Hiddink also assured us that they have done their homework on their opponents:
“We have our scouts over there and we have a lot of DVDs but also we know a lot of the players from Europe. We are well prepared.”
Uruguay, the first winners of the World Cup, might have held champions Brazil twice in the qualifiers and beaten Argentina, but were also on the end of some hammerings, losing away 5-0 to Colombia and 4-1 to Paraguay, and at home 3-1 to Peru and 3-0 to Venezuela.
They will sorely miss their and last season’s Primera top scorer Diego Forlan of Villareal, but still have Inter’s enigmatic attacking midfielder Alvaro Recoba available as well as the psychological bonus of the two men who knocked Australia out last time: Malaga’s Richard Morales and Portsmouth’s Dario Silva.
On paper Australia should lose. Uruguay are from South America after all. But there remain real causes for optimism, not least the natural advantage conferred on the unfancied team.
“In one way we will probably go into the games again as underdog,” Schwarzer went on, “and that means they will probably underestimate us as they usually do.”
Last time around Australia won 1-0 in Melbourne before crashing 3-0 in Montevideo in the return but this time they play at the Estadio Centenario first before the second leg at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney. Hiddink’s opposite number Jorge Fossati will therefore surely be looking to the Celeste to rack up the goals in the first leg and not concede any away goals to Australia.
When asked by Soccerphile if the order of games was a bonus, Hiddink however was less sure:
“There might be a little advantage playing away first and then home second as there are just three days in between the first and second,” he said, “Maybe a slight advantage but nothing more than that.”
Given his vast experience you have no reason to doubt him.
“We are under no illusions about the task ahead of us. As fifth placed finisher in South America, Uruguay is a powerhouse in world football. Madhur matka I know the Uruguayan team is
strong and they have players in the big leagues in Europe so they are very smart.”
But then Australia does too and can call on a host of players with experience in the Premiership such as Brett Emerton, Stan Laziridis and Tim Cahill, in Spain’s Primera (John Aloisi) and in Italy’s Serie A (Mark Bresciano & Vince Grella).
Nevertheless, when Hiddink took over he found a rigid 4-4-2 system that was not working and a general lack of tactical nous throughout the squad:
“When I started a few months ago I found that there was no balance,” he admits. “Everyone was so committed they were over excited but now everyone in his position knows exactly what to do. That does not mean the execution is 100% but we have made good progress. The Australian players are very committed,” he told reporters, “and you can see they are eager to learn but in a tactical way, in the rhythm of the game, in the pace and the toughness of the game they are lacking. There must be a balance between the commitment and the strategic and tactical way to play.”
Listening to Hiddink is illuminating after so many English managers’ Henry V-style oratory, as you are in the presence of a great footballing brain that speaks from the mind and not just the heart. When he tells you, “We hope to learn as soon as possible,” you believe it is not through blind optimism but fact-based reality.
“What I always try to do is get control of the opponent and see whether they play with one striker or two strikers. In all cases I want my teams to be in control and you have to be flexible in defense. We have done a lot of strategic and tactical work.”