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It may have been one of the ugliest wins of all time, but the Socceroos have reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup with a stirring 1-0 victory over Denmark overnight.
They just couldn’t have done it any other way.
Just seconds after Wahbi Khazri opened the scoring for Tunisia against France in Group D’s other match – a goal that put the Socceroos behind in the standings – the Aussies broke quickly on the counter-attack through Riley McGree in their suddenly must-win encounter.
Mat Leckie still had it all to do, but as he’s so often done for both club and country, the veteran winger turned Danish defender Joakim Maehle inside and out before arrowing a left-footed finish across Kasper Schmeichel and into the bottom corner.
It was a goal started by Australia’s colossus in defence Harry Souttar and one that for the third game in a row made a mockery of pre-tournament fears the Socceroos couldn’t score from open play.
And it’s bad news for Graham Arnold’s critics, who now have to watch one of Australian sport’s most maligned coaches lead his team into the knock-out stage of a World Cup.
Let’s be honest though – this was hardly a vintage Socceroos performance. The Aussies were on the back foot for most of the first half and did well to go into the break deadlocked at 0-0.
And when Arnie substituted the attacking Craig Goodwin at half-time for the more defensive Keanu Baccus – who was excellent, it must be said – it looked like the Aussies simply planned to shut up shop.
But Khazri’s goal for Tunisia in the other game against France changed the complexion of the group and meant the Socceroos could no longer rely on a draw to progress.
They were probably fortunate Leckie scored immediately thereafter, sparing the Socceroos an even nervier final half hour.
And for all Denmark’s precise passing and clinical counter-attacks, they still never really looked like breaching Mat Ryan’s goal.
That’s partly because Souttar resembled an immovable object in the Socceroos’ back four, and partly because luck just seemed to be on Australia’s side.
There was a nerve-jangling moment when the Danes were denied a penalty by an offside flag after finicky Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal pointed to the spot for an apparent handball.
The six minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half was no picnic either – not least when substitute Andreas Cornelius planted a free header from a corner just over Ryan’s crossbar.
But the Aussies held on for a famous win – and will now prepare for the knock-out stages of the biggest sporting event in the world!
It was a reminder that world football doesn’t start and end with Europe.
And it was vindication for Graham Arnold, who now holds the distinction of being the first ever Australian-born coach to win back-to-back games at a men’s World Cup.
Love him or loathe him, Arnie deserves his moment in the sun.
And the scenes of jubilation at a jam-packed Federation Square in Melbourne – not to mention throughout loungerooms across Australia – are a reminder that the Socceroos belong at this level.
The last few years have been a real struggle for Australian football, but the Socceroos’ heroic performances in Qatar can help turn things around.
It’s a far cry from barely a year ago when Arnie was on desperately thin ice after his COVID-plagued side stumbled in qualifying.
Now, he’s guided his side to the final 16 of the World Cup.
Drink it in, Aussie football fans. So many other countries would do anything to be in this position.
But on the back of one of the all-time greatest performances from an Australian sporting team, the Socceroos are through to the knock-out stage.
You little ripper! This one’s for the true believers.