Ange ‘line’ crossed
Juric believes coach will stay for World Cup
TOMI Juric has broken ranks on Ange Postecoglou’s future, saying he can’t see the Socceroos’ coach leaving his post should Australia reach the World Cup.
As the Socceroos gear up for the first leg of their qualifying playoffs in Honduras, it remains an issue Postecoglou is not talking about.
That said, the coach did distance himself from the vacant position at fallen Scottish giants Rangers a day after a report linking him with the job.
“That’s speculation, mate,” Postecoglou said yesterday. “The only thing on my radar is these two games. That’s where all my energy is. That’s where all my focus is and that’s what’s most important.”
Postecoglou’s future remains a talking point after a re- port last month suggesting he would walk should they qualify for the 2018 tournament.
Juric is the only player in San Pedro Sula to have diverted from that line — that their full focus is on the qualifiers, and not his future.
The forward, Australia’s first choice striker under Postecoglou, does not believe his coach would shirk the challenge.
“I just don’t see it if we qualify — sorry, when we qualify — that he goes. I don’t think that will happen,” he said.
“His main goal is to prepare us for a World Cup (and) for opposition that are at a high level. I don’t see him walking away from that big challenge.
“I think he’s looking forward to the World Cup and making sure that we get there.”
Captain Mile Jedinak said Juric’s view was “logical” but logic didn’t always prevail.
“Football is a funny game, it’s never that straight forward,” he said.
Jedinak — fit again for the first time since June — foreshadowed the potential for movement in the coaching position but said he was more interested in reaching Russia.
“It’s about . . . qualifying for the World Cup and then be- yond that, keep building the profile of the game and keep building the profile of our Socceroos,” he said.
“Ange has been a huge part of that in recent years. He’s taken the group and progressed the group by a considerable amount.”
Told of Juric’s opinion, Postecoglou was forthright.
“Well he’d better make sure we win because otherwise there’s no decision to make,” he said, saying players hadn’t quizzed him on his plans.
“We’re here for business and the business is these two games.”