans want to be entertained and complain about the brand of football the Socceroos play, Verbeek has instilled a mentality that says all that matters is winning.

I didn't want to say it, but a month ago I was expecting an early exit. However over the past couple of weeks I've changed my mind.

Australia continually finds a way to win, even when we have played poorly or been outplayed by our opposition. It's happened too many times under Verbeek to be a coincidence.

The two holding midfielders sit so deep we virtually play with six defenders and we frustrate the opposition, grinding them down.

We're in a tough group and have been largely written off. But there is huge reason for hope.

Serbia and Ghana haven't had fantastic preparations and we can nick second spot behind Germany.

Like the Italians, Verbeek has instilled a confidence in his men that if they score first they can shut up shop and keep a clean sheet to secure the points. He has faith in his players and they love him.

If the Socceroos go 1-0 down, they never give up until they find an equaliser or a winner, even if that doesn't come until added time in the second half.

Verbeek has taught Australia the skill of holding the ball for long periods without doing anything.

In the Denmark game this week, a frustrated Danish side got tired as it chased shadows, and a team can't beat you if it doesn't have the ball.

We will only appreciate what Verbeek has done for us once he has gone.

He says he's going to Morocco, but I wouldn't be surprised if Pim is actually leaving us for the world poker tour.

His preparation is methodical, he never gives anything away and he leaves every decision until the last possible second.

He treats each match like it is a boxing contest that can only be won on points after 12 rounds. He wants to wear the opposition down and there are no early knockouts.

Verbeek isn't seen to have the magic of Hiddink, but he may be remembered every bit as fondly.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/world-cup-2010/stan-lazaridis-pims-way-frustrates-opponents/story-fn4l5v26-1225875887619