Maybe Australia would have won the Copa America after all? It feels like the sky’s the limit after the Olyroos shocked the football world to beat Argentina 2-0 at the Tokyo Olympics.
Was that the best performance Graham Arnold has ever conjured as coach of a national team? The gruff tactician silenced his critics – for one night at least – as the Olyroos turned in a superb performance to down Argentina 2-0 under the roof of the Sapporo Dome.
Surely the best thing about the result was the fact it was no smash and grab raid. Australia had fashioned a few chances even before Lachie Wales side-footed home Joel King’s cross.
And Wales, who was originally named in the train-on squad and never expected to actually play in Japan, was only one of several players to turn in an absolute stormer in Sapporo.
The Olyroos haven’t featured in the Olympics since Beijing in 2008, which is perhaps why they raced out of the blocks and put Argentina on the back foot from the get-go.
Daniel Arzani looked the main threat early on but it was King who busted the game open, as the Sydney FC defender took a raking free-kick from Harry Souttar and crossed for Wales to bundle home at the far post.
Daniel Arzani (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
The towering Souttar was immense alongside skipper Tommy Deng in central defence, while King and Nathaniel Atkinson buzzed relentlessly up and down their respective touchlines as Australia’s back four turned in a Herculean performance.
They got a bit lucky when Ezequiel Barco’s attempted cross caught goalkeeper Tom Glover off-guard and clipped the top of the crossbar, but what really changed the momentum of the game was Francisco Ortega’s dismissal on the stroke of halftime.
Referee Srdjan Jovanovic had his work cut out for him in a game that produced a staggering 12 yellow cards, but the Serb will be raked over the coals for his decision to send Ortega off in first-half stoppage time.
The defender was deservedly booked for a foul on Atkinson near the corner-flag with 45 minutes having already ticked by on the clock. But just as the free-kick was about to swing in, Argentina goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma appeared to push Ortega straight into Riley McGree.
The Aussie midfielder, who was barely touched in the incident let alone the instigator, was duly booked by Jovanovic. Yet the Serbian referee then brandished the yellow card in Ortega’s direction, only then seeming to realise he’d just booked the defender barely 60 seconds earlier.
It was a clear mistake – and one the Olyroos benefited from immensely.
But even if the Aussies were fortunate to play against ten men for the entirety of the second half, they still managed to kill the game off.
One of the best things about last night’s performance was the sheer number of chances the Olyroos created. It was a standard of attacking football we haven’t seen from an Australian side for years.
The inclusion of Mitch Duke looks like an absolute masterstroke from Arnold, after the squad’s only over-age player turned in a tireless shift up front.
Duke might have miscued the attempt that led to Wales opening the scoring, but he attracted two defenders in doing so and then set up substitute Marco Tilio to blast home Australia’s second goal.
Duke also clipped the woodwork twice, while Riley McGree and the surprisingly effective Wales also created several good opportunities.
If there was one downside on the night it was the form of Arzani. The left winger looked well up for it at the start, but too often the perennially on loan attacker appeared to second-guess himself.
But that’s a minor complaint.
The Olyroos are top of Group C and staring down at heavyweights Spain, who they’ll face at the Sapporo Dome on Sunday night.
Graham Arnold’s men have got us all dreaming again.
After a magical night when so many A-League players stood up, the Olyroos have just reminded us that maybe football in Australia isn’t so bad after all.
James584
Roar Rookie
Ok. Couldn’t find it.
Trung
Guest
Well it is Arnold greatest result. What else in his underwhelming national team coaching career compares with that. His previous greatest result is probably 3-1 win over Bahrain and an all a-league side defeating Kuwait 2-0 at home (which Pim Verbeek failled to achieve) in the Asian cup 2007 qualifiers. Both matches were on a non-FIFA date without the European stars This victory over Argentina with a majority a-league team even if it is an under-23 completely overshadows that
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Don't worry, I'm sure we'll all be up at the crack of dawn to see whether Celtic can beat those giants of world football Midtjylland in - consults atlas - Herning on Thursday morning.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
There absolutely was a live blog. It was written by yours truly. https://www.theroar.com.au/olympics/live-score/argentina-vs-australian-olyroos-mens-olympic-football-live-scores-blog-1140081/ Make sure you're checking the Olympics tab as well as Football. We'll be doing it all again tomorrow night.
James584
Roar Rookie
No live blog on the Roar. Went to twitter and the ecstasy in the comments gave me a big smile. Shame Roar, shame.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Keith, us football fans are crazy, but winning Copa America would be yeah, near impossible.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Mate what a great post & agree with all you have said. We are not quite there but not far away & going the right direction.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
good post
Midfielder
Roar Guru
One day and I hope soon this will happen Grem
Grem
Roar Rookie
And the ratings for our Olyroos were brilliant. A top 10 rating on free to air and brilliant digital figures. The Matildas did really well, too. Football does rate.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I agree. I don't want them to warm a bench. I want to see them playing in Europe. Arzani was a better player at Melbourne City than he is now. To keep them in Australia, in the A League, would require more money than we have in our league. That's such a shame. Imagine Melbourne City with Leckie, Nabbout and Maclaren plus your 3 Olyroos. Now that is a team that might do some damage in the Asian club championship.
Ad-O
Guest
Please. A friendly after they just won a major international tournament with European kickoff just a few weeks away? Stop clutching at straws. It's unbecoming.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Grem, I'm playing the 'Devils Advocate' here mate, and no offence is meant. But why would any player from the A League in general, or these kids in particular, want to go and bench warm in Europe when they can get valuable game time right here in Australia. If nothing else, these lads or most of them are, proving the true worth of the A League.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
I have never believed that our local A League is any where near as bad as many would like us to believe. It is way too early to classify these boys as the next 'Golden Generation', one win doesn't make us gold medalists, just yet. This next match against Spain, filled with more world class players than any of our lads have ever come up against in a single team, will determine where we are finishing in the group. A point or 3 [I can't believe I said that] will most likely see us out of the group. Well 3 will guarantee it. Then Egypt awaits us, that's the game most of us thought would be the the most likely to get a point from. I will be more interested in seeing how Argentina react to that loss, will they just go through the motions or put Egypt to the sword, which will do us the world of good. Although, I don't think Argentina are good enough to do that though. I don't think the Referee will see another game in this tournament. He was more nervous than most of the players.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
And I almost forgot, but worth noting. Marco Tilio as Matty Simon! I loved Matty’s wholeheartedness when he played for SFC, and thought he was great for Mariners this season. But Tilio exemplifies the huge leap in skills of this crop of young A League players.
Will
Guest
For further content on the result as well. First time the Olyroos won a game at the Olympics since the 2004 edition in Athens. First time they won their first group game at an Olympics. Unless im wrong here first time they beat Argentina at senior level since 1988 Centennial Cup (given its u24 level) last win was in the 1997 youth World Cup in Malaysia First time they beat South American opposition at an Olympic Games. Most importantly with Australian locally produced players that have made a name for themselves in the aleague. Spain will be a much harder game but this team surprised with the level they played to beat Argentina even they got a player advantage but this isnt easy in football as know but the Spain game is another chance to further impress themselves against a world power house. Great result for Oz football overall.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Some will. Of the cards McGree's concerns me the most; creative mids with the willingness to defend high up the park are not that common. Souttar and Atkinson are two others though I feel we have more cover in those positions.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I can't commit to that Mike, I rate Trewin so highly, but you could be right.
chris
Guest
Yes some aussies only see the other "divers" and never us. Having said that though the ref missed a lot of nudges in the back and the more subtle fouls. Players had to exaggerate their reaction because he wasn't picking them up.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Just hope all those yellow cards don't come back to bit them.