Lack of fanfare can work in favour of Socceroos and England as World Cup looms

Australia and England seem to heading down parallel roads of non-expectation as the start of the World Cup footballing fiesta in Brazil edges ever closer. The flak dished out to a revamped and youthful Socceroo side after the 1-1 draw in the farewell friendly against South Africa at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium seemed way over the top. The Aussies were on a hiding to nothing. With coach Ange Postecoglou attempting to implement a major renovation job in a limited span of time, the result on Monday would not have made any difference to the task ahead in a group of frightening intensity featuring Chile, the Netherlands and all-conquering Spain. It just seems wrong for critics to get on the side’s backs when the main mission lies ahead. The Socceroos only limped through to the finals after a less than convincing qualifying route under German coach Holger Osieck. Two successive subsequent 6-0 friendly drubbings to Brazil and France merely brought home how much drastic surgery was needed. Osieck had done his job in achieving qualification but with the old brigade – ex-captain Lucas Neill and co – looking creaky, all was plainly not well. Postecoglou deserves credit for what he has achieved so far in turning around the freefall. He still has trooper Tim Cahill to call on. And with new captain Mile Jedonik and Mark Bresciano to return to the fold, all is not lost. The World Cup journey should be one to enjoy not to embark on in defeatist mode. It was not that long ago that the idea of Australia even qualifying to be on the world game’s biggest stage would have been seen as far-fetched. Now they have done it three times in a row. It’s an achievement that should be lauded with the hope of possible stirring deeds ahead. I’ve always wanted the Australian team to do well – unlike the cricketers. They need all the help they can get in a country obsessed with parochial sports in their respective states such as rugby league and Australian Rules. Don’t get me wrong, both these codes are great to watch but in global terms, they don’t really count. And of course the Aussies of recent times have had Blackburn Rovers’ former stalwarts Neill and Brett Emerton in their ranks. They also had another Rover Vince Grella involved but unfortunately his time at Ewood saw him spend more time on the treatment table than on the pitch, which made him less of a treasured item in my eyes. Whatever happens will surely be an improvement on the opening game in South Africa four years ago. On that occasion Dutch coach Pim Verbeek seemed paralysed by fear at the prospect of facing Germany. His ultra-negative strategy was to send out a side without any recognised striker. The outcome was an abject 4-0 surrender in a performance so meek it was almost “un-Australian.” And at least the Aussies won’t arrive in Brazil, suffering from the “English disease.” For as long as I can remember we have gone to the World Cup with the fans being whipped into a frenzy by the media boasting that we were going to carry off the trophy … no problems. Even in years when we failed to qualify – in 1974, 1978 and 1994 – it failed to quell the madcap stirrings when were back where we belonged. England did actually lift the then-named Jules Rimet Trophy in 1966. But that was on home soil. And when the newly appointed manager Alf Ramsey declared in 1963 that his team would do just that, he was initially ridiculed by the press. How times change… since then there have been glorious but heartbreaking failures including Mexico 1970 and 1986, Italia 1990, and France 1998. On each of those occasions, the dreaded Argentines and Germans were involved. Last time it was the Germans again, but with a humiliating 4-1 stroll. For the weeks ahead, manager Roy Hodgson has followed Postecoglou’s lead in selecting a very youthful squad. And even he has had had to put up with some cat-calls for his policy. But with the recent well-publicised concern over lack of English-born players in the world’s most glamorous and filthy rich League, maybe the pragmatic Hodgson had no choice. Perhaps it’s better that the clamour has been restrained. After all, England’s Group D looks almost as daunting as Australia’s with Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica lying in wait. One quirk of England’s campaigns always seems to be some cheesy pop songs, often delivered by current or past players as supposed rallying cries. I well remember Back Home from 1970 and This time (we’ll get it right) for Ron Greenwood’s squad in 1982. Alas, they didn’t. But this time it’s Sir Geoff Hurst and Gary Lineker joining Gary Barlow to belt out a Take That cover. However, the Scots outdid us in high expectation and miserable failure in 1978 when the Tartan Army were going mental to We’re on the march with Ally’s Army. Now that was embarrassing in the wake of the traumas of the doomed Ally McLeod campaign in Argentina… In fairness, England got hip for 1990 when John Barnes and the rest teamed up with New Order for World In Motion. That’s even in my vinyl collection. So if the Aussies and us English don’t get too carried away, there could be surprises to savour for both on the greatest sporting stage. If so, I may even break into song…