Socceroos coach Graham Arnold is old school, but with a new class. Assistant coach to Guus Hiddink of the venerated “golden generation” in its 2006 heyday, he hopes he has at last found inheritors of that title.
“It’s the first time ever an Australian team’s won two games in a row at a World Cup: maybe we’re talking about a new golden generation,” Arnold said. “Because I’ve been listening and hearing about that golden generation of 2006. They got four points, and now we’ve got six, so maybe we’re talking about a new generation.”
It’s new, yes, but replete with old-fashioned Arnold qualities. The coach admitted he picked players in his mould.
“They can be quality players, but you need the right mentality,” Arnold said. “People were probably surprised at some of my selections at the start of this World Cup, but it’s just that I know the players so well.
“I know the mentally strong ones. The ones who will die for the team, and die for each other, and work for each other. They’re the ones I back, and they’re the ones I know that can get the job done.”
His exemplar is Harry Souttar, the burly defender who was previously little-known, but is now a hero to a nation he adopted only three years ago.
Glorious moment: Socceroos coach Graham Arnold celebrates at the final whistle.Credit:Getty Images
“Harry’s been out for a year with an ACL. He’s played three games before he came in,” Arnold said. “But I just had so much belief in that boy. I know his mentality is so strong. I tell you what, if I was a Premier League club, I’d be banging on his door real quick. He’s that good.”
Another Arnold prototype is Mathew Leckie, whose goal to beat Denmark will go down in legend. “Mathew Leckie has been incredible. I can’t just single him out because they all have,” Arnold said. “But you can see just watching Melbourne City… you can see it in his eyes, he’s got this hunger and drive.”
It’s about the players, naturally, but in Arnold’s world view, it’s just as much about the nation they’re galvanising.
“I’m just so proud and happy,” he said. “It’s what World Cups are for. I truly believe that the Socceroos are the team that unites the nation.
Big Harry Souttar slides in for another tackle against Denmark’s Kasper Dolberg.Credit:AP
“You don’t see when the cricket World Cup’s on, Federation Square like it is, pubs like they are. Rugby union, rugby league, anything: the World Cup of football unites the nation. I’m just so proud we’ve been able to put smiles on people’s faces.”
For good measure, Arnold indulged in a bit of regional pride. “We were probably the last team in Asia that people thought would qualify for the last 16,” he said, “but it just shows you that when you walk on the pitch, and you have the right mentality, where it’s war, you go and there and fight and chase and those things …”
The Socceroos began hesitantly, which Arnold put down to respect for Denmark’s quality, a short turnaround and nerves. “I did feel a little bit of nerves, as much as I try to laugh around the place and keep them happy,” Arnold said “Most of those players haven’t been in this position before. It’s a new experience for them. They grew into the game. By the end, we ran over the top of them, I felt.”
Arnold said the Socceroos had concentrated on keeping Danish captain, linchpin and playmaker Christian Eriksen out of the game and had an advantage because of their long familiarisation with the skiddy pitches in Qatar.
Then there was the tameness of Denmark, a goal-scoring machine in qualifying, but with only one goal to its now-closed account in this World Cup.
“I just feel that sometimes their players were a little bit slow” Arnold said. “It enabled us to get back. I thought overall defensively we were very good.”
When desperate Denmark loaded up on attacking power, the Socceroos were ready. “Obviously, they put a big striker on, and had two strikers on, and I knew they were going to start hitting long balls,” Arnold said. “That’s why I put Bailey Wright on for a back five.
“Obviously then it’s going to push you deeper, but we needed that extra man centrally to help with dealing with the crosses and long balls.”
When the eternity that was added time was over, and Arnold was able to gather the players into their circle on the pitch, his message was the same as after the win over Tunisia: don’t bask, recover well – and stay off social media.
“And when I say that, it’s because I’ve had experiences in life where they love the good stuff but hate the bad stuff on social media,” he said.
“What it can do to players mentally, if they are reading negative stuff, they don’t sleep well.
“So I always say to the boys, ‘Have a laugh before you go to sleep, listen to popular music that you like’ and make yourself happy before you go to sleep. It’s the most important thing.”
His own bedtime lullaby? Land Down Under, of course.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
