Guus a genius at work

In a leafy five-star retreat in the rolling German countryside, a mad scientist in Australia's employ is plotting to destroy the world.

He has already taken out Japan; he is working on Brazil this weekend; next week it's on to Croatia.

Mad may not be the ideal word to describe Guus Hiddink.

Touched could be better - touched by genius, some say, certainly touched by a passion for football, a talent for managing those who play it, and a knack for devising unorthodox tactics to unravel those they play against.

But a scientist he certainly is.

Hiddink is a football professor who did his learning, and does his lecturing, out on the big fields of the world.

He is one truly world class component of an Australian team which has raised eyebrows around the world this week.

It is foolish to place such men on pedestals, yet without him it is difficult to imagine that the Socceroos would have overwhelmed Japan in Kaiserslautern in their return to World Cup finals action after a 32-year absence.

Hiddink concocted any number of ploys against the "blue samurai" which at first seemed, well, mad, but which actually worked and, furthermore, seemed to make startling good sense when explained to know-alls like journalists who would never have dreamt of them in a million World Cups.

The burning question is: can he come up with something similar on Sunday against Brazil?

He won't be Robinson Crusoe if he can't; precious few others ever find a way of containing the world's most skilled, unpredictable and successful team.

Yet on the evidence of the Japan match, Hiddink will again produce something new from up his sleeve which will mystify many and might just take a trick or two.

Hiddink had many observers shaking their heads in disbelief in Kaiserslautern when he sent into World Cup combat Luke Wilkshire, an eager trier from England's third tier league who had only a handful of previous Socceroos starts against mostly ordinary opposition.

Wilkshire is just 24-years-old and seriously looks about 12; he makes you want to pat him on the head and give him a boiled lolly.

Yet he ran his heart out for 75 minutes and performed admirably.

The man Hiddink replaced him with, John Aloisi, promptly came on and scored a goal.

Hiddink also brought off the bench a player with just 30 minutes international experience under his belt, Josh Kennedy.

The tall striker created havoc in the Japanese penalty box, and played a part in getting the first of Australia's astonishing three late goals.

Hiddink sprang a big surprise when he pulled off Marco Bresciano, one of Australia's best players, soon after half time.

His replacement, Tim Cahill, scored twice, creating euphoria among millions of Aussies watching on TV back home and earning a place in the record books as the first player ever to score for Australia at the World Cup finals.

Hiddink started off a not-fully-fit Harry Kewell, and kept him on for the full 90 minutes, despite the fact that at times the Liverpool star was doing it tough in the 38 degree heat.

But Kewell is a game-breaker.

As Australia pressed forward in an attempt to come from a goal down, Kewell was worth the risk.

Hiddink ended up hurling everything at the Japanese including the kitchen sink.

As he bombarded them with four strikers, an extraordinary switch took place at the other end - Brett Emerton went in to the centre of defence.

Emerton is a versatile athlete who mostly plays wide on the right of midfield, or sometimes at right back. Against Japan he also played in the centre of midfield. But defence?

The explanation offered by Hiddink's assistant, Graham Arnold, made eminent good sense.

"When we started our aerial assault, we needed some quick guys at the back to counter-attack their counter-attack," Arnold said. "Thankfully it came off."

The point is that desperate situations call for desperate measures. Hiddink's desperate measures, though, are also well-planned and well-rehearsed ones.

"It was no fluke," said Arnold. "We had four or five scenarios worked out, depending on whether we were winning, losing or drawing. We definitely had everything pre-planned."

"It was a must-win game for us, so when we were behind with 15 minutes to go, we did some things that made it possible to play four strikers. You may as well lose by two or three goals as one."

"It was a gamble, but everything was pre-planned, and it came off."

If you ever find yourself playing poker with Hiddink, it might be best to walk away, for he does not blink even in the most nerve-racking situation.

When Cahill equalised six minutes from full time, many managers would have told their players to shut up shop and be content with a draw.

Not Hiddink; he told the Socceroos to press on for a winner.

When Cahill provided that, too, Hiddink still did not pull back; he told them to go for a third.

They got that, too.

But here's an even more surprising thing.

At half-time, with Australia trailing 1-0 to a goal the Egyptian referee later admitted he should have disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, Hiddink told his players they would win 3-1.

"The Japanese were struggling," said Arnold. "They looked physically knackered when they came off at half time. We told them (the Socceroos) they would win 3-1."

So where does Hiddink consult his crystal ball, and play his war games on a blackboard, and watch his DVDs, and push his players around like chess pieces, and stroll around the grounds scheming to blow up his foes?

At an idyllic spot called Friedrichsruhe in the countryside of southern Germany, between Frankfurt and Stuttgart.

More specifically at a converted royal palace and hunting lodge where you normally don't get much change out of $1,000 for a room for the night.

Australia's 23 players and coaching staff have taken over all 38 rooms.

Hiddink has his own 'cottage', which is more like a mini-palace.

The retreat comes with a top-class restaurant, two swimming pools, a sauna, day spa, tennis court and golf course.

"You don't hear a single thing at night, so it's just a total peaceful haven," said Socceroo defender Lucas Neill. "It's great that amid the World Cup craziness which is going on we can just sit back and listen to the birds."

"It's surreal that we are out there," added Arnold. "We are out of the way completely."

"You don't see anyone around, you're watching the World Cup on TV and you feel like you're back at home and you're not part of it. "Then you go to the stadium and see the fantastic support we are getting, and it gives you goose bumps."

Maybe that should be Guus bumps.

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