Ange Postecoglou says he isn’t concerned with who the Socceroos are drawn against in the final phase of World Cup qualifying.
Australia will continue to chart their course into the promised land of a fourth successive World Cup, after a 5-1 thumping of Jordan on Tuesday night ensured they topped their qualifying group.
Sterner tests await in the last stage starting later this year, and FIFA’s perplexing rankings system could throw the Asia champions a curve ball when it comes to seedings against the region’s best teams including Iran, Japan and South Korea.
But after overseeing his improving side to seven wins and 29 goals in eight group games, Postecoglou stressed that fans and commentators need to hold more belief in his squad’s ability to beat any of the continent’s powerhouses.
“We talk ourselves down so I doubt other people will be pumping us up,” he said.
“We’re growing as a team. Twelve months ago everyone is saying ‘Who’s going to score apart from Timmy (Cahill)?’.
“Well Timmy’s still scoring, yet we’re getting multiple goalscorers from all over the place.”
Postecoglou believed his side should have scored another five or six goals and admitted he got “pissed off” watching Abdallah Deeb net a consolation for Jordan.
Nevertheless, he was pleased with how much depth and quality the Socceroos had developed in the last 12 months, and hoped their classy display against Jordan at Allianz Stadium would alleviate the stress for those sweating on the final-phase draw on April 12.
“People are really worried about rankings and seedings and who we’re going to get,” he said.
“I mean, I don’t get it.
“Just watch what the team’s doing, that should tell you enough.
“We’re not going to be worried about who get in our group.
“We’ve had some tough groups in every competition that we’ve been in.
“We had a tough group in the World Cup, we had Korea in our group in the Asian Cup.
“We’ve had Jordan – who, don’t forget, finished fifth in the last World Cup campaign in the play-off spot – in our group again.
“And we’ve overcome all those things.
“So whoever we get we get, and we’ll go at them.”
Paul
Guest
Thought Brad Smith was the answer to left back before the last 2 games. Not so sure now. Tried at left back so far were the following: Aziz Behich (Turkey), Jason Davidson (Championship England), Tarek Elrich (A-league), James Meredith (League One England) and Brad Smith (Premier League England). Best defensive option is Behich imo, Brad Smith is a better attacking option than all the others. Gersbach needs regular games in Norway before he can be deployed otherwise we might see another red card (remember the game against Adelaide late last year) Right back is even more problematic. Tried at right back , Chris Herd (League One, England) injury prone, Ryan McGowan (Chinese Super League) and Josh Risdon (A-League), Ivan Franjic (A-league). Geria is still raw but more game time, perhaps overseas (not In Asia). Like Sainsbury and Wright, much as it pains me to see Matt Spiranovic not as a starting player, was good against Jordan stopping the lone striker. Wright is quicker than Spiranovic but Matt usually had better anticipation. The friendlies against England and Greece will have different purposes. The England game will be used as a tester for Round 3 of World Cup qualification. The games against Greece will allow for the fringe players to play and show their wares since friendlies allow for more than 3 substitutes. Did anyone notice that Mat Ryan's rival at Valencia for the No 1 GK was sitting on the bench for Brazil in their last game.
JR Salazar
Guest
The Younghusbands are a massive asset to Filipino football and should be saluted. James and Phil. Great sportsmen.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I don't know if you saw the game however the real turn around was when they brought on James Younghusband. "Chokelimma" ....ouch :)
JR Salazar
Guest
As a Filipino-American I am proud that the Azkals took the game to Chokellima at the Rizal. Fantastic performance and a valiant comeback.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
China and North Korea do not like each other at all; they are stuck together due to unhappy circumstance. No love lost there I assure you. I watched the game and it was end to end stuff.
Sydneysider
Guest
"China were lucky to scrape in having defeated group winners Qatar on the final day and have a couple of other results go their way including a dramatic win by the Philippines over North Korea" That looks very dodgy to me. China are like the big brother to North Korea....... I'm sure FIFA/AFC are happy to have China in the final round of world cup qualifying.....
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The third round teams have been finalised with the group winners (South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Iran & Thailand) joined by the best 2nd placed sides (Iraq, Syria, UAE & China). China were lucky to scrape in having defeated group winners Qatar on the final day and have a couple of other results go their way including a dramatic win by the Philippines over North Korea (with one Ian Ramsey starring for the Azkals).
Eamonn
Guest
What a job Ange has done? We won the Asian Cup just over 12 months ago. Last night we have 5 players in the first eleven who didn't start in the Asia Cup final final!. Rogic, Mooy, Smith, Risden and Wright. What does that say! Added to the 14 who played last night, Spiranovic, Troisi, Davidson, Jedinak, Juric, Oar and we look like a completely different squad from the last World Cup. In reality only Spiranovic would improve the team at the moment. Can't see Davidson coming back! McGowan, Bozanic, O'Halloran, Taggart, Vidosic, Holland, all young guys, all got game time at the World Cup. Most if not all missed out on the Asia Cup 6 months later. That takes some doing. Ange clearly learnt a lot at the World Cup! Only McGowan is still in the mix. Can't see any of the others getting back in....ever. .Gersbach is another who is pushing hard. We can't forget Antonis either as a replacement eventually for Milligan or Jedinak. Mauk and MaClaren maybe other A-League Aussies on the rise. There must be more. Gersbach is a real bolter - but not sure about his defensive abilities, but with his speed and skill hard not to predict a Socceroos future for the guy. When he left Sydney lost their best attacker, and haven't won since! Smith's engine also Emerton like. We may need to find a spot for both. Antonis needs game time, but surely he'll be a key player over the next 6 years. And suddenly our players are playing at higher levels a la 2006. Rogic Celtic Kruse Bundesliga Leckie Bundesliga Ryan Valencia Sainsbury China Cahill - wherever he's good enough Mooy top of the A League Burns FC Tokyo Gersbach, Rosenburg and Antonis in Greece could be good stepping stones for both. And lots of potential in Smith, Ikonomides, Gersbach, Geria, Antonis, to develop to bigger clubs, or get more game time before 2018. We're a mean and lean squad. Only Jedi, Wilko and Millsy and Cahill over 30. I'm not sure Holger could have used many of these players, Mooy, Smith, Rogic, Luongo, Risden, Ryan, Sainsbury, Wright 3 years ago. They were simply nowhere near ready, and the older guys couldn't play with the mobility of Ange's men. Think Holger did a good job with a tricky group. If he hadn't got us to the World Cup, Taggart and co would never have been tested, properly. Those 6-0 results in France and Brazil were a blessing so thanks Holger. Our biggest concern remains our defence. Can Smith and Risden defend, against Korea or Japan, or Syria or Uzbekistan away. Not sure we know that yet. England and Greece will be sterner tests. Bailey Wright isnt a starter in our team - he showed enough in these two games to show he won't be able for the tougher games. Too slow, especially against counter attacking teams. Am I wrong? We're living in interesting times
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Whilst Ange is correct that we are going into the qualifying looking very solid and a team no-one else wants to be drawn against, we are not Germany. As such much of the fan base will remain nervous Nelly's (myself included) right up until the moment where we secure qualification. It is those nerves coupled with inherent uncertainty that makes sport such a wonderful, addictive emotional roller coaster.