Photo: Sebastian Gunta – https://www.flickr.com/photos/sgfotographics/
While the Socceroos know they won’t be going any further than the group stages at this World Cup, Ange Postecoglou’s squad will soon return from Brazil with their heads very much held high. Following on from their battling 3-1 defeat to the highly-fancied Chile side in their first group game, Australia were on the wrong end of a thrilling 3-2 score against 2010 World Cup finalists, subsequently killing the Socceroos chances of qualifying from the group.
Nothing gets Aussie sports fans more excited than seeing their team give everything to the cause, and that’s why Postecoglou’s squad will return home to a hero’s reception, barring any humiliation in their final group game against a Spain. While they failed to upset the odds for those who bet on football by qualifying from this World Cup’s ‘Group of Death’, the Australian team have so far produced two performances that made it clear the squad aren’t just in Brazil for a holiday.
While against Chile the Aussies were perhaps guilty of giving their opponents too much respect at times in the game, it was a different story completely for the Holland game. Despite boasting world stars such as Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben, Australia took the game to the Dutch from the very first whistle.
After Robben had put Holland ahead on 20 minutes, Tim Cahill again showed he is still a world class player by smashing home a sensational left-foot screamer to level things up, his second goal of the tournament. When Mile Jedinak slotted in a penalty for Australia, it looked as though a huge upset was on the cards, only for van Persie to smash home his third goal of the tournament to make it 2-2. 10 minutes later and it was all over for the Aussies as Memphis Depay popped up to score the winner.
Despite not being able to get back in the game, some believe Australia may have well just narrowly lost to the potential champions, and more than held their own against some of the world’s best players with a young squad that boasts limited World Cup experience.
The players will undoubtedly return home with a lot of credit, but Postecoglou’s work mustn’t be underestimated. The Socceroos head coach made the big calls that he felt needed to be made for the good of the squad, leaving out experienced players like Luke Wilkshire, Lucas Neill and Josh Kennedy in order to bring more harmony to the group. While those decisions were criticised at the time, it’s fair to say Postecoglou made the right call with each of those big-name players.
Postecoglou’s exciting side has attracted many new fans during their two appearances so far in this tournament, and while that will be little consolation to the players as they prepare to head home, there has been plenty of promising signs from this World Cup that Australia are about to enter an exciting period ahead with a squad that will have gained some crucial experience at this tournament.
Sponsored post.
