COACH: Guus HIDDINK


GOALKEEPERS:

1 Mark SCHWARZER
12 Ante COVIC
18 Željko KALAC

DEFENDERS:

2 Lucas NEILL
3 Craig MOORE
6 Tony POPOVIC
16 Michael BEAUCHAMP
20 Luke WILKSHIRE
22 Mark MILLIGAN

MIDFIELDERS:

4 Tim CAHILL
5 Jason CULINA
7 Brett EMERTON
8 Josip SKOKO
11 Stan LAZARIDIS
13 Vincenzo GRELLA
14 Scott CHIPPERFIELD
21 Mile STERJOVSKI
23 Mark BRESCIANO

FORWARDS:

9 Mark VIDUKA ©
10 Harry KEWELL
15 John ALOISI
17 Archie THOMPSON
19 Joshua KENNEDY


3-5-2 FORMATION:



GK SCHWARZER
CB MOORE
CB NEILL
CB CHIPPERFIELD
RWB WILKSHIRE
LWB CULINA
DMF GRELLA
CMF EMERTON
CMF BRESCIANO
SS H. KEWELL
CF VIDUKA

Captain: Mark Viduka
Short Free Kick: Harry Kewell
Long Free Kick: Mark Bresciano
Free Kick 2: -
Left Corner: Mark Bresciano
Right Corner: Mark Bresciano
Penalty: Craig Moore
Players to go up on free kicks and corners: Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Scott Chipperfield

Team Strategy

★Right Side Attack
★Left Side Attack
★Counter Attack

Back Line: A


HOME & AWAY KITS:

I made an analysis of Australia's first match, against Japan. It's quite rough, but I hope it adds more detail to this team's page. I'm thinking of making analysis like this one for the other matches that Australia played during the 2006 WC.

AUSTRALIA X JAPAN (Group Stage WC2006 - June 12, 2006)

There are 4 separate tactical stages through the match:


1) From beggining of the match until Bresciano comes off for Cahill.



3-5-2 Formation (3-1-4-2)
Schwarzer - GK
Moore, Neill and Chipperfield - CBs
Grella - DMF
Wilkshire - RWB
Čulina - LWB
Emerton - CMF
Bresciano - CMF/AMF (tries multiple runs by the left to pierce through Japan's defence alongside Viduka/Kewell.)
Kewell - SS
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)


2) After Cahill comes in, before Kennedy is brought in.



3-5-2 Formation (3-1-3-1-2)
Schwarzer - GK
Moore, Neill and Chipperfield - CBs
Grella - DMF
Wilkshire - RWB
Čulina - LWB
Emerton - CMF
Cahill - AMF (Another goalscoring option for the team, running up the field and not bothering too much with composing the midfield line)
Kewell - SS
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)


3) After Kennedy comes in for Moore, before Aloisi is brought in.



4-2-1-3 Formation
Schwarzer - GK
Neill - CB
Chipperfield - CB/CWP/DMF (making offensive runs while both Grella and Emerton cover him at the back.)
Wilkshire - RB
Čulina - LB
Grella - DMF/CB (appears sometimes at the back to help the team rebuild and stop Japanese attacks)
Emerton - DMF/CMF (follows Grella, but not with the same deep coverage)
Cahill - AMF
Kennedy - SS/CF (Mostly lurking outside/inside the box)
Kewell - SS/WF (Switches sides with Kennedy; follows by trying to isolate himself by the left flank and drive in runs against Moniwa)
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)

4) After Aloisi comes in for Wilkshire, until the game ends.



3-3-4 Formation
Schwarzer - GK
Neill - CB
Chipperfield - CB (sometimes drives a bit forward to deliver long balls)
Čulina - CB/LB (stays a lot by the left)
Grella - DMF (helps the backline)
Emerton - DMF (follows Grella)
Cahill - AMF
Kennedy - SS/CF (Mostly lurking outside/inside the box)
Aloisi - SS/CF (Stays close to/inside the box)
Kewell - WF (Stays by the left)
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)

NOTES:
'53 - Cahill in, Bresciano Out
'61 - Kennedy in, Moore Out
'75 - Aloisi in, Wilkshire Out

Grella - Yellow Card '33 (Tackle on Nakamura)
Moore - Yellow Card '57 (Holds off Yanagisawa)
Cahill - Yellow Card '68 (Tackles Komano while trying to reach the ball)
Aloisi - Yellow Card '77 (Elbows Nakazawa)

Viduka - CAPITAIN
Viduka can be added as a Short FK Taker
Chipperfield and Čulina can be added as a 2nd FK Taker
Moore, Neill and Schwarzer take long FKs, delivering long balls from Australia's half of the pitch.

So for ths game, the Team Strategy is:

*Left Side Attack
*Long Passing
*CB Overlap: Chipper field - Late in the game

No Counter Attack and Right Side Attack?

Yes, indeed.

If you can, do it for Japan, Brazil, Croatia and Italy too please, so we can have an accurate formation for those threads too.

AUSTRALIA X BRAZIL (Group Stage WC2006 - June 18, 2006)

There are 4 separate tactical stages through the match:


1) From beggining of the match until Popovic gets injured.



3-6-1 Formation (3-3-3-1)
Schwarzer - GK
Moore - CB
Neill - CB (Makes attacking runs, comes off the defensive line carrying the ball up the field)
Popovic - CB
Chipperfield - LWB
Grella - DMF
Emerton - CMF/DMF (Helps Grella with defensive duties by the right, but does not move up and down like a SMF/WB)
Čulina - RMF
Cahill - AMF
Sterjovski - LMF/LWF
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)

D-LINE: Moore, Neill and Popovic all cycle through each other's positions. While Moore and Neill switch, Tony Popovic keeps as the left CB.

2) After Bresciano comes in, before Kewell is brought in.



3-6-1 Formation (3-3-3-1)
Schwarzer - GK
Moore - CB
Neill - CB (Makes attacking runs)
Chipperfield - CB (Fills in for Popovic)
Bresciano - LWB (Slots in for Chipperfield, much more offensive)
Grella - DMF
Emerton - CMF/DMF
Čulina - LMF/LWF
Cahill - AMF
Sterjovski - RMF/RWF
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)

Wing Forwards: Mile Sterjovski and Jason Čulina change sides permanently, as Sterjovski had good control of both legs.

3) After Kewell comes in for Cahill, before Aloisi is brought in.



3-5-2 Formation (3-3-2-2)
Schwarzer - GK
Moore - CB
Neill - CB (Makes attacking runs)
Chipperfield - CB
Bresciano - CMF/LMF (Switches between running by the sideline or by the middle)
Grella - DMF
Emerton - CMF/DMF
Čulina - LMF/LWF
Sterjovski - RMF/RWF
Kewell - SS
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)

4) After Aloisi comes in for Moore, until the game ends.



3-4-3 Formation
Schwarzer - GK
Emerton - CB (Slots in for Moore)
Neill - CB
Chipperfield - CB
Bresciano - CMF/LMF (Switches between running by the sideline or by the middle)
Grella - DMF
Čulina - CMF
Sterjovski - RMF
Kewell - SS
Aloisi - CF
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)


NOTES:
'40 - Bresciano in, Popovic Out (Left Calf injury)
'61 - Kewell in, Cahill Out
'75 - Aloisi in, Moore Out

Emerton - Yellow Card '12 (Protest after pushing Roberto Carlos to the ground)
Čulina - Yellow Card '38 (Tries to steal the ball, but ends up kicking Juan's leg)



Short Free Kick: - Jason Čulina | Harry Kewell
2nd Free Kick: -
Long Free Kick: Jason Čulina | Lucas Neill | Craig Moore | Mark Bresciano
Left Corner: Jason Čulina | Mark Bresciano
Right Corner: Scott Chipperfield | Mark Bresciano
Penalties: -
Capitain: Mark Viduka
Up on Corners: Tony Popovic, Craig Moore and Lucas Neill | Scott Chipperfield | Brett Emerton

OK, my take would be:

Change Sides: Moore/Neill - First half |
CB Overlap: Neill - Deactivated after 70 mn
Left Side Attack - After Bresciano was introduced

AUSTRALIA X CROATIA (Group Stage WC2006 - June 22, 2006)

There are 5 separate tactical stages through the match:


1) From beggining of the match until Grella is subbed off ('63).



4-4-2 Formation ("Diamond-shaped midfield")
Kalac - GK
Moore - CB
Neill - CB (Makes attacking runs, comes off the defensive line carrying the ball up the field)
Emerton - RB
Chipperfield - LB/LWB
Grella - DMF
Sterjovski - RMF/RWF
Čulina - CMF/LMF
Cahill - AMF
Kewell - SS/LWF
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)

D-LINE: For the initial '10min of the match, Jason Čulina slotted in at LB, while Scott Chipperfield could be seen playing LWB/LMF, but this does not happen for the rest of the game.


2) After Aloisi comes in ('63), before Bresciano is brought in ('71).



4-4-2 Formation
Kalac - GK
Moore - CB
Neill - CB (Stops his attacking runs)
Emerton - RB
Chipperfield - LB/LWB
Sterjovski - RMF
Čulina - DMF/CMF (Stays by the middle as the team's anchor DMF)
Cahill - AMF
Kewell - LMF/LWF
Aloisi - CF (Tracks back)
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)


3) After Bresciano comes in for Sterjovski ('71), before Kennedy is brought in ('75).



4-4-2 Formation
Kalac - GK
Moore - CB
Neill - CB
Emerton - RB
Chipperfield - LB
Bresciano - RMF/CMF (Offensive runs through the right; can be seen advancing by the middle)
Čulina - DMF
Cahill - AMF
Kewell - LMF/LWF
Aloisi - CF
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)


4) After Kennedy comes in for Chipperfield ('75), until Emerton is sent off ('87).



4-3-3 Formation
Kalac - GK
Moore - CB
Neill - CB
Emerton - RB
Čulina - LB (Fills in Chipperfield's role, but more defensive)
Bresciano - RMF/CMF (Runs up with the ball, but tries to cover the sideline)
Cahill - AMF/CMF (Goes up for crosses, but now bothers with defense)
Kewell - LMF (Tracks back to give extra defensive coverage)
Kennedy - CF/SS (Switches sides with Aloisi; more mobility than Viduka and Aloisi)
Aloisi - CF
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)


BRETT EMERTON IS SENT OFF ('87)


5) After Emerton is sent off ('87), until the end of the match.



4-2-3 Formation
Kalac - GK
Moore - CB
Neill - CB
Bresciano - RB/RWB (Runs up with the ball, but tries to cover the sideline)
Čulina - LB
Cahill - DMF/CMF (Plays more defense, stays a lot by the right to help Bresciano)
Kewell - LMF/CMF
Kennedy - CF/SS (Switches sides with Aloisi; more mobility than Viduka and Aloisi)
Aloisi - CF
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)


NOTES:
'63 - Aloisi in, Grella Out
'71 - Bresciano in, Sterjovski Out
'75 - Kennedy in, Chipperfield Out

Emerton - Yellow Card '81 (Holds the ball off Modrić, who was trying to take a free kick)
Emerton - 2nd Yellow Card - RED CARD '87 (Handball near the sideline)



Short Free Kick: Scott Chipperfield | Brett Emerton
2nd Free Kick: Brett Emerton
Long Free Kick: Brett Emerton | Vince Grella
Left Corner: Brett Emerton | Mark Bresciano
Right Corner: Scott Chipperfield | Mark Bresciano
Penalty: Craig Moore
Capitain: Mark Viduka
Up on Corners: Craig Moore and Lucas Neill

AUSTRALIA X ITALY (Round of 16 WC2006 - June 26, 2006)

There are 2 separate tactical stages through the match:


1) From beggining of the match until Sterjovski comes off for Aloisi ('81)



3-6-1 Formation (3-3-3-1)
Schwarzer - GK
Moore - CB (Advances off the defensive line to make long passes)
Neill - CB (Makes attacking runs, comes off the defensive line carrying the ball up the field)
Chipperfield - CB/LB (Overlaps, being covered by Wilkshire, going as high up as Bresciano)
Wilkshire - LWB
Grella - DMF
Čulina - RWB/CMF
Bresciano - LMF (Can be seen roaming free by the right and the middle too)
Cahill - AMF
Sterjovski - RMF/RWF
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)


2) After Aloisi comes in ('81), until the game ends.



3-5-2 Formation (3-3-2-2)
Schwarzer - GK
Moore - CB
Neill - CB
Chipperfield - CB/LB
Wilkshire - LWB
Grella - DMF
Čulina - CMF
Bresciano - RMF (Now runs by the right, cutting inside for shots and crosses)
Cahill - AMF
Aloisi - CF
Viduka - CF (CAPITAIN)


NOTES:
'81 - Aloisi in, Sterjovski Out


Vince Grella - Yellow Card '23 (Scramble in the box with Toni, holds him by the shirt)
Tim Cahill - Yellow Card '49 (Elbows Materazzi in an aerial scramble for the ball, then protests against ref decision)
Luke Wilkshire - Yellow Card '61 (Shoves Del Piero with elbow)



Short Free Kick: Mark Bresciano
2nd Free Kick: Scott Chipperfield
Long Free Kick: Vince Grella | Lucas Neill | Scott Chipperfield | Mark Bresciano | Mark Schwarzer
Left Corner: (Most probably Mark Bresciano)
Right Corner: Mark Bresciano
Penalty: -
Capitain: Mark Viduka
Up on Corners: Lucas Neill, Craig Moore and Scott Chipperfield