{"id":105039,"date":"2022-12-02T18:19:13","date_gmt":"2022-12-02T18:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=105039"},"modified":"2022-12-02T18:19:52","modified_gmt":"2022-12-02T18:19:52","slug":"the-magic-moments-of-australias-world-cup-run-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/the-magic-moments-of-australias-world-cup-run-so-far\/","title":{"rendered":"The magic moments of Australia\u2019s World Cup run … so far"},"content":{"rendered":"

The magic moments of Australia\u2019s World Cup run … so far<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Graham<\/p>\n

Graham Arnold and his team celebrate the historic win over Denmark.CREDIT:<\/span><\/cite><\/span><\/p>\n

Source:<\/span><\/strong>SMH<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

World Cups are about magic moments. The Socceroos, unheralded and written off by many, have created more than their fair share this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is the story of Australia\u2019s continuing World Cup campaign so far, told through the key moments and turning points in the group stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u2018OH MY GOD\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Australia had started well in their opening match against France, competing fiercely in the first few minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going in without any friendlies in your first game at the World Cup against the world champions,\u201d says Alex Wilkinson, who played all three matches for the Socceroos at the 2014 World Cup. \u201cIt\u2019s high stakes. Just straight in. It was a really good start, we were causing them some problems.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As French news service France24 reported in its live coverage: \u201cThe reigning world champions are feverish and the Australians are taking advantage of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Then the improbable happened. Mathew Leckie received a long ball from Harry Souttar on the right, beat France\u2019s Lucas Hernandez, and crossed to Craig Goodwin who blasted it in. One-nil.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Harry Kewell aptly put it in the SBS commentary box: \u201cOh my God.\u201d The stands erupted, the players jumped for joy. \u201cA fantastic goal and they\u2019d earned it,\u201d says ex-Socceroos striker David Mitchell.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"graphic-0\"<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was definitely a training ground move,\u201d says 2006 Socceroos legend John Aloisi. \u201cIt\u2019s not just that Leckie pushed forward to receive the ball, it\u2019s Jackson Irvine making a great forward run to drag the centre-back out of position, giving Goodwin the opportunity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Goodwin described the moment as \u201cpure elation\u201d. The Australians had hope.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018HEAVY TOUCH\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

France aren\u2019t world champions for nothing, and swiftly moved up the gears, equalising through Adrien Rabiot in the 27th minute. Five minutes later Australian right-back Nathaniel Atkinson was caught in possession by Rabiot after a heavy touch. After a quick one-two with Kylian Mbappe, he crossed to Olivier Giroud for a simple finish.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAtkinson could have dropped deeper, it was a heavy touch, but Irvine played it to him and could have given him a better option,\u201d Aloisi says. \u201cI thought Behich was a little too wide out on the other side of the field. We were just too open.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe kid actually did decently well,\u201d coach Graham Arnold said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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