10 lessons the Socceroos must learn from South Africa | Thebigtip

Bar their great victory against Serbia, the Socceroos 2010 World Cup campaign will be seen as a lost opportunity to build on the heroics that eventuated four years earlier in Germany. Here are the 10 lessons Australia must learn in their quest to ensure a positive World Cup showing in Brazil and beyond.

1. No guts no glory - The Socceroos were woeful against Germany in their opening group game, and rightfully payed the price for playing such conservative football. The fact that their only scoring chance throughout the entire match came from a set piece, clearly proves why a defensive mindset will cost any team, let alone a second tier side like the Socceroos.  A repeat of their adventurous and direct approach against Serbia however should see Australia regularly progress past the group stages.

2. Play possession football on the ground - No nation in recent years has come close to matching Spain’s dominance. Why? Maybe it has something to do with the way they use the football when in possession. Rarely do you see the Spanish play long high balls in comparison to nations such as Australia and England. Spain’s game is heavily influenced by their support play and their constant ability to keep the ball on the ground when passing. It is a simple yet effective way of not only playing beautiful football, but also giving yourself the best chance of achieving World Cup glory.

3. Australia needs discipline - From the moment New Zealand fell victim to Australia’s constant foul play in the Socceroos send off match before the World Cup, one could sense Pim Verbeek’s men would struggle dearly in South Africa. Having struggled to better the All Whites, the Socceroos physicality proved their undoing against the might of Germany, as they were humbled 4-0 thanks to a lack of discipline coupled with clinical attacking play from their opponents. Harsh as it was, even Cahill’s tackle was ordinary to say the least and should have never occurred in the first place, especially with Australia 2-0 down. A crackdown on bad player behaviour is a must if the Socceroos are to realise their ambition of becoming world champions.

4. Dutch philosophy must go - The ‘total football’ that has become synonymous with Holland has now died, given their ordinary performance against Spain in the World Cup final. The Dutch system will not deliver the Socceroos the success they crave on the world stage. A new road must now be taken and it must lead to the appointment of current Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa as Socceroos manager. Sure, Bielsa doesn’t speak too much English but he will make Australia understand the beautiful game, and most of all, apply it on the pitch. Although Bielsa’s success with Chile was achieved with a hugely talented roster, there is no doubt the Argentine can transform the Socceroos into an offensive force to be reckoned with.

5. Future Socceroos must target Spain or German leagues - Too often do we hear about promising Australian players wanting to ply their trade in the English Premier League. If any Socceroos player wants to further develop their skills as a footballer, than a trip to either the Spanish La Liga or the German Bundesliga will do wonders for a players evolution. Footballing wise, these two leagues are head and shoulders above any other in Europe and will provide the best platform for the Socceroos to develop the technical aspects of their game.