BRISBANE // Ange Postecoglou had a grim expression after seeing his Australia side lose 1-0 to South Korea and top spot in Group A, leaving them needing to beat Japan to reach the final
“I’m very disappointed with the result, but in terms of the performance I can’t fault the players,” the Australia manager said.
“They gave it absolutely everything right to the end. We certainly created enough chances to get the result we wanted but it wasn’t to be.”
Whether this result was disappointing for Australia is a moot point as it could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
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Second place means that in Thursday’s quarter-final in Brisbane, Australia will face China, a team they will expect to beat at home.
A meeting with Japan was always likely at some point if they are to win the tournament. It will just be a likely semi-final rather than the main event.
On the other side of the draw, South Korea will meet Uzbekistan in Melbourne earlier on Thursday. A tougher prospect.
In terms of performances and outcome, the match revealed little that we did not already know about both teams.
Uli Stielike had said after his team’s 1-0 win over Kuwait that South Korea “cannot win the tournament” playing that standard of football. He was far happier after beating the host nation.
“Congratulations to both teams. I think it was the best match in the tournament,” he said.
“Also under the temperature they played 95 minutes. I think the performance today is extraordinary from both teams. We are the winners in the end but we saw also some good possibilities for Australia.”
Coaches are rarely drawn over potential opponents, but the German coach gave the impression he was unconcerned who South Korea face in the last eight.
“The result was not so important,” he said. “When you have qualified and in your mind you don’t have any preference for the next round, it doesn’t matter if you’re first or second.”
Postecoglou, once the initial disappointment of this result has passed, will perhaps be having similar thoughts.
He seemed more irritated by the poor state of the pitch in Brisbane, where they will play again on Thursday, than anything else.
“The route to the final will be difficult whichever way you went,” he said. “I’m not happy with this pitch but I still think the players did fantastically well to try and play our style of football on a surface that doesn’t suit us, there’s no doubt about that.”
The win was great for South Korea’s “pride” as man of the match and captain Ki Sung-yueng said.
Beyond that, both teams remain, as they were at the start of the tournament – among the favourites to reach the final.
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