Socceroos’ superior fitness can prove the difference against Denmark
THE Socceroos are facing a must-win World Cup clash but new data has revealed what could make the difference against Denmark on Thursday night.
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FOR months it has been the Socceroos’ master plan for the World Cup and now new data has revealed what could make the difference against Denmark on Thursday night.
Bert van Marwijk’s side will aim to run over the top of Denmark in a must-win game in Samara, backed by figures which show Australia are one of the fittest teams at the tournament.
GPS data collated by the Socceroos’ sports scientists shows the Australian players ran 9000m further than France, a differential of almost 9 per cent, in Saturday’s heartbreaking 2-1 defeat.
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According to official FIFA data, the Socceroos are joint third for distance covered at the World Cup, ahead of Germany, England and Spain and behind only Egypt and Russia.
Not only did van Marwijk’s super-fit squad cover 117,000m on Saturday, compared with France’s total of 108,000m, the quality of their running was superior, too.
The Socceroos ran 1400m more than France at high speed, and remarkably made more of those runs in the second half than the first. That was in contrast to France, whose figures all dipped after halftime.
Those figures come despite Australia having 49 per cent possession, negating suggestions they ran so far in pursuit of the ball.
The culmination of months of planning led by sports science head Craig Duncan, the Australians believe their level of fitness could be a defining factor against the Danes in a game that van Marwijk’s side realistically has to win.
The Samara clash is likely to be one of the tightest so far, against a Danish side that has not conceded a goal in its last five games and with defeat almost certainly condemning Australia to a group-stage exit yet again.
But the longer the game is in the balance the more confident Australia will be that they can prevail.
Long before they came into the Socceroos’ pre-tournament camp in Turkey, the players had been providing data qualitatively and quantitatively via Apple watches, enabling the team’s analysts to track their levels of fitness.
Those whose club seasons ended earlier were given individual programs and every player was given a bespoke “travel plan” to govern sleeping, eating and resting times.
The aim was to ensure players at varying levels of fitness could train intensively in the camp in Turkey from the start.
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Western Sydney Wanderers fullback Josh Risdon was the most glaring example.
His last game before the June friendlies was in mid-April, but the defender increased his fitness so quickly he convinced van Marwijk to make him first-choice right-back.
“I hadn’t played for five weeks before I came into the camp in Turkey but I hadn’t stopped training,” Risdon said.
“I’d kept myself ticking over and worked with Craig Duncan.
“The first few days it was hard to get the sharpness back, but after that tough first week I felt pretty comfortable and pretty fit.”
STAYING STRONG ON THE BENCH
“YOU have got to be mentally strong,” says Socceroos defender Matthew Jurman, but he’s not talking about playing at the World Cup.
Quite the opposite. He is detailing the qualities required for those players on the sidelines who are not playing at the World Cup.
Eleven players of a Soccerroos squad of 23 started the first game against France and three more came off the bench. Two others may get to play against Denmark and Peru.
But for many of the remaining players, there is the dawning realisation that barring injury or misadventure, their World Cup will be served in an observing role.
They have to train as if they are playing — rehearse the routines, analyse the opposition data, all the while knowing it is likely to be for nothing.
“It’s hard when the boys are playing and getting good results and you didn’t have any part of it in the game,” Jurman said.
“Personally I have stayed switched on and trained as best as I can, waiting for my chance.
“If that’s what’s going to happen, if I get it I will take it and hopefully I will stay there.
“You want to be there with them on the pitch but you can only have 11 players. I do feel part of the squad.”
Jurman at least can cover several positions. The squad’s three goalkeepers are chasing one spot.
Mathew Ryan is the incumbent, ahead of Brad Jones, seemingly the No.2, and Danny Vukovic.
“I’m preparing as if I’m playing,” Vukovic said.
“I think everyone should be doing that and pushing each other, making sure you’re ready if called upon. If I’m not, I’ll support whoever does play. We spoke about it as goalkeepers, that we’re a team and support each other no matter who plays.”
Originally published as Socceroos’ superior fitness can prove the difference against Denmark
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