Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou should be careful what he wishes for.
He wanted the chance to test his team against the world’s best at next year’s World Cup in Brazil and that’s exactly what he got.
Australians woke up on Saturday morning to news that the Socceroos will be pitted against Spain, the Netherlands and Chile when the showpiece event kicks off in June.
Perhaps it could have been tougher for the Socceroos.
They did avoid drawing hosts and five-time world champions Brazil.
But this would be splitting hairs.
The reality is for world No.57 Australia, the lowest-ranked side in the 32-team tournament, it was never going to be anything but an immense challenge whoever they drew.
Postecoglou is intent on causing a few shocks and creating a few headlines against the world footballing powers.
But faced with the reigning world champions and No.1-ranked Spain, the ever-dangerous Dutch and one of South America’s top sides in Chile, it appears almost inevitable the Socceroos will finish bottom of their group.
But on the flip-side, many of Australia’s greatest sporting moments have come against all odds when their backs are against the wall.
And the Socceroos will be playing free of any expectation – a burden which will be squarely placed on their opponents’ shoulders – precisely the type of atmosphere in which upsets occur.
Yes, it will be one monumental task to advance to the second round.
But imagine for a moment the stars align and Australia manage to match their best World Cup result of 2006 when they made it to the round of 16 before falling to eventual champions Italy.
The confidence that would come from overcoming such gigantic hurdles could even propel them to better that feat next year.
That is of course until they realise what await them in round two.
A likely encounter with none other than the team they were relieved to avoid in the first place – Brazil.
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Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
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