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The first reason is Tim Cahill, the Socceroos’ most important player. Cahill is as effective as any footballer in the world right now. He is unique in Asia for his box-to-box abilities. In fact, few countries have a player like him. We do.
2. Pim Verbeek’s results-driven agenda. At times, it’s been ugly and unconvincing. But it’s worked. Want to see sexy football? Go watch Brazil. Results over romance for Australia please. Just remember how brilliantly the Socceroos played for 75 minutes against Iran in 1997. For bugger-all result.
3. Asia’s most stingy defence. Once the Socceroos’ weak point, their backline has conceded just one goal in 14 World Cup qualifiers. And it didn’t matter.
4. We don’t necessarily need Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka any more to win games. Though it does help.
5. Mark Schwarzer in career-best form. The veteran goalkeeper saved the Socceroos against China two games into the qualifying campaign, then just kept on being brilliant whenever called upon.
6. Keeping the same nucleus for the past four years. Australia’s 12 current regulars – Schwarzer, Wilkshire, Moore, Neill, Chipperfield, Emerton, Culina, Grella, Bresciano, Cahill, Kewell and Kennedy – were all part of the last World Cup finals. They’ll be the mainstays for South Africa too.
7. No more rubbish opponents. American Samoa and Solomon Islands have been replaced by quality opposition and regular, meaningful matches. We have become better and more cohesive as a result.
8. Refusing any longer to acknowledge English clubs whinging about Australia taking away their players for internationals. We are now a serious footballing nation – ranked just nine places below England – so that argument doesn’t hold water any more. Nor is it allowed to.
9. Guus Hiddink. His coaching magic started the Socceroos’ on-field revolution.
10. Good administration. OK, the Newcastle Jets may not think so right now, but Football Federation Australia runs a pretty tight ship. Six years ago, there was no A-League, no money, no World Cup finals, no future. Now there is. Thank you, Frank Lowy.
11. A World Cup bid. Only serious footballing nations need apply. We have – for 2018 and 2022.
12. The great work of those who championed Australian soccer when things weren’t as bright. The late Johnny Warren and those who served their country with distinction as players in decades past should never be forgotten.
13. Better preparation and smart management. Serious, week-long camps ahead of important games, scouting countries and ways to get there months out from matches. A far cry from hastily assembled NSL third-stringers getting towelled up by New Zealand a few years ago.
14. Moving into the Asian Football Confederation. It has brought on-field and off-field benefits in spades for Australian soccer.
15. Going Dutch. A Dutch coach, Dutch assistants, Dutch technical director, the Oranje influence is among the world’s strongest. Good call to tap into it.
16. FIFA’s acknowledgement in their rankings. We did make the last 16 of the previous World Cup. So weren’t we already among the world’s top 16 teams? Maybe the rankings have taken three years to catch up!
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