‘Non-hero’ Andrew Redmayne gets wiggle on to save Socceroos’ World Cup dream

Australia’s World Cup hero says he isn’t a hero. And Andrew Redmayne has revealed his priceless reaction against Peru was the celebration you have when you’re not meant to be celebrating.

Craig Goodwin, left, and keeper Andrew Redmayne celebrate at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Picture: Getty Images

The most heroic act of the hero was to deny he was a hero.

“I just played my role like everyone else did,” Socceroos goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne said after the penalty save that launched a thousand memes and sent his side to the World Cup in the most euphoric moment in Australian football since John Aloisi’s unforgettable penalty against Uruguay in 2005.

The Socceroos qualified for November’s festival of the boot in Qatar via a nerve-shredding 5-4 penalty shootout against Peru on Tuesday.

Redmayne, and the rest of us, glued to our TVs shortly before 7am AEST, had our Aloisi ­moment thanks to the boldest move of Graham Arnold’s career.

The coach, whose head was on the chopping block after a wildly seesawing 1008-day qualification campaign, took a gulp and pulled his captain and goalkeeper Maty Ryan from the field in the 120th and final minute of regulation and extra time.

Goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne is mobbed by jubilant teammates after the penalty shoot-out. Picture: Getty Images

Redmayne’s unconventional song-and-dance routine against penalties might just come off … and it did.

“It’s hard to put into words how big a moment this is,” Redmayne said.

“It’s a massive achievement. That’s down to Arnie. That’s down to the belief he puts into the players. The respect he gives the players. All the little one-per-centers. The man management. The ­people external to this group don’t see the work and love and passion that Arnie puts into every single player that comes into camp and puts on that green and gold shirt.”

Right before kick-off, Arnold looked skywards and mouthed the word “Please”.

 

More than two hours later, with tears in his eyes, he said of the Socceroos making their fifth straight World Cup: “The doubters don’t bother me. I only care about the players … I called out Anthony Albanese the other day to give everyone a day off to ­celebrate this because I ­believe this is one of the greatest ­achievements ever, to qualify for this World Cup the way we had to do things.

“It’s been tough, but we did it. I’m quite speechless because no one in Australia gave us a chance.”

Arnold nearly quit as coach when Covid restrictions meant the Socceroos could play only four of their 20 matches at home and his only contact with players was on Zoom.

“In many of our camps, the players and staff were confined largely to their hotel rooms when they weren’t at the training pitch or match stadium,” he said.

Andrew Redmayne and Aziz Behich share the joy at Al Rayyan Stadium. Picture: Reuters

“The dedication and sacrifice … from so many people has been ­immense.

“As coach I’m so thrilled that millions of people across our country will today be talking about the Socceroos, a team that represents modern-day Australia through its diversity and multiculturalism, and unites the nation.”

Aloisi reacted to his penalty in 2005 by ripping off his shirt and running like the wind down the field.

Redmayne stood still while a wide-eyed, open-mouthed grin broke across his dial.

He revealed the novel reaction to his heroic-but-not-heroic save stemmed from being told by the referee that he had to wait to celebrate because his baulking tactics – dancing along the goal line like it was a Wiggles audition – had to be checked by the video assistant referee.

“I’m no hero,” he said.

“The ref said to me, the last two penalties, if you save this, you win.

“That’s when it sunk home – if you save this then you win but don’t go running off because we need to check on VAR if you’ve come off your line.

“Because you move around a lot. So don’t go running off ­celebrating.”

Explaining that look on his face, the hero-not-hero said it was the celebration you have when you’re not meant to be celebrating: “It was quite surreal. Trying to keep a lid on it, so to speak.”