Asian Cup 2015: The Socceroos’ history in Asia has them ready to succeed
AS host nation, Australia’s hopes for the 2015 Asian Cup are understandably high — but also tinged with realism about the task at hand.
WATCH THE VIDEO AS JOHN ALOISI REVIEWS AUSTRALIA’S ASIAN CUP STORY
It hasn’t always been so. Back in 2007, our debut in the competition and fresh off the high of the 2006 World Cup, there was an expectation that the Socceroos would waltz past their lesser-known confederation neighbours.
What we didn’t know was the quality of the teams and players across Asia, nor did we fully appreciate the problems playing in confronting climates would pose for the athletic Australian players.
KEWELL: NEW GENERATION MUST STEP UP
PICK YOUR SOCCEROOS XI WITH OUR SQUAD SELECTOR
SIMON HILL’S FIVE GAMES NOT TO BE MISSED
The ’07 in tournament in Thailand was an energy sapping affair, for players and fans alike. With Graham Arnold taking over from Guus Hiddink, the Socceroos struggled to replicate the dynamism of Germany and only an injury time equaliser from Tim Cahill stopped an embarrassing opening game defeat at the hands of Oman.
As Harry Kewell now concedes, the Socceroos went into the tournament thinking they would “walk over” their opponents. A 3-1 defeat by Iraq in the second game quickly punctured that over-inflated self-belief, with an error-strewn performance that left the Australians in disarray.
Confidence rose again after the dispatching of hosts Thailand — but a quarter-final draw with Japan proved too much, the Socceroos going out on penalties.
The 2011 tournament in Qatar was an entirely different affair. Having struggled at the South Africa World Cup, the Pim Verbeek-coached Socceroos this time knew they would have to be at their best to really make an impact.
Wins over India and Bahrain and a draw with South Korea saw Australia sail through the group stage, while confidence-boosting wins over Iraq and Uzbekistan put them into their first major final — facing Japan in Doha.
But despite a battling performance, yet again the Samurai Blue were too sharp for the Socceroos, with slack marking leaving striker Tadanari Lee in acres of space to volley home the decider’s only goal.
As we prepare for the 2015 opener against Kuwait in Melbourne, Socceroos fans are perhaps now, more than ever, truly ready for what the Asian Cup means; tough, organised and technical opposition, with a level of talent that serves to make the general lack of knowledge of them embarrassing.
Ange Postecoglou leads what is arguably the weakest Socceroos side in a decade into our first major tournament as hosts, and as such our expectations have been reset.
We want good football and we want pride in the jersey — but with respect, not arrogance. We welcome Asia as equals and hope that this is the tournament the Socceroos can finally show how much this great competition means
The Fox Football Podcast returns for 2015 with a bumper edition to preview the Asian Cup. Adam Peacock is joined in the studio by Simon Hill, Michael Cockerill and Asian football expert Michael Church, while Richard Bayliss phones in from Socceroos camp in Melbourne, while 2011 Asian Cup squad member Sasa Ognenovski gives his expert views as well. A must listen ahead of the tournament.