Everybody needs good neighbours
26/06/2010 11:24 AM
Bren O'Brien in Johannesburg
Sportal
With two of the four Asian countries at the World Cup through to the second round, is there something Australia could learn from our new neighbours?
In a World Cup where as a rule European nations have struggled, there has been an unprecedented opportunity for those considered the minor confederations, Asia and North America, to shine. Two of the three CONCACAF, Mexico and USA, will progress while Japan and South Korea have also managed to negotiate their way through to the final 16.
The other two Asian nations, Australia and North Korea, have fallen victim to the two toughest groups, with Australia outpointed by a European powerhouse in Germany and arguably Africa's best in Ghana.
But the performance of South Korea and Japan also provides Australia with some interesting study material. What do these nations possess which has helped them make it through the group stage of two of the past three World Cups?
Japan and Korea have three things in common with each other which Australia doesn't. They have a local coach, they have a largely locally-based playing group, and they are technically gifted sides who have benefitted greatly from their ability at set pieces.
All three of these factors have a lot to do with the steps taken in Korean and Japanese football in the 1980s and 1990s to professionalise the league back home and attempt to grow local talent. Australia is on that road, but is perhaps ten years away from a situation where it can draw reliably from the A-League talent pool and can look towards appointing a permanent Australian coach.
There are now two former A-League coaches in the FFA system, Gary van Egmond and Aurelio Vidmar, who over the coming decade will come into calculations for the top Socceroos job. Until then, Australia will likely stick with the European coach who can pull players together from leagues across the world.
As far as A-League playing talent is concerned, it is still the case that anyone who shows the slightest aptitude at the local level will be lured overseas by extra money and career opportunities. In recent months we have seen two of the best young players in the A-League, Tommy Oar and Mitch Langerak, head to Europe and that is a huge positive for the game.
The issue is when players go overseas when they are not yet ready. Look at the example of former Adelaide strike pair Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite, who went to Greece and Turkey respectively and have had their careers stall. The development of these players was crucial to Australia's striking stocks at this World Cup, but they did not have the track record to warrant selection and the Socceroos were poorer for that.
The hope would be that in the coming years the A-League will be strong enough to retain this level of talent, in the same way that the K-League and J-League do now. Only the best Japanese and Korean players make the transition to Europe and that has proven a bonus to their local leagues and arguably their national teams as well.
The final point is the most crucial, technical ability. As a rule, Australia has athleticism in spades. We produce energetic, physically strong players who are suited to international football. We also produce players who have a strong psychological approach to the game and are rarely intimidated by tough opponents. The Socceroos have plenty of grit and determination and that's what kept them in the running for qualification until the bitter end in South Africa,
What Australia lacks is an abundance of technical skilled players. Despite having plenty of tall, strong target men, the Socceroos generally struggle from set pieces. Australia created next to nothing from corners at this World Cup and while Brett Holman's goal against Ghana came after a free kick, it was more to do with a goal keeping error than the power of Mark Bresciano's left boot.
When you compare that to Japan and Korea, who created two goals apiece in their final group games against Nigeria and Denmark respectively from set pieces and you start to see why they are in the next stage and Australia is not.
Traditionally in international football, a huge chunk of goals are created from set pieces. While teams took some time getting used to the Jubilani ball, as the tournament has worn on, the importance of execution from the dead ball has grown.
While Luke Wilkshire has been serviceable from corners and Bresciano's Socceroos career in its final stage, there is a need to uncover a player or two who can deliver the goods from the dead ball. The next coach, whoever that is, needs to make that their priority.
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