Over a week ago, the Australian National Football Team managed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, catching the last train to Qatar, after beating Peru in a fairly dull game where they didn’t really dominate or impress a whole lot. These performances by the Socceroos are something that the majority of football fans in the country have gotten used to.
In the end, a miraculous save from the most unlikely hero, Andrew Redmayne, in the penalty shoot-out was needed in order for the Socceroos to get to the Promised Land and earn the right to play on the biggest of stages for the fifth consecutive time.
Overall, it’s really hard not to appreciate this team and admire their effort, considering what they have gone through in order to qualify, and the fact that the third-choice goalkeeper was the eventual hero does add to the feel-good factor. Yet the sudden change of narrative surrounding the squad seems somewhat premature.
Not too long ago, the majority of fans and media alike wanted to see head coach Graham Arnold gone, with some even saying that he should be sacked before the crucial WC qualification game against the United Arab Emirates. And they did have their valid arguments.