World Cup in Russia 2018 *32 WC finalists ranking

Originally posted by markco2 ↑

Ed Aarons from the Guardian wouldn't have a clue.
Anyone that has watched the journey with the Socceroos would have noticed a big difference lately with the players slotting into the formation that Ange has built the team around. We may not have any real stand out superstars. However, that does not mean we can't give other teams a run for their money. The journey that the Socceroos have endured over the last 18 months is second to none.

They have become more battle hardened, more cohesive as a team and will continue to be fine tuned. One of the players that I have only recently taken notice of is Behich. He is short and quick. His work rate over the last few games has been excellent. Rogic, Luongo, Mooy are improving all the time. One of the commentators has said which I agree with him, that the team we saw the other night more than likely won't be the full team that heads to Russia. Injuries, not getting enough match fitness and new players being blooded coming into contention are all part of the journey we will be witnessing over the next seven months.

I want to see Ange stay and persist with the team, as I believe he is the one who can get the best out of the squad heading to Russia. Obviously a decent striker is our biggest hurdle at the moment. This is where we have been shown to be let down. We have a couple of young ones that could come through. Not necessarily strikers but are good at making play. Attacking Midfielder De Silva could come into the spotlight. Many others as well.

What Aarons from the Guardian fails to grasp is that Ange has built a young squad, a fair few that were first blooded from the A League and then into the International arena. Certainly a work in progress and will continue in development. I would most certainly not write the Socceroos of as the worst team of the 32 in the World Cup. With some luck of the draw, this is a prime opportunity where a few of the heavy weights did not make the cut and has opened the door for a few bolters to make their mark on a grand scale.

We may not do it.

However, it's there for the picking.

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Ange Postecoglou resigns as Socceroos coach

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Ange Postecoglou has officially stepped down as Socceroos coach.
Football Federation Australia and Postecoglou confirmed the news at a press conference in Sydney on Wednesday morning.

Ange Postecoglou quits

Long-serving embattled Soccerooos coach Ange Postecoglou announces his resignation Wednesday morning.
"A tough morning for me and probably 'DG' [FFA CEO David Gallop] as well, a tough 24 hours," Postecoglou said.
"The journey for me ends as Socceroos coach.

Ange Postecoglou and Mile Jedinak. Photo: AAP
Postecoglou said it was not the ending he had envisaged when he started but he knew it was the right time and the right decision.
"It's something I've mulled over for a while, it's just the nature of me as a person. I've really tried to coach for the moment ... I think I'll always have a sense of unfinished business but to be honest that would have happened whenever I left.

"But overall, sometimes it's just an instinct, it's the right time for me, it's the right time for the team, the organisation ... for me it feels like the right time.

"To the players, I love coaching Australian players. I've often said to them when you make a choice in this country to play football ... you're choosing the hardest possible road and that takes courage, and that's why I love coaching Australian players.
"It's been the greatest privilege to me to coach our best players and I'll be forever indebted to them."
Gallop said he was disappointed Postecoglou would not be going with the Socceroos to Russia but thanked him and said he had given Socceroos fans "a sense of optimism".
"I'm disappointed and still a bit puzzled but still supportive that you reach a point where you know you need to do something new," Gallop said.
"Ange's record speaks for itself.
"It's important that we get the right person to fill the big shoes. One thing I do know that the standards that Ange set ... will now always be there and that's a huge part of the legacy that Ange leaves for the boys and the staff."
The Socceroos do not play again until March next year at the earliest and Gallop said that gave the FFA time to conduct a thorough process.
"With a guaranteed place in the World Cup, I am sure we will attract a strong field of candidates.
"There's enormous advantages to have an Australian in this position ... but it doesn't necessarily guarantee that we will be able to appoint an Australian. So we will take our time and make sure we get the right person for the job."
FFA chairman Steven Lowy said he respected Postecoglou's reasons for leaving.
"Like all Socceroos fans, we hoped Ange would stay on to the World Cup and maybe beyond. He has done an outstanding job and has always had our total support," Lowy said. "We wish him well for the future."
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Trent Sainsbury

✔@Tsainsbury92

Just want to say thanks to Ange for everything he has done for football in Australia and me personally. He gave me my shot with the national team and I can never forget that. The belief and confidence he’s instilled in this team that will keep us on the path to great things.
9:25 AM - Nov 22, 2017

Postecoglou was visibly emotional when thanking his family for their support.
"To my three boys, James, Max, Alexi, you make me smile every day and to my beautiful wife ... I left 24 hours after Max was born because we played Ecuador in London ... I'll never be able to repay the sacrifices she's made.
"It's been the toughest decision ... but it won't take way how rich this experience has truly been.
"Bigger things were driving me when I took this job and from that perspective I've accomplished what I wanted to do."
With Australia having qualified for three consecutive World Cups, Postecoglou said he didn't want to be the coach who failed to qualify for the fourth and he had felt the weight of that responsibility over the past six months, leading him to ponder his future.
There had been much speculation over what the coach will do ahead of next year's World Cup after he refused to confirm he would lead the Socceroos to Russia.
He and FFA officials held discussions in Sydney on Tuesday.
Postecoglou said he was keen to get back to club soccer and "working day-to-day".
"I loved this job but it has been all encompassing. I don't want to be unemployed for too long but I probably need to have a break with the family and regather my thoughts," he said,
Postecoglou, appearing on the ABC's Offsiders program on Sunday, implied that the month-long saga over his future had in part been dragged out so that he could be a shield for his players and take the pressure off them as pressure mounted during the World Cup play-offs.
"[My mindset] fluctuates all the time. I can't say that I am locked to a position," he said at the time.
Postecoglou was contracted until the end of the World Cup.
Australia reached the World Cup after defeating Honduras 3-1 in their intercontinental play-off.

POSTECOGLOU'S TIME IN CHARGE
First match: November 19, 2013 v Costa Rica (Sydney)
Last match: November 15, 2017 v Honduras (Sydney)
Total number of matches: 49
Wins: 22
Draws: 12
Losses: 15