That is the coach, Pim Verbeek, not the A-League players that succumbed to Kuwait 1-0 in an Asian Cup qualifier in Canberra on Thursday night. For all the deriding of the A-League and, after the 0-0 draw away to Indonesia last month, labelling particular players as "absolutely hopeless", it's the coach that is beginning to show he is way out of his depth. Is it any wonder the team performs so poorly when the coach continually rubbishes them and the league in which they play?
He's no coach. He's selector and a planner. Select the team he likes, and plans the qualifying path to the World Cup with minimal risk taken.
The Asian Cup, the "easier" qualifying process, the local players should suffice. If not, we'll just call in the overseas players for the remaining games. Thanks to the continued good fortune raining on the team since Verbeek took over, Australia is still well placed in the group despite being in last position on 1 point. Kuwait already lost their opening match to Oman, and Australia's next two games are a double against Oman in November when players will be thinking World Cup and eager to play, and during an international window. Winning both those will see Australia at least second in the group, if not top.
After the game, Verbeek could not understand how the team played so badly. Quite simple: poorly coached. When they're continually told that the coach has them in a mindset clearly below that of the overseas players, and only used out of reluctant necessity, it's hardly an environment to attain maximum performance, nor incentive to stick it out when the situation becomes difficult. Why would you? There's no hope of playing in the tournament proper.
The players are clearly good enough. Only a few years ago an A-League team swept aside Kuwait 2-0 in a similar Asian Cup qualifier. Difference then was that coach of the time, Graham Arnold (remember him?), had pride in the players and faith that they could perform. Could anyone honestly say Verbeek would have such faith in current A-League players? Hence the poor performance. He's not just deficient in a managerial sense, he's deficient also in strategic capacity. The team - the one that he admitted after the game can play much better - had few ideas. That is the coach's fault. Not that these lacklustre performances are any great revelation. It's been clearly evident already with the full selection. The team has either been horrible or reliant on low-risk football or faced poor opposition.
Calling on the overseas players in November is not a sign that the A-League players are incapable, it's a sign that the coach is incapable. Their results will only prove that the coach is not needed. For the A-League players, the coach is needed. At the World Cup, when the overseas players face really top-line opposition, they will require a coach. Right now, we don't know if Verbeek can coach. Telling the players that they are absolutely hopeless will not be an acceptable escape clause.
05/03 Australia 0 - Kuwait 0
29/01 Indonesia 0 - Australia 0
Competition: Asian Cup qualifer
Opposition: Oman
Venue: Muscat
Situation: A man down, a goal down, dominated all over the park and should have been
3 or 4 more down.
Response: Win the game with a goal in the final 10 minutes and make qualification for the
Asian Cup almost certain.
It's quite remarkable how this team constantly eeks our such great results. Yes, again, the team played poorly. Yes, again, it did not matter. Clearly this team plays to a higher will. A will to remain focused, keep pressure and capitalise on chances. Australia restored scores to level just on half time. Between the goals, Mark Schwarzer earned his man of the match award. It really should not have been this dramatic.
The red card was bordering on ridiculous. Rhys Williams made a clumsey challenge, clattering into Emad Al Hosni. Was it a professional foul? If not, it's not even a yellow card. Was it a professional foul to deny a goal scoring chance? This is an intriguing question, just in principle.
The rule was brought in to stop the one-on-one situations outside the box of a defender, or even an approaching goalie, dragging down an attacker. In the box, such a foul is a penalty, therefore the goal scoring chance is hardly denied. In fact, it's probably enhanced in that you get your best kicker to take the shot on goal. Fifa really need to clarify the rule.
The team were stunned when a red was produced. It wasn't a professional foul to me. Bahrain scored from the kick, albeit from the rebound of Schwarzer's glove as he nearly made the save.
This match followed the same teams facing in Melbourne a month prior. It was a classic match, and total endorsement of every reason Australia is in Asia. Oman dominated early parts of play and should have scored. Australia pressured through much of the second half, waiting until the 75th minute for that man, Tim Cahill, sliding in at the far post, to score off Chipperfield's cross.
After looking shaky, Australia now just needs to win either against Kuwait (away) or Indonesia (home) to guarantee qualification.
14/10 Australia 1 - Oman 0
14/11 Oman 1 - Australia 2