The tens of thousands of Socceroos fans who turned out at live sites across the country in the early Sunday morning hours are a reminder of the awesome power of the world game.
For one glorious week, Graham Arnold and his battling underdogs made us all believe.
That’s because for the first time since the Golden Generation of 2006, the Socceroos didn’t just participate at the World Cup final: they genuinely competed.
And the win over Denmark that sealed our progression to the Round of 16 transformed Australia into a genuine football nation – at least for a couple of days.
For the first time in forever, the Socceroos found themselves on the front and back page of every newspaper in the country.
The sight of thousands of fans packing into Federation Square in Melbourne for all three group-stage games prompted state premiers around the country to react, with live sites belatedly set up Australia-wide.
Not for the first time, the popularity of football – a game with the most passionate following of any sport around the world – caught our dozy politicians off guard.
They’d do well to wake up for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, because it will be by far the biggest sporting event Australia has hosted – along with our neighbours New Zealand – in years.
Graham Arnold’s men proved on Sunday morning, once and for all, that Australia belongs at this level.
The Socceroos gave absolutely everything in their 2-1 defeat to Argentina, only to come undone thanks to a couple of costly mistakes.
The first was left back Aziz Behich being goaded into a foul after clashing with Lionel Messi. The Argentine superstar had words with the Aussie veteran on the sideline, before a fired-up Behich went straight through the back of Papu Gomez from the subsequent thrown-in.
While Harry Souttar headed away the resultant free-kick, the ball broke kindly for Messi. After rapidly getting the ball back into the box, he created enough space to get one of his trademark skidding strikes with no back-lift away through a sea of legs and into the back of Mat Ryan’s net.
If Ryan was unsighted for the first goal, he was entirely at fault for the second.
His quick throw to Behich was routine enough, but after the Aussies went backwards and Ryan found himself under pressure from Argentina’s relentless high press, the captain’s attempt to skip between two attackers ended in disaster when a heavy touch allowed the quicksilver Julian Alvarez to fire home on the turn.
It wasn’t the first time in the tournament Australia’s desire to play out from the back cost them a goal, and it’s exceedingly difficult to come back from two goals down against a team like Argentina.
But substitute Craig Goodwin’s deflected strike was the bit of luck Australia needed – it was eventually credited as an Enzo Fernandez own goal – and set up a quintessential grandstand finish.
It ended up being Argentina who looked the more likely to score as Lionel Scaloni’s side exploited the space opening up in front of them, but at least the Socceroos didn’t die wondering.
It was another heroic performance on the back of a wonderful week of football that restored our faith in the national team.
Mitch Duke looks dejected after Australia’s elimination from the World Cup. (Photo by David Ramos – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
From the messages of support from prime minister Anthony Albanese to the tens of thousands who packed into live sites around Australia to cheer the side on, this has been one of the most memorable weeks in our nation’s sporting history.
Had Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez not spread his considerable wingspan to save substitute Garang Kuol’s close-range shot in the dying seconds of stoppage time, we might even be talking about a different result.
But the Socceroos deserve our heartfelt congratulations – and Arnie deserves our thanks.
They made us true believers once again. That was the greatest tournament in the history of Australia’s men’s national team.
We can’t be sad it’s over. We should simply be delighted to have been along for the ride.
Steven
Guest
Another piece if negative journalism. I dont need the afl and nrl media to cast any doubts over my love for the game of football. I will continue watching the a league every weekend just like I have since 2004. More garbage headlines.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I reckon Goodwin might be on the radar, and there could be a few lads moving around to other European clubs. And definitely, there will be a few nameless, faceless bodies in the crowd at A-League games taking notes for their clubs.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I have respect for the fact that you are a football supporter. When you’ve been around football for as long as I have, it’s a knee-jerk reaction to expect derision, insult and counter-football attitudes. And I agree there is hypocrisy and quite often the counter-response by other codes is bordering on crass. The perfect example is the AFL, releasing the draw for their next season, exactly at the kick-off of the Argentina game. Feeble, Fragile and cheap if you ask me.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Forensic analysis. Your analysis is based on the vibe. Spain didnt succeed with tiki taka but Australia with their squad would have. The reality of tika taka it requires skillful super fit players who can also do it namely Xavi and Iniesta. Australia playing selection is asymmetrical in abilities. Thats the problem with Australia football not that its lacks skillful there are more skillful players than before even the golden generation only had a handful of skilled players , the skilfull players lack physically and fitness wise, and the physical players lack skill. You can select group A look half decent and lose by a lot of goals , or go with the physical players and have a chance with the right tactics. Ange didnt succeed by playing tiki taka either, most of his success was with Cahill, Jedinak headers and set pieces. Ange didnt even pick Mooy for the Asia cup.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
I think culture is the most important element - everything else is secondary. In Brazil, kids from families with no money at all are playing barefoot day and night in any tiny bit of space they can find with any ball that they can find. They may not see a blade of grass until their mid teens. So that suggests to me that resourcing and money actually has nothing to do with it. Culture is the most important part, and it comes 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
brookvalesouth
Roar Rookie
I don’t think its an issue in either sport – I am just pointing out some hypocrisy – and I am a massive football supporter. You’re the one doing the code wars stuff (ad nauseum).
Bonza
Roar Rookie
So getting actual meaningful participation is surely the goal. To do that you have to make the sport both appealing and affordable. More TV exposure would be a start, meaning some serious lobbying and possible re-jigging of the A League scheduling. It's unlikely one lone sport will ever dominate in Australia, so unique is the market. Probably best to compare it to the US, where after years of growing the sport to new generations, they're starting to see some payoff. Massive population doesn't hurt either.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Honestly, that’s the best you can muster. If you genuinely think that’s an issue, where would the National Felonies and Misdemeanors competition be without migrant islanders. This country is one that proudly offers opportunity and a fair go and you come up with that feeble rubbish. This country’s one of the world’s greatest multicultural success stories. At least in football you have to have a native Australian parent.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Bonza I was just writing on another board that participation numbers, as they pertain to football/soccer are absolutely meaningless. Parents dropping off their kids once a week for 50 to 100 minutes so that they can grab a coffee or do the shopping. It means nothing. Are these kids walking around with round ball at their feet 24/7, every waking moment, wanting to do nothing else but play football? We already know the answer. That's the only thing that matters, and it's as way out of reach today as it was 100 years ago. That's why I hate all this talk about DNA. It's the big European and South American nations who have the relevant DNA.
Greco Dominicus
Roar Rookie
Credit where it is due, a doff of the hat to the English. I do believe we are about to see whether Southgate's England has finally arrived at the top echelon of world football though - Nothing like having to pry a title from a Champion to let you know what you are made of. Especially one like the French who are no far off their pomp, gonna be manic. On the whole, for all the shenanigans to get us here this is shaping up to be a top quality climax. Also for all the VAR criticisms it does seem like the best 8 teams in the world are gonna be in the quarters although the Italians may contest that. This is no small feat as usually by now there have been one or two inexplicable dodgy calls with the better team going out, whereas this tournament whilst it has had some contentious calls, there has only been one call that can has been shown to be technically wrong and for this I commend FIFA.
Paul2
Guest
Yep - that's pretty much it. The big three (Aust Football, Rugby League and Cricket) each use money generated at the elite level to subsidise grass roots participation. As you say, soccer can't do this, since the Aleague doesn't generate nearly as much. That said, presumably the FA will get something a windfall with the Socceroos having made it through to the R16, so perhaps there's an opportunity there. On the broader point: there's basically zero evidence for those other codes gaining the lion's share of Govt funding at the expense of soccer. Check the funding allocations included in the most recent Australian Sports Commission Annual Report: Australian Football/AFL: $289,900 Cricket: $450,000 Rugby League: $0 Rugby Union: $3,301,210 Football/Soccer: $7,903,750 Soccer has received literally 10 times the level of support of Aust Football, RL and Cricket combined. https://www.sportaus.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1077364/ASC-Annual-Report-2021-22-acc.pdf
Bonza
Roar Rookie
Roarers generally have more insight than the powers that be when it comes to sporting matters. And other matters too, I'd say. So anyway, how do we get football/soccer up to being a mainstream sport in Australia? I thought it was already massively popular as a participation sport and every second person seems to follow the EPL. Is the goal to build up the A League or the general participation of football? Or both? To grow the A League I assume it means more money from TV deals as the other codes do. The money then goes on to the clubs. I'm on board, but what's the plan?
Loosey
Roar Rookie
I dont watch the premier league, why would I? I think you've made your point.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Deep down I through a thrashing of 5 or 6 nil.... was coming ... they did good...
brookvalesouth
Roar Rookie
I mean, we can't be making those comments about international jersey's when the best Australian player of the tournament has never lived a single day in Australia
Adam
Roar Guru
One of them backyard footballs I've been told about...
Adam
Roar Guru
The problem with infrastructure at the local level is which level of government assumes responsibility. Normally a council/shire will maintain these facilities but they tend not to have that much coin to build the facilities themselves. Then they have to go to state and/or federal government for funding with the support of council. It's just a maze of bureaucracy
Ross
Roar Rookie
AFL and NRL aren't part of the Olympics, so get nothing there. Football and Rugby (for 7s) do get funding for Olympic programs. AFL and NRL get funding for participation from govt, but the lion's share of the money they get the benefit of (rather than receive directly) is stadium development. I also imagine new rectangular stadia around the country have a business case saying they are for rugby/rugby league and football. My read of the situation is AFL and NRL fund their own player development so the parents of the best kids don't need to spend thousands for them to be well coached and get exposure to professional opportunities. They can do this because TV deals give them the cash. Football can't because the A-League doesn't have the same sort of deal. I doubt the government is going to step into this space, but who knows.
Redb
Roar Guru
To get that close to a powerhouse country is a real achievement. Was thinking it would be 3 -0, not 2-1.
chris
Guest
For me the game was decided through our lack of game control. We keep talking about our Aussies dna (as if other countries don’t have it), but we are very naive when it comes to football. Ryan was fouled as he tried to play out. It was subtle, but still a foul. Most keepers would have gone down and got the free kick. But Maty didn’t. He kept trying to play. The Argentine puts his two hands up signifying “I didn’t touch him” – meaning he did. The second one is Behich. Why oh why didn’t he go down when he did that mazy run. 2 goal turnaround and we may very well be sitting here today looking at a 1/4 final. Yes Argentina may have been the better side. But these games aren’t necessarily decided by who is better. They are decided by moments.