Osieck imprint has Socceroos on course for Brazil
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday March 31, 2011
I don't know Holger Osieck well but I do know he is squeezing the very best out of a Socceroos selection which not that long ago looked like it had passed its used-by date.All power to him. This historic victory in Moenchengladbach was an achievement for the coach as much as the players. And that, more than anything, augurs well for the forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign. Osieck, according to some insiders, remains a simple, old-fashioned coach. A spell as FIFA's technical director - the post he occupied before he opted to jump on board with Australia - officially makes him a tactical wizard. But there's been nothing especially technical about the way he's gone about things since he took charge. Switching to a 4-4-2 makes the best of the available talent, while instilling some belief, and calmness, among the group has proved straightforward.With every result, and every sign of progress, Osieck exposes his predecessor Pim Verbeek for exactly what he was - arrogant, patronising, and unwilling to acknowledge the crucible of the Australian sporting psyche, having a go. That the FFA meekly allowed the Dutchman to systematically pick apart the fabric of the game is to its eternal shame.Thankfully Verbeek is gone, and it's whole new ball game. Before, and during the last World Cup, the Socceroos looked like a team heading unerringly down a path towards mediocrity. Under Osieck, virtually the same collection of players has found a second wind. Why? Because the new coach plays to their strengths rather than highlights their weaknesses. A changing of the guard which loomed as an ugly, acrimonious process is now looking like it might become a seamless transition. The so-called 'golden generation' are still racing the clock, but the sun might take a bit longer to set, and you get the feeling that old stagers like Harry Kewell, Mark Schwarzer and Lucas Neill might now be more willing to accept their fate provided things are handled properly.That day, however, is looking further off after the magical ride through the Asian Cup, and now this memorable evening at Borussia Park. Osieck has made it clear he is prepared to make the hard calls in rejuvenating the squad, but in the meantime the Socceroos are suddenly looking like a team possessing the right amount of competitive tension.Sasa Ognenovski, Matt McKay, Carl Valeri and Brett Holman aren't exactly in the first blush of youth, but the fact they were Australia's best against the three-time world champions indicates Osieck now has a group of players able to assume leading roles in the 2014 World Cup campaign which, believe it or not, is just around the corner. But they, too, can take nothing for granted as Osieck works energetically to broaden his base of talent - hence the training camp for the fringe dwellers before the game in Moenchengladbach. Unlike the last World Cup campaign, it seems nobody's likely to be guaranteed a spot, which is as it should be.Osieck has the power to do things his way because of his results, and the confidence they have generated. None more so than this victory against the team which had humiliated the Socceroos in Durban last year - a 4-0 pounding which meant Australia's World Cup dreams were over before they began. The Germans might have joined the list of 'big' teams to take Australia lightly, but who cares?
© 2011 Sydney Morning Herald