When a team gets whipped by Germany in their opening World Cup game, and their most valuable player gets red-carded and suspended, it’s easy for them to feel like it’s not going to be their World Cup. And this is Australia’s story so far.
Whilst the Australian media widely turned on coach Pim Verbeek and his supposed negative tactics, the players turned instead on the media, with Harry Kewell making things personal with the Sydney Morning Herald’s Mike Cockerill and he, in turn, got personal right back.
It looked like things were falling apart, that the wheels were on their last nut, if not already fallen off, that Australia were just one game away from the indignity of an early exit, a disgrace on the pitch, failure to fulfil their potential, a disappointment to their fans.
But, for all the outward signs of disarray, it seems that Australia were actually bonding in adversity, putting on their helmets and preparing for the siege. Their performance against Ghana was testament to that as they saved their campaign with a 1-1 draw. While the Socceroos still have a lot to do, and their fate is partly out of their hands, with goals scored and goal difference likely to be key, they remain in with a shot of the knockout stage, which never looked on the cards after the Germany match.
And there are more reasons to be hopeful yet. Ghana was a spirited performance, but also one dogged by misfortune for the Socceroos. When Kewell was sent off, it was a harsh decision, reducing his side to ten men and giving the Africans the penalty that levelled the game. But if anything, after that, with ten men, Australia looked the more likely to snatch the win. Certainly Ghana didn’t seem to know how to make the extra man count and chances came for the Australians to win the game, not least when an over-lapping Luke Wilkshire had a golden opportunity in the 72nd minute before dallying too long on the ball.
The loss of Harry Kewell to suspension will hurt, but Tim Cahill is coming back for the Serbia game after serving his own red card ban. Another early goal, like Brett Holman’s on Saturday, will force Serbia to come out of their shell and there is scope of getting in behind them.
Much rests on Australia maintaining the togetherness and spirit they showed last time out. It seems a feature of this World Cup so far that togetherness and perseverance are being rewarded with points. And in that light perhaps the loss of Kewell isn’t such a loss after all. “The guy has killed my World Cup,” said Kewell, referring to the goalline incident that brought his red card. “He is the referee; he’s the judge, jury and executioner. Unless I detach my arm and put it somewhere else, there’s no other way I can move my arm.”
The immediate reference to his own misfortune is the issue. The way Australia battled on without Kewell shows he’s not integral to the team, but his decision to stand on the goalline, arms at his side, put him at risk of just such an incident. That he stopped a certain goal with his arm is undeniable. It was a harsh call, but not completely opaque.
Coach Pim Verbeek agreed it was harsh, but preferred to focus on the spirit of his team. “The players had to work very hard for us to have a chance and that is just what they did,” he said. “We had an unbelievable chance to win it, but I am very proud of the players not just for their efforts, but because they also played some very good football.”
Lucas Neill agreed. “Any football fan in the world can’t ask for any more from a player to go out and give a performance like that. OK, we made mistakes, but the reaction and the spirit epitomises what it is to be Australian.” he said.
With Serbia up next Australia need to win by three goals to be in with a chance of progressing, an unlikely feat but not impossible. “Whether they do or not, they have at least redeemed themselves after their inept capitulation against the Germans. There was passion, genuine passion.” Said Kewell’s nemesis Mike Cotterill, going on to sum up what every fan is thinking. “If this week proves to be our last, lingering, look at a so-called ‘Golden Generation’ they have given themselves the chance to go out with dignity.”
But not for Kewell, which is a shame. Because for all his ego and his fight with the media, for all the limelight he takes off the hard-working men around him and for all the column inches devoted to him sitting with the physios getting his thighs rubbed, this is not a personal tragedy just for him. For the 31 minutes he was on the pitch he showed poise and purpose, dragging defenders and sparkling like a fading photo or the Kewell of old. There was a chance for him, above all, to have a swansong in front of the world’s media.
For Kewell, instead, it is to be the indignity of multiple shots of himself in the crowd, watching on in hope with the rest of his countrymen, wondering if maybe he could have tucked that arm in behind him, and what difference just a move would have made.
