Speaking after the Jordan game, Socceroos captain (on the night) Tim Cahill was honest, direct, positive, political and almost confrontational in an era of pre and post-game platitudes.
And then there was coach Ange Postecoglou: typically direct, brilliantly honest, and delivering on what he believes, with a team that believes in him.
I watched the post-match discussions with interest, perhaps to overcome my guilt – I didn’t go to Allianz Stadium to watch the game. Or maybe it was because I was riveted by the football and interested to hear the players and coach.
What I heard in the post-game impressed me as much as what I had seen on the pitch over the two games of this international break, and what I have really enjoyed the build-up to since the Postecoglou revolution.
Modern football is a bit derivative. The formations need to fit the players, the league, the conditions, and there are few revolutionary tactical plays.
So it’s fitting the Socceroos made such a positive statement in the week that the great Johan Cruyff passed away. And it is a fitting place to start a brief and glowing review of our underrated men’s national football team.
Postecoglou has brought his own distinct style, and it resonates with our national character. This team works hard. This is a team that doesn’t shirk the tough stuff – whether it be an aerial duel or a 60-yard dash to cover a lost ball. This is a team that earns the right to play, that plays for each other, that respects the history of Australian football’s multicultural roots, and is aware enough to do things like promote Indigenous football.
And they are winning too. They have a major trophy in the cabinet, and have qualified for the last three World Cups, with a fourth hopefully in progress.
As a football fan who still runs around in the over-35s, remembers the MCG game against Iran like it was yesterday, followed the Socceroos before it was cool, and is really sick of clichés and platitudes, I could not be happier with our Socceroos.
Midfielder
Guest
Agree with Frank getting us into Asia
Lamby
Roar Rookie
I was there at that fateful day against Iran. We were organising how we were going to get to France at 1/ 2 time :-( The person to thank the most is Frank Lowy. Getting us into Asia and having meaningful international games all year every year makes it so much easier to develop a style and a system. Rather than playing 2 meaningful home and away games every 4 years (4 games if you included the NZ games to progress from Oceania) to make the World Cup.
mattq
Roar Rookie
I dunno. timmy was borderline imo