Tag Archives: ghana

Pim’s on Ice – now for a real coach

The autopsy has been conducted, the eulogy delivered and the culprits drawn and courted so now it’s time for Football Federation Australia to move on and recruit our next national team coach.

The likely replacements include Paul LeGuen, Sven Goran Eriksson, Carlos Alberto Parreira and Marcelo “EL Loco” Bielsa.

Prior to assessing the credentials of these candidates, I should say that the Socceroos prefer to play a confident, attacking, proactive style of football – one that reflects our true sporting culture. We witnessed the benefits of this style of play under Guss Hiddink at the 2006 World Cup.  These playing characteristics obviously affect the selection of coach. Further, the coach must instil the players with technical qualities and believe in the youth of our proud nation.

Now for the candidates…..

Paul Le Guen

Le Guen had successful coaching stints at French clubs Lyon and PSG and Scottish giants Rangers. He recently resigned from his post as the national team coach of Cameroon following his side’s inglorious exit from the World Cup after losing all three of its group matches. Further, and despite boasting the talents of players such as Samuel Eto’o and Alex Song, Cameroon were the first team officially knocked out of the 2010 World Cup.  The abovementioned results speak for themselves….

Sven Goran Eriksson

Erikkson enjoyed an extremely successful tenure as a club football manager in the Swedish, Portuguese and Italian leagues from 1978 to 2001, most notably with Italian club, Lazio.  In the period 2001 to 2006 he coached the England national team.  Despite having coached many of England’s “golden generation” of players, Eriksson failed to take England beyond the quarter final stages of both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and most notably, failed to engineer a win over a ten man Brazil side in the 2002 World Cup quarter final.  Further, Eriksson had a disastrous and short stint as the manager of the Mexican national team – in fact, immediately after he was sacked in April 2009 the Mexican fans’ association held a ‘victory rally’ attended by approximately 30,000 angry supporters! In short, Eriksson has been unable to replicate his club football success on the international stage.  Finally, he would cost a pretty penny.  In my opinion, it would not be money well spent. 

Carlos Alberto Parreira

We’re getting warmer now….

Parreira has enjoyed a distinguished coaching career.  He coached Brazil to victory in the 1994 World Cup, 2004 Copa America and the 2005 Confederations Cup.  Further, he is one of only two coaches that has led five national teams to the World Cup: Kuwait in 1982, United Arab Emirates in 1990, Brazil in 1994 and 2006, Saudi Arabia in 1998 and South Africa in 2010. 

Nevertheless, and somewhat surprisingly, he failed to take Brazil beyond the quarter final stages of the 2006 World Cup.  This, despite having attacking talents such as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Adriano and Robinho at his disposal.  Further, and like Eriksson, he will not come cheap and frankly, I would prefer seeing Football Federation Australia investing the money in grassroots football and unearthing the next Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill. God knows we need more of them….

So that leaves the madman, Marcelo Bielsa

Bielsa coached the Argentine national team from 1998 to 2004 and enjoyed mixed success.  The team exited the 2002 World Cup at the first round but were runners-up at the 2004 Copa America and won the 2004 Olympic Games.   Bielsa is the current coach of the Chilean national team and it is here that he has truly worked wonders.  Under his guidance the team has undergone many historic firsts, including their first win over Argentina in official matches and beating Paraguay away from home for the first time in nearly thirty years.  Further, Bielsa fast tracked many young talents throughout Chile’s qualification campaign and employs an attacking brand of football – Chile scored the most goals in the South American qualification stages of the World Cup. 

Bielsa’s relationships with the media are also good. 

His interviews are stimulating and he has been known to field every last question from the assembled media at his press conferences.  Further, he once famously stated:

“Every section of the media should get the same attention from me, from the capital’s most prominent TV channel to the smallest newspaper in the provinces”.

A refreshing change from “Pim’s and (very) dry” who, amongst other things, publicly smashed the A-League and later, rather than backing away from his comments reportedly remarked, “I’m Dutch, we’re honest”.

Bielsa is reportedly paid $1.5 million per annum to coach the Chilean national team – a figure less than what Football Federation Australia paid the man who couldn’t get and/or afford a decent haircut.  

There are increasing suggestions Bielsa will leave his post now that Chile has exited the World Cup….

As Deborah Harry once sang, “I want that man”.

Mark “The ‘F’ Word” Fiorenti – discussing all things concerning the World Game.

Australia vs Serbia: The Chevaps tasted good but only if we’d sampled them sooner…along with a side of Sauerkraut

“Don’t bother chasing women or buses…..Chances are, you’ll miss both” – author unknown.

The same arguably applies to World Cup and tournament football.

The Socceroos’ inspiring 2-1 win over Serbia was brilliant but not enough to earn qualification for the second round of the World Cup. A team only gets three bites of the cherry and Australia effectively wasted one of them against Germany. As such, it was always playing catch up football and needed a miracle to progress.

Having said that, the Socceroos earned some redemption and will go home with their heads held high. Pride in the shirt has been restored and Australia’s second ever World Cup win (and first over a European nation and heavyweight, I might add), removed any doubt they deserve a place on the World’s biggest sporting stage.

The Socceroos were (finally) due some luck at this tournament and they certainly rode it against the Serbs, who were close to their best despite the scoreline. A combination of wasteful finishing, particularly by Milos Krasic, and Mark Schwarzer’s brilliance kept Serbia at bay in a one sided first half. But a dominant second half performance by the boys in green and gold secured the points and some well earned respect.
Continue reading Australia vs Serbia: The Chevaps tasted good but only if we’d sampled them sooner…along with a side of Sauerkraut

Australia vs Ghana (Part II): I see Red. Full stop.

A few days ago I reviewed Australia’s gutsy performance and 1-1 draw against Ghana.  That performance gave the Socceroos a glimmer of hope going into their third and final group game against Serbia.

In short, I was impressed by the Socceroos’ fighting spirit and tactical set up to earn some redemption in Rustenberg.

All this, whilst playing a majority of the match with “10 men”……

As promised, today “The F Word” gives his thoughts on “that penalty”.
Continue reading Australia vs Ghana (Part II): I see Red. Full stop.

Australia vs Ghana (Part I): I see Red (on and off the field). But shades of green and gold, too.

“90 minutes, 90 emotions” – A –League advertising campaign.

So imagine what a week in football does to a supporter!

And what a week it was in Australian football. The debacle in Durban, the media circus and fallout that followed, a(nother) controversial sending off and finally, some redemption in Rustenburg.

The Socceroos’ World Cup campaign hangs by a thread but Australia’s draw with Ghana was a sharp reminder of what is possible in a green and gold shirt.

Pim Verbeek’s tactics against Germany were negative and nonsensical.  Further, the Socceroos appeared devoid of pace, creativity and passion. The performance against Ghana however, was a drastic improvement and the 10 men who remained on the field at Royal Bafokeng can hold their heads high.
Continue reading Australia vs Ghana (Part I): I see Red (on and off the field). But shades of green and gold, too.

Some dare I say "Mouth Watering" ties ahead at World Cup

All in all a promoters dream in the 2010 World Cup – so many games changing so many fortunes all hanging on a knife edge in the 3rd round!

  1. No bigger than Chile v Spain – a Spanish loss and they are out.
  2. Italy v Slovakia – Italy must win to get through (NZ v Paraguay to add some smeltz…I’m sorry spice).
  3. Japan v Denmark – winner through to the next round.
  4. Germany v Ghana – could the unthinkable happen and Germany not qualify for the round of 16?
  5. Our Socceroos v Serbia – Aussie win may get us through depending on results, Serbian win sees them into the next round.
  6. Slovenia v England – a must win for England or one of the tournament favourites is going home!  The spice is that if USA win, England must win by more to ensure a place in the next round.
  7. USA v Algeria – USA an unlikely member of the final 16 but should get through with a win.
  8. South Korea v Nigeria – Sth Korea will again move on to the round of 16 with a win.
  9. Greece v Argentina – Greece need to win by more than Sth Korea if they are to go through.  A tall order against an undefeated Argentinian team.
  10. France v the host nation – You would think a France win on paper but has all the team unrest and infighting taken its toll?  Besides if Uruguay v Mexico is a draw, this result doesn’t matter.
  11. Uruguay v Mexico – A winner heads the group whilst the loser may miss out.  A draw and both go through.

How good is that 12 out of 16 games with a direct result on the next round.