Socceroos assembling report on Mauricio Pochettino, USMNT
SYDNEY — What does Mauricio Pochettino eat for breakfast? Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic is uncertain, but he is open to discovering it, as he and his team strive to gather as much information as possible about the United States and their other group-stage rivals in preparation for this year’s FIFA World Cup.
With just over four months since the World Cup draw and only three months until the tournament begins, the planning and logistical efforts for the Australians are in full swing. Last month, they confirmed that the training facility shared by USL team Oakland Roots and USLW team Oakland Soul will be the Socceroos’ base during the World Cup.
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Placed in Group D for the tournament alongside the United States, Paraguay, and an as-yet-unknown European qualifier, the initial excitement from the draw has faded for Popovic and his staff. Although the identity of their European opponent will not be revealed until the end of March, considerable effort has already been made to analyze the tendencies and patterns of the known opponents.
“We have a fantastic staff that is examining details you might not even think about,” Popovic stated. “All those minor aspects that you look for. When does that occur? If it happens two or three times, what is the common trend? Or what is the subsequent action that the team or the coach takes? So we are attempting to cover all bases.
“Our primary focus is on ourselves [but] we recognize the opposition. We want to understand their strengths and the type of squad they might assemble.
“All the coaches are highly concentrated on how we can enhance our performance. Additionally, we have excellent coaches and analysts who are preparing all the specifics to know everything about our adversaries.”
Popovic’s preparations for the World Cup go well beyond arranging training camps or compiling information on USMNT players and their coach. In his inaugural role as a national team coach, Popovic has dedicated significant time to addressing gaps in his knowledge, gearing up for his first major international tournament, and familiarizing himself with FIFA’s new regulations for the event.
Following the introduction of drinks breaks in every match at the tournament, a change that will effectively divide World Cup games into four quarters, Popovic plans to consult with coaches from Australia’s AFL — a league he follows closely as a devoted Sydney Swans supporter — who regularly develop game strategies based on this concept.
“Why not? Nothing is off the table,” he explained. “[AFL] has strategies after a quarter; what do they do in the first three or four minutes [of a quarter]? How do they gain an advantage? What is the strategy? How do they regain their rhythm in the game?
“It’s a pertinent question. And we are examining all of that to identify where we can gain an edge over the opponent, where we can outperform others. That could certainly be something we are considering.”
While Popovic finds that fellow international coaches are understandably cautious about sharing their preparations, his transition from club football has opened previously closed doors, such as a recent visit to Italy where he and assistant Paul Okon met with Juventus. This also includes collaborating with mentors from other sports, such as Rugby World Cup champion and current Japan coach Eddie Jones, with whom Popovic met in Tokyo last week.
“[He’s] coached at least four different nations, won a World Cup, and has undergone five or six weeks of preparation,” Popovic remarked. “His insights … he was very forthcoming and shared a wealth of information, including lessons learned from past mistakes. Whether it involves [accessing] family and friends, or not providing enough rest days for the staff or players, and how to manage those five or six weeks?
“Because we want to enter the first game at peak performance and start strong, but we also want to avoid a sharp decline immediately after the first match. How do you maintain that momentum? I’m striving to learn as much as possible.
“We have our concepts and our own expert coaches and advisors here, but I intend to consult with more individuals from various sports who have experienced this before, to determine how we can best manage those five to six weeks to ensure continuous improvement as the tournament progresses.”
