It’s been two years since Holger Osieck first took the reins of the Australian national team – so how do the stats rack up for the Qantas Socceroos head coach?
It-s been two years since Holger Osieck first took the reins of the Australian national team - so how do the stats rack up for the Qantas Socceroos head coach?
Osieck took charge of the national team on 11 August, 2010 - his first game was less than 24 hours later, a 2-0 loss to Slovenia in Ljubljana. So, discounting that match, his first game in full control was a friendly against Switzerland in St. Gall, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
The Socceroos starting XI for that match? Schwarzer, Neill, Carney, Cahill, Spiranovic, Emerton, Wilkshire, Holman, Valeri, McDonald.
That line-up isn-t that different from what you would expect to see now. In fact, from that XI, only Emerton, Valeri (both injured) and McDonald (not getting regular club football) weren-t selected to face Lebanon and Jordan.
It seems that things have not changed all that much on the field. During two years in charge, Osieck has handed out seven new caps:
Sasa Ognenovski (17/11/10 v Egypt) Nathan Coe (05/01/11 v UAE) Robbie Kruse (05/01/11 v UAE) Brent McGrath (29/03/11 v Germany) Adam Sarota (10/08/11 v Wales) Jason Davidson (15/09/12 v Scotland) Ryan McGowan (15/09/12 v Scotland)
What about the results, which, as Osieck admitted this week, every manager is measured by?
The head coach-s record since Switzerland (03/09/10) reads: P26, W15, D6, L5 (Egypt, 3-0; Japan 1-0; Oman 1-0; Denmark 2-0; Scotland 3-1) - that a rough 58 per cent win rate.
And in those 26 games the Socceroos have scored 43 times - 1.6 goal a game - and conceded just 17 - 0.6 goals a game.
During that time our FIFA world ranking has moved roughly around within the same boundaries, from 20th in 2010 to 24 right now.
And on the road to Brazil, in Asian qualifying the for 2014 World Cup, the Qantas Socceroos have scored 14 (10 less than Japan, second lowest overall in current Group B); conceded six (two more than Japan). The record read W5 D2 L1.
As the saying goes, there are lies, damned lies and statistics. These figures illustrate that, at the very least, Osieck has hardly changed his first XI since he took the big chair.
Australia have reached their first major final in the AFC Asian Cup and are (hopefully) on the path to a third consecutive FIFA World Cup finals. The question is - where do we go next?
The Qantas Socceroos face Lebanon in an international friendly at Beirut-s Sports City Stadium, at 8.30pm local time (3.30am AEST, Friday, 7 September).
Following that, the Qantas Socceroos resume their FIFA World Cup qualification campaign against Jordan in Amman, at 7pm on Tuesday, 11 September (2am AEST, Wednesday, 12 September).
The Qantas Socceroos return to Australia in 2013, for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Oman at Sydney-s Stadium Australia at 7.30pm, Tuesday, 26 March, followed by Iraq, at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 18 June.
Tickets for both matches at Stadium Australia are on sale now through Ticketek or via phone, 132 849.