It should be regarded as a great sign for soccer in this country that both the direction and formation used by the national youth teams are so hotly debated.
These days not only is the notion of playing, say one or two strikers cause for heart burn, however so too are the nuances that comprise the ever-popular 4-3-3 formation.
Australia has indeed come a long way where the world game is concerned. So quickly that hearing such debate concerning tactics is akin to suddenly discussing the virtues of Chekhov or Borges having previously relied on a reading diet confined to Twitter Feeds and Facebook posts.
Where Australian soccer is concerned no issue gets tongues wagging more than the direction of Australia’s youth teams and particular what tactical formation they adopt.
The national mandate established by the FFA and endorsed by technical director Han Berger is that all representative youth teams in this country make use of the 4-3-3 template.
The rationale is that this formation -most popular in the Netherlands in the 70’s, but employed so brilliantly by Barcelona in recent years- is the most sophisticated and reliable where maintenance of possession is concerned.
It’s the formation which allows the greatest degree of midfield flexibility and interchange, while also being the system most conducive to playing with width.
Defence plays arguably the most important role in such a formation, called upon to set up attacks through precise ball movement from the back, rather than panicked clearances which inevitably finds the ball returned moments later.
Doubtlessly the biggest criticism of the formation is when the opposition is dominating possession. At such times a team’s wingers are required do their fair share of defending leaving the sole striker quite isolated, when and if possession is won back. When things aren’t going right in the 4-3-3, a striker’s life can be hopelessly lonely and terrifically frustrating.
Throughout both youth World Cups this year Coach Jan Verselijen has been loyal to the formation, though not always to the letter based on personal and the prevailing match situation. After all the man is a coach, not a robot.
In the Young Socceroos final match at the Under 20 World Cup in Colombia and needing nothing less than a win against the all conquering Spaniards, Versleijen threw the 4-3-3 out the window. He selected the most attacking team he had at his disposal along with a formation incorporating two strikers.
With Australia’s hopes of salvaging some pride from a tournament gone wrong, Versleijen's move was both brave and commendable. Ultimately however he’ll lose his job for it.
The young Australians were crushed 5-1 by Spain, having shipped all five within the first half hour of play. It made for a dismal end to a poor tournament.
The convenient excuse for Versleijen's chop will be the radical deviation of a tactics and ignorance of the FFA mandate.
One wonders however what would have happened had Versleijen actually pulled it off? What if Verselijen showed the FFA that there’s a much bigger world outside of the indisputably admirable 4-3-3?
The ripple effect would have indeed been enormous. Instead of Versleijen being made to look like the incompetent rebel, questions may have been asked of a system steadfast in its unwavering faith in a formation which frankly failed both teams in Mexico and Colombia.
And it failed because in Colombia particularly, with this crop of players, the 4-3-3 wasn’t the most ideal for them. And it’s a genuine shame as this group was perhaps a once-in-a generation type squad, despite the results suggesting otherwise.
To commit to a 4-3-3 and put so much strain on the defence-clearly the team’s Achilles heel throughout- was foolish. To not utilise the brilliance of Mustafa Amini in a meaningful and consistent role, and to starve Kerem Bulut of opportunities to shine were highly regretful.
To select a team with virtually no defensive midfield cover for Ben Kantarovski was particularly harmful.
To be sure, Football Federation Australia will have every right to look elsewhere regarding its next youth coaching appointment. However I sincerely hope the move is based on how unacceptable the results were along with the squad’s composition, rather than a very brief deviation away from the vaunted 4-3-3.
In the same way the next coach of the Melbourne Football Club should identify just how integrated the ‘demon legends’ are at the club, the future Australian youth coach should know precisely how much his coaching will be dictated and determined by a fixed formation from the sport’s governing body.
For coaches throughout the world and in any sport to be forced to do their job under a prescribed mandate is akin to telling a chef there’s only one way to make chicken soup or a comedian that there’s only one way to tell a joke.
The beauty of sport is that each game is vastly different to the previous with a plethora of different factors prevailing.
To be married to one fixed idea or formation is simply wrong.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Harry's Wake Up Call
I don’t fancy it will, but Harry Kewell’s omission from Holger Osiek’s 18-man squad to face Wales should act as a reality check for the Socceroos star.
Next week’s assignment, despite being against an opposition ranked almost 100 places below the Australians, looms as a crucial tune-up for World Cup qualifying which begins just weeks later.
For Osiek to not include Kewell speaks volumes, not only regarding his stance on a less than glamorous fixture, but as a value judgement upon the Socceroo’s most famous name.
Plain and simply Kewell and his management have been playing an increasingly alienating game of funny buggers for the best part of the last three months. Far too long where Osiek and the Socceroos are concerned.
Internationally, Kewell’s been linked with Queens Park Rangers and Fulham in the Premier League as well as various MLS clubs in the States.
The saga regarding his possible playing in the A-League has been well documented with Sydney FC, but most consistently Melbourne Victory, speculated to be ever so close to securing his services.
However for a variety of reasons, mostly wage related, Kewell remains clubless and with all major European leagues set to get underway in the next couple of weeks, Osiek was left with no other choice but to leave the perennial Socceroo out of his short term plans.
And thankfully so, as Harry’s in desperate need of a reality check, with a temporary absence from the national team perhaps working as the tonic.
For Osiek, now shapes as an ideal time to send Kewell such a message as he attempts to perform a face lift of sorts in the area of the park the Socceroos are in most need of generational change.
Osiek needs to make-over an ageing attack and identify reliable sources of goal outside of Kewell and Tim Cahill. Its’ why Robbie Kruse has been a regular since the Asian Cup, why James Troisi continues to feature and why Scott McDonald is on the kitchen bench de-frosting.
In fact Osiek’s currently in Colombia watching the Under 20 World Cup, closely monitoring the progress of the likes of Bernie Ibini, Kerem Bulut and anybody else capable of causing some headaches up front.
Meanwhile, the coach has decided that for now- and possibly beyond- he can live without Kewell, regardless of the legacy and skill set he still brings.
Unfortunately for Kewell it's a stance most European and A-League clubs might start adopting too. Melbourne Victory in fact has given the thirty-three year old until close of business tomorrow to make up his mind.
Time is indeed running out for Kewell. For the sake of him, his reputation and perhaps future role with the Socceroos, he sincerely needs to sort out his club status.
Thankfully Osiek’s sent him that particular message in the form of a Socceroos squad which for a rare time neither requires, nor includes him.
Next week’s assignment, despite being against an opposition ranked almost 100 places below the Australians, looms as a crucial tune-up for World Cup qualifying which begins just weeks later.
For Osiek to not include Kewell speaks volumes, not only regarding his stance on a less than glamorous fixture, but as a value judgement upon the Socceroo’s most famous name.
Plain and simply Kewell and his management have been playing an increasingly alienating game of funny buggers for the best part of the last three months. Far too long where Osiek and the Socceroos are concerned.
Internationally, Kewell’s been linked with Queens Park Rangers and Fulham in the Premier League as well as various MLS clubs in the States.
The saga regarding his possible playing in the A-League has been well documented with Sydney FC, but most consistently Melbourne Victory, speculated to be ever so close to securing his services.
However for a variety of reasons, mostly wage related, Kewell remains clubless and with all major European leagues set to get underway in the next couple of weeks, Osiek was left with no other choice but to leave the perennial Socceroo out of his short term plans.
And thankfully so, as Harry’s in desperate need of a reality check, with a temporary absence from the national team perhaps working as the tonic.
For Osiek, now shapes as an ideal time to send Kewell such a message as he attempts to perform a face lift of sorts in the area of the park the Socceroos are in most need of generational change.
Osiek needs to make-over an ageing attack and identify reliable sources of goal outside of Kewell and Tim Cahill. Its’ why Robbie Kruse has been a regular since the Asian Cup, why James Troisi continues to feature and why Scott McDonald is on the kitchen bench de-frosting.
In fact Osiek’s currently in Colombia watching the Under 20 World Cup, closely monitoring the progress of the likes of Bernie Ibini, Kerem Bulut and anybody else capable of causing some headaches up front.
Meanwhile, the coach has decided that for now- and possibly beyond- he can live without Kewell, regardless of the legacy and skill set he still brings.
Unfortunately for Kewell it's a stance most European and A-League clubs might start adopting too. Melbourne Victory in fact has given the thirty-three year old until close of business tomorrow to make up his mind.
Time is indeed running out for Kewell. For the sake of him, his reputation and perhaps future role with the Socceroos, he sincerely needs to sort out his club status.
Thankfully Osiek’s sent him that particular message in the form of a Socceroos squad which for a rare time neither requires, nor includes him.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Poor start to the Young Socceroos World Cup campaign
If this Young Socceroo team is the most talented in years, then I’d hate to see one perceived as run of the mill.
The Australians opening game at the Under 20 World Cup against Ecuador made for poor viewing with the team escaping with a 1-1 draw thanks only to one of the most outrageously brilliant goals in Socceroo history.
Tommy Oar’s late free kick saved what was in reality a deplorable evening for the Australians who were outplayed from the start and created few opportunities.
It was Ecuador’s game to win and it was a genuine mystery how they weren’t up by a couple of goals by the time Oar struck his free kick with a minute to go in regulation.
The names that comprise this edition of the young Socceroos are individually impressive, however based on this morning’s performance, look collectively a look a long way off the requisite international standard.
For all the talk of the Australians playing a more sophisticated, possession orientated game, the truth is Australia’s youth teams appear incapable of living up to the rhetoric.
Instead of bringing the ball out of defence competently and with structure, the Young Socceroos appeared petrified of coughing the ball up, which they inevitably and repeatedly did.
Far from advocating a long ball approach, one wonders whether they would have been better served with anything other than the panicked delegation which prevailed in defence throughout the opener.
To be fair, Australia’s injured Captain Ben Kantarovski seemed calm, composed and committed to a more responsible role prior to being subsituted. Beside him, Dimitri Petratos got better and more influential as the game progressed.
Mustafa Amini on the other hand seemed out of position and lifeless. He was subbed off in just the 55th minute having hardly touched the ball. Kofi Danning drifted in and out of the game while if Tommy Oar hadn’t scored the equaliser and covered himself in so much glory, his game could have been interpreted as poor and scattered as well.
Up front Kerem Bulut looked sharp, though starved of opportunities. When Bernie Ibini joined him in attack, a buoyancy and unpredictability emerged.
Coach Jan Versleijen's second substitute, Sydney FC’s Terry Atonis looked good, and in combination with club teammate Petratos, provided the impression the Australians still had a pulse where the middle of the park was concerned.
These youth World Cup and continental tournaments are of serious importance to soccer in Australia. They’re the product of a lot of planning, the result of a lot of money and the recipient of an enormous allocation of intellectual resources.
Indeed it's these tournaments which work as the sport's debutant ball showcasing to both the soccer and wider sporting world just what the youth ranks have to offer.
In Colombia, our darling stumbled onto to the dance floor, seemingly drunk and with lipstick smudged all over her face.
Again, if not for Oar’s sublime goal, the embarrassment would have been total, rather than partial.
If there is a consolation, apart from salvaging an improbable draw, it’s that the Australians have two more games to make up for the poor showing against Ecuador.
That opportunity will arrive Thursday against Costa Rica, themselves reeling from a 4-1 rout at the hands of Spain.
A win by the Australians would indeed have them back on course, however a game played in the same manner as their debut will surely result in an early exit.
When and if this young team sobers up, they’ll have some serious questions to ask of their performance and overall philosophy.
Hopefully Oar’s freakish goal won’t mask some of the serious questions that must be addressed.
The Australians opening game at the Under 20 World Cup against Ecuador made for poor viewing with the team escaping with a 1-1 draw thanks only to one of the most outrageously brilliant goals in Socceroo history.
Tommy Oar’s late free kick saved what was in reality a deplorable evening for the Australians who were outplayed from the start and created few opportunities.
It was Ecuador’s game to win and it was a genuine mystery how they weren’t up by a couple of goals by the time Oar struck his free kick with a minute to go in regulation.
The names that comprise this edition of the young Socceroos are individually impressive, however based on this morning’s performance, look collectively a look a long way off the requisite international standard.
For all the talk of the Australians playing a more sophisticated, possession orientated game, the truth is Australia’s youth teams appear incapable of living up to the rhetoric.
Instead of bringing the ball out of defence competently and with structure, the Young Socceroos appeared petrified of coughing the ball up, which they inevitably and repeatedly did.
Far from advocating a long ball approach, one wonders whether they would have been better served with anything other than the panicked delegation which prevailed in defence throughout the opener.
To be fair, Australia’s injured Captain Ben Kantarovski seemed calm, composed and committed to a more responsible role prior to being subsituted. Beside him, Dimitri Petratos got better and more influential as the game progressed.
Mustafa Amini on the other hand seemed out of position and lifeless. He was subbed off in just the 55th minute having hardly touched the ball. Kofi Danning drifted in and out of the game while if Tommy Oar hadn’t scored the equaliser and covered himself in so much glory, his game could have been interpreted as poor and scattered as well.
Up front Kerem Bulut looked sharp, though starved of opportunities. When Bernie Ibini joined him in attack, a buoyancy and unpredictability emerged.
Coach Jan Versleijen's second substitute, Sydney FC’s Terry Atonis looked good, and in combination with club teammate Petratos, provided the impression the Australians still had a pulse where the middle of the park was concerned.
These youth World Cup and continental tournaments are of serious importance to soccer in Australia. They’re the product of a lot of planning, the result of a lot of money and the recipient of an enormous allocation of intellectual resources.
Indeed it's these tournaments which work as the sport's debutant ball showcasing to both the soccer and wider sporting world just what the youth ranks have to offer.
In Colombia, our darling stumbled onto to the dance floor, seemingly drunk and with lipstick smudged all over her face.
Again, if not for Oar’s sublime goal, the embarrassment would have been total, rather than partial.
If there is a consolation, apart from salvaging an improbable draw, it’s that the Australians have two more games to make up for the poor showing against Ecuador.
That opportunity will arrive Thursday against Costa Rica, themselves reeling from a 4-1 rout at the hands of Spain.
A win by the Australians would indeed have them back on course, however a game played in the same manner as their debut will surely result in an early exit.
When and if this young team sobers up, they’ll have some serious questions to ask of their performance and overall philosophy.
Hopefully Oar’s freakish goal won’t mask some of the serious questions that must be addressed.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Hangover Cure
In the dizzying wake of Cadel Evans’ extraordinary success in France, Australian sporting fans can be forgiven for frantically searching for where their next hit will come from.
While there’s indeed the World Championships of swimming in Shanghai along with the Women’s Under 19 World Basketball Championships in Chile, the next main treat on offer is FIFA’s Under 20 World Cup which kicks off in Colombia this weekend.
The young Socceroos have sent a team widely considered to be a once in a generation type squad with an expectation that this crop of youngsters can go far in Colombia with a quarter final berth by no means beyond the realms of possibility.
Leading into the tournament there’s however a query over the technical acumen of Coach Jan Versleijen and chiefly his ability to instil the dynamic, interchangeable and possession orientated game which has been his charge to implement.
At the recent Under 17 World Cup in Mexico, Versleijen’s Joey’s failed to grasp the 4-3-3 system and progressed out of the group stage thanks only to a scheduling quirk. They were soon crushed by Uzbekistan 4-0 and departed Mexico with as many red cards as goals. Most alarming however was that in the face of sustained pressure the team reverted to an unsophisticated, long ball and overly panicked game.
With Versleijen’s present contract set to expire at the end of the year, the young Socceroos performance in Colombia will go a long way toward determining whether he’s indeed the most ideal candidate to be in charge of Australia’s youth stocks.
The Australians haven’t exactly been dealt the kindest of draws for the World Cup with games scheduled against Ecuador, Costa Rica and reigning men’s world champions Spain. It’s a group that tricky, but not insurmountable.
The campaign begins on Monday morning with an assignment against Ecuador in Manizales, Colombia’s coffee epicentre. The squad should be buoyed by lead in form which saw them runners up in last year’s Asian Cup along with a friendly victory over Germany in May. They’ve recently been based in Colorado to acclimatise to the elevation of Colombia and in modified games against South Korea and England have performed steadily.
A concern for team is a couple of the absentees which include Mathew Leckie and Brent McGrath whose German and Danish clubs have both stubbornly refused to make the players available for Colombia. It’s a significant blow as both may have indeed started up forward together. Fortunately Brisbane Roar’s Kofi Danning and Czech based Kerem Bulut are capable of filling the void while Central Coast’s Bernie Ibini will use the opportunity to shine. The blistering speed of Tommy Oar down the wings should create havoc for defenders.
The true strength of this Australian team however lies in the midfield where they’ll be lead by the iconic Mustapha Amini and team captain Ben Kataroskvki. Crucially, central midfield in tournament play is pivotal to a team’s prospects and for the Australian’s to have two of their most technically accomplished players operating there gives the squad a significant boost.
Amini and Kantasrovski will be assisted by Sydney FC's Rhyan Grant who operates as an energetic midfielder capable of covering plenty of yards. With players the calibre of Dimitri Petratos and Terry Anotis coming off the bench the Australians are blessed with an array of talented depth in the most crucial area of the park.
At the back Australia looks solid with the experienced central pairing of Melbourne Heart’s Brendan Hamill along with Dylan McGowan. The wing back positions are expected to be filled by Central Coast youth team products Trent Sainsbury and Sam Gallagher. Adelaide’s Mark Birighitti will keep goal however it’s curious that Mariner’s Matt Ryan- so inspirational in his debut A-League season- couldn’t crack into Versleijen's final 21 man squad.
Like all tournaments the first game will be critical to the team’s chances and the young Socceroos must look for a win against perhaps the group’s most inferior team in Ecuador who’ll be competing in just their second Under 20 World Cup, and their first in more than ten years.
An Australian youth soccer team hasn’t made a dent in a world tournament since 1999 when the Joey’s made the final of the Under 17 World Cup in New Zealand. An Under 20 team hasn’t progressed past the group stage since Qatar 1995. In that tournament a certain Mark Viduka scored four goals in the group stage while one Josip Skoko started each game and Clint Bolton kept goal.
Progression to the quarters or perhaps the semis won’t surpass Cadel's efforts in France- it’s hard to imagine what Australian sporting performance will in the coming years- however a strong performance will go a long way in assuring Australian soccer fans that the future’s in good shape.
A group stage exit, coupled with the substandard performance by the Joeys in Mexico last month would however raise some serious questions.
By lunchtime Monday we’ll have a good picture of what the Socceroos may look like in the coming years.
While there’s indeed the World Championships of swimming in Shanghai along with the Women’s Under 19 World Basketball Championships in Chile, the next main treat on offer is FIFA’s Under 20 World Cup which kicks off in Colombia this weekend.
The young Socceroos have sent a team widely considered to be a once in a generation type squad with an expectation that this crop of youngsters can go far in Colombia with a quarter final berth by no means beyond the realms of possibility.
Leading into the tournament there’s however a query over the technical acumen of Coach Jan Versleijen and chiefly his ability to instil the dynamic, interchangeable and possession orientated game which has been his charge to implement.
At the recent Under 17 World Cup in Mexico, Versleijen’s Joey’s failed to grasp the 4-3-3 system and progressed out of the group stage thanks only to a scheduling quirk. They were soon crushed by Uzbekistan 4-0 and departed Mexico with as many red cards as goals. Most alarming however was that in the face of sustained pressure the team reverted to an unsophisticated, long ball and overly panicked game.
With Versleijen’s present contract set to expire at the end of the year, the young Socceroos performance in Colombia will go a long way toward determining whether he’s indeed the most ideal candidate to be in charge of Australia’s youth stocks.
The Australians haven’t exactly been dealt the kindest of draws for the World Cup with games scheduled against Ecuador, Costa Rica and reigning men’s world champions Spain. It’s a group that tricky, but not insurmountable.
The campaign begins on Monday morning with an assignment against Ecuador in Manizales, Colombia’s coffee epicentre. The squad should be buoyed by lead in form which saw them runners up in last year’s Asian Cup along with a friendly victory over Germany in May. They’ve recently been based in Colorado to acclimatise to the elevation of Colombia and in modified games against South Korea and England have performed steadily.
A concern for team is a couple of the absentees which include Mathew Leckie and Brent McGrath whose German and Danish clubs have both stubbornly refused to make the players available for Colombia. It’s a significant blow as both may have indeed started up forward together. Fortunately Brisbane Roar’s Kofi Danning and Czech based Kerem Bulut are capable of filling the void while Central Coast’s Bernie Ibini will use the opportunity to shine. The blistering speed of Tommy Oar down the wings should create havoc for defenders.
The true strength of this Australian team however lies in the midfield where they’ll be lead by the iconic Mustapha Amini and team captain Ben Kataroskvki. Crucially, central midfield in tournament play is pivotal to a team’s prospects and for the Australian’s to have two of their most technically accomplished players operating there gives the squad a significant boost.
Amini and Kantasrovski will be assisted by Sydney FC's Rhyan Grant who operates as an energetic midfielder capable of covering plenty of yards. With players the calibre of Dimitri Petratos and Terry Anotis coming off the bench the Australians are blessed with an array of talented depth in the most crucial area of the park.
At the back Australia looks solid with the experienced central pairing of Melbourne Heart’s Brendan Hamill along with Dylan McGowan. The wing back positions are expected to be filled by Central Coast youth team products Trent Sainsbury and Sam Gallagher. Adelaide’s Mark Birighitti will keep goal however it’s curious that Mariner’s Matt Ryan- so inspirational in his debut A-League season- couldn’t crack into Versleijen's final 21 man squad.
Like all tournaments the first game will be critical to the team’s chances and the young Socceroos must look for a win against perhaps the group’s most inferior team in Ecuador who’ll be competing in just their second Under 20 World Cup, and their first in more than ten years.
An Australian youth soccer team hasn’t made a dent in a world tournament since 1999 when the Joey’s made the final of the Under 17 World Cup in New Zealand. An Under 20 team hasn’t progressed past the group stage since Qatar 1995. In that tournament a certain Mark Viduka scored four goals in the group stage while one Josip Skoko started each game and Clint Bolton kept goal.
Progression to the quarters or perhaps the semis won’t surpass Cadel's efforts in France- it’s hard to imagine what Australian sporting performance will in the coming years- however a strong performance will go a long way in assuring Australian soccer fans that the future’s in good shape.
A group stage exit, coupled with the substandard performance by the Joeys in Mexico last month would however raise some serious questions.
By lunchtime Monday we’ll have a good picture of what the Socceroos may look like in the coming years.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Worth the Weight
When the Women’s marathon gets underway at this year’s World Athletic Championships in South Korea, Australia’s best distance runner won’t be there.
Instead, Lisa Weightman will be in Melbourne, curled up on the couch with her husband Lachlan closely eyeing the form of her competitors.
Though qualified, Weightman’s decision not to run this year in Daegu says a lot about how far she’s come as an athlete and how much she appreciates her body and its limitations.
To understand Weightman’s ascension to the top of Australian distance running is impossible without noting the veritable laundry list of injuries she’s overcome throughout her career. Seven stress fractures in nine years, countless hamstring strains, a severe stomach upset which landed her in hospital and more recently osteitis pubis, have at various stages held Weightman back. However, had it not been for those challenges, she may never have become the runner she is today.
‘Being injured has taught me two basic things; patience and balance. Patience because with injury you have to wait and recover before you can run again and be doing what you love. Balance because injury breaks have given me the time to develop my professional career and spend more time with my family who are very special to me.”
Her maturity as a runner underpins Weightman’s decision to forgo the expected sweltering conditions of South Korea, which will bear no resemblance to what’s predicted for the London Olympics next year – conditions Weightman knows only too well after competing at the Delhi Commonwealth Games last October where she won bronze in a punishing marathon.
‘Following Delhi I was just exhausted. The marathon was run in thirty two degree heat in the most gruelling conditions imaginable. We flew home the next day and I remember walking through the airport, barely able to support myself. My knee just buckled at one point……I was a bit of a mess.’
Upon returning to Melbourne Weightman immediately resumed her full time role as a business consultant for IBM as well as moving apartments. All the while sporting a strained quad she’d picked up in Cairns in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. The strain on her body from the Games experience contributed to a restricted training program through to Christmas.
‘We only moved from one apartment in the Northern Suburbs to another yet the experience was surprisingly quite an effort. It was a frustrating time as on the one hand I was over the moon to have won bronze in Delhi, however my body simply wasn’t allowing me to get back to doing what I wanted it to.’
Weightman initially burst onto the marathon scene with her debut appearance at the distance at the London Marathon in 2008. She not only finished 13th but posted a time (to the very second) equal to the best Australian debut set by Lisa Ondieki in 1983. Weightman’s time also qualified her for the Beijing Olympics where in only her second marathon she came in 33rd.
‘Competing in Beijing was so surreal. To have made my first Olympic Games after my debut in London was so unbelievable. I also think the Olympics prepared me well for what I expected in Delhi. I’m hoping that experience helps me get to the finish line in London in a much better position.’
Weightman’s performance in Beijing certainly raised her reputation in the athletics world, but it was what she achieved over the following two years which solidified her status as an elite runner.
At the 2009 World Championships in Berlin Weightman ran 18th in a faster time than what she ran in London on debut, and three and half minutes faster than her time in Beijing. In April 2010, in perhaps her best performance to date, Weightman won the prestigious Nagano Marathon in a personal best time of two hours and twenty eight minutes. In that race, Weightman not only beat her nearest competitor by more than three minutes, but in the process became the first Australian to ever win the event.
‘Nagano was a surprise to some but not to my coach or those closest to me. I was in personal best shape going into the race and I knew I had a really big chance to take it out. What I didn’t expect was to be leading so early and for so long. To record that win was just so enormous to prove that I could be up there with the best.’
Weightman’s presently in recovery mode again, having been diagnosed with osteitis pubis (severe inflammation and bruising of the pelvic bone) in February. Her recovery has consisted of regular visits to the Victorian Institute’s of Sport’s medical team along with calling upon her famous intestinal fortitude which has helped her through similar hard times in the past. She’s only just started running again which for the moment consists of nothing more than a gentle stroll around Princess Park.
In late August her coach Dick Telford has scheduled some altitude training in order to fast-track her recovery and to place her in a better position to record another sub two hour, 32 -minute marathon which is the qualifying standard for the London Olympics. At this stage a location hasn’t been set, however it’s quite possible Weightman will be following in the footsteps of her beloved Collingwood players with a trip to Arizona leading the list of possibilities.
At just 32, Weightman is only now entering her prime and can take comfort in the fact that the winner of the 2008 Beijing marathon, Romanian Constantina Tomescu, was 38 when she crossed the line. And though Weightman will be watching August’s World Championships from her couch, she can be pleased with how incredibly far she’s come in recent times in addition to her numerous achievements outside of athletics.
Next year and those beyond will hopefully be about bringing all facets of her life together. Hopefully minus the injuries.
Instead, Lisa Weightman will be in Melbourne, curled up on the couch with her husband Lachlan closely eyeing the form of her competitors.
Though qualified, Weightman’s decision not to run this year in Daegu says a lot about how far she’s come as an athlete and how much she appreciates her body and its limitations.
To understand Weightman’s ascension to the top of Australian distance running is impossible without noting the veritable laundry list of injuries she’s overcome throughout her career. Seven stress fractures in nine years, countless hamstring strains, a severe stomach upset which landed her in hospital and more recently osteitis pubis, have at various stages held Weightman back. However, had it not been for those challenges, she may never have become the runner she is today.
‘Being injured has taught me two basic things; patience and balance. Patience because with injury you have to wait and recover before you can run again and be doing what you love. Balance because injury breaks have given me the time to develop my professional career and spend more time with my family who are very special to me.”
Her maturity as a runner underpins Weightman’s decision to forgo the expected sweltering conditions of South Korea, which will bear no resemblance to what’s predicted for the London Olympics next year – conditions Weightman knows only too well after competing at the Delhi Commonwealth Games last October where she won bronze in a punishing marathon.
‘Following Delhi I was just exhausted. The marathon was run in thirty two degree heat in the most gruelling conditions imaginable. We flew home the next day and I remember walking through the airport, barely able to support myself. My knee just buckled at one point……I was a bit of a mess.’
Upon returning to Melbourne Weightman immediately resumed her full time role as a business consultant for IBM as well as moving apartments. All the while sporting a strained quad she’d picked up in Cairns in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. The strain on her body from the Games experience contributed to a restricted training program through to Christmas.
‘We only moved from one apartment in the Northern Suburbs to another yet the experience was surprisingly quite an effort. It was a frustrating time as on the one hand I was over the moon to have won bronze in Delhi, however my body simply wasn’t allowing me to get back to doing what I wanted it to.’
Weightman initially burst onto the marathon scene with her debut appearance at the distance at the London Marathon in 2008. She not only finished 13th but posted a time (to the very second) equal to the best Australian debut set by Lisa Ondieki in 1983. Weightman’s time also qualified her for the Beijing Olympics where in only her second marathon she came in 33rd.
‘Competing in Beijing was so surreal. To have made my first Olympic Games after my debut in London was so unbelievable. I also think the Olympics prepared me well for what I expected in Delhi. I’m hoping that experience helps me get to the finish line in London in a much better position.’
Weightman’s performance in Beijing certainly raised her reputation in the athletics world, but it was what she achieved over the following two years which solidified her status as an elite runner.
At the 2009 World Championships in Berlin Weightman ran 18th in a faster time than what she ran in London on debut, and three and half minutes faster than her time in Beijing. In April 2010, in perhaps her best performance to date, Weightman won the prestigious Nagano Marathon in a personal best time of two hours and twenty eight minutes. In that race, Weightman not only beat her nearest competitor by more than three minutes, but in the process became the first Australian to ever win the event.
‘Nagano was a surprise to some but not to my coach or those closest to me. I was in personal best shape going into the race and I knew I had a really big chance to take it out. What I didn’t expect was to be leading so early and for so long. To record that win was just so enormous to prove that I could be up there with the best.’
Weightman’s presently in recovery mode again, having been diagnosed with osteitis pubis (severe inflammation and bruising of the pelvic bone) in February. Her recovery has consisted of regular visits to the Victorian Institute’s of Sport’s medical team along with calling upon her famous intestinal fortitude which has helped her through similar hard times in the past. She’s only just started running again which for the moment consists of nothing more than a gentle stroll around Princess Park.
In late August her coach Dick Telford has scheduled some altitude training in order to fast-track her recovery and to place her in a better position to record another sub two hour, 32 -minute marathon which is the qualifying standard for the London Olympics. At this stage a location hasn’t been set, however it’s quite possible Weightman will be following in the footsteps of her beloved Collingwood players with a trip to Arizona leading the list of possibilities.
At just 32, Weightman is only now entering her prime and can take comfort in the fact that the winner of the 2008 Beijing marathon, Romanian Constantina Tomescu, was 38 when she crossed the line. And though Weightman will be watching August’s World Championships from her couch, she can be pleased with how incredibly far she’s come in recent times in addition to her numerous achievements outside of athletics.
Next year and those beyond will hopefully be about bringing all facets of her life together. Hopefully minus the injuries.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Invisible Emus
The Australian Men’s Under 19 Basketball team, the Emus, are currently engaged and excelling at the most prestigious youth basketball tournament on the planet. Yet you’d hardly know.
Latvia is currently playing host to the FIBA Under 19 World Championships, a two-week tournament contested by 16 of the world’s strongest basketball nations and their most promising young talent.
Yet coverage of the tournament in Australia is virtually non-existent; no television coverage, very little print media, while even Basketball Australia’s own website isn’t too fussed about the team’s deeds.
This is unfortunate because the Emus are truly shaping up as one of the genuine contenders to win the competition, or at least bring home a medal-a feat rarely achieved in men’s basketball in this country.
By virtue of an increasingly healthy and consistent soccer media, Australian fans have been treated to significant coverage of major tournaments in recent times and know precisely what’s happening where both the national team and overseas based players are concerned.
Each of the Joey’s Under 17 World Cup matches in Mexico was shown live, as will the Under 20’s exploits in Colombia early next month. The Matildas in Germany have received unprecedented exposure recently with all their games broadcast, in addition to a nightly highlight package of every other World Cup match.
In the coming weeks SBS will increase its live coverage to incorporate the final stages of each competition. For good measure they’ll also be screening the last phases of South America’s premier tournament, the Copa America, currently being staged in Argentina.
The broadcaster’s commitment is a key and profound element in aiding the development of the sport. With moving pictures of the best players in the world’s biggest competitions the game will flourish. Without them, the sport runs the risk of stagnating. Which is precisely what’s happening to basketball right now.
Its popularity in youth ranks is equal to soccer in Australia, yet Basketball Australia has been sitting on its hands for too long and now seriously runs the risk of missing out on a major opportunity for the game to grow in this country.
As Australian soccer success has produced a number of players talented enough to play overseas so too has our appreciation and interest in the foreign leagues they inhabit and covet. The Australian audience is now much more proficient in its knowledge of international leagues and continental competitions as well as the characters who contribute to them.
The popularity of basketball in Australia, at least at youth levels, isn’t too dissimilar to soccer, nor is the international achievements by its players. The US college system contains many of our players, as does the NBA, while the bulk of successful Australian basketballers ply their trade in Europe.
Yet TV or press coverage does little to illuminate the public’s understanding.
For the college game we can thank ESPN for showing us pictures. Ditto the NBA where the exploits of Andrew Bogut are concerned, yet we know very little of the countless Australian faces based in Europe. The leagues they play in and the teams they play for remain essentially anonymous. Without the internet, international basketball in Australia would be a virtual ghost sport.
If the Joeys or the young Socceroos achieved anything similar to what the Emu’s are doing in Latvia there’s no way whatsoever, and thankfully so, that they’d go unnoticed in the media. Furthermore you can be sure they’d be live on TV.
For a team like the Emu’s to be doing so well without any media attention is a real shame and a golden opportunity missed to enhance and fortify the sport’s future in Australia.
At the World Championships the Emu’s cruised through their first round of matches with strong wins over Argentina and Taiwan, squeezed in between a narrow loss to the hosts.
The second phase of the competition has proven even more successful for the Emu’s with a stirring come from behind win over Russia followed the next night by gritty six point defeat of Brazil. In the Emu’s final group game they triumphed over Poland by 20 points to seal top position in the group.
The Emu’s will now enter the quarter-final stage split from the US section of the draw, thus increasing the chances of a possible final against the world’s strongest basketball nation.
Unfortunately Australian basketball fans will likely have to scrounge around for a result on the net or through box scores at FIBA’s website throughout the elimination process. Which is a shame, but one which Basketball Australia clearly isn’t too concerned about.
Basketball fans in this country should know that Anthony Drmic has lit the tournament up with 17 three point baskets and is second in scoring only behind the recent fifth pick in the NBA draft, Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas.
Fans should know about Jackson Aldridge from Ryde in Sydney who’s been running the point for the Emus all tournament and who’ll next year be playing for the Butler Bulldogs in the NCAA.
Bosnian-born Igor Hadziomerovic has provided a great second-scoring option to Drmic, while Adelaide 36s Mitchell Creek has arguably been Australia’s most important player. The Horsham born youngster is top of the pops for boards, assists and steals while he’s second only to Drimic where scoring is concerned.
Then there’s Will Sinclair. The 206cm centre form Lilydale who’s getting more minutes as the tournament progresses and who will be crucial to the team’s success in the final stages.
The Emu with the most potential however is Hugh Greenwood. The Tasmanian represented Australia at the last World Championships when he was just 17. He’s since grown into a more mature, well rounded basketballer and was recently signed by to the New Mexico Lobos NCAA team. In the Emu’s most recent win over Brazil, he top scored with 17.
It’s been an amazing tournament for the Emu’s which from an Australian audience perspective would have been all the more wonderful with the some pictures or at least some enthusiasm from Basketball Australia and the relevant media networks.
Instead the tournament continues, as does the scrounging around for box scores on the internet.
Latvia is currently playing host to the FIBA Under 19 World Championships, a two-week tournament contested by 16 of the world’s strongest basketball nations and their most promising young talent.
Yet coverage of the tournament in Australia is virtually non-existent; no television coverage, very little print media, while even Basketball Australia’s own website isn’t too fussed about the team’s deeds.
This is unfortunate because the Emus are truly shaping up as one of the genuine contenders to win the competition, or at least bring home a medal-a feat rarely achieved in men’s basketball in this country.
By virtue of an increasingly healthy and consistent soccer media, Australian fans have been treated to significant coverage of major tournaments in recent times and know precisely what’s happening where both the national team and overseas based players are concerned.
Each of the Joey’s Under 17 World Cup matches in Mexico was shown live, as will the Under 20’s exploits in Colombia early next month. The Matildas in Germany have received unprecedented exposure recently with all their games broadcast, in addition to a nightly highlight package of every other World Cup match.
In the coming weeks SBS will increase its live coverage to incorporate the final stages of each competition. For good measure they’ll also be screening the last phases of South America’s premier tournament, the Copa America, currently being staged in Argentina.
The broadcaster’s commitment is a key and profound element in aiding the development of the sport. With moving pictures of the best players in the world’s biggest competitions the game will flourish. Without them, the sport runs the risk of stagnating. Which is precisely what’s happening to basketball right now.
Its popularity in youth ranks is equal to soccer in Australia, yet Basketball Australia has been sitting on its hands for too long and now seriously runs the risk of missing out on a major opportunity for the game to grow in this country.
As Australian soccer success has produced a number of players talented enough to play overseas so too has our appreciation and interest in the foreign leagues they inhabit and covet. The Australian audience is now much more proficient in its knowledge of international leagues and continental competitions as well as the characters who contribute to them.
The popularity of basketball in Australia, at least at youth levels, isn’t too dissimilar to soccer, nor is the international achievements by its players. The US college system contains many of our players, as does the NBA, while the bulk of successful Australian basketballers ply their trade in Europe.
Yet TV or press coverage does little to illuminate the public’s understanding.
For the college game we can thank ESPN for showing us pictures. Ditto the NBA where the exploits of Andrew Bogut are concerned, yet we know very little of the countless Australian faces based in Europe. The leagues they play in and the teams they play for remain essentially anonymous. Without the internet, international basketball in Australia would be a virtual ghost sport.
If the Joeys or the young Socceroos achieved anything similar to what the Emu’s are doing in Latvia there’s no way whatsoever, and thankfully so, that they’d go unnoticed in the media. Furthermore you can be sure they’d be live on TV.
For a team like the Emu’s to be doing so well without any media attention is a real shame and a golden opportunity missed to enhance and fortify the sport’s future in Australia.
At the World Championships the Emu’s cruised through their first round of matches with strong wins over Argentina and Taiwan, squeezed in between a narrow loss to the hosts.
The second phase of the competition has proven even more successful for the Emu’s with a stirring come from behind win over Russia followed the next night by gritty six point defeat of Brazil. In the Emu’s final group game they triumphed over Poland by 20 points to seal top position in the group.
The Emu’s will now enter the quarter-final stage split from the US section of the draw, thus increasing the chances of a possible final against the world’s strongest basketball nation.
Unfortunately Australian basketball fans will likely have to scrounge around for a result on the net or through box scores at FIBA’s website throughout the elimination process. Which is a shame, but one which Basketball Australia clearly isn’t too concerned about.
Basketball fans in this country should know that Anthony Drmic has lit the tournament up with 17 three point baskets and is second in scoring only behind the recent fifth pick in the NBA draft, Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas.
Fans should know about Jackson Aldridge from Ryde in Sydney who’s been running the point for the Emus all tournament and who’ll next year be playing for the Butler Bulldogs in the NCAA.
Bosnian-born Igor Hadziomerovic has provided a great second-scoring option to Drmic, while Adelaide 36s Mitchell Creek has arguably been Australia’s most important player. The Horsham born youngster is top of the pops for boards, assists and steals while he’s second only to Drimic where scoring is concerned.
Then there’s Will Sinclair. The 206cm centre form Lilydale who’s getting more minutes as the tournament progresses and who will be crucial to the team’s success in the final stages.
The Emu with the most potential however is Hugh Greenwood. The Tasmanian represented Australia at the last World Championships when he was just 17. He’s since grown into a more mature, well rounded basketballer and was recently signed by to the New Mexico Lobos NCAA team. In the Emu’s most recent win over Brazil, he top scored with 17.
It’s been an amazing tournament for the Emu’s which from an Australian audience perspective would have been all the more wonderful with the some pictures or at least some enthusiasm from Basketball Australia and the relevant media networks.
Instead the tournament continues, as does the scrounging around for box scores on the internet.
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