Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 Aug 2006

Judged by many as the best Socceroo at the World Cup, Lucas Neill has now been singled out by science.

A study by SKA Elite Sport Coaching Symposium presenter Dr Istvan Gorgenyi, who analysed the Australian team's use of space on the field during the World Cup campaign, found that Neill was omnipresent.

"Lucas Neill last year (at the Confederations Cup) was a left-sided defender playing almost for himself and he was put in the middle ... and he became one of the best defenders of the World Cup," said Gorgenyi, an expert in group dynamics.

"He (Neill) had a big effect on the whole team as a role model and also as a player who was always around to help," added the coach of the gold medal winning Australian women's water polo team at the Sydney Olympics.

"Captain Mark Viduka, too, got special mention from Gorgenyi as a player whose use of space had improved since the Confederations Cup.

"(Viduka) used to play a quite static game," Gorgenyi said.

"Even if he was alone (up front) quite often, he came back for balls, he opened doors on the wings looking for balls, providing space for others."

The research was based on Gorgenyi's 'Hunting Territory Theory', which relates to systems of team structure and communication.

He was commissioned by Sport Knowledge Australia to carry out the study and compare it to the one he did for Football Federation Australia on last year's Confederation Cup where the Socceroos lost their three games resulting in Frank Farina losing the coaching job.

The study also found the Socceroos to be "a rare united team where roles and responsibilities were clear in attack and defence" under the guidance of Guus Hiddink.

"There was a certain flow in the Australian game because players didn't occupy bits of the field, they were moving and providing space for others," Gorgenyi said

Fortunately Australia wasn't encumbered at the World Cup by anyone who reduced the amount of space available, unlike Brazil, also studied by Gorgenyi.

He likened striker Ronaldo to "an injured whale blocking a whole channel".

Gorgenyi will present the study at the SKA symposium for Elite Coaches on October 30 to November 2 in Sydney.

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