Doha: Arise, Sir Graham Arnold. Sir Mathew Leckie. They did it. They’ve done it. The Socceroos have stepped out of the long shadow of 2006’s “golden generation”, shocking Denmark 1-0 and defying a French capitulation on the other side of Doha to book a place in the World Cup’s round of 16.
A clash with Poland, Saudi Arabia, or even Lionel Messi’s Argentina awaits after Australia held their nerve against the world No.10-ranked side, with Leckie’s incredible 60th-minute strike bagging three precious points – and sealing back-to-back World Cup wins for the first time in the nation’s history, and another clean sheet to boot.
Mathew Leckie celebrates his goal against Denmark.Credit:Getty Images
They had to do it the hard way at the Al Janoub Stadium – where they beat Tunisia just four days ago – but it wouldn’t be like the Socceroos to do it easy anyway. Forced to repel wave after wave of attack in the first half, and then again after Leckie’s spectacular goal, Arnold’s men hung on grimly but never let go in front of 41,232 fans.
Australia came in knowing a win or draw would get them into the final 16, assuming world champions France would be able to knock off Tunisia – but Les Bleus, who were already qualified, fielded a second-string team, and a 58th-minute goal from Tunisian skipper Wahbi Khazri at the Education City Stadium, news of which surely filtered through to an animated Arnold on the bench, meaning only victory would do for the Socceroos.
So that’s what they did.
Right on the hour mark, somehow, they pulled ahead. It was a classic, clinical counter-attack: Mitchell Duke passed to Riley McGree, who spotted the run of Leckie from the halfway line and unleashed him.
The tireless Melbourne City winger was suddenly in a one-on-one battle with Danish defender Joakim Maehle as Joachim Andersen sprinted back to help. No matter. Leckie skinned Maehle, weaved himself into space and let rip with his left foot, his shot trickling past Schmeichel and into the far corner.
Graham Arnold celebrates after the final whistle.Credit:Getty Images
It meant that in all three Group D games, against all odds, the Socceroos scored first.
Aaron Mooy and the Socceroos celebrate victory.Credit:AP
Leckie, along with skipper Maty Ryan, was making his ninth World Cup appearance for Australia, tying the record held by Mark Bresciano and Tim Cahill, who watched on from the stands alongside Football Australia chief James Johnson. None of them will ever forget this day, which will turbocharge the sport back home with nitrous oxide – or the final half-hour they suffered through, or the six agonising minutes of stoppage time at the end.
At the final whistle, utter disbelief from them all. Yet it was belief that got them here in the first place.
Once again, Arnold stuck with almost exactly the same starting team for the third match in a row. The only difference was at right-back, where defensively minded Milos Degenek and his “lion mentality” was given the nod ahead of Fran Karacic after his nervy start against Tunisia – while creative midfielder Ajdin Hrustic, back from his ankle injury, remained on the bench.
The Danes, meanwhile, made three changes from the side that lost 2-1 to France, bringing in Espanyol striker Martin Braithwaite, Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen and Club Brugge winger Andreas Skov Olsen.
The biggest question was whether the Socceroos had the physical reserves to repeat that Tunisian performance against a superior opposition, with the Danes ranked No.10 in the world by FIFA, considered by many one of the dark horses to take out the tournament, and under pressure to perform given their sluggish start in Qatar.
The answer proved an emphatic yes, but the early signs weren’t good. Australia spent the opening half-hour under siege, with an early yellow card to left-back Aziz Behich amplifying their nervous start. Both teams were making needless turnovers – but then Denmark stopped, started stroking the ball around nicely, stretching the Socceroos’ defence with their superior quality and peppering the goal, forcing them to hold on for dear life.
It took utter desperation to keep the Danish wolves at bay – through a block from Degenek to deny Jesper Lindstrom, a save from Ryan to bat away Jensen’s angled effort, while an overblown shot from Skov Olsen left them on the hook, five minutes before an incision down Australia’s right-hand side almost found its way through a sea of legs, with McGree clearing the danger.
Yet as the half wore on, the pressure relieved, the Danes got tetchier, and Arnold’s men started to settle. Their only two genuine chances of the half both came through McGree, and neither truly tested Kasper Schmeichel, but getting to half-time with the scores level felt like a win in itself.
That Ryan had completed more passes by the break than any of his teammates said it all. A classic game of two halves.
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