Former Socceroo Robbie Slater has hit out at Graham Arnold’s critics after the Socceroos coach guided Australia to the round of 16 in Qatar.
Arnold was criticised after the 4-1 opening game loss to France, but he’s had the final laugh after back-to-back wins against Tunisia and Denmark.
It means the Socceroos have finished Group D with six points – the best result of an Australian team at the World Cup and two more than the 2006 Golden Generation.
But Arnold has faced a tough time as Socceroos coach, with plenty of critics along the way.
The critics were forced to eat their words after he guided Australia to the World Cup on penalties against Peru.
And now Australia will face Argentina in the round of 16 on Sunday morning, to equal the feats of the 2006 squad.
On SBS coverage this morning, former Socceroo Craig Foster – who criticised Arnold’s tactics after the France game – praised Arnold.
“Graham Arnold’s at the centre of it. He did an amazing job today, amazing job in the past couple of games, he made all the right decisions against Tunisia and he’s done it again today.
“They had the plan for when they went 1-0 up today.”
Former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, who has been critical of Arnold during the World Cup campaign, praised Football Australia for sticking by him.
The Socceroos finished the qualification campaign poorly, forcing them into back-to-back playoffs against the UAE and Peru.
“During the qualifying period, he came under a lot of criticism, including from myself,” Bosnich said on SBS.
“At the time it wasn’t looking good for him. Two points out of a possible nine. He struck through it.”
“Credit must go to Football Australia and James Johnson, it would have been easy to let him go at that time.”
But Slater wasn’t impressed, telling Yahoo that it “makes you squirm watching people this morning who tried to get him sacked after the Saudi Arabia (qualifying) game”.
“They’re now saying it’s a good decision that they kept him, but they were desperate to get him out. It’s unbelievable to hear what they’re saying now.”
After the win against Denmark, Arnold was quick to point out the 2022 squad has done something even the 2006 team couldn’t achieve – two group stage wins.
“Maybe we’re talking about a new golden generation, because i’ve been listening and hearing about the golden generation of 2006 that got four points and now we’ve got six points,” said Arnold, who was assistant coach to Guus Hiddink in 2006.
“We’re talking about a new generation.”
But Arnold hasn’t been keen to get involved with the criticism after the France game.
Speaking at the press conference after the 1-0 win against Tunisia, he said “who cares” when asked what his message for his critics was.
“They’ve never coached. I didn’t see who was critical of me, but I think some of them have never even been to a World Cup,” he said.
“They have no impact on my life.”
