Opinion
Despite enduring a nervy and tense finish, the Socceroos managed to pull off a remarkable triumph over Denmark to book their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
It must be said that Denmark was the better side for the first 30-odd minutes. Still, after that, Australia really started to settle in and neutralise the game. The Danes were also below average and very disappointing late, especially in the attacking third.
Once again Australia showed heart, fight and a lot of grit to achieve one of the most monumental feats in Australian sporting history.
To put this success into context, Australia have qualified for the last 16 only once in their history before this tournament. Winning two World Cup matches is more than they’ve ever won in a single tournament, and their two clean sheets are more than they’d managed in all their previous World Cup appearances put together.
(Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
It only proves just how much mental strength and spirit the whole group has to find ways of getting the job done.
After the 4-1 humiliation at the hands of France, you could forgive Graham Arnold’s men for crumbling and losing all belief.
Instead they were able to use it as motivation and a driving force towards their incredible run, which is a massive credit to everyone involved.
What makes this unbelievable journey even more phenomenal is the adversity and challenges that Australia had to go through in order to get to this point.
The qualifying process was rough, there are no two ways about it. Some underwhelming performances put the green and gold in real danger of missing out altogether as they finished third in their respective group in Asia.
There were strong calls for Arnold to receive the sack due to his inept coaching ability and questionable tactical decisions that made him very unpopular with a lot of the Australian public.
(Photo by Youssef Loulidi/Fantasista/Getty Images,)
The qualification process was a major hurdle in itself. The COVID situation forced the players to constantly play away from home and adapt to new conditions and environments.
Arnold confirmed this in his post-match interview against Peru in Qatar where they qualified for their fifth consecutive World Cup.
“I believe it is one of the greatest achievements ever to qualify for this World Cup the way we’ve had to go through things,” he said. “It has been tough, but we did it.”
Most players also copped the full brunt of the criticism as they were deemed by many as not good enough compared to other eras.
To be constantly compared to the 2006 golden generation, to be plied with all of that pressure to emulate those heights, must be incredibly tough to deal with.
The majority of the squad is not playing at top clubs around Europe and a few are still plying their trade domestically Down Under, creating fears that they simply do not have the necessary quality to compete at the highest level.
Now, though, this current squad have made the nation proud and have written their own piece of history in much more difficult circumstances that will never be taken away from them.
Overcoming this adversity has really galvanised these players, and you can clearly see the special bond they all have both on and off the pitch. They fight for each other until the very end.
The jaw-dropping scenes down at Federation Square in Melbourne are a great example of just how much of an impact this team have had on the nation. They are inspiring the next generation, and we are seeing that football is here to stay in this county with so much potential, interest and passion.
Australia were given no chance against Peru yet defied the odds.
Australia were given a mere 17.5 per cent chance of getting out of their World Cup group yet defied the odds.
If we have learned anything about the history of the green and gold, it’s that you never, ever write off Australia.
Can they cause the biggest upset in their history against Lionel Messi and Argentina on Sunday morning?
Football is unpredictable and crazy, which is why it is the best sport in the world.
Heroes. Legends. Australia has made the country immensely proud and long may it continue.
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What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
