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As the World Cup comes closer, it’s clear that the buzz that was there for both Germany and South Africa has dissipated this time around.
Spain. Chile. The Netherlands. Those are just three of the buzzkills.
Throw in a relatively unfamiliar squad – by recent standards, anyway – fitness doubts over some key players and the official tag of the worst team at the tournament (courtesy of 59th spot in the world rankings), and the Socceroos have plenty of excuses for what many consider to be imminent failure in Brazil.
The underdog status will be spruiked in the media over the coming weeks. After all, isn’t that what us Aussies relish?
Yawn. Australia can afford not to head to South America feeling like a martyr.
The 6-0 defeats to France and Brazil last year did nothing to instill confidence into an already doubtful camp, but it’s okay to have expectations for the World Cup as fans. It’s okay to be disappointed with finishing fourth in the group.
Squad lists and styles of play at opposite ends of the spectrum are just two of the reasons the Socceroos have been given little hope against three quite impressive sides. But as Atletico Madrid proved in La Liga this season, matches aren’t won on stats and pay packets.
Ange Postecoglou has outlined his preferred tactics, insisting he expects the Socceroos to display a form of high-tempo possession football, which a brilliant wordsmith out in the ether has dubbed ‘bush-taka’.
Of course, possession alone won’t win matches against the likes of Spain, Holland and Chile, but it is encouraging to think the Socceroos won’t be rolling over and taking a belly rub for 270 minutes of football.
As fans, we want to see grit, determination and a bold statement that Australia aren’t there to make up the numbers.
The difficulty there lies in the approach. Sit back with a defensive mindset and the pacy attacks of all three opposition outfits will duly accept the open invitation for a rampage on goal. Try to take the game to them and Postecoglou’s charges will be vulnerable on the counter.
There are plenty of strengths throughout the side to make it possible to find a happy medium. Mile Jedinak will be a fundamental element, with his defensive abilities and simple distribution likely to be the catalyst for many Socceroos attacks.
This isn’t a chance for Australian football to be measured against the world’s best, but a chance to prove we are among the world’s best. And that’s the mentality that should be adopted by all Socceroos players. Heading in with damage limitation as the mission, as some critics predict, will ultimately be futile and embarrassing.
Besides, there are plenty of precedents to act as incentive. The first to come to mind is New Zealand’s 1-1 draw with Italy at South Africa 2010. Then there is Senegal’s win over France in 2002, Northern Ireland’s triumph against hosts Spain in 1982 and North Korea’s 1-0 victory versus Italy in 1966.
South Korea’s memorable run through the 2002 edition also makes the sceptic’s argument redundant, with wins over Portugal, Italy and Spain as the co-hosts progressed to the semi-finals.
It’s not delusional to expect the Socceroos to leave their mark in Brazil, if not on the scoreboard then at least in the minds of opposition teams and spectators.
No one remembers the shy guy standing awkwardly in the corner at a party. But everyone gets around the buoyant bloke tearing up the dancefloor, even if he does have terrible moves.
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