In the course of successfully advancing to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Asian Cup, the Socceroos have once again been adjudged by many to have been somewhere between poor and underwhelming on the road to the final eight.
Short memories, those folks appear to have – as well possessing a mighty narrow pair of goggles that have enabled them to completely ignore the realities of the tournament, the challenge of winning it and the mixed results that played out across the group stages.
People complaining intensely the Socceroos have not created enough chances during the tournament, are converting far too infrequently and don’t look like a team capable of lifting the trophy on February 11 do have a point, yet this also misses two key realities of tournament football.
Socceroos giant Harry Souttar celebrates scoring at the AFC Asian Cup. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Firstly, it is bloody hard and compellingly more competitive and desperate than the confederation’s World Cup qualifying matches.
Secondly, despite Australia not having brushed aside opponent after opponent with ease it is important to note that neither have the other teams tipped to be there or thereabouts when the whips are cracking in the semi-finals.
That is what occurs during the Asian Cup. Teams play for their lives, many knowing that the World Cup stage is a little beyond them and that the tournament is the biggest event for them as a sporting nation.
Australia’s history of battling countries like Syria, Jordan and Thailand in hard fought encounters, where the underdogs have consistently lifted, is the perfect example of why the Asian Cup is so much more difficult and challenging to win than some believe.
Socceroo Jordan Bos tangles with Syria’s Ammar Ramadan at the AFC Asian Cup. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
Despite some of the simple criticism and commentary currently being dished out towards a Socceroo team that’s getting the results without ever really reaching a high gear, the team continues to perform well on the international stage, with the lesser ranked nations desperately keen to knock them off whenever given the chance to do so.
Seemingly overlooked by the critics are the travails of pre-tournament favourites Japan; down 2-1 to Vietnam after 33 minutes in its opening match of the tournament, which proceeded a loss to Iraq and a 3-1 win against Indonesia that qualified them for the knockout phase.
Interestingly, as a third-placed group qualifier, Indonesia’s 4-0 loss to the Socceroos on Sunday night was more comprehensive on the scoreboard than when they met the Japanese, despite Japan dominating consistently in the cut and thrust of the contest in the Matchday 3 encounter.
It would be quite easy to argue the Socceroos have been a little more comfortable across their four matches, with Japan hopeful of an explosion of form from here on in.
I wonder if the Japanese team is experiencing the same scrutiny in their domestic press rooms as the Socceroos appear to be? Perhaps.
Reigning champions Qatar snuck home against Tajikistan in what was a seriously understated performance from them and also went behind early against Palestine yesterday before righting the ship and doing enough for a 2-1 victory.
The Socceroos celebrate a goal from Martin Boyle at the AFC Asian Cup. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
South Korea drew 2-2 with Jordan and 3-3 with Malaysia during the group stage, with only an earlier win against Bahrain ensuring their place in the final 16.
Saudia Arabia drew 0-0 with Thailand in a shock result and scored in the 96th minute to beat Oman after trailing for 64 minutes on Matchday 1.
Perhaps only Iran could claim to have had plain sailing to this point in the tournament, although a 1-0 win against Hong Kong was also far too close for their liking.
In short, everyone has had their challenges, troubles and battles and despite the Socceroos awaiting Saudi Arabia or South Korea in what will be a blockbuster quarter final encounter, they have looked far better than some pundits would have you believe.
Graham Arnold has tweaked and probed, looking for combinations. Just a goal has been conceded and after what the world saw at the 2022 World Cup, no team will be wanting to face the Aussies as a preference.
Sure, there is a heck of a lot of improvement before we can start to talk about a potential second Asian Cup title, yet things don’t always have to be pretty and confederation play rarely is.
The Socceroos can play better and will. Don’t give up on them just yet.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Waiting, waiting...
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Mate is Ad one of those backyard lot? His cerebral capacity and knowledge base seem to be on the tank half empty side
chris1
Roar Rookie
Exactly right Grem. It matters not whether we like cricket or league or AFL or football or any other sport. And it’s a matter of opinion whether you think one game is better than the other. Each to their own. But we are seemingly constantly having to argue that our cricketers or league player or AFL players are not world class athletes like the msm and many on here seem to think. We just don’t know because they will never be tested on the true global stage. For that matter only footballers, athletics (and possibly basketball and tennis) truly test themselves on the global stage. That’s not to mean they aren’t very good sports people in their chosen sport. Of course they are. But world class? Not a chance. These same people ridicule our footballers who truly do test themselves on the world stage and we finished 11th at a WC. Jealousy probably plays a big part in that.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
That is what friendlies are for.
Grem
Roar Rookie
It’s funny how I spend a lot of time arguing down sports I like or quite like. I played cricket for a long time and was quite decent. I loved watching it. I played a lot of league and followed it closely for a long time. The fact is being a cricket “world” champion is very different than competing in international football competitions and genuine World Cups. And then there is rugby league, which is essentially a 2 state game. Yet these people believe cricketers and league players are all superstars and our elite athletes! And winning a “world” cup in cricket is treated as equal to football. Oh, and the new West Indian bowler is a GLOBAL superstar! They actually believe this! And they accuse us of not being realistic!
Grem
Roar Rookie
Yes we do. This type of argument will suit you down to the ground.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Grem we're still awaiting the list of world class athletes that have shunned football and playing something else in this country. These arguments are easy to have with your missus who 1/ doesn't really care and 2/ wouldn't know how to counter the ridiculous claims. "Oh if our league and AFL players choose soccer instead, we'd be winning world cups every 4 years" lol
chris1
Roar Rookie
"Sponsors/Coaches kids". No doubt there are a few spots taken up by these players. So what? It takes more than just players to run a successful football club at grassroots level. If a spot is taken up by someone who's father feels like pumping in 20k plus to the club well great! I don't think a Leo Messi is being discarded because little Johnny who can't even kick a ball but is the sponsors son, gets a spot.
Grem
Roar Rookie
And cricket is probably only a popular sport because being “world” champs is very achievable. It gives them a great sense of national pride, which is good. They can beat Pakistan, which is a real bonus for them. If they had a chance of being world champs or near that level in football, the biggest and most difficult sport on earth to succeed in, then their allegiance would quickly change!
Grem
Roar Rookie
Ryan (@matyryan) • Instagram photos and videos 173K Followers, 372 Following, 495 Posts – See Instagram photos and videos from Maty Ryan (@matyryan). Shamar Joseph (@shamarjoseph7) 40.1K followers; 282 following. Shamar Joseph Believed ❤️ A story of belief and persistence creating history with the How many times do you need to be proved wrong? Stick to the cricket (where we are “world” champs) and union.
Ad Tastic
Roar Rookie
Bet he has more IG followers than any current Socceroo
Ad Tastic
Roar Rookie
No we dont
Grem
Roar Rookie
Yet that West Indian bowler is a global superstar. You’re a funny man.
Grem
Roar Rookie
We do both.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Talented athletes? I saw the Kangaroos smashed by New Zealand - so they’re not in rugby league. I have seen us lose to the West Indies in cricket and beat Pakistan because they can’t catch. We certainly haven’t got that talent in our batting line up. We don’t usually do well in tennis or athletics. Our bike riding hasn’t been the same since Cadel retired. Oh, I did see the Socceroos push Argentina and get ranked 11th at a real World Cup. Perhaps I have an inkling as to where they are going.
Ad Tastic
Roar Rookie
Who are these nobodies you talk of? A guy that hasn't signed for Villa, and somebody in Bayern's development squad? I think you misunderstand what I'm getting at.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
exactly, have a look at the talent this country is sporning. Joe Gauci looks like he's going to Villa, we already have a young keeper at Bayern and Nestory Irankunda will be getting a slice of that pie. We have approximately a dozen lads in Scotland, we have a handful of lads in France. We've got a few in Belgium, Netherlands, Japan and the list goes on. And we've built them. They've all come through the Young Socceroos and the Olyroos. They are born and bred in Australia, have come through the Australian system and have succeed under their own strength, athleticism and Australian DNA. Take the sunnies off mate, because it seems that you cannot see what is going on in Australia.
Ad Tastic
Roar Rookie
World class athletes are born not made, unfortunately.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Ad, do you remember Michele Platini playing in the World Cup against the likes of Socrates, Zico and Falcao in Mexico 1986? If you don’t that’s fine but 86 is approximately 34 years ago. That mean France were top flight 34 years ago, which means they had serious domestic football at least 40 years ago. And how long have we had serious domestic football, how long does it take to build a successful league and long line of young prodgies? it’s taken the Poms over a century.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Do we need to attract the best athletes in the country or are we building our own?