Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
When FIFA announced there would be a “hydration break” midway through each half at the World Cup, it raised eyebrows.
But for Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, it created an opportunity.
While many have focused on how the breaks create advertising spaces, for tacticians like Popovic the three-minute pauses offer a new way to find an edge.
At the World Cup, some commentators have started referring to the breaks as quarter-time and three-quarter time breaks.
But Popovic has been thinking this way for months.
In March, Popovic flagged turning to coaches from other codes with four quarters, like the AFL, for advice on maximising the breaks.
“Why not? Nothing like that is out of the question,” he said then.
“They have strategies for after a quarter: what do they do in the first three or four minutes, how do they get back in the rhythm of the game?
“We are looking at all of that to see where we can get an advantage over the opponent and where we can be better than someone else.”
Popovic followed through on those plans.
“Popa was fortunate to go see certain different codes and talk about how quickly you can then restart from them three-minute breaks,” assistant coach Hayden Foxe said.
“The teams that can restart really quickly and really start pressuring the opposition … normally can get the momentum shift, because the breaks can break-up the play or can change the momentum.
“You get maybe one or two messages done. Little tactical adjustments if there needs to be, and that’s it.
“Nothing too much, not too much information.”
Ahead of the World Cup, former Socceroos teammate John Aloisi told AAP Popovic, famous for his attention to detail, would be “more prepared than any other nation at the World Cup.”
It was evident in Australia’s incredible 2-0 World Cup win over Turkey.
Australia used the breaks to turn momentum after slow starts in friendlies against Mexico and Sweden.
At the first drinks break against Turkey, Popovic made a beeline for Nestory Irankunda and had an animated discussion with his young star, before also chatting with both Irankunda and Mohamed Toure.
Midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler headed straight to assistant coach, father Paul Okon, for some timely advice.
Popovic then addressed the whole group, which included 10 debutants in the starting line-up.
Minutes later, Okon-Engstler teed up Irankunda to score a wonderful opening goal.
“He told me to stay calm and to keep pushing, and in the end that chat that we had helped, and then I ended up scoring,” Irankunda said.
Connor Metcalfe scored Australia’s second minutes after the second break.
The Socceroos will keep using the pauses to their advantage, continuing with Friday’s clash (Saturday 5am AEST) with the United States in Seattle.
“They’re here to stay,” Foxe said.
“So then you’ve got to use them as best you can for that moment and for the players.”
