When the Socceroos walk out to 30,000 fans in Melbourne on Friday night to face Kuwait, there is little more Ange Postecoglou can do. With his team talk delivered and final instructions given, the coach can only watch on from the sidelines and hope that all his preparation leads to a successful outcome. All the training sessions, all the scouting and all the behind-the-scenes planning that has gone unseen during Postecoglou’s 15 months in charge have been geared towards the Asian Cup. Yes, there was also a small task called the World Cup, but Postecoglou has not hidden the fact that the Asian Cup represents his one and only chance to lift silverware during his tenure with the national side.
While recent results have not been good, Postecoglou has been fulfilling his remit of regeneration. Forty-two players have been used in his 12 games, but only one win from 11 in 2014 has left the football public concerned and Australia’s world ranking in the triple digits. Will the Socceroos be ready to mount a challenge for Asia’s biggest trophy, where the success of the tournament relies on the progress of the host nation? Postecoglou is confident his players can deliver.
“I have the highest of expectations in terms of results,” he said when the first players came into camp at the end of December. “And the manner we go about getting those results is something very important. It is not just winning games of football, the method of football is very important to me.”
Postecoglou’s philosophy has shone through since he took over the top job in October. Australia now look to play a short passing, possession-based game. The theory in this approach is to draw the opposition forward to press the ball when Australia play the ball out from the back. When this happens, space opens up behind the opposition defence and the Socceroos move the ball quickly forward to exploit this.
To play this way takes a certain type of player and a belief in the methods employed from everyone involved. A big part of Postecoglou’s task has been to instil this belief, and to continue to do so despite the poor outcomes. Losses to Belgium, Qatar and Japan have come as Australia have travelled to Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Postecoglou has wanted to test out his inexperienced squads: are they good enough, bold enough and do they believe in the system enough to continue to carry out the plans in difficult circumstances?
But now the real test comes. While the group appears relatively straightforward, with Australia and South Korea clear favourites to progress, Oman and Kuwait have posed problems in the past by sitting back and frustrating the Socceroos. Australia will need to have a fine-tuned system in order to break down compact defences. But they have tended to be reliant on star striker Tim Cahill to score goals. Only he has scored from open play under Postecoglou and the side is much more efficient when he is on the field.
Excluding Cahill, it is hard to find a proven goal threat in the squad. Wingers Tommy Oar, Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie have struggled for goals at international level and while Tomi Juric possesses raw talent, he can be inconsistent with his execution. Nathan Burns will be hoping to bring his A-League form to national team level.
Postecoglou will also be hoping for his midfielders to chip in with goals and assists, which was part of his thinking behind moving towards a 4-3-3 formation. Player rotation is the order of the day with captain Mile Jedinak performing the role of a holding midfielder. This allows players such as Mark Bresciano, Mark Milligan, James Troisi, Matt McKay and Massimo Luongo more license to get forward from midfield.
But Australia also have question marks surrounding their defence, having kept only two clean sheets under Postecoglou. The Socceroos are expected to dominate their opening two matches but will have to be switched on to snuff out any quick counter attacks.
If Australia do, as expected, progress from Group A, they will be confident of getting past any of the four potential opponents from Group B – Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, China and North Korea – which should see them through to the semi-final stage. While Australia aren’t favourites for the tournament – that honour goes to Japan – the final four is surely a minimum expectation for the side and its supporters.
To try and achieve success, Postecoglou and his staff have left no stone unturned. All 15 other competing nations have been scouted to ensure they are ready to face any opponent in the knockout stages and with nearly two weeks in camp, the Socceroos are hoping to be fully prepared for the challenges that face them. But first comes Kuwait and when the players take to the pitch in Melbourne the Australian football public will be watching on, as helpless and as hopeful as Postecoglou on the sideline.
