Maybe it was only ever destined to end one way, with the Socceroos qualifying for the World Cup on the back of one of the boldest coaching decisions in the history of Australian sport.
Graham Arnold’s numerous critics can all go and eat crow, as I’m sure Arnie would no doubt be delighted to attest.
I should know. I’ve been one of those critics over the years.
And the difference between someone like him and someone like me is that it’s Arnie who just coached his national team to the World Cup finals. I’m just a guy who sits at a computer and writes about it.
But as someone whose first experience of a Socceroos campaign was when Arnie himself donned the green and gold jersey and lined up against the likes of Canada and Argentina, I can honestly say I never expected Australia to reach the World Cup finals quite like this.
No-one did. Expect maybe Arnie.
Because his decision to replace captain and goalkeeper Mat Ryan with veteran Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne a minute before the final whistle was a stroke of genius.
It would have been deemed an act of madness had the Socceroos gone down in the shootout, but from the second Redmayne set foot on the pitch at Al Rayyan Stadium, it made a peculiar kind of sense.
Because after the Socceroos came from behind to down Peru 5-4 on penalties in Doha, Arnie talked about how introducing Redmayne would affect the Peruvians psychologically.
And he was right.
When veteran defender Luis Advincula stepped up to stare down Redmayne, he faced a goalkeeper who stands four inches taller than the man he replaced.
In a game of fine margins, Advincula’s subsequent attempt to find the furthest corner of the goal only resulted in him hitting the inside of the post.
(Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
Even before that fateful moment, Redmayne had slyly made his presence felt.
When Craig Goodwin – another substitute – stepped up to take his spot-kick for the Socceroos, a wide camera angle caught Redmayne casually tossing something over the advertising hoardings behind the goal (see the above video).
It was, according to one spectator who was there, the notes on Australia’s penalty takers that Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese had taped to his water bottle.
Redmayne was warned repeatedly by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to stay on his line during the shootout, and at one stage it felt like a retake was a distinct possibility.
But having rattled the Peruvians with his size and unique Wiggles-inspired antics, Redmayne did what he was brought on to do and saved Alex Valera’s sixth and final spot kick to dramatically send the Socceroos to the World Cup finals.
Along with, presumably, Graham Arnold.
There’ll be a time to dissect Australia’s disjointed qualification campaign – and it was not lost on anyone that the Socceroos were the better side but failed to score over 120 minutes against the Peruvians – but for now Arnie deserves his moment in the limelight.
More than 50 caps for the Socceroos, two stints as coach and a couple of Olympics campaigns have more than earned him that right.
I hope when Arnie knocked the top off his first beer in celebration he spared a quick thought for his critics – writers like me who have questioned his tactics and team selections and oddly upbeat mantras at various stages of the campaign.
But equally I hope those who’d prefer to silence critics like me remember something key.
We can’t keep looking to countries like Peru and calling them ‘football nations’ without first understanding that critics play a valuable role in their football ecosystems.
If we ever want Australia to become a mature football nation, we must accept that opinions – not always complimentary – are a fundamental part of the game.
And with that, I tip my hat to Graham Arnold.
I may have doubted his methods at times, but he answered his critics – and brought joy to an entire nation – in the greatest way imaginable.
Eamonn Flanagan
Roar Rookie
We won't take Bailey Wright to the World Cup. With Souttar and Sainsbury back and fit Wright will do well to make the pick.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
I thought I would not watch any world-cup matches in Qatar this year because of the idea of b0ycotting this most c0rrupted world cup finals. But I will watch 3 Socceroos’ matches in November.
Waz
Roar Rookie
????????
coolncold
Roar Rookie
When criticize, criticize what? Some say about “paucity of goals”. However, after a review, that is not the main factor of not qualifying automatically. While Socceroos goal rate is 1.58 per match in the 3rd round, Japanese’s is 1.3. Then further study reveal more. In the 3rd round, Saudi got the GF = 12; Japanese’s GF is the same = 12, while Socceroos’ = 15. Actually, Socceroos got the highest GF in Group B. Take a look on Group A to see their scoring ability. The top team Iran has a GF=15; South Korea’s = 13; and UAE’s = 7 So, the conclusion is very clear. Both Iran and Australia has the best scoring ability in AFC. That means the problem with Socceroos is not the scoring ability, but the defence.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I watched most SFC games when they were on top of just about everything except ACL and was just comparing to a season when things didn’t go so well for the club and just about everyone was looking for likely cause. We all know that when you,lose it’s always the goalkeeper’s fault - learnt at a very young age. Anyway he’s had a great week, hope he finishes the year in the squad at least.
burgermeister
Roar Rookie
Well done Arnie, credit where credit's due. It wasn't pretty but the result matters more and a fantastic experience for the players who'll be carrying the torch next cycle.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
What was your opinion based on versus someone who watched every minute of every game Redmayne played for the last 5 years. It seems to be based on what Redmayne did at WSW. How many penalties did Redmayne save in the regular season 2018-2019. How many did he let in regular season 2018/2019. Go through my posts you can see I credit Sydney FC's Corica titles mainly to Redmayne. Maybe Ryan could have done better who knows, but you cant discount that Redmayne dancing calmed the nerves of the Aussie takers and made Peru nervous.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Thanks. I'm terrible at maths.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Scarcity of goals? Socceroos have 1.58 per match in the 3rd round. It is 1 goal below world average. To strength the attack and defence Souttar can play alongside with Mooy. In Arnold’s 4-4-2 formation: …………………….Ryan…………… Atkinson, Wright, Rowles, Behich …..Boyle, Souttar, Mooy, Irvine…. ……………….Hrustic, Duke………… Souttar can complement Mooy’s defence and provide one more dimension of aerial attack.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
BT I did say that about AR and my opinion hasn’t changed. I personally think Ryan would have or could have saved the same shots at goal but we will never know so AR gets his day in the sun and we get a team to cheer for at the end of the year. To me that’s a win for everyone except Peru!
chris
Guest
Well said Buddy. To suggest that a national team coach (of any sport) is hopeless, no idea etc is just a reflection of the people that make the claim. Yes have an opinion and share ones thoughts. But to suggest you know any better than the actual coach is just ridiculous. There is a reason why they are running the national team and the critics are sitting on their keyboards.
Ross I Campbell
Guest
"...Alex Valera’s fifth and final spot kick.." Alex Valera’s was their sixth penalty attempt I believe?
Aiden
Guest
Yeah. Early in qualification it looked good, with the spoils being shared. But up against organised teams we have struggled for a long time, including in the years before the last WC when the plan was 'give it to Timmy.' Look at the A League, we try and walk the ball in. There is a lack of courage in front of goal.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Andrew Redmayne did an incredible job for two seasons 2018-2020 . More importantly no goal keeper in history I imagine has saved a higher percentage of penalties in season 2018-2019. Your the one who said Redmayne was only good because of the Sydney defense. which was no good actually for the past 4 seasons and getting worse. Last season Redmayne had a iffy start in the first third of the season and then went back to good for the rest. This season Redmayne seems to have been blamed for a lot while being a lot more reliable than Howard Belle. I wouldn't trust the opinion of other Sydney FC fans I have never seen a more deluded group who all seem to be in love with Ninkovic and cant accept the reality. Have they voted him player of the year yet again. Others even want to keep Wilkinson.
jamesb
Roar Guru
Yeah because I remember Guus, Pim, Holger and Ange not coaching/qualifying the Olyroos. Rasic was before my time and checked his bio. He didn't manage the Olyroos. So through process and elimination, Arnold is the first coach to qualify both teams.
Full Time NSD
Guest
Well written article. Respect to the author and arnie for getting through to the wc. It’s a great achievement for oz football and we are all part of the football eco system and entitled to opinions on what can make it better.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
With the ecstasy of qualification abating somewhat, it is a good time to ponder at least one glaring weakness in the socceroo squad, and that's our paucity of goals, mentioned by the author as well. Last WC, with a couple of decent performances, our only two goals came from pens. So it's not a recent problem, it's been brewing for a while. The weakness gets papered over when we score goals against pretty weak Asian opponents, who often are pretty weak defensively and in goalkeeping. One problem is that none of our forwards play in good leagues, although Mabil is about to join Cadiz, so let's hope he gets a bit of game time there.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Well said. Regarding luck, didn't Behich's shot hit the post too? Regarding Mooy, playing 120 mins was a miracle - Andrew Clark is a genius. Maybe Arnie could get Usain Bolt in to work on Mooy's pace as well. But that's a quibble, Mooy was very good.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
I believe so. Frank Farina qualified for the Olympics that is the closest anyone else has come.
jamesb
Roar Guru
I think Arnold has done something historical yesterday. Is he the first coach to help Australia qualify at both the Olympics and the World Cup?