Graham Arnold’s brave call to hook captain Mat Ryan and send Andrew Redmayne into the furnace of a penalty shootout paid ultimate dividends when Redmayne’s save clinched a place in a fifth successive World Cup.
Australia beat Peru 5-4 on penalties after a 0-0 stalemate in Doha. It was the second time Australia qualified this way for the World Cup, having broken a long drought in 2005 against Uruguay via the heroics of Mark Schwarzer and John Aloisi.
WORLD CUP FIXTURES: SEE WHEN THE SOCCEROOS PLAY IN QATAR
Arnold, who was an assistant in 2005, replaced Ryan in the dying embers of extra time to bring on Redmayne. The Sydney FC replacement was a pest during the shootout, prancing around on the line like a puppet on a string and nicknamed the ‘dancing keeper’ by foreign media.
“Look, Andrew Redmayne is a very good penalty saver,” Arnold said.
“And to try and get into the mind … to add that little bit of uncertainty in their brains. That’s the reason why.”
Australia’s Martin Boyle missed the first spot kick but Redmayne saved the last to set up emotional scenes.
“Completely clutch, Arnie gave him that belief,” said striker Mitchell Duke. “I’m sure Maty would have been disappointed but everyone played their part. I can’t describe this it’s pure ecstasy.”
“Talk about backs to the wall, pressure on the coach, a queue of people waiting to take a baseball bat to the coach,” said Andy Harper on the match commentary.
“A massive acknowledgement to Graham Arnold what he’s had to endure. What a crowning glory. If they didn’t win that it would have been the other side of the coin but the team prevailed.”
Arnold was lost for words before praising his team for advancing after 20 matches – 15 of them played away from Australia.
“I’m just so proud of the players, no one knows what these boys have been through. It was so hard, the whole campaign. It’s one of the greatest achievements ever.
“The doubters don’t bother me, it’s these boys I care for, the game I care for.”
Redmayne said he was told weeks ago he might have this job.
“I’m no hero, I just played my role,” said Redmayne.
“The two, three weeks I’ve been here I had it in my mind. The work’s been done, the homework’s been done.”
“It’s a phenomenal, a massive, massive call,” said former Socceroo Luke Wilkshire. “If he gets it wrong he gets crucified and they don’t go to the World Cup.”
Arnold said it’s time for Australia as a nation to celebrate this achievement.
“I called out Anthony Albanese the other day, to give everyone, give the fans a day off to celebrate this because I believe this is one of the greatest achievements ever, to qualify for this World Cup the way we’ve had to go through things.
“Twenty World Cup qualifiers and we’ve played 16 away from home. It’s been tough but we did it.”
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
Agree. I did think JMAC should have been brought on earlier though. The second half stagnated pretty quick and a change could have tipped it in our direction sooner. Still totally confounded as to why coaches don't take advantage of the 5 subs rule. Most teams should now always make at lease one sub at half time. You have had an entire half to gauge where the game is and adjust accordingly at the 45min mark with still planty of player for changes later and injury cover
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Yeah, how was that 3 man crunch tackle on Boyle not a penalty?
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
What a difference a dance makes.
Simoc
Guest
Arnold has such a huge fan club on the Roar. His detractors have demonstrated their zero knowledge of the game. But that won't stop them. Bagging the coach is all they're capable of. That's a huge result. All the admin office jonnies will get a free trip to the World Cup and it's worth a lot of money. Well done guys. Peru so close with that header. Reputations, careers made and lost on an inch.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Congratulations to the boys. Watched from London and it was a pleasure to see us control the game and really Behich shoots near post and we don’t even need to go to pens. But we’ll done to the grey Wiggle. What a lad! Arnie hats off to you mate. After Japan I was a doubter. Bring on Qatar! No one has more experience outside the hosts than us playing there.
chris
Guest
Nah I'll say what I like when I like.
chris
Guest
How annoying that we can't get the NZ match on any platform here. Im an Aussie but would love the Kiwis to make it as well.
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
Matches not match :happy: one at Eden Park and another in Aus venue TBD
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Hmm. Won a Euros which beats an Asian Cup in anyone's book. Karma schmarma
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
any idea on Rogic's unavailability? I assume he'll be there come November.
Grem
Roar Rookie
But could we have those players in November? Will Garang Kuol rise to that level? Perhaps Tilio and Miller and Hrustic will be even better. Who else might come out of The Mariners or Brisbane? Our U23s are looking good. New talent could be around the corner and mix that with our battle hardened team and it’s looking pretty good.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Obviously not looking at the scores from the last World Cup - an unlucky 2-1 loss to France and 1-1 with Denmark. We weren't that far away from getting to the second round.
Nat
Roar Guru
There you go. We got Tunisia, if we can’t get past the Danes’ we will bring Mary back home. No one likes the French. :stoked:
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Firstly, agree that pound for pound the recent socceroo squads are not a patch on the 2006 squad, no disrespect intended, but the majority of football fans would hold that view. Also, no doubting that plenty of mental toughness was on display today. But over and above that, I would mention the 3 Ps: - professionalism - throroughly professional from start to finish - preparedness - not just today, but the fact that the squad has been in Qatar for 2 weeks - patience - being ready for pens after 120 minutes is one thing, having the patience to see it out to that eventuality is something else again (arguably, the socceroos in 2006 failed on this front when they allowed a 10 man Italy to launch an attack on an essentially empty Australian goal mouth)
jupiter53
Roar Pro
Look, your logic is impeccable, and I would normally totally agree. But, but….I thought Mooy’s performance in today’s game shows that logic isn’t everything every time. Kalik I have heard of but not seen play. Who else would you have had starting instead of Mooy? Or did Arnie actually get the lineup right for today’s game - the future of course is another matter.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
nothing against aaron mooy personally, he has been a wonderful servant for the green and gold. i just cannot personally justify selecting player for the international side who arent playing weekly for thier club side and performing at high levels (eg. mooy) the #1 & #2 selection as an intenational manager should be choosing players based on those 2 criterias. no other national team manager in the world, would ever select so many players that dont meet that criteria - but australia seems to do it regularily. as for a mooy replacement? i can name several that have been overlooked this whole campaign, but at the very least deserved to taken into camp to be assessed or chosen as a squad member. Anthony Kalik sticks out - only 24, however plays in a lesser league (croatia) for an unfancied team where he ran the midfield scoring several goals.
boes
Roar Pro
Got up with my 9yo son and 12yo daughter. They were on the edge of the couch and will have be on board from now ...I was trying to stay calm - felt we missed our chance to get ahead during an impressive first half - as time ticked on I had this sense on doom that we would concede late. Some very mature performances from some young Socceroos. Lots of composure. A big set of cajones from Arnold. I've never rated him as a national team coach but credit where its due. Perhaps we were under rated, perhaps it was an upset, perhaps we deserved to win - thats the beauty of football. One win in the group stage can be enough to get through - I wouldn't bet against it.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
very well said Tony Harper.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
Hi senor scout. I often agree with what you say, but I wonder how you reconcile “cannot keep picking players who aren’t playing every week and performing” with Aaron Mooy’s performance in this game. Or was there someone else he should have picked ahead of Mooy?
Albo
Roar Rookie
FIFA World Rankings : Peru 22 - Australia 42. Peru beat us in the Pool Rounds last WC in Russia. And we are now drawn in Pool D up against France (3), Denmark (11) and Tunisia ( 35).