Ange Postecoglou has the potential to be the next Wayne Bennett or Kevin Sheedy, irrespective of Australia’s results at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Australia’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Croatia in Salvador was either largely predictable or oddly disappointing, depending on how optimistic one is about the tournament’s lowest-ranked side causing an upset in Brazil.
The Socceroos did well to blunt the Croatian attack, but ultimately Ange Postecoglou’s outfit looked incapable of scoring themselves.
That’s unlikely to bother Postecoglou though – he clearly doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.
This was clear when he gave Mark Schwarzer a tap on the shoulder, clear when he refused to countenance a Lucas Neill personal farewell tour and it was palpably clear when he omitted Luke Wilkshire from his 23-man squad.
Not surprisingly, several of the class of 2006 and those who previously played alongside them had plenty to say about the discarding of so much international experience.
Some, such as Fox Sports analyst Robbie Slater – who expressed as much in the build-up to Australia’s clash with Croatia on Saturday morning – spoke passionately about their “right to voice an opinion”.
Slater is indeed within his right to voice as an opinion. And Postecoglou is perfectly entitled to ignore it. It’s not like the four-time championship-winning coach has been secretive about his intentions.
In practically every media interview he’s done since he took the job, Postecoglou has made it clear he’s not in the business of worrying about what anyone else thinks. He was charged with the mission of regenerating the national side, thus much of the indignation from those who dispute his methods is as misguided as it is pointless.
Win, lose or draw in Brazil, the Socceroos will be better off in the long run for Postecoglou’s determination to do exactly what he’s been paid to do. Whether or not it helps him win an Asian Cup next year is another story, but already Postecoglou has more in common with coaches like Bennett and Sheedy – men determined to go their own way in moulding their teams, regardless of any input from media and fans.
It’s bound to cause some friction along the way, but that’s the beauty of having a coach at the helm who understands the broader Australian sports market.
Rusted-on fans will always follow the ups and downs of the Socceroos, but the World Cup is for everybody, and Australians don’t react too kindly when our national teams are too old and slow to compete.
As it stands, Postecoglou currently has very little to lose. Succumb to defeat in all three games, and we all expected it. But use the pace of Mathew Leckie and Ben Halloran to get in behind an overconfident Chile defence, manufacture a chance from the creativity of Dario Vidosic or simply jag a goal in the air through Tim Cahill and suddenly the Socceroos could set a cat among the pigeons.
I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Australia takes something from its opening game against Chile. More importantly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the nation falls in love with the Socceroos all over again.
We wanted a coach who would make a tangible difference to the national team set-up, and now we’ve got one. Whether that annoys a select group of former players is irrelevant.
Postecoglou is not working on behalf of some ex-pros, or to polish his CV, or to impress some FFA big-shots. He’s working for all of us – from the 15,000 Socceroos fans in Brazil, to the millions watching at home on TV.
In a few short months, he’s made the Socceroos relevant again. Irrespective of results in Brazil, that’s a win for all of us.
ciudadmarron
Guest
I think trolls are Scandinavian in origin aren't they?
AZ_RBB
Guest
Guessing Mr Abbott didn't want to foot the bill? :P In saying that, I've enjoyed the ABC coverage so far. They have an enormous feature piece on Ange on their front page today. Some of the guides they've put up have been very useful for my friends who don't follow football as closely as I do. They've also catered well for those who do have a keen interest with stories relating to most teams in the World Cup, not just Australia.
Bondy
Guest
An interesting observation I've made I was just on the ABC's sports website of the 17 sports journalists featured with bios featured not one of them is at the FIFA World Cup ?. Correct me if I'm wrong please . Francis Leach is not a featured ABC journalist on their sports homepage website by the way ..
T bone
Guest
Are you English Steve?
Bondy
Guest
Fuss Platini is using it as a tool to leverage power against Blatter although it does feel it will gain further momentum . Also are European journalists kicking up a stink for the good of the game or due to their leagues possibly closing down through their usual winter .
j binnie
Guest
Sheek- My apologies if I offended but the description "soft core football fan" covers a whole range of possibilities and does nothing to describe the existing knowledge of a scribe. Glad you enjoyed the "history lesson" on football tactics but that "lesson" only covered a miniscule period of the development of football tactics and if you are interested in the whole package from around 1920 up to today the best source of info I can pass onto you is a book called "Inverting the Pyramid" by a young writer called Jonathon Wilson.Having lived through half of the period he describes I can vouch for the accuracy and content of his writings.Hope this is of some interest to you. Cheers jb
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Middy The chorus keeps getting louder & louder. Now the 2nd most powerful man at FIFA & the bloke, who openly voted for Qatar, Uefa president Michel Platini has called for the vote on where to hold the 2022 World Cup to be rerun if corruption is found Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/10878032/Qatar-World-Cup-vote-may-need-to-be-rerun-Platini-warns.html
Phutbol
Guest
We werent expected to make it out in 2006 either, albeit in hindsight it was an easier group. Nor 2010, which came down to goal difference and an insipid 1st game against Germany. So why can't we be optimistic? beats just accepting defeat.
Bondy
Guest
Interesting read lads ( http://interactive.guim.co.uk/embed/2014/jun/australia-world-cup-history/index.html).
Dasilva
Guest
http://m.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/graham-arnold-reveals-how-wayne-bennett-helped-central-coast-mariners-to-grand-final-glory/story-fncagcd8-1226625456831 Also from a football connection. Graham Arnold apparently gets man management advice from Wayne Bennett as well
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Fair enough, JohnL I'd say Rale Rasic taking the National Team to the 1974 World Cup, must elevate him close to the peak of the coaching fraternity in the history of Australian sport. Rasic Rasic was * inducted also into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1989 * awarded the Order of Australia in 2004.
JohnL
Guest
Well Fuss, you have just been introduced to a gentleman that has been inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame (not just NSW and QLD) and is a recipient of the Order of Australia (again, not just NSW and QLD). To me, it seems Australia (not just NSW and QLD) has recognised Wayne Bennett for his contribution. Believe me, don't just look at him as a rugby league coach. Take a bit of time and learn about the man. You would struggle to find anyone that has something negative to say against him. Am fairly certain he has spoken to the Australian cricket team on occasion, as well as Olympians. Hopefully one day, football will be able to proudly claim to have a coach comparable to Wayne Bennett.
Bondy
Guest
Dasilva Thanks for that , I see Milligan in Jedinak's position on the grid "or for what I thought was used against the Croat's " whilst also I dont see Vidosic as filling the or that position of Brsec on the grid possibly Halloran instead , Halloran wants to run at the line the others dont seem use to it..
Dasilva
Guest
Interesting tactical analysis of the socceroos (I really respect this guy. He is taken upon himself to review the tactics if every side at the World Cup) http://www.zonalmarking.net/2014/06/09/australia-building-for-the-future/
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Thanks, Bondy - another addition to my "must read" list.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@JohnL I'm sure Wayne Bennett is a superstar in Qld & NSW. Have you ever lived in Melbourne? RL & RU are just not on the agenda. Travel around Melbourne & you will not find any public parks with posts set up for playing either sport. Based on NRL TV ratings in Perth & Adelaide, I'd guess Wayne Bennett is also anonymous in those areas of Australia.
Bondy
Guest
Mid Flores to Jets .. (http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/newcastle-jets-sign-exmariners-playmaker-marcos-flores-20140609-zs23o.html).
JohnL
Guest
Here you go Fuss, some info about Wayne Bennett... (taken from wiki) 1994: Received a Medal of the Order of Australia "in recognition of service to the sport of Rugby League, particularly as coach of the Brisbane Broncos" 1997: Super League Coach of the Year 2000: NRL Coach of the Year 2000: Received an Australian Sports Medal for "significant contribution to the development of sport" 2004: Was made a Member of the Order of Australia for "service to Rugby League football, particularly as a coach, and to the community" 2012: Was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame I am not going to list all his successes coaching wise, but he has won 7 NRL title (100% in grand finals), won State of Origin series, and was backroom staff for NZ when they won the World Cup He is also well respected by many athletes outside of NRL, a highly regarded public/motivation speaker, and author of 2 books. In short, the man is a living legend in Australian sport.
Bondy
Guest
Fuss Mid You know anything about this book its quite steep in price . (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/The-Containment-of-Soccer-in-Australia-9780415575621-HardCover-BRAND-NEW-/171295525816?pt=AU_Books_Textbooks&hash=item27e2024bb8&_uhb=1 ) ..
sheek
Roar Guru
James, I think your summation pretty well says it all. Kruse's attacking instincts will be missed most. Yes, a soccer-mad colleague tells me Bresciano is the key to Ange's whole setup, the glue holding the attack & defence together. Which is why he's obviously sweating on Bres finding full fitness.