So the groups for the 2014 FIFA World Cup have been drawn and the Socceroos have fallen into what many are calling the “Group of Death”.
And even though the moniker given to our group seems terrifying, it’s not exactly a bad thing to be placed with the likes of Spain, the Netherlands and Chile.
Okay, the current world champs may be Spain and they may have beaten the Netherlands in the last World Cup’s final to take the mantle, but there may be a glimmer of hope.
And Chile may be seen as one of the top seeds of this tournament as it is being held in South America, but all hope is not lost.
And the Socceroos might be the lowest-ranked team in the comp, but we can still keep the faith in our boys.
Sure, everything seems to be going against us already but the fact nobody gives us a snowflake’s chance in hell might actually help us.
For us, there three certainties going into this World Cup for the Socceroos:
1. The other three teams will be trying to score as much as possible against us. This is to help their goal difference in the event of a tie-breaker situation to determine who goes through to the second round.
2. Because we are ranked way down at number 59, we aren’t going to get the rub of the green from the officials playing against the best in the world. It’s just the way it is. The Socceroos need to accept that now so that when the bad call happens, they can just shrug it off and move on instead of letting it get to them.
3. We won’t be respected. We will be seen as a means to an end for these three teams. An easy win to help them through to the next stage.
Despite these three factors, we have two things on our side that we think will help the cause. For the first time, we have an Aussie coach who understands what it is to be an Aussie.
Guus Hiddink came close but wasn’t quite there. Pim Verbeek didn’t have a clue what the Aussie way of doing things was and it resulted in a diabolical start to our last campaign against Germany.
Our latest coach, Holger Osieck completed his mandate of getting us to the World Cup but we had the impression he felt he was asked to do a tough job with what he thought were inferior players.
With Ange Postecoglou as our new coach, there is a familiarity that we have never had.
This should enable the Socceroos to play the Australian way, which is to attack when possible. With or without the ball.
Our job now is not to sit back and wait for the inevitable flogging while playing “Pim-Ball”.
They say attitude is everything and this statement has never been more correct than in these circumstances. The Socceroos have to play “Aussie-Ball” if they have any chance of making an impact in this group.
When we say impact, we don’t necessarily mean winning these group games.
We mean making this group of top echelon team’s work very hard to get the win.
The world will take notice if the reigning champions can only sneak away with a 1-0 result.
They will take even more notice if the Socceroos can gain a point after the group stage has concluded.
What if we can sneak two points? What if we can keep a team scoreless? The Socceroos could turn this tournament on its head if they play the positive way that we all hope they can.
We could be dreaming. We could be wearing a heavy prescription pair of rose coloured glasses here.
But is it such a bad thing to live in the world of “what If” for a while?
The Boston Red Sox had a motto during their curse-breaking American League Championship series against the New York Yankees back in 2004. It was “Why Not Us?”
Well then Australia, why not us?
Mantis
Roar Guru
Get out.
j binnie
Guest
Probably Australia's best chance to do well in the upcoming first round draw is passing us by every day.If we care to admit that it is highly unlikely we will outplay any of our opponents based on pure skill attributes in the respective players we should then turn our thoughts to physical advantage & psychological preparation.That of course takes time & that commodity is passing us by every day, as previously stated. Many commenters are attempting to "fit" us up with "suitable" friendlies & that is totally beyond my comprehension for we don't even know yet what our line up is going to be & the way it is looking we won't know until early in March so another 12 weeks of that valuable commodity,- "time" -will have passed into "mis-use". Too bad. jb
brian drian
Guest
How very constructive, now sta zitto deficente.
brian drian
Guest
I doubt that. The friendlies against France and Brazil were obviously when holger had lost the dressing room, that won't be the case at the WC. that can make a huge difference.
Andrea
Guest
They should go home and save themselves from upcoming embarrassment
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
If Bresciano is banned then there will definitely be space for a player of his ilk as we are a little short of central midfielders who can control the tempo of a game.
realfootball
Guest
Adam Sarota is back from injury. If he can find form he would have to be in the squad.
realfootball
Guest
Melbourne Victory passed their way around Liverpool. I would not take anything for granted. Except a lot of goals against us if Lucas Neill plays.
Andrea
Guest
Guys our players are just not as talented or skilled enough as Spain or these other top teams so there is NO chance we will pass the first round wake up and be realistic we are not good enough!!!!!
Me too
Guest
I'll be happy if we can snag two points somehow.
Andrea
Guest
Lol guys remember when we lost 6-0 to France and Brazil , and that was a FRIENDLY , imagine now it's real completion it will be like 10 to 0
Luke Smyke
Roar Pro
There is absolutely nothing to lose. Each side will be expected to dominate the socceroos. Anything less than a 3-0 drubbing will be seen as a failure and as you mentioned they will be trying to cash in on for and against points. The aussies on the other hand will be able to play with freedom and without any expectations. It could turn out nicely for them.
Steve
Guest
Top stuff. Agree completely!
dave
Guest
The players and coach will be under huge pressure, this is the one shot for Milligan Ange Oar Ryan et al to prove themselves, it could make or break their careers.
Uncle Junior
Guest
Wasn't the same said about the Australian Cricket Team four weeks ago, when fans and media were discusing the outcome of this summer's Ashes competition?
JohnD
Guest
We're gonna get creamed.
Brick Tamland of the Pants Party
Guest
AR you forget Holland has developed a bad reputation themselves in recent years,the game against Portugal in Germany 06 comes to mind and the world watched them disgrace themselves in the 2010 World Cup final by trying kick seven shades out of the Spanish.Who knows they lose that first game against Spain the pressure to win against us becomes massive and we've seen them lose their sh%t in the past when things aren't going their way.
eric
Guest
It goes both ways.In 2006 Cahill should have been red carded in the Japan game,Kewell scored against Croatia from an offside position,Materazzi's straight red card in the Italy game was very harsh also nothing wrong with Cahill's 2010 send off or Kewell's red as his right arm is visibly raised to meet the ball.
wisey_9
Roar Guru
I'm all for a little bit of one-eyed patriotism, but surely enough water has passed under the bridge that we call admit that yes that was a penalty against Italy, and yes Harry handballed it?
wisey_9
Roar Guru
Most likely Brazil... (i.e. they are likely to come first in their group, and IF - I wish I could make that "if" bigger - we sneak a miracle win and a draw and snaffle 2nd place on goal difference, we'll be rewarded with a game against the hosts)