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Mixed feelings for Socceroos after 'great performance'
Australia's late surge to grab a World Cup last 16 spot came up agonisingly short and left the Socceroos with mixed emotions here on Wednesday.
The Australians produced their best performance of the tournament to down Serbia 2-1 at the Mbombela Stadium, yet it wasn't enough as Germany and Ghana went through to the knockout phase.
Mixed feelings ... Pim Verbeek hugs Tim Cahill after the match.
Australia's campaign looked irreparably damaged after their opening 4-0 rout by Germany, but a hard-fought 1-1 draw with 10 men against Ghana and their win over the Serbs restored their reputation.
"I have mixed feelings now," said coach Pim Verbeek, who finished his 30-month tenure with the Socceroos on a high note.
"It was a great result and a great performance, but we are not in the final 16.
"That was the plan when we came to South Africa, but it didn't work out that way and I cannot blame any one of the players, who worked very hard last week when everybody else thought it was over."
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In the end Australia finished on four points with Ghana, but the Africans progressed on a superior three-goal difference and will play the United States in the round of 16 at Rustenburg on Saturday.
It was Australia's horror opening loss to the Germans in Durban which ultimately proved insurmountable for the Socceroos.
"It's not the first day I have been thinking about that result," Verbeek said.
"Losing 4-0 was not in the planning. In the end the goal difference made the difference and we can blame that on giving those goals away against Germany.
"That can happen in football. We played one very poor game and that cost us a lot. We played a great game against Ghana and tonight against Serbia.
"I have spoken to my players on what I thought about that game, the reality was that it was 4-0, you can blame the red card, referee, but we were not good enough on the night.
"We should not underestimate Germany because they played a fantastic game against us. We haven't made the same mistakes again after that game."
Australia were bidding to repeat their feat under Guus Hiddink of reaching the second round at the 2006 World Cup, where they lost to a disputed last-minute penalty to eventual champions Italy.
"Four points was enough for Australia four years ago, but this time we needed five points to go through," he said.
Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, whose magnificent header put Australia in front in the 69th minute, said it was one of the proudest nights of his football career.
"I am very proud to get the opportunity to play tonight. I am proud to be part of this team," said Cahill, who returned after a one-match suspension for his red card against Germany.
"Against Ghana and again tonight against such a strong team like Serbia. Four points is exceptional, we were unlucky not to go through."
Skipper Lucas Neill looked back on the Germany game with regret.
"We are disappointed in ourselves for the way we started the tournament. The way we conducted ourselves in the next two games is something we can really be proud of. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough," he said.
"It’s just a pity about that first game," he added.
"Had we not needed to get three or four goals (against Serbia) we might have dropped anchor when we were leading 2-0.
"The regret is that we were a little bit naive in the first game.
"To go 2-0 down and then have a man (Tim Cahill) sent off, we should have pulled everyone back and drawn a line under it and said, 'Right, we’ll lose 2-0'.
"The way we think is, 'Let’s see if we can go and get one back', and really we should have said, 'Right 2-0, let’s lick our wounds and move on'."
Brett Holman, who scored against both Serbia and Ghana, was pleased with his performances in the tournament.
"Maybe I haven’t done that [score goals] in the past, though I’ve always given my best for the Aussies," he said. "But I’m happy with what I’ve shown. You are always going to get criticism now and then. You’ve got to deal with it and prove them wrong."
Agencies