Four years in the making, the World Cup in Russia promised to be the crowning achievement of Ange Postecoglou’s Socceroos tenure. While the performances continued to catch the eye, results only did enough to keep the vultures at bay for so long. After his shock resignation upon qualification, Australian football is left in a conflicted state as we edge closer to the big event later this month.
There are very few examples of innovative management in Asian national team football, so the progress of Australia under Postecoglou was something to saviour. From the green shoots produced in Brazil four years ago, via a home Asian Cup triumph to the evolution of a thoroughly modern attacking squad in late qualification, it was truly a progression to behold.
It did however come at a price, that of results. While the aesthetics of the project were there to be absorbed, the accomplishments on paper only trickled in. The Asian Cup was a historic triumph, but the forthcoming qualification and Confederations Cup campaigns were an anticlimax.
In a final stage qualifying group that no one wanted to win, Australia finished behind Japan and Saudi Arabia, having to settle for the ringer of the playoffs. Given the tests we’ve seen in the past Syria and Honduras were favourable opponents, making light work of creating history for Asia in seeing five teams represent the continent for the first time.
The style was there in spades, the substance however was only just about enough. The coach-federation relationship soured and Postecoglou was off to inflict his artistry elsewhere. The appointments of Bert van Marwijk in the short term for the World Cup, followed by former Socceroo coach Graham Arnold thereafter were the antithesis of Postecoglou’s stylistic mantra, but one thing that couldn’t be denied was his successors' record for winning.
Van Marwijk, who upset the apple cart by qualifying with Saudi Arabia ahead of Australia only three months prior was a pragmatic choice when he was appointed in January. A short term fix to paper over the cracks, bringing to an end four years of revolution, the coach might have preferred to start over fresh but he’s still been able to turn around some of the doubters with little tweaks.
His reign started poorly, losing to Norway and drawing with Colombia in late March. Van Marwijk understandably urged patience and to his word the last month has seen an upturn in the Socceroos’ fortunes.
The month long training camp in Turkey has refocused a squad highly concentrated with players who’ve only ever featured in the national team under Postecoglou. Prioritising fitness and basic tactical plays, the simplicity of the new regime was a success on its first full roll-out, beating Czech Republic comfortably 4-0 in St. Polten.
In the main, the approach has changed, if not the personnel. A reversion back to a more conservative 4231 was expected, but given the options they have, especially in centre midfield, attack has been at the forefront of van Marwijk’s preparation.
In Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic, Australia possess two central players at the peak of their progression. Mooy’s metronomic recycling of the ball balances well with the urgency and direction Rogic has in the final third. A combination well honed under Postecoglou but set to provide fruit under their new Dutch coach.
Of the players to blossom under van Marwijk, Andrew Nabbout has been the name to gain most of all. After failing to feature in qualification, Nabbout has started all three games since van Marwijk took over, and looks a lock to spearhead the attack in Russia. In a system which is likely to leave the front man isolated in tough matches (see opener v. France), Nabbout’s physical attributes in speed and strength will be a useful factor in Australia gaining a foothold.
The centre forward position in general has long been a topic of discussion in Australia, coming to a head this last month, surrounding the growingly divisive Tim Cahill. At 38, the reliance on Cahill probably says more about the Socceroos options over the last cycle than it does about the player, yet with Nabbout and others there is a bright future in sight without their iconic number 4 leading the line.
Jamie MacLaren, out of sorts since moving to Germany, has starred in the Scottish Premier League run in on loan with Hibernian, finally cemented his place on the plane after initially being cut from van Marwijk’s provisional squad. The poacher MacLaren, a physical Nabbout, the fit again Tomi Juric and van Marwijk's "special case" Cahill will make for a varied set of strikers to choose from.
After initially feeling skeptical of the new coach’s approach, the final squad selection looks positively enticing, leaving little room for injury or error in defence but including plenty of X-factor options in attack.
Dimi Petratos, back from an unsuccessful spell in Korea, offers competition for the electric speed of Matt Leckie out wide, while Melbourne City's Daniel Arzani makes the cut despite accruing only a few months of senior club football. His inexperience may be telling, but he offers that little inventiveness many lack on the World stage. When it gets down to it, the inclusion of the youngest player at the tournament is far more appealing than extra defensive cover which has been sacrificed.
I’m admittedly not van Marwijk’s biggest fan and was equally gutted when Postecoglou finished his job early at the end of qualification. While initial misgivings were regular and discriminative, van Marwijk has since illustrated that he’s the best man for the job to see Australia through a World Cup and who knows provide the results that Australia's play has deserved over the last four years.
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