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They’ve been ridiculed, questioned and written off, but Graham Arnold’s side has had the last laugh having qualified for the Round of 16 for just the second time in their history after a backs-against-the-wall 1-0 win over Denmark.
It was a scenario that would scarcely have been believable just a few months ago as Australian faced a pair of sudden-death playoffs against the UAE and then Peru to even qualify for Qatar.
Belief, and even interest, in the national team was at an all-time low. This was a team that was on the nose with the Australian public.
Now they are national heroes with scenes almost never seen before in Australia greeting their success.
As we predicted yesterday in our match preview, Arnold opted to largely stick with the same XI he has throughout the tournament, with right back again the only position he changed, with Milos Degenek coming in for Fran Karacic.
It was far from a complete performance from the Socceroos, who started the game looking nervous and devoid of energy. Denmark were having the best of it, but for all their possession and territory they struggled to create very little.
Mathias Jensen’s 11th minute effort that forced a fine save from Maty Ryan was as close as they got despite enjoying almost 65% possession.
In fact it was Australia that finished the first half with more shots on target (three to two); a reminder to the Danes that for all their dominance Australia weren’t completely out of the game.
Fifteen minutes into the second half came the decisive moment of the game, when Riley McGree was able to face forward with nothing but green grass ahead of him and Mathew Leckie sprinting into space.
Taking the ball with just the one defender to beat, Leckie, who joined Ryan, Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano as Australia’s most capped World Cup players, twisted and turned before firing off a powerful effort that beat the outstretched hand of XX and nestled into the net at the far post to give Australia a lead they would not surrender.
While the Danes had two-thirds of possession, Australia still edged them for shots on target, and while there were a few nervy moments Australia’s defence largely dealt with what the Danes threw their way, with Maty Ryan rarely called upon to bail Australia out.
Arnold set his stall out 15 minutes from time brining on Bailey Wright and switching to a 5-3-2, ostensibly to sure up the defence and protect the slender lead they did have.
Harry Souttar and Kye Rowles were excellent at the back again, while Mitch Duke only enhanced his reputation as Australia’s leading man.
Australia can now look forward to just their second ever Round of 16 encounter on Saturday when they host the winner of Group C.
Embed from Getty ImagesWHAT WE LEARNED
This Australian side is made of tough stuff: Having suffered a tough 4-1 loss to France in their opening game, Australia has now kept back-to-back clean sheets for the first time ever in their six World Cup appearances. Harry Souttar and Kye Rowles came into the tournament under fitness clouds, but aside from the loss to France both have been absolutely immense.
Leckie writes his name in history: The Melbourne City winger already created history by stepping out onto the pitch, equalling the record of Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano for the most number of World Cup appearances in green and gold. But it’s his goal that will now go down in Socceroos folklore along with those of Cahill and Harry Kewell before him.
Graham Arnold deserves credit: The former Sydney FC manager isn’t universally popular within the Australian fan base, with many wanting him removed after Australia failed to qualify automatically from the group back in March. But everything that has happened since is validation for Arnold and now having navigated Australia through a tricky group and breaking records along the way, the XX year old deserves every bit of credit coming his way.
WHAT THEY SAID
Graham Arnold – Australian coach
“It’s first time ever an Australian team has won two games of the World Cup in a row.
“Maybe we’re talking about a new golden generation now because we’ve been listening and hearing about the golden generation of 2006 who got four points – and now we’ve got six.
“I’m just so proud of the players, the work ethic, the commitment, the fight, the way they played. Denmark are top 10 in the world for a reason, they have high quality players who play in top leagues and defensively I thought we were outstanding tonight.
Embed from Getty Images“I truly believe that the Socceroos are the team that unites the country.
“If the cricket team get to the final of the World Cup you don’t get scenes like tonight. You don’t see the squares like they are tonight, and not with the rugby union or rugby league either. I’m just so proud and happy. This is what World Cups are for.”
Mathew Leckie – Australian winger
“On this one occasion, we were on the ball and it was obviously a counter attack.
“First I wanted to cut inside and he sort of went that way. And just in the moment went left again and swung my left boot and just saw the ball rolling in. I was excited and happy.
“In the celebration you saw the emotion. I didn’t know what to do, I was just pounding my chest.
“Once the boys got together, the whole bench was there and I think I got slapped in the head a hundred times.
“The team we are, if you’re starting or on the bench or not getting any game time everyone is here for each other.”
WHAT COMES NEXT
There’s little time for rest for Australia who get just two day’s respite ahead of a monster Round of 16 clash against the might of Argentina and Lionel Messi. Graham Arnold masterminded a win over Argentina at the Tokyo Olympics last year, but the challenge of the senior team is at a different level altogether.
Photo: twitter/Socceroos
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