Australia will be feared by the best, insists coach
Australia coach Ange Postecoglou believes his side will become a force to be reckoned with at future World Cups despite being eliminated by a 3-2 defeat to the Netherlands on Wednesday.
|Last Updated: Jun 19, 2014, 09:42 AM IST|Source: AFP
Brasilia: Australia coach Ange Postecoglou believes his side will become a force to be reckoned with at future World Cups despite being eliminated by a 3-2 defeat to the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Australia had deservedly led 2-1 just before the hour mark thanks to Tim Cahill`s stunning volley and Mile Jedinak`s penalty after Arjen Robben had given Holland the lead.
However, Robin van Persie quickly levelled and Memphis Depay struck the winner with the aid of a goalkeeping mistake from Maty Ryan 22 minutes from time.
Postecoglou insisted his young squad will become a force to be reckoned with at future tournaments, including the Asian Cup on home soil next year, if they continue their current rate of progress.
"I don`t feel pleased right now because of emotions of the game, but we came to this World Cup and we`re playing against three of the best nations in the world. People were saying we weren`t going to score a goal and we would just try and survive and I think in both games we`ve taken it to the opposition.
"We`ve only just started on this journey and the goal is to come back in four years time and they fear us before we go on the pitch as much as they fear us on there now. There is no doubt both Chile and the Dutch know they`ve been in a game and I think that speaks about the way we`ve gone about our football.
"At the same time I have said all along I wasn`t going to discount this World Cup, I wasn`t going to come here and experiment or build experience. I came here with the objective to make an impact and I think in both games we`ve had the opportunities to do that so it is just disappointing that we weren`t able to."
Australia could have been in front once more just before Depay`s winner as Matthew Leckie passed up a great chance. Postecoglou admitted that had been the turning point in the game.
"I think that was the critical moment both us missing the opportunity and conceding. That`s how big games are decided and from our point of view that is two now we`ve had some great opportunities to get our noses in front and we weren`t able to."
Victory ensured Holland`s place in the last 16 as they have maximum points from two games and will play Chile for the right to top the group on Monday, although they will be without the suspended Van Persie.
Dutch boss Louis van Gaal agreed with Postecoglou that Leckie`s miss turned the game and hailed the clinical nature of Robben and Van Persie in similar circumstances as they each took their tally for the tournament to three goals in two games.
"At one point Australia missed an enormous opportunity, I said we are going to win the match because if they missed chances like that, we will take ours.
"It is great to have strikers like Robben and Van Persie to have scored three goals each in just two matches. They are incredibly clever and create a good spectacle for the fans which is important as well."
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.