Some months back at a swanky book launch in Sydney, I was engaged in conversation with a group of football fans about the Socceroos and their chances of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
At that exact moment in time, I felt Graham Arnold’s men were as good a chance as any based on the performances of the players he appeared likely to select.
I doubled down by suggesting, honestly, that I believed the current crop of youngsters slowly but surely earning the respect and confidence of the manager, had the potential to do something quite special in national colours, so talented they were.
The fella to my left raised his eyebrows and sipped on his chardonnay rather dismissively, the mover and shaker directly in front of me looked left and right to gauge opinion and said nothing at all, whilst a woman to my right simply turned her back and said, “Well, I can’t say I agree with that.”
As a bit of a glass half full kind of fella, I smiled and moved on to another conversation. It was only later that I reflected on the inbuilt negativity that often rears its head when it comes to the Socceroos and those seemingly determined to downplay their chances in a qualifying situation within which the team has fared well in recent times.
Graham Arnold. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
I wondered why all three of the people in my company at that moment appeared somewhat emphatic in their disapproval of the current crop of Socceroos and to me, almost expectant that qualification not be achieved.
All three are Australians, smart folk and very nice people. So why the negativity when, based on my fairly consistent viewing and analysis of the current players in Arnold’s squad, I expressed a view that Australian football is about to witness the most competitive men’s team we have had the pleasure of watching for some time?
Since that evening, the Socceroos have won six straight matches to add to the four won in late 2019 during the second round of Asian Confederation qualification. Statistically, that places the Socceroos in the box seat when it comes to automatic advancement to the big dance in Qatar; with crucial matches against Oman and Japan looming in the next week.
Saudi Arabia await soon after, in early November, and those three match-ups could well be the determining factors in deciding the Socceroos’ qualification fate.
Graham Arnold is confident, the players no doubt share his view and count me in as another feeling extremely assured that this Socceroos squad has a steel and skill about it that many others in recent memory have lacked.
My theory is that the void of Australians playing in the English Premier League has somewhat flattened the over 50’s view of the current crop; completely ignoring the reality that insane EPL wages have lured the best from right around the globe, at the expense of many local English lads and subsequently, some of the best Australia is producing.
There appears to be nowhere near enough credit given to players like Aziz Behich, Tom Rogic, Awer Mabil and Ajdin Hrustic, men who ply their trade in top class European leagues. Not to mention those playing consistently in other corners of the globe like Aaron Mooy, Mitchell Duke and Adam Taggart.
Toss in a host of brilliantly talented young men such as James Jeggo, Kenneth Dougall, Callum Elder, Jackson Irvine, Harry Souttar and Riley McGree who are engaged in lower league European play and one could easily be persuaded to think that the current generation of Socceroos actually have the potential to be something quite special.
Considering that the current campaign has been hampered by the logistical challenges presented to Rhyan Grant and the absence of the nation’s first choice goal sneak Jamie Maclaren, as well as the unavailability of other domestically based players, the current run of success points to something real and tangible.
There does appear to be depth available to the manager and competition for starting spots is seemingly invigorating the squad and spurring them to a level of consistency we have not seen for some time.
The football world is now truly global and for those folk with whom I shared a drink just a few short months ago, a rethink around the definitions of success and quality when it comes to Australian footballers abroad appears to be required.
Frankly, despite the challenges, the Socceroos are doing very, very well. Bring on Oman and Japan. I think the boys are ready.
Keith Griffen
Guest
Also look at how the media portrays football, with the same hate as the afl and NRL mentality. The only time when football gets reported in the news is when there is some controversy or policy issue. No parts of the game are analysed.
Keith Griffen
Guest
I should say it's the NRL and afl mainly, not the 15 man game. It's that machoism from a bygone era which tries to reign on footballs parade. "Socca" is a game thats safe for girls, but their "football" is a "man's game"
Aiden
Guest
You have ignored: "I was engaged in conversation with a group of football fans about the Socceroos and their chances of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup." Football fans rubbish the Soccaroos on the basis of lack of 'quality', that boring word. The die hard fan thinks there never has been any other than the odd bright spark, the casual fan, like the many who climbed on board when we qualified against Uraguay, thought we were good, and now for some reason they think we are not. Honestly, other than the odd person who really goes on about pansies and stuff. It's the actual fans. You can sit around with a bunch of football fans and there are always those who refuse to watch the A League because they think they are above it, and the same goes for our national team.
Aiden
Guest
Complete nonsense.
Aiden
Guest
Being a rugby fan, and knowing a great many rugby fans, there is not any bashing of the football that I am aware of. Rugby fans either tend to be fans of football or indifferent (and not on the grounds you mention ... it's not the 1970s/80s anymore). Perhaps you are thinking about NRL fans where the 'toughness' of the players is the key attribute that is trumpeted, or AFL fans who go on endlessly about diving. Or maybe you are just being mischievous. In any event, in my experience it's largely football fans lazer focused snobbishly on the EPL who bag our national squad more than anyone.
Keith Griffen
Guest
Not only of the socceroos, but football in general. The whole footy show mentality of rugby being a man's game , while "socca" is a...
Glenn
Guest
Well done Stuart for not taking the same road as most football fans - such as those at your table - and shit-potting Arnie and the players. Cheers for being pretty positive about the Socceroos and what they have achieved so far (I write this prior to the game v Oman). The Socceroos were bagged for beating Thailand 1-0 at home in something like 45 degree heat and in the first half it was 70 per cent humidity and the second half it was 90 per cent. If rugby league, union or afl played under these circumstances the headlines would be “People will die”. I suppose it’s like going to Bali at it’s hottest and playing a game of football on a substandard pitch. So you can say the Socceroos were shite - and it was below par - but at this stage everything is results driven. Their previous campaign - before the China game - they were in Oman for 2 weeks and could only leave their hotel to train and play. They trained at 7pm each night because of the heat and it was dark 6pm at night which means the players and coaching staff didn’t see daylight for two weeks - because they couldn’t leave their hotel. I can tell you one thing - get your football loving mates who keep bagging The Socceroos and Arnold and if they were to sit down and hear the shit they’ve gone through to try and qualify for the World Cup then I can guarantee you they’ll walk away with a different opinion. The NRL players have been applauded for the sacrifices they’ve made to keep their season going - could you imagine them travelling to Oman and training at night and not being able to leave their hotel except to train for 2 weeks? And then play in 50 degree heat?
Keith Griffen
Guest
It's simply historical bias. The title of johnny warrens book says it all. All other games besides eggball are considered being a "man's game".
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
absolutely, hence my comment above about Journalist education. I have played football in Indonesia in a friendly match. That was in the build up to the wet season. Our medic made sure we were weighed before and after the game, that way they had an understanding of what the conditions did to us, and the required hydration etc. This is an environment where if you take some bark off, you have to start worrying about tropical ulcers etc. it's awful!!! I have played rugby and going from ruck to ruck in consistent phase play is way easier than playing football in those conditions
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Dont forget, our lads have had very little time together for all the obvious reasons. It's easy for the English squad to get together, it's easy for the French lads to take the Chunnel or a 30 min flight over the channel for squad training, but our lads are literally spread all over the planet. To come out and be 10 wins up in 10 games, with virtually no squad time at all would suggest that anyone with some football nouse must be thinking, "hey, if our lads get some consistent training and match time, what are they going to be like when they hit synchronicity, when they are fully comfortable playing together?
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
If you watch the Championship, and I recommend you do, the quality of football is excellent and Elder is excelling in that environment
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Totally concur when it comes to Mooy. How many have gone to China and then wanted out. It's becoming a recurring theme. Eventually, the word will get out, don't go there. And with the current geopolitical situation, it's probably the last place you would want to play football. Rumour has it Ange wanted him at Celtic. I hope he ends up there. As for Genreau, he had some pretty high quality tutelage in the Netherlands, back that up with some time under one of Australia's best gaffers post-Ange, in Milicic, and there is a reason he is where he is. Come May, and Australia might just have a young fella playing Ligue 1.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Well said. 100% agreeance here.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Wow, can I think about this for the night. A seriously fair and good question. I'll get back when I've processed.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Kudos Tow, the issue I believe is a gnerational one. Baby Boomers and gen X, and to some degree gen y have grown up with the media rhetoric that football is not an Australian game, that it's not a man's game like the backyard codes, it's played by foreigners yada yada yada. You then couple t hat with the owners of the main media outlets being primarily baby boomers and take a second step backward. You can then take a third step backward when you throw in politicians who are also boomers and X'ers. they are the ones who allocate funding and resources, so why would they give to football when it's not an Australian game, it's not a man's game. The regulars on here are probably sick of me saying this, but the generational transition is coming. I have 6 nephews who live, eat and breathe football. The oldest is 20. The 13 year old is about to step up to NPL youth next season. Our lads are part of a cohort that number in the millions. They have grown up with the A-League, they watch anything football. They are the kids you see in the supermarket wearing a Naymar or Messi or Ronaldo shirt. In my day, Rugby League pitches were everywhere in Newcastle. Now they are becoming hard to find because football is consuming them. The Speers Point football centre is packed 7 days a week with all of its multiple pitches in use. For a town that was always a "League Town' there are signs all over the place saying Junior Rugby League players urgently needed. Have faith, the generational transition is coming. When you combine that with 2nd Div and eventual promotion and relegation, the behemoth that is football will begin to redesign the Australian sporting landscape.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
hey, nothing wrong with winning ugly mate
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Oman is one of the inform teams i can see the Socceroos parking the bus to grind out a result and if it works great a draw is better then a lose.
Brian
Guest
Things may change but there isn't yet a lot to get excited about. If you look for example at transfermkt which values players at current market rates we don't have one player in the world's top 500. Within the AFC we don't have anyone in the op 10 - Mooy is 12th, Ryan 15th. Of course its only one measure but football fans know that young front 3 talent gets teams places and we lack it.
Winter
Guest
City's game play has totally reinvigorated my passion of the A League
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
have you not watched Melbourne City. And take note of the Jets this year they will be one to watch, Arthur Papas is renowned for his go for the throat lightning fast football