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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Joey Lynch

Socceroos’ malaise one of their own making as history is allowed to repeat

Australia's Samuel Silvera battles for the ball against Indonesia's Rizki Ridho Ramadhani and Nathan Tjoe-A-On
Australia were held to a 0-0 draw in Indonesia after opening the third round of their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with a shock loss to Bahrain. Photograph: Achmad Ibrahim/AP

“It’s not like a disaster,” Graham Arnold said, a sense of frustration, bordering on simmering rage, visibly emanating off him as he spoke to Paramount in the aftermath of the Socceroos’ 0-0 draw with Indonesia. “But I’ve got to go home and do a lot of thinking.”

A period of reflection. An honest reassessment of one’s priorities, values and assumptions in pursuit of clarity. In this modern age it’s the kind of approach that anyone would benefit from, let alone a coach that has just overseen a loss and a draw against the two lowest ranked sides in their World Cup qualifying group.

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