Fastgoal.com <World Cup 2018> - Group C - Australia Team Review

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Australia

FIFA World Ranking: 40
Qualifying Average Goals Per Match: 2.40
Qualifying Average Goals Against Per Match: 0.85
Qualifying Top Scorer: Tim Cahill (11)
World Cup Best Performance: Last 16 (2006)

Group C Opponents: Denmark, France and Peru


The Manager: Bert van Marwijk
The Dutch manager did lead a side to this years World Cup, but it wasn’t Australia. Having guided Saudi Arabia to the finals, van Marwijk was promptly dismissed only to then be snapped up by the Socceroo’s following the departure of their own boss Ange Postecoglou. A UEFA Cup winner when in charge of Feyenoord, van Marwijk has a decent World Cup pedigree having been in charge when Holland reached the final in 2010. Often favouring a physical approach to the game, he would seem a good fit for Australia, but having only been in charge since January, he hasn’t had all that long to get his troops organised for the big one.


The Squad:
Weaker than many in the tournament, the Australians will as ever be hoping to utilise their togetherness, team spirit and tenacity to forge a whole which is greater than the sum of its parts. Not that the squad doesn’t have it good points.

Goalkeeper Matt Ryan has enjoyed a solid season for Brighton in the Premier League, whilst a midfield duo of Aston Villa’s Mile Jedinak and Huddersfield’s Aaron Mooy provides a nice mix of tenacity and creativity.

It is in defence and attack where the main questions lie though.

The defence in particular look inexperienced at this level. James Meredith, Matthew Jurman, Fran Karačić and Josh Risdon all make the squad but have only a grand total of 12 caps between them.

Experience certainly isn’t a problem up front.

Aussie legend Tim Cahill is 38 years old now and currently without a club, but was still the top scorer in qualifying and may well be called upon to lead the line once again due as much to a lack of other options as anything else.



Star Man: Aaron Mooy
There genuinely isn’t a world class star in this Australia side, but the player they can most ill afford to do without is Huddersfield’s Aaron Mooy. Possessing all the industry you would expect of a midfielder in this hard-working Australian side, Mooy adds a dose of creativity and class when on the ball. If Australia are to progress against the odds, Mooy will likely need to have a good tournament.


Outlook:
Having played a total of 22 games and travelled half way around the World just to get here, the Australians have more than earnt their place at the finals. They certainly won’t be found wanting in the spirit and endeavour department, but don’t look to possess the quality of the French or Danish sides and it would be a surprise should they make it through the group.


Group C Prediction: http://fastgoal.com/forum/index.php?topic=2458.0

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