On Tuesday night, thousands of Australian football fans will have to put their hands up and in unison say, “I’m sorry, Holger.”
They will have to say sorry for doubting whether he was the right man for the job and sorry for wanting him axed over the last 18 months.
The end of the ‘golden era’ for the Socceroos, which occurred between the end of the last World Cup and the 2011 Asian Cup final loss to Japan, had been on the cards for some time.
The teams for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, with the omission of one or two players, notably Mark Viduka, were pretty much the same.
The 2014 World Cup was always going to be tricky for whichever manager came in.
What Holger did, however, was not sack all of the old guys for the new. Nor did he beg the older players like Brett Emerton and Jason Culina to hang around.
He instead mixed the old with the new; let natural attrition allow those like Vince Grella and Harry Kewell to move on, and keep those still able to perform at international level, like Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill.
He didn’t neglect the new, nor did he neglect the A-League. Unlike Pim Verbeek, who rubbished the A-League, Holger promoted players from the national competition to the national team if form was warranted.
He has brought through younger players like Robbie Kruse and Tommy Oar, whilst sticking with those still playing well enough to play for Australia.
A few hiccups along the way shouldn’t take away from the fact Holgar has managed the Australian team very well since he took over three years ago.
This team doesn’t have anywhere near the quality to win a World Cup. Unlike the 2006 team that made the Round of 16 and had a genuine chance to do something amazing, this current team won’t get close to that.
However, making the World Cup and coming home with a wet sail will be a great achievement for Holger and this current squad of players.
JohnL
Guest
Beardon, we struggled to beat a team that fielded half their under 20 national side at home. What do I have to apologise for? Oh that is right, Holger has 5 of our under 20 players ready to step in as starting players for our senior side, doesn't he?? Of course he doesn't. After the final whistle last night it was more a feeling of relief than joy about qualifying - that says a lot. I cant wait for your next article claiming Holger will win the world cup for us.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Just continue to comment... You know nothing of football! Find me a result Australia were barely lucky enough to keep a score to single figures! We tend to bat well above our weight and always do Australia proud!
Beardan
Roar Guru
They spent plenty of time lying around like they were at a resort. They played better than expected, though Australia did all the attacking and executed poorly. This team will be lucky to keep Spain or Brazil to single figures im afraid. Wanting more than that will be asking too much. These players arent up to it.
Cameron
Roar Guru
His article is fine...it's him who's not!
Cameron
Roar Guru
Didn't look one bit like a holiday tonight for Iraq! They gave is everything and were a great team tonight!
dasilva
Guest
FFS the issue is not about predicting Australia is going to win. It's the idea of pre-empting the result before the match is even started treating it like a foregone conclusion Confidence - sure, saying we believe we should win, fine. However the ideathat we somehow owe an apology before even knowing how the match will even turn out is against the spirit of sport. Anyone especially Socceroos supporters who followed the game before 2005 knows never take anything for granted. This match showed that we shouldn't take things for granted I said before in another thread that if Australia defeats Iraq, Osieck deserves to keep his job to the world cup as Australia are now improving after training under him for the previous month and he made good substitution to turn the game. Good luck to him at the World Cup but your article is one day to early
Cameron
Roar Guru
Mate... Off! I was sitting at home and could easily foresee the first sub going to plan as so. The next two... I was very very surprised. We qualified, yay! That was his job, so do we get giggly in the pants each time we qualify for our coach? No! I don't want to JUST qualify which is what JUST happened tonight. Even Cahill was flabbergasted by HO decision. Go back and watch it mate... Lucky it paid off. Rogic's influence changed the game and brought Bresciano more forward. Without those two playing high pressure we may have not won that match tonight. I will never, ever apologise for my opinion on the national coach and your disgusting arrogance is only going to re-establish my thoughts further..thank you and don't bother trying again...
Beardan
Roar Guru
Never in doubt, even with duds like Holman and Kruse under performing big time.
Beardan
Roar Guru
You two blokes need to man up and apologise. It was Holgar who put it all on the line bringing on Kennedy for Cahill. If it failed, people like you two people (with no idea) would have got stuck into him. He succeeded and what a great move it was. Taking Holman off with 30 to go for Rogic proved good as well. It was Holgar! Holgar the hero!! Eat your words!
Evan Askew
Guest
Yet up until the 2008 Euro finals if we had come up against Spain, particularly with our golden generation we would hve had every expectation of giving them a run for their money. Up until those championships I would have said that Spain had an incredibly poor record related to someone like England. Yet the thought of England being better than SPain at this point in time is utterlly unreal. My point being that Spain have gotten to where they are now because they had a long term goal and a plan to achieve that goal. Japan is currently progressing in that plan as evidenced by the number of players now making the move to top European leagues and we have only just begun that plan. Which is needed as the talent that was fueled by the generation of post war migration from Europe is lsoming to the end of its playing days. When that plan reaches fuition is when we can start to expect to consistetly produce players playing in the top class league and who can win the world cup. We are at a disadvantage though because despite the fact that football is the mos popular sport when it comes to participation, it is probably fourth after afl, cricket and league. (and arguably union) Which means that the people wh play it and the volunteer parents that coach on a saturday morning struggle to understand it or be passionate about it.
Cameron
Roar Guru
JohnL Topics like these don't stray to far from Beardan... He even thought ADP was a failure... Based on the fact Sydney didn't make the finals, HA! I expect us to win tonight. Some may view that as cocky but I am more than confident in the Socceroos ability to automatically qualify. I do not want to live another 80 years hopefully and not see the Socceroos win a world cup... I'll refuse to go until that happens. Mediocrity is for those who have experienced disappointment and settle for the next best thing. I will always expect more as we don't play to get worse or lose. Of course teams will change with time but going backwards is not the right idea. How do you stay on top? You don't settle for mediocrity! You continue to push and test the limits of players. Always develop, encourage and provide opportunity to progress. HO has not done that the whole time and despite your feeling to rankings being irrelevant Beardan... Then explain to me why almost every sport has them???
Max Weber
Roar Pro
"Dont confuse arrogance with confidence dasilva. Australia will win tonight against a team out here for a holiday." I've never seen such a self-cancelling duo of sentences. "When Australia win tonight, are you two negative blokes going to apologize for being so negative? I doubt it." Of course we're not going to apologise for being cautious. Given Australia's history of final-hurdle failures, tempting fate is not something I want to engage in.
Beardan
Roar Guru
Dont confuse arrogance with confidence dasilva. Australia will win tonight against a team out here for a holiday. You two are very negative. Im sick of hearing about ages now. Pick the best 11 and get on with it. When Australia win tonight, are you two negative blokes going to apologize for being so negative? I doubt it.
JohnL
Guest
Kellet, seems like everyone (except for us) is happy with mediocrity. I for one expect more from our National team that was on the up. In other words, I expected us to improve, not slide backwards to be in the position we are now and call that 'acceptable' Under Holger's reign, we have gone backwards as a nation and they want us to stand up and say "thanks Holger!" What utter tripe.
dasilva
Guest
"How about not writing an article that assumes we win tonight?" Absolutely agree Talk about tempting fate. Sporting gods are harsh on this type of arrogance especially against a team that has a pretty decent record against Australia and are essentially rivals with us And if Iraq manage to spoil the party and prevented a win Then there will be plenty of people saying "I told you so"
Max Weber
Roar Pro
How about not writing an article that assumes we win tonight? The starting elevens against Jordan and Japan had an average age of 31. Obviously Schwarzer is an outlier, but, in an Osieck team, so is Oar. You're counting your eggs before they hatch anyway - at the moment there hasn't been any meaningful squad transition towards youth. Kruse, Rogic and Oar have forced Osieck's hands due to performances at club level, there hasn't yet been any meaningful generational change. If Holger quits tomorrow, he'll have left the squad in as bad a shape as when he started - WC qualification or no. The answer to whether or not he's been a success will be in the year between now and the world cup - if (IF) we qualify, and it'll be contingent on building a team towards 2018.
Beardan
Roar Guru
Yes you blokes are all correct. The FIFA rankings are a bit of a gee up. Who cares about rankings?? Probably Killett and a few other left over Pim Ver Beek lovers. Pim had the end of the golden generation and stuffed it up. Now this bloke needs to get a mixof old and new, alot harder job and has done a very good job.
Beardan
Roar Guru
Pretty well said. Australia simply couldnt comepte with Spain. If Spain beat Australia 5-0 it wouldnt surprise anyone. If Australia kept it to a 2 goal loss it would be considered a minot victory. Spain simply play beautiful football and carry no one.
Beardan
Roar Guru
I am so bored with FIFA rankings. Does anyone look at who was ranked number one going into the 2006 world cup or do they just look at the winner Italy. Where was Italy ranked anyway going into that? Answer: Who cares.
Mxjosh
Roar Rookie
Exactly, remember Brazil are 22nd in the world at the moment. I think that shows how frivolous the rankings are. The system is very much in need of an overhaul