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Goal scorers Tim Cahill and Brett Holman during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Australia and Serbia at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, Wednesday, June 23, 2010. AP Photo/Hassan Ammar
It will go down as one of the greatest victories in Australian sports history, but the Socceroos’ 2-1 win over Serbia this morning is tinged with regret. Despite gaining the three points required, Australia were agonisingly knocked out of the World Cup on goal difference.
We wondered if they had it in them, but the Socceroos answered their critics in the best way possible, turning in a dominant second-half display against a Serbian outfit who lost just twice in European qualifying.
After a shaky first-half performance in which Mark Schwarzer was once again the hero for the men in yellow, the Socceroos came out transformed in the second period.
They would have bagged a hatful of goals but for an equally outstanding display from Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic, and in the end strikes from the talismanic Tim Cahill and substitute Brett Holman weren’t enough to see the Socceroos progress.
“Brett Holman has in the last two games dished up the most humble pie I have ever eaten,” was how a friend of mine described the game-changing performance of the once maligned midfielder, and it was the introduction of Holman and Scott Chipperfield that changed the dynamic of the match.
The pair were at the heart of Australia’s rampant fifteen minute spell just after the hour mark, with Holman scoring his second goal in as many games with an unerring long-range strike.
How poignant it was to see Pim Verbeek urging his team forward at the death, knowing full well that a pair of harsh red cards had severely curtailed Australia’s attacking instincts in their opening two games.
Had Cahill remained on the pitch against Germany, things could have been so different – the Socceroos may not have conceded two second half goals and goal difference wouldn’t have proved so crucial.
But it has been the kind of campaign from the outset – full of “what ifs?” – and its hard not to feel that the Socceroos deserved so much more from a World Cup which saw them collect four points and out-score both Ghana and Serbia in the process.
However, now is not the time for inquests – instead we should be celebrating the exploits of a golden generation of Australian footballers.
The curtain now falls on two of the great servants of the Australian game, with Craig Moore and Scott Chipperfield set to bow out as winners – even if Moore sat this game out through suspension – while it is anyone’s guess if the likes of Schwarzer, Grella, Emerton, Bresciano and Kewell will stick around for Brazil 2014.
But we saw enough tonight from the likes of Michael Beauchamp and Carl Valeri to suggest that it’s not all doom and gloom in terms of our future playing stocks, and as long as the Socceroos honour the tradition of always giving their all at major tournaments, there’s no reason to suggest that a first-round exit in South Africa spells an impending crisis.
What Australia’s win over the highly-fancied Serbs also does is remind some of the more Eurocentric members of the world media that it’s not just Europeans who can play football.
We might not be the most technical exponents of the beautiful game, but when it comes to sheer grit and determination, Australia can usually be expected to stand up and be counted – that disastrous ninety minutes against Germany notwithstanding.
This morning the Socceroos gave the nation a performance to be proud of, and I for one salute the spirit with which they approached such a high-pressure game.
For now, it’s “so long, and thanks for the memories Pim,” and hopefully a new generation of football fans will have breathed in the heady atmosphere of the world’s greatest sporting event, and started their own slow countdown to Brazil 2014.
And if they can’t wait for their football fix, then guess what?
We also have a pretty nifty competition named the A-League to call our own.
Re-live the thrilling Socceroos vs Serbia clash as it happened with Tony Tannous’ detailed analysis HERE.