Results. Ultimately they determine football fate. They determine the careers of coaches. The destiny of teams. Simply playing better doesn’t always guarantee you’ll be a winner. Those who played brilliantly but couldn’t get the result litter world football’s roadside.
The Socceroos at the MCG in 1997 spring to mind. They are still Australian sport’s most gut-wrenching roadkill.
Results-wise, the current Socceroos couldn’t be travelling much better as they pursue a 2010 World Cup berth.
Needing a top two finish, they are two points clear on top of their group and six clear of third place.
Unbeaten in their opening four games, three of which have been away. They haven’t conceded a goal.
Three of their remaining matches are in Australia. The other is away to Qatar – somewhere this group has already been and conquered during World Cup qualifying.
The results are brilliant. The performances less so. Unconvincing is probably being kind when you look at the Socceroos’ efforts in Bahrain, and Japan in Yokohama on Wednesday night.
Yet Pim Verbeek’s men have emerged with seven points from three tough away games, and as front-runners to qualify for South Africa.
Australia’s defence – brilliantly marshalled by Lucas Neill and Craig Moore and saved at least once a match these days by Mark Schwarzer – will need a Bex and a good lie down after another 90 minutes of overtime in Yokohama.
The Socceroos were under the pump for long periods, and on a night they created nothing in the way of goalscoring chances, it will again prompt argument about the quality of the performance.
But perhaps the perspective needs to change. In previous years, individual performance is all we’ve had to judge the Socceroos on.
No regular meaningful games, no context to put matches into. They were either good or rubbish on any given day. Two results every four years mattered.
Now each game is a piece of the picture. It’s not 90 minutes. It’s 18 months. Two stages of qualifying. Eight games this time around.
Those familiar with impressionist paintings will know if you look closely at any portion of a work up close, it appears messy.
Take two steps back, and the beauty of the landscape is revealed.
Daub by daub, brush stroke by brush stroke, South Africa is appearing on the Socceroos’ canvas.
Verbeek has taken a big picture look at the Socceroos in his selections, his tactics, the way he approaches games.
So should we.
The time for performance is once you’ve built the stage.
And that has now been set for April 1 in Sydney against Uzbekistan – a night on which the Socceroos can book a spot at the World Cup finals.
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