“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning,” said Winston Churchill.
The confetti blown over the triumphant Socceroos had barely settled on the grass when coach Ange Postecoglou turned his attention to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“The goal for this confederation should be to break the European-South American monopoly on the World Cup. That may sound farfetched but it’s got to be the goal. We have to contribute to that,” Postecoglou said.
Ange won’t be content to just contribute though, winning the World Cup is the path we have set ourselves upon. It won’t be easy but Australians won’t settle for making up the numbers. As Johnny Warren said: “I’m sick of us saying, ‘When are we going to qualify for the World Cup?’. When are we going to win the World Cup?”
We qualified for 1974 when a team of amateurs earned a solitary point with a scoreless draw against Chile. Then there was a long period in the wilderness until a John Aloisi penalty saw us through to the 2006 edition.
It was in Kaiserslautern that Tim Cahill scored our first World Cup goal in a come from behind win over Japan. This was also the first time we progressed to the round of 16.
We continued our qualification success to attend South Africa 2010 only to suffer a humiliating defeat to Germany. This game marked a period when the Socceroos’ natural attacking mentality and fear no one attitude was ignored for defensive, conservative football culminating in back-to-back 6-0 losses. It was our lowest ebb.
By this time we had qualified for the 2014 World Cup but not much hope was felt for a proud showing. Then Ange Postecoglou was made coach.
He quickly set about rejuvenating an ageing squad and more importantly returning the Aussie fighting spirit and adding an attractive, attacking style of play. While not winning a single game, the Socceroos left Brazil 2014 with their pride and confidence restored.
After some time of playing under foreign coaches and their schooling in the Dutch or German way, now might be the time we set out to play the Australian way. The days of looking over the horizon with jealous eyes at how to play football might be gone. We might be ready to embrace who we are
and take it to the world.
Who knows where it will lead?
It may take decades and many World Cup cycles to finally lift the big prize, but with an Aussie coach and an Aussie playing style future generations may look back on this Asian Cup victory as the end of the beginning.
britesparke
Roar Rookie
Agree with Rale (taking a largely amateur and semi -professional side to the 1974 World Cup and narrowly losing to West Germany) and Guus (2006 World Cup bowing out controversially to Italy). As for Ange, Frank Lowy has set an achievable benchmark of second round at the next World Cup and, I guess, we will just have to wait and see as it is a "work in progress" we are currently witnessing!
britesparke
Roar Rookie
Is it, perhaps, the beginning of the end of the beginning? ;-)
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
Is Ange the greatest Socceroos coach of all time? Up there with Rale and Guus. Bubbling under would be Arok and Thommo. If Ange takes us to the QF or beyond at the next World Cup I think there'll be no debate. After that, the sky is the limit for him - coaching a major European nation or major club side perhaps. I thought maybe Greece in 4-5 years time, given his heritage, but if they don't lift their game they won't be good enough for Ange.
britesparke
Roar Rookie
Actually, in the final ten minutes of the game between Korea and Australia there was evidence of a little time wasting with Australia up 2-1 without the need for "overdoing it". When Ryan gathered a cross in from the Koreans I thought it took a little longer than usual to get up for the goal kick. Then for a throw in to Australia, Uli Steileke was seen pointing to his watch as if to say to the ref "come on..this is time wasting". So the subtle elements of slowing down the game were there- just not blatantly obvious - which is the smarter way.
Lamby
Roar Rookie
The 'Australian Way'? Where we can't seem to waste time in the last couple of minutes of a game? STOP TRYING TO SCORE WHEN YOU ARE 1 NIL UP WITH 2 MINUTES TO GO!!!!!!!!! TRY WASTING A BIT OF TIME, SLOW DOWN THE GAME.
Midfielder
Guest
Your title did me in my guess was were Football stands within the broader Australian preservative and in that regards twas a good line. However that Asia will one day win the WC I have not doubt as the middle classes increase and knowledge transfers my personal belief within 32 years Asian will be the centre of world football ... just on money and population alone...