World Cup: Can Socceroos Beat The Odds?
April 26th, 2014 by G WaldorfIt’s been a busy year or so in some of Australia’s biggest sports. Both the cricket and rugby union sides have seen a change of coach and a change of culture, and both seem to be the better for it. There has been a lot of talk, too, in the media about what it is to pull on the green and gold jersey, and the sort of attitude that’s expected from Aussie international sportsmen. So there will be eyes on how the boys chosen to travel to the 2014 FIFA World Cup as Socceroos will handle themselves, especially considering the odds facing Australia…
Much of that talk about attitude has focussed on those personal qualities that create the sort of team spirit that’s expected of an Australia side: courage, resilience, positivity and more. And you’d have to say that Ange Postecoglu is on his way to developing the right attitude for the Socceroos, with some attacking football on show in the recent friendly against Ecuador. But the difference for the Socceroos, and the challenge facing Postecoglu, is that Australia’s cricketers and rugby players have a storied history of success at the very highest level. Will courage, a willingness to take risks and a refusal to back down see success for the Socceroos?
Absolutely, but we have to accept that a win for the Socceroos doesn’t mean lifting a trophy in Brazil in June. The odds facing them are steep, in a group that includes the reigning champions and two of the top 15 sides in the world. But this World Cup is about building for the future for the Socceroos, and that means a strong side to contest the Asian Cup in 2015 and the next World Cup, too. So, at odds of $8.50, it would be an incredible achievement for the Socceroos to get out of Group B and contest the second stage of the tournament. To be honest, we’ll settle for seeing them play the right brand of football with the right attitude. That’s apparently what being an Aussie international is about: playing without fear. If the young Socceroos can do that, then we’re looking forward to watching them!
You can get all your odds for Australia at the World Cup, and all the rest of the World Cup odds, too, just by following the links. Make sure you look out for the odds for Australia vs South Africa, too – the friendly is scheduled for May 26th…
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