There was one word from Graham Arnold’s last post-match press conference in Qatar that stuck out.
“We have great team culture and mateship,” he said. “When the energy is high and the boys are good mates, you can overachieve, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Is Graham Arnold being judged too harshly - or is all of that par for the course in a game of opinions?Credit: Getty
The word of interest, for those of you playing at home, was “overachieve”. Maybe it didn’t come out right. Maybe it did.
They haven’t overachieved already, have they?
Whatever Arnold meant, that word goes to the heart of the big debate surrounding the Socceroos, their performances at this Asian Cup and the criticism they and their coach have attracted.
Is too much being expected of them, from hard-to-please fans and pundits?
Graham Arnold on the sidelines during Australia’s clash with Uzbekistan.Credit: Getty
It is surely not too controversial to say they haven’t been playing great, especially in attack. But they did finish top of their group, they’re undefeated in three games and have conceded only one goal.
As Arnold has been eager to point out, Australia has enjoyed more time in the opposition’s half, more penalty box entries, and more touches inside the box than any other team in the tournament. But they’re also ranked 17th of 24 teams for shots on target per match, behind Tajikistan and Malaysia. And if the Socceroos beat Indonesia in the round of 16 on Sunday night (10.30pm, AEDT) to reach the quarter-finals – which they should do – they will next face either Saudi Arabia or South Korea, who are No.1 and No.2 in that department.
Are we asking too much of Graham Arnold and the Socceroos?
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27.01.2024
There was one word from Graham Arnold’s last post-match press conference in Qatar that stuck out.
“We have great team culture and mateship,” he said. “When the energy is high and the boys are good mates, you can overachieve, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Is Graham Arnold being judged too harshly - or is all of that par for the course in a game of opinions?Credit: Getty
The word of........
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