Young Socceroos must take their game up to the Spaniards

In tonight’s match against Spain, the Young Socceroos have little to lose in what’s likely to be their final game at the Under 20 World Cup in Colombia.

It’s been a largely forgettable tournament for the young Australians characterised by a nervous back four, an unsettled midfield and an attack which has been hung out to dry by coach Jan Versleijen.

The Australians enter tonight’s game on a nine match winless streak at Under 20 World Cup level which stretches back to 2003 and against a team, who like their men’s counterpart, are at the very top of their game.

An unlikely victory over the dominant Spaniards and the Australians might not only restore some wounded pride, but perhaps even collect one of the ‘lucky loser’ wildcards these youth tournaments kindly and routinely dispense.

However dreaming about beating Spain and actually doing so are two very different propositions.

For starters the Australians have looked a long way from decent, despite Thursday’s loss to Costa Rica producing a better effort than the drivel served up against Ecuador.

Crucially however it’s a team working for a coach who’s simply failed to maximise the team’s abundant individual talent.

Versleijen’s Young Socceroos haven’t been restrained in Colombia as much as they’ve been bogged down by technicalities and conservative football theory.

The coach seems intent on a philosophy driven by a patient, possession orientated game that begins at the back, which professes to work the ball gently through the midfield and which relies on that killer pass to the sole striker.

In theory, Versleijen’s plan is commendable however in practise it’s been chopped apart by the Central and South Americans who’ve based their outfits around optimising the strengths of youthful exuberance and instinct, rather than textbook theory.

When Verselijen hasn’t been so dogmatic and been left with no choice but to attack, the results have inevitably been better.

When Bernie Ibini entered on the hour in the opener against Ecuador he provided much needed support to an increasingly alienated and frustrated Kerem Bulut. The Australians scored fifteen minutes later.

Against Costa Rica, Ibini was again belatedly introduced, as was Mustafa Amini, and despite trailing, the Australians found a certain bounce and pep which before too long was good enough to tie the scores at two-all.

If not for yet another defensive lapse minutes later, the Australians may have gone on to win.

It’s that same kind of improvisation and commitment to attack, witnessed so far only through desperation, which must be employed from the outset against Spain.

Coaches motivated more toward conservatism in any sport need to appreciate that an attacking mindset needn’t necessarily be viewed as working to the detriment of defence. Instead it can actually be of great assistance and relief to a defence and midfield constantly at work.

With that in mind, and as far as I’m concerned, both Kerem Bulut and Bernie Ibini must start up front together from the opening whistle against Spain.

It’s a combination in Colombia which has operated together for a total of one hour but produced two goals. In the two hours of play when Belut’s been isolated, just one goal has been scored, thanks only to an instinctual tap in by Tommy Oar following a hail-Mary type throw in.

In order to play Bulut and Ibini together however, a savvier approach to the midfield needs to be adopted.

It needs to function both as the source of supply for the strikers while providing cover for what’s been a shaky defence all tournament.

Most importantly it’ll need to find some grit and energy to compensate for the loss of captain Ben Kantarovski who’ll be unavailable through suspension.

If Versleijen had the temerity to drop Amini against Costa Rica, then he surely has the pride to be so brash as to play two strikers tonight.

His contract is already hanging by a thread and I doubt clinging to a game plan which does little to maximise the team’s strengths will likely get him a new one.

Leaving the tournament with one point from three games, but with a message of teaching the fundamentals is an overly worthless exercise in a major tournament.

Serving it up to the Spaniards from the opening whistle however, regardless of the end result, would be something else.