The Socceroos were written off as also-rans long before Alexis Sanchez scored in the 12th minute of our opening game in Cuiabá.
And when Jorge Valdivia doubled the Chilean lead two minutes later, the pundits were clearing their throats, getting ready to say “I told you so.”
But since those two goals this group of players have gone on to prove the experts and data analysts wrong.
Indeed they were on top for large parts of the second half against Chile and many have claimed the game against the Oranje to be the most entertaining of this World Cup. We may have been on the wrong end of a Spanish team looking to claw back some respect, but the Socceroos went down swinging.
Despite the results, there were plenty of positives for Australia. Here’s three things we’ve learnt from our 2014 World Cup campaign.
1. Ange Postecoglou is the right man for the job
Ange didn’t have much to lose when he was handed the reigns in October 2013. The Socceroos had just suffered their second consecutive 6-0 loss and there were only two remaining international windows before the World Cup would kick-off.
Then with injuries to players like Robbie Kruse, Rhys Williams, Curtis Good, Trent Sainsbury, his job wasn’t made any easier. A lesser man might have turned to the tried and tested, but Ange stuck to his guns and galvanised the side which has attracted many admirers for their performances in Brazil.
After Brazil there can be no doubt that within 10 months, Ange has revitalised a tired looking national team – imagine what he could have done had be been given 12 to 18 months?
2. Australia needs a new talisman
He’s our all-time leading goal scorer and his goal against The Netherlands will live on in World Cup folklore but we must prepare for Tim Cahill’s inevitable retirement.
If we use the World Cup squad as a guide, Adam Taggart and Matthew Leckie, who can be pushed further forward if Robbie Kruse is fully fit, may be slightly ahead of others. While Eli Babalj, Tomi Juric and perhaps even Nikita Rukavytsya will be hoping good form at the beginning of the season will have them in the mix for a call-up come January’s Asian Cup.
3. We can look forward to the 2015 Asian Cup
The performance of the Socceroos in Brazil will increase public expectation and help ticket sales to the quadrennial event to be held in Australia for the first time in January 2015.
Australia, grouped with Oman, Kuwait and South Korea will face a battle to get out of the group. It’s a task made tougher as Postecoglou will have to negotiate with Clubs to release players for a tournament being played outside FIFA international dates.
Regardless of question marks over player availability the Socceroos will be among the tournament favourites and the free flowing, attack-minded football that Postecoglou brings will make for compelling matches.
There will be plenty written in the days and weeks to come about the team’s performances in Brazil and the sentiment will be largely positive but if we’ve learnt anything it is this – Australian football still has a way to go, but it is in good hands with Ange Postecoglou at the helm.
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