Ange Postecoglou must finish the job in Russia, writes Matt Windley
THE last few months have been tough for Ange Postecoglou but the hard part is over and it’s time to finish the job in Russia, writes MATT WINDLEY.
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COME on Ange, finish the job.
You’ve always said that simply qualifying for a World Cup is not what motivates you, it’s doing well at a World Cup.
So aren’t you the least bit curious about what this team — your team — can do in Russia now that it has its ticket stamped?
Qualifying through Asia is a tough gig. It’s the world’s most populous continent.
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Soccer is the No.1 sport in many of the countries we play against and there is no shortage of coin being thrown at the game — especially in places like the Middle East — to improve the stocks of the national team.
As Asian champion, yours is the side everyone in Asia wants to beat and the opposition defends doggedly against you, attempting to deny you at every turn.
Yet here we are. Again. Off to a fourth straight World Cup. We’ve won. You’ve won.
Now the shackles can come off. There’s nothing to lose and certainly no opponent who is going to park the bus against you.
You told everyone who asked — and there were plenty who did that — that you changed the game plan because you felt it would give the team the best chance of succeeding in Russia.
It might have taken longer to qualify than you liked — than we all would have liked — but the fact remains that now you have that chance to test that bold, attacking game plan against the world’s best.
Ask Italy, the Netherlands, Chile and the USA if they’d want to trade positions.
The last few months have been tough. The criticism has come from far and wide.
You haven’t been blameless, inviting critiques on one hand and then whacking back at the critics on the other.
Straight after Wednesday’s game you gave an insight into your psyche.
“Mate, if people still think I go round worrying about what people think and looking for some kind of vindication, they’ve missed the last 20 years,” he said.
“I won my first championship when I was 31 years old, and you know what, I could coach for another 20 years and I’ll always be an outsider in Australian football.
“I don’t have the glittering Socceroo career that you need, but that’s fine, I’ll wear it as a badge of honour. The more comes my way, the more I’ll go down my own path.”
Ange, your legacy is secure.
You taught us to believe again, to attack. And you must feel that weight of support from the nation after your captain Mile Jedinak and players made it happen at ANZ Stadium?
Regardless of you mindset when you decided weeks ago it was time to go, no one would care if you changed your mind now.
Whatever your motivation was, your country needs you now. So come to Russia. Please.
Originally published as Ange Postecoglou must finish the job in Russia, writes Matt Windley