Time for Australia to be lot more realistic

A LOT HAS been said about the Socceroos since their World Cup elimination.

The knives are out and everyone is sinking the boot in.

Now former Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk and the FFA have been the primary targets but I think it’s time we eased up.

The problem is one of Australian sports’ greatest strengths – our passionate fans – is also one of our greatest weaknesses.

We need to be realistic. Yes our hopes, goals and dreams shouldn’t start and end with qualifying for the World Cup.

But let’s be honest - we’re not Germany, England, Brazil or Argentina.

We’re not even Colombia, Uruguay, Portugal or Mexico – teams I would consider among the second-tier nations at the current World Cup.

We are Australia – a country where football can mean rugby league, union, Aussie Rules or soccer.

Soccer is not the football code we live and breath, it’s not a pseudo-religion here like it is in some countries.

That, however, has very little to do with our performances.

Our players should shoulder some of the blame.

We were naive against France. The second Josh Risdon left his feet he ran the risk of giving away a penalty. If you don’t make that kind of challenge in the box – the referee doesn’t have to make a choice.

Against Denmark we had our chances. Could Tim Cahill have scored a goal? Maybe, but the players on the field had plenty of opportunities they failed to convert.

And then there is Peru – a game we simply didn’t deserve to win. Mentally we were never in the match – we were determined when we should’ve been hungry and mean.

It doesn’t matter now though because we’re out.

See you again in 31⁄2 years time when we can go through all this again.