Australia coach proud of players’ heartening show

Socceroos make mark in crunch match despite losing 3-2 to Netherlands.

PORTO ALEGRE: Australia coach Ange Postecoglou believes his side will become a force to be reckoned with at future World Cups, despite being eliminated by a 3-2 defeat to the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Australia had deservedly led 2-1 just before the hour mark, thanks to Tim Cahill’s stunning volley and Mile Jedinak’s penalty after Arjen Robben had given the Netherlands the lead.

However, Robin van Persie quickly levelled and Memphis Depay struck the winner with the aid of a goalkeeping mistake from Maty Ryan 22 minutes from time.



Postecoglou insisted his young squad will become a force to be reckoned with at future tournaments, including the Asian Cup on home soil next year, if they continue their current rate of progress.

“We’ve only just started on this journey and the goal is to come back in four years’ time and make sure they fear us before we go on the pitch as much as they fear us on there now.

“I came here with the objective to make an impact and I think in both games we’ve had the opportunities to do that so; it is just disappointing that we weren’t able to.”

Australia could have been in front once more just before Depay’s winner as Matthew Leckie passed up a great chance. Victory ensured the Netherland’s place in the last 16 as they have maximum points from two games.

Dutch boss Louis van Gaal said that Leckie’s miss turned the game and hailed the clinical nature of Robben and Van Persie.

“At one point Australia missed an enormous opportunity. It is great to have strikers like Robben and Van Persie to have scored three goals each in just two matches.”

Cameroon coach blasts ‘disgusting’ players

Cameroon coach Volker Finke blasted his ‘disgusting’ players’ behaviour after one was red-carded and another headbutted a teammate in their 4-0 World Cup defeat to Croatia.

The loss, which condemned the Indomitable Lions to a first round exit, saw Alexandre Song sent off in the first half for punching Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic, the scorer of two goals.

Matters worsened when full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto aimed a headbutt at teammate Benjamin Moukandjo in the dying moments following a furious row.

“It’s disgusting and I don’t like it,” said the German coach. “We will need to talk to certain players. The behaviour of some of them was not at all satisfying. It’s unacceptable to see that kind of thing.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2014.

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