I’m back. No more flying under the radar. Got to apologise to the fans for my performance over the past month. Haven’t turned up to play. Simple as that. I’ll put my hand up. The computer can’t make the tackles for me. No excuses.

No, I haven’t been gagged under a grapple, I haven’t been stood down indefinitely by the blogosphere for bringing the blog into disrepute and the boss hasn’t sent me home for reeking of alcohol after a quiet pizza and a few beers. I just haven’t turned up.

I haven’t been too busy making puppet shows with chickens either…

Well, if that doesn’t sum up the last month, I’ll start up with the sound of an engine gently simmering in the background. Can anyone else hear it?

It’s the bandwagon that’s been sent over from Germany. They’ve dusted it off, and it’s about to turn into a freight train as the Socceroos begin their build up to South Africa 2010.

‘Last to qualify for 2006, first for 2010’ has been the slogan for the week.

But we seem to have taken qualification for granted.

I wrote here, all the way back at the beginning of the campaign, that this campaign would be more arduous, but fairer. If we were good enough, we’d qualify – and we’ve played the perfect qualification.

It doesn’t matter that Uzbekistan wasn’t as exciting as Uruguay.

It’s just as important. Think how the landscape has changed over the last four years. The World Cup was the catalyst. To go back-to-back is of astronomical importance. But that’s a discussion for another day.

The great debate, as most people have noticed, is that it’s been a grind to watch.

Craig Foster has gone on his soapbox about sacking the coach. The cynics have been getting into the age old ‘entertainment v results’ argument.

Regardless, Pim Verbeek has a huge challenge. Historically, the only Asian sides to have made giant strides into a World Cup tournament have been Japan and South Korea when they hosted the event. Success in Asia doesn’t correlate with success on the World stage. Let’s not forget who our only World Cup win is against. Japan. We can’t draw them this time around. So it gets a whole lot tougher.

On a positive note, Australia’s outright advantage compared to other Asian nations is that our top players play in Europe. Nothing fazes them. They can adapt. The bumbling A-League XI is a fitting tribute to why our overseas Socceroos are a precious commodity.

But Verbeek has an important challenge to make sure we haven’t dropped the ball.

We’ve been so focused on the ‘1-point away, 3-points home’ philosophy, that the Socceroos have become a ‘horses for courses’ side tailored to playing in ‘Asia’- picked to suit the conditions, opposition and amount of preparation we’ve had.

Take Brett Holman as an example – someone that has revelled because he can still buzz like a bee when playing in Dubai. 

Scott McDonald is another – but he has suffered, because the coach’s first mentality is to make sure the midfield is compact, secure and packed, even if that means playing with virtually no striker.

We’ve become very good in Asia. We know how to physically outlast the opposition until they wilt, we know how to bully and we know how to defend.

But being brutal, fit, stronger and bigger won’t cut it. Having an ‘aura’ against Bahranians or Kuwaitis is history.

What happens when there is no long-term ladder and the side has to go out and show their stuff?

They can’t – unless the manager finds the lock to slash his shackles.

Verbeek has ticked every box so far, and now it’s onto the next challenge: use the next year to mould our Socceroos and get them playing to their strengths.

The first positive sign was the freedom Bresciano had in the second half against Uzbekistan. For once, the Socceroos looked to play a forward ball or a penetrative pass, rather than the dross where the midfield dallies on the ball, without any purpose. With Kennedy, the side had a target they’d been yearning for. With Garcia, Kewell and in the long run, Emerton, Wilkshere and others, the side has width and pace.

The simple equation is that Verbeek has options – and I’d rather see us go down swinging in the World Cup than sitting back timidly, waiting.

Hiddink took it to Japan. He took it to Croatia. He even took it to Brazil! Look at this morning’s Champions League match – Hiddink lulled Liverpool into an open contest, and presto, a cagey rivalry was won with three goals.

Verbeek has to do the same.

It doesn’t necessarily mean playing a 4-4-2. With Cahill, he has a midfielder who can sit in behind a Kennedy. With Culina, he has a holding midfielder that can spray passes and get forward. With Kewell and Emerton, he has high class technicians out wide, with two fullbacks, Wilkshere and Chipperfield, that can overlap, cross, cut inside and distribute.

And unless it’s Viduka, a lone striker will feed the Socceroos to the enemy. It will leave us ruing ‘what if’. 

He will have the timeframe and friendly matches to prepare them and has a core capable of rising to the top.

He’s just got to let them do it.

 

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