Asian Cup 2015: Frank Lowy eyes second round goal for Socceroos at 2018 World Cup

HE won’t be around to enforce it, but Frank Lowy has already set Ange Postecoglou a fresh target, after the Socceroos reached the final of the Asian Cup.

HE won’t be around to enforce it, but Frank Lowy has already set Ange Postecoglou a fresh target, after the Socceroos reached the final of the Asian Cup.

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Frank Lowy with David Gallop and Ange Postecoglou.

Months before he must stand down as chairman of Football Federation Australia, Lowy insists that “Australia expects” the Socceroos to have heightened ambition - which includes making the second round of the next World Cup.

Confident that Australia now has the personnel to qualify for 2018 in Russia, Lowy said the evolving of an “Australian style” had to translate into achievement.

“My view is that we must participate in every World Cup,” he said.

“It’s a condition of our ambition. What I would be looking for at the next World Cup is a little bit optimistic - that we make the second round. I think Australia would want us to be.

“We’ve been there once, twice we weren’t. So the objective for 2018 must be to qualify from the group again. And of course if we win against South Korea in the Asian Cup final, we go to the Confederations Cup (in Russia in 2017), which is a big incentive.

“I think we’re developing an Australian style, a very attractive style, which we didn’t quite do before with the Dutch or Germans in charge. Now we have our own style under an Australian coach who is fully committed. And the next objective for him is to make the World Cup - and then the second round.

“Australia expects it. I’m not putting these forecasts on the table for fun - Australia expects it.”

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Frank Lowy eyes second round goal for Socceroos at 2018 World Cup