World Cup 2018: Harry Kewell says Bert van Marwijk must give Socceroos permission to be fearless
COACH Bert van Marwijk must send the Socceroos into their World Cup opener against France with a nothing-to-lose attacking mentality writes HARRY KEWELL.
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THE Socceroos attackers must be let off the leash tonight by Bert van Marwijk and the players must respond by being fearless.
We can’t have a repeat of 2010, when Pim Verbeek set up defensively and we conceded after eight minutes. What then? It was virtually game over as Germany romped to a 4-0 win.
In contrast, the Socceroos conceded two goals after 14 minutes against Chile in the 2014 opener, but attacking intent triggered a recovery. They had them on the ropes but couldn’t land the knockout blow.
Van Marwijk’s key message should be “go out and enjoy it, you’ve got nothing to lose but you can make a name for yourselves”.
Watching Marcus Rashford play for England last week, every time he got the ball he attacked and that’s what Mathew Leckie, Andrew Nabbout, Robbie Kruse and Daniel Arzani must do.
Our raw pace and the willingness to keep pushing forward is one of our big assets, which we must exploit via balls over the top.
It was great to see Arzani change the game against Hungary last week along with Jackson Irvine, who made great forward runs. And the substitutes will be vital.
Arzani made a few passes that were beyond what everyone else was seeing but what was underrated about his goal was how he played the percentages.
People underestimate the simple act of shooting on goal and hitting the target. Many players feel like they must do something special like finding the top corner, but it’s hardest for goalkeepers to get right down to save an ankle height shot, far easier to dive to a high shot.
Worse still is not forcing a save at all and the greatest strikers in the world hit the target, which can lead to a keeper gaffe or deflection and at least 3-4 goals at the World Cup will come from keeper fumbles and follow-ups.
Argentina great Gabriel Batistuta was the master, pure power but sniper-like accuracy. My ex Liverpool teammate Michael Owen never blasted the ball, always sidefoot, but again he gave himself a chance.
Antoine Griezmann is France’s predator and doesn’t need too many chances, so we have to be sharp in closing him down, but the one I’m really looking forward to seeing is Kylian Mbappe.
The PSG attacker has no fear. He’s one of the world’s most expensive players and he acts like it — he wants the ball, wants to dribble, shoot and entertain. His pace and skill are frightening.
France can go all the way, but hard work will beat talent if talent doesn’t want to work and the Socceroos are capable of unsettling France, who have had their share of World Cup wobbles.
If and when France take their foot off the pedal, even ever so slightly, the Socceroos must pounce.
France, Peru or Denmark, it’s got to be the same attitude — eyeball them and take them on.
The Aussies know they’re coming up against world-class France side. Sometimes superstars don’t click, but we have to be at our best.
If France get their tails up as they’ve got quality, pace and power to cause the Socceroos nightmares, so we must remain disciplined. The longer you hold out the better the chances of getting something from the game.
Listen to News Corp football experts Tom Smithies and David Davutovic preview the Socceroos’ opening World Cup clash with France for Another Football Podcast.
Guus Hiddink was the master of settling nerves, with random acts such as showing players pre-game clips of great goals which he’d obviously prepared.
It’s important to try and get something out of France because that can set us up and put everyone else under pressure. In contrast, the Germany thumping gave us a mountain to climb in 2010.
It would be easy to view Denmark as the start of our World Cup because we’re not expected to win against France.
But Bert has not once discussed Denmark or Peru and I like that, because the France game could make or break our World Cup and if the Socceroos manage to win then wow, anything is possible.
*Harry Kewell made 57 appearances, scoring 17 goals for the Socceroos, and played in two World Cups. He is manager of English club Crawley Town.
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