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Tim Cahill was not MOTM in Australia's clash with Holland

What is Australia's football identity? (Image: AP)
Roar Guru
20th June, 2014
17

Tim Cahill, the man, the legend, and the guy everyone wants tattooed on their arm, was not MOTM in Wednesday night’s match against the Dutch.

He was my, and I’m sure everyone else’s favourite player of the game. But the MOTM goes to someone who’s confidence, ruthlessness and hard-work made our Socceroos do the impossible.

Ange Postecoglou.

Australia played better than the Netherlands in Wednesday night’s clash.

Now that comment was made in pure disregard to every excuse I see fill my timeline on social media. Excuses like ‘this is only our fourth World Cup’, ‘we don’t have that much experience’ and ‘Australia’s not really a footballing nation’ can convince any average day-goer we shouldn’t win any of our matches.

So it’s no surprise to see everyone is celebrating our 2-3 triumph against the folklore Dutch side.

Though even without all these excuses, which usually medicate ourselves through 6-0 thrashings to Brazil, we played amazingly. I mean it was incredible!

If you sat someone down to watch the game who had a limited knowledge of football, do you think they would even have a clue they just witnessed the team ranked 62nd versus the team ranked 15th in the world?

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Heck no!

That match was arguably something you’d expect to see in the World Cup finals when you compare the similarities in competitiveness, discipline and class both teams exerted on the field.

I mean we gave the Hollanders a total run for their money! I now regret not going to that Dutch club down the road, and watching the game there. As there’s nothing I’d have done more proudly on Wednesday night than wear my Socceroos jersey in a sea of Oranje.

The real showstopper for me was our discipline, how as soon as one of our players made a pass, they’d immediately turn and run back into position, for the next phase of play, no dilly-dallying at all.

Our positioning, pressure, marking and co-operation showed we were all sticking to a plan, one that had been drilled into every player’s noggin’, so much this plan was exerted with full professionalism. It was literally like watching the footballing version of SEAL-Team 6!

And we all know this plan could only have been exerted onto these players by one man, that of course being, the Ange Postecoglou.

Just a few months ago, while responding to the media, Ange was asked a question in relation to Australia’s goals for this upcoming World Cup, which he answered in credible fashion.

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His response simply was “Win or lose, we want to make sure every team that plays us, goes home not wanting to play us again.

Ange has reincarnated the Australian squad into one that brings hope to a sustainable future. With busy times for Australian football approaching, this is vital.

Replacing household names in the squad with players whose names just creep into the Australian issue of ‘FourFourTwo’ was at first criticised as a risky move. But Postecoglou, in the true form of ruthlessness and determination, didn’t let that get to him.

He knows he’s here for one reason, to be the very spark that ignites the brightest era in Australian footballing history. And nothing will stand in his way.

He trains the boys hard, in preparation for the toughest scenarios the footballing world can bring, he understands our circumstances, but always keeps an open mind to the future.

This has brought a totally different attitude and mindset to the Green and Gold, we will now go into future World Cups, remembering this one.

Remembering how we went into games with expectations of thrashing the opposition instead of just winning.

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Remembering how this confidence first spread to our players, then our fans and then the nation.

Remembering how we would then scratch our heads, unsure of why Ange was ignored and why this squad-cleansing didn’t occur earlier.

Remembering how faith won over reality when it came to the 90 minutes on the field.

Remembering how everyone questioned how our players got excited about being put up against such strong footballing nations.

Remembering how the Group of Death became the Group of Opportunities.

Ange has already written history, how far will he go?

Well for starters we’re beating the current world champions; Spain. If you ask me, that’s a darn good start.

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As the great Johnny Warren quoted;

“Us Socceroos, we can do the impossible!”

Four decades on this is only the very beginning, long live Ange Postecoglou

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