Currently third in Group B, Australia run out at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre this evening to take on a Netherlands side who have already hammered Spain 5-1 during this tournament, in a display of Total Football that left the defending champions reeling. Australia will probably feel a little apprehensive about this evening’s game as they have already lost their opener 3-1 against Chile, who managed to produce an assured and confident display. That’s not to say though that the ever-ebullient Aussies won’t kick on and keep trying. That indomitable Aussie spirit that the world has come to love will be present in bucket loads this evening, so expect an entertaining game.
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If anything, the world will have its eyes on the Netherlands, who will be looking to prove this evening that their destruction of Spain was not just a lucky fluke. This should help ease Aussie tension a little, as they will not be expected to get a result this evening. This is a situation that any underdog relishes. The Socceroos will be expected to take a hammering this evening, so a draw would be result for them. Should they lose however, the third game will more than likely just be a formality, with the Roos as good as on the next flight home.
Luis Van Gaal, the Netherlands Coach will however be expected to warn his team about the dangers of complacency and that nothing less than a win will secure qualification to the next round. He has embraced and encouraged the brand of football that made the Netherlands famous in the 90s, that which we know as “Total Football” and nowhere was it more evident and prevalent than against the defending champions in Salvador.
The World Cup has been known to throw up strange results, such as the no score draw between Brazil and Mexico on the 17th. Ange Postecoglou, the Australian team coach has admitted that his team were overawed by the reputation of Chile in their 3-1 loss, and that they had showed the South Americans far too much respect. They will need to overcome that sense of awe against a rampant Netherlands side this evening if they are to stand any chance of success.
One point in the Aussies’ favour is that they are a physically intense team, who like to increase that intensity as the game goes on, unlike Spain, who seemed to slow down a lot in the second half against the Oranje. The Dutch will be tested this evening, and tested properly, should Postecoglou manage to coax his slightly shy team into action. On paper, the Oranje look too strong, with a very experienced squad in players like Arjen Robben and the equally deadly Robin van Persie, who both ran amok against Spain. Indeed, many may be making too much of the result against the world champions, and it may be that it was indeed, a fluke. The Dutch will need to repeat that show of dominance tonight, if the world is to believe they are candidates for world champions.