06 Jun Kennedy: How the Socceroos should set up in Russia

Former Socceroos striker Josh Kennedy says a pragmatic approach is necessary if we are to compete with our rivals at the 2018 World Cup.

Australia will face France, Denmark and Peru in Group C and are ranked as outsiders to qualify for the Round of 16.

Football Nation‘s Kennedy revealed former Australia coach Pim Verbeek’s tactical backflip that backfired at the 2010 World Cup, and that a sharpness in transition combined with a solid defensive shape without the ball is required to succeed in Russia.

“I started every friendly game prior to that World Cup and come that first game against Germany he (Verbeek) backflipped on his tactics we worked on for months,” he told SEN’s Road to Russia.

“As far as setting up this time at the World Cup, I think with the bunch of players we have we can’t afford to be too attacking.

“I know that might sound a little bit boring, but we need to limit the opposition’s chances with possibly a 4-5-1 in a defensive shape, and when we get the ball then we can use (Mathew) Leckie, (Robbie) Kruse or Jamie MacLaren to use their pace when they’re on the pitch.

“I think without the ball we need to keep things really tight and really compact. We’re probably going to drop off in our own half so the opposition will have plenty of the ball.

“If we can get that counter attack opportunity to break free, to break wide and get balls in the box – we’ve always scored when we get balls in the box.

“That’s going to be our opportunity.”

The Socceroos face Hungary in a friendly on Sunday before their huge World Cup opener against the French on June 16 in Kazan.

Originally published on SEN.com.au