The Socceroos might have exited the World Cup, but they do so with their honour intact after a typically battling performance against the might of Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Though Australia are out, the feelings are more of optimism than disappointment, with former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich going as far as describing the showing against the albiceleste as the gutsiest that he had seen in the national team jersey.
“That’s the most courageous Socceroos performance I’ve ever witnessed,” said the former Socceroos keeper on SBS. “It was outstanding. They not only stayed in the fight but put Argentina under so much pressure.
“They could have gone into a shell after the second goal. To come back if the second half like they did, to create the chances beyond that, really in my view set the benchmark of a new era for Australian football.
“This is something we can build on for the next World Cup. I can’t remember being so proud of an Australian team that were given no chance against this Argentinean team.
“This is a team that went on a 35-match unbeaten streak. Today they were fantastic. We were really only beaten by the best player in the world.”
Craig Foster, also on SBS, stood up and clapped for the side as the coverage returned to the studio.
“It’s a standing ovation to these boys,” he said. “To everyone there, this has been an outstanding tournament in almost every respect.
“There’s so much for us to learn from this and we’ll reflect on the tournament after everything that has occurred here and how we build an going forward.
“For the moment, the greatest compliments possible to everyone on that bench, everyone on the field, this entire group, what you have done, you have pushed the potential world champions and twice former champions, with one of the greatest players in the world, you have pushed them to the limit.
“That’s what we expect from you. That’s what we expect from Australia. Everyone around the country watching in all of the live sites, everywhere, when that ball went in from Craig Goodwin and they knew that this team believed, that’s a moment that we’ll cherish for a long time.”
Jackson Irvine was in tears in the post-match interview.
“We gave it everything, just like we have every minute of this competition,” said the Socceroos captain. “So proud of all the players and the staff. Just not enough on the day. We did everything we could.
“We set up to be compact and disciplined in our shape. We were excellent defensively we gave up very little until the end. You have to have a go with the last 15 minutes. I think we did everything we could to give ourselves a chance in the game.
“When Argentina are celebrating like this, for a victory against Australia, I think it shows what kind of opposition we gave them today.
“It’s difficult to comprehend everything at the moment,” he concluded, breaking down. “It’s all quite raw. I hope we made everyone proud.”
Coach Graham Arnold, who led the team to back to back wins over Tunisia and Denmark to reach the last 16, had been roundly criticised during the qualification campaign.
“I just hope that everyone back in Australia really respects what we’ve done and are proud of us as well,” Arnold said.
“We took it to them. I felt that we finished off well. We had a great chance at the end there to equalise.
“I’ve got to be very, very proud of the boys. Just so grateful at the effort they’ve put in for me.”
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