The Australians were flawless from the spot, and Saudi Arabia were too through four attempts, before Hall dived to his right and stretched his left arm high into the air to pull off a save that immediately entered the nation’s footballing folklore.
Making the moment even more special was that it acted as a tribute to his late grandfather, who passed away earlier in the tournament.
After making the all-important save, Hall got up and made a beeline towards the camera to kiss the words written on his glove ‘for you grandad’.
The incredibly touching moment might also launch Hall’s career to another level.
In January 2024, Premier League club Brighton snapped up the youngster from Adelaide United for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half-year contract, following in the footsteps of Socceroos captain Mat Ryan, who was the Seagulls’ first choice goalkeeper from 2017 to 2020.
Hall has not be called up to the senior squad, but has been a part of Brighton’s U21 team during his time on England’s south coast so far and quickly endeared himself to the fans courtesy of filthy moustache and mullet combination.
He has made just two appearances, starting in both, this season after also making two starts last campaign.
Keen observers of Australian football will remember Hall for his history-making moment in the A-League.
On New Year’s Day 2022, Hall became the youngest goalkeeper to make their A-League debut when he replaced the injured James Delianov 31 minutes into Adelaide United’s 4-0 victory against Wellington Phoenix.
Hall was just 16 years and 350 days old when he stepped onto the pitch at Hindmarsh Stadium.
He made another three appearances for the Reds in the premier Australian competition before departing for England.
But he did not go unnoticed with Schwarzer saying on Optus Sport back in 2022, that Hall has “a big future”.
“I’ve got a player for you that I’ve seen quite a few highlights of and what I’ve seen of him, I’m very impressed and I think the kid’s got a big future,” Schwarzer said.
“Steven Hall, a goalkeeper at Adelaide United. He’s played three games, he came on – I think he was the fourth goalkeeper. I’ve liked everything about him.
“He’s 17-year-old, made his debut at 16. He looks calm, he look assuring, he looked commanding in his own 18-yard box. There’s quite a few saves I’ve seen him make and he made them look easy.”
It is in national colours where he has truly proven to be a star on the rise, however.
Hall has also featured for the Olyroos, Australia’s men’s U23 team, and in recent weeks in China, he has shown why he is highly touted within Australian ranks.
The heroic moment may never have happened if not for two less celebrated, but crucial saves during the quarter-final win against Iraq.
The Young Socceroos came from behind twice to prevail 3-2 and book their place in this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile by advancing to the semi-finals, but the script could have easily been different if not for Hall’s excellence.
He pulled off two vital stops in the second half to deny Iraq and send Australia on the road to the title with a clean sheet in their 2-0 semi-final win against Japan following.
The 20-year-old, who was allowed to play in the U20 Asian Cup because players born on 1 January 2005 or later are eligible, and he turned 20 on January 16, is almost certain to be a key figure in Australia’s U20 World Cup campaign in September and October.
If Hall can continue to hold his nerves in the big moments, who knows where his career might take him and if Schwarzer is right, Australia might just have its next star goalkeeper.
The Young Socceroos are champions of Asia for the first time with a thrilling penalty shootout victory against Saudi Arabia in the U20 Asian Cup final in Shenzhen, China.
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Goalkeeper Steven Hall became the nation’s newest footballing hero, etching himself into folklore by pulling off a one-handed save on the final penalty of the shootout to secure the title.
The scores were locked at one-all after the regulation 90 minutes, and they remained the same after 30 minutes of extra time.
Louis Agosti, who came into the starting line-up as one of three changes made by manager Trevor Morgan, was Australia’s lone goal scorer with a superb volley to open the scoring in the 24th minute.
The Saudi defenders failed to properly clear an Australian free kick that was whipped into the penalty area, and the ball fell to Agosti outside of the box, who struck a low volley across the goal and into the far corner of the net.
Scores were level heading into half time however as a Talal Abubakr Haji header beat Hall.
But Australia were the better of the two teams in the second half, and an extra time, put did not capitalise on several opportunities and were perhaps a little unlucky for the referee not pointing to the spot when substitute Tiago Quintal was brought down in the box.
When it got to the shootout, the Australian teenagers showed nerves of a steel to convert a perfect five from five.
Saudi Arabia were flawless on their first four attempts too, but Hall, who is on the books at Premier League club Brighton, heroically denied them.
Australia’s Alex Badolato was awarded player of the tournament for a stellar campaign where the Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder scored twice and provided three assists.
Badolato was one of 16 players in the squad of 23 for the tournament who are with A-League clubs, while the other seven play their club football in Europe or England.
The Young Socceroos will now turn their focus towards the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile in September and October, which they qualified for by making the semi-finals of the U20 Asian Cup and it will be the first time Australia has taken part in the premier global tournament for male teenagers since 2013.
Former Australian swimmer turned radio commentator Leisel Jones has issued a tear-jerking statement on air this morning in the wake of Marty Sheargold’s appalling comments about female sport.
His show did not air on Wednesday afternoon and Triple M has since made the call to part ways with Sheargold, with the station announcing they had “mutually agreed” to the decision.
“Southern Cross Austereo takes its responsibility to listeners, shareholders and clients seriously and its programming should align with the standards and expectations of its audience,” SCA Chief Content Officer Dave Cameron said in a statement.
“Right now, it’s clear this is a moment for reflection and review. Triple M, and the wider SCA network, will continue to take all necessary steps to support staff.”
Sheargold said: “Having mutually agreed to part ways with the Triple M Network, I fully understand the gravity of my comments.
“I’d like to sincerely apologise to the Matildas and the broader organisation. I would also like to thank my immediate team for their hard work and apologise for the situation they now find themselves in.”
Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni said sports teams were “used to criticism” but Sheargold’s comments “crossed the line”.
“It’s completely unnecessary and generally outrageous, and, it’s something that from a behavioural perspective, is really very, very disappointing,” he said.
“For me, it’s not so much about sexism and misogyny, in a sense, although that’s unacceptable – let me make that clear.
“It’s what the comments were. The comments just crossed the line. They were just basically out of order and very, very unnecessary.
“Our team is obviously a very high-profile team, and being a high-profile team, you do take criticism, you do create criticism sometimes very near the edge, but sometimes that just goes over the edge, and those comments did that.”
Jones, 39, a nine-time Olympic medallist who co-hosts Triple M Breakfast on the Gold Coast, admitted to listeners she found it hard to front up to work on Wednesday after Sheargold made disparaging comments about the Matildas and women’s sport on his own Triple M show Monday afternoon.
Jones revealed she had been ambushed by dozens of negative comments on her Instagram account in the aftermath from people questioning why she hadn’t taken a stand on Tuesday’s show.
Speaking on-air Wednesday morning, an emotional Jones said she felt “extremely sick” by Sheargold’s comments, while also feeling forced to address why she was yet to talk about the controversy.
“I’m not going to cry. I’m not going to cry,” Jones, who was audibly sobbing, began.
“The comments are so hurtful against women’s sport that The Marty Sheargold Show shared. And obviously I’ve been quite upset all morning, and I was upset when I came in. I’ve been on and off the show all morning.
“It’s a very tricky position to be put in when Triple M is my place of employment, and obviously I love working on the show and I find it incredibly challenging to be put in a position where I become the unofficial spokesperson for women in sport.”
Leisel Jones has broken down in tears over Marty Sheargold’s comments.Source: SuppliedSheargold made disparaging comments about female sport on his own Triple M Show on Monday.Source: Channel 9
She continued, “Obviously, everyone would know I was a woman in sport. I’ve competed at the top level for women in sport and I am one of the biggest supporters. And when I woke up this morning and I came to work, I was bombarded with messages of why I wasn’t responding, why I didn’t say anything on social media.
“And I think a lot of people need to understand that it’s very hard when you’re in this position to say the things that you would really like to say. I would love to say all of these things. I have so many things inside that I would love to say I am the biggest supporter of women in sport.”
That aside, Jones went on to speak directly to the “little boys or girls” who might have heard Sheargold’s comments on their drive home from school.
“Please know that you are welcome to play sport … Sorry, I’m upset,” she said, her voice breaking.
“You are welcome to play sport to whatever level. You don’t have to be a midfielder. You don’t have to be an Olympian. You just play sport because sport is so wonderful.
“The biggest thing we could ask for is men to be on our side, when it comes to women in sport, because it’s always an uphill battle. To be paid less, to get less coverage, to not get the credit they deserve.”
Jones is considered one of the greatest Australian swimmers of all time.Source: News Limited
Finally, Jones issued a message to the Matildas, who were the main target of Sheargold’s spray, saying, “I think it’s so important to know they are inspiring, no matter what level they get to. Please know you are inspiring so many people.”
Sheargold’s controversial comments came after the Matildas kicked off their campaign in the annual SheBelieves Cup with a heavy 4-0 defeat to Japan on Friday, and then followed up with a 2-1 loss to the US three days later.
“There’s something wrong with the Matildas,” Sheargold said on Monday’s show.
“They had that wonderful tournament out here where we all fell in love with them, even though they didn’t make the quarters.
“You know what they remind me of? Year 10 girls,” Sheargold continued.
“All the infighting and all the friendship issues, ‘the coach hates me and I hate bloody training and Michelle’s being a b**ch’.
“Now I’m sorry to undermine the whole sport, but that’s what I think of it so you can stick it up your arse.”
Sheargold later apologised for his outburst. Picture: Supplied/Triple MSource: Supplied
Co-host Will Ralston attempted to continue reading the news, referencing the name of the tournament, which prompted Sheargold to say, “Oh, she believes in what? It better be men.”
Ralston continued with the sports report, saying, “We’re 12 months out from Australia hosting the Women’s Asian Cup, so hopefully we have a better runway to improve before that comes around.”
Sheargold responded, “Oh god. The Asian Cup. I’d rather hammer a nail through the head of my penis than watch that … Got any men’s sport?”
The 53-year-old later responded to the backlash on social media in a statement released by the radio network.
“Any comedy, including mine, can miss the mark sometimes, and I can see why people may have taken offence to my comments regarding the Matildas. I sincerely apologise,” he said.
A spokesperson for Southern Cross Austereo, Triple M’s parent company, also said, “Marty Sheargold’s comments regarding the Matildas — made during Triple M Drive on Monday, 24 February — do not align with Triple M’s views and values, and Triple M remains steadfast in its strong support of all women’s and men’s sports.
WARNING: This article contains language that some readers may find offensive
Comments live on-air from Triple M radio personality Marty Sheargold about Australia’s Matildas have been blasted as “disgusting” and “a f**king joke” — with the comedian since apologising, while Football Australia called the incident “deeply disappointing”.
The Matildas, Australia’s wildly popular national football side, are in the United States competing in the annual SheBelieves Cup along with Japan, Colombia and the host nation.
When the Triple M program and podcast, The Marty Sheargold Show, began discussing the Tillies’ results in the tournament on Monday afternoon, the host took the opportunity to express his feelings towards the team and women’s sport in general.
It’s understood the station has been flooded with complaints after the comments were posted on social media late on Tuesday.
Listen to part of the comments in the player below
The Matildas following their loss to the United States on Tuesday. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
It’s worth noting that when Sheargold began Monday’s show, he started with the message to listeners: “Little ears warning for the following podcast.
“It’s probably not for kids, there’s some adult concepts, not just today, every day.
“Buyer beware as they say.”
But we’ll leave it up to you to decide whether that is warning enough for what transpired live on Monday afternoon.
The discussion between Sheargold and co-hosts Troy Ellis and Will Ralson began with Ralston mentioning the tournament to date.
“In football or soccer it’s been a nightmare tournament for the Matildas over the last three or four days over in the US,” Ralston said.
Sheargold immediately jumped in with the following rant, including downplaying – unintentionally or otherwise – the Matildas’ semi-final appearance at the 2023 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
“There’s something wrong with the Matildas,” Sheargold began.
“They had that wonderful tournament out here where we all fell in love with them, even though they didn’t make the quarters.
“You know what they remind me of? Year 10 girls,” Sheargold continued, as laughter rang out in the background.
“All the infighting and all the friendship issues, ‘the coach hates me and I hate bloody training and Michelle’s being a bitch’.
“Now I’m sorry to undermine the whole sport, but that’s what I think of it so you can stick it up your arse.”
Triple M radio and podcast host Marty Sheargold. Picture: Supplied/Triple MSource: Supplied
The broadcaster and actor announced at the time he was taking an extended break to spend more time with family and “prioritise self-care (and) maintaining a better work/life balance”.
Ralston then tried to continue with the sports news bulletin, stating: “So we’re playing in the SheBelieves Cup.”
Sheargold jumped in, screaming “Oh, she believes in what? It better be men” as more laughter rang out.
After a conversation about Sam Kerr and her partner, American footballer Kristie Mewis, which included Sheargold’s question “do they play the same position?”, Ralson tried again to keep the bulletin moving.
Kristie Mewis (left) and Sam Kerr were also discussed on the program. (Photo by Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“We’re 12 months out from Australia hosting the Women’s Asian Cup, so hopefully we have a better runway to improve before that comes around,” he said.
Sheargold responded: “Oh god. The Asian Cup. I’d rather hammer a nail through the head of my penis than watch that,” as a sound affect and more laughs were heard.
“Got any men’s sport?”
Ralston replied: “Yeah I do, baseball, the New York Yankees have dropped their 49-year ban on beards, on facial hair.”
“Now this is a good story,” Sheargold responded.
The exchange came to light after Olympic hockey player Ambrosia Malone posted part of it on TikTok with the following caption: “I honestly don’t know what is wrong with the world.
Tokyo Olympian Ambrosia Malone posted some of the comments on social media. Picture: Alex Coppel.Source: News Corp Australia
“I heard this on the radio yesterday in prime time (5.30pm) on the way to training and all I could think about was the young girls sitting in the car with their parents, maybe on the way to or from their own training sessions hearing this.
“I’m sure many of them would have been hurt and confused … I was in disbelief.
“This is apparently acceptable on mainstream afternoon radio??? HOW??”
She added: “I’d name the station and speaker, but I don’t want to reward their behaviour with publicity.”
There was a strong reaction on the platform, with many stating the same disbelief at the comments and asking for the station to be named.
“It’s worth lodging a complaint about this,” was one reply. “If you provide the station and time then I’m sure a few people would be interested in also lodging a complaint.”
Marty Sheargold and Mary Fowler. Photo: Triple M and Mark King, Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Another wrote: “Is this a f**king joke?!? I feel like I’m living in a simulation. That cannot be a real recording.”
“This CAN’T be real,” added a third.
After the station and host was added to the comments, a vast number confirmed they had lodged a complaint with Triple M.
News.com.au has reached out to Triple M for comment.
Meanwhile, more prominent female athletes voiced their anger.
Swimming great Libby Trickett commented: “I’m livid. It’s 2025 and this isn’t funny.”
Netballer Gretel Bueta commented “Yuk”, while Diamonds great Bianca Chatfield left an angry face emoji.
Sheargold has apologised amid the backlash, claimed his joke missed the mark.
“Any comedy, including mine, can miss the mark sometimes, and I can see why people may have taken offence to my comments regarding the Matildas. I sincerely apologise,’’ he said.
Triple M distanced itself from the comments, without indicating whether any disciplinary action would be taken against Sheargold.
An SCA spokesperson said: “Marty Sheargold’s comments regarding the Matildas — made during Triple M Drive on Monday, 24 February — do not align with Triple M’s views and values, and Triple M remains steadfast in its strong support of all women’s and men’s sports. We are sorry for any offence caused.”
Football Australia later issued a statement.
“Football Australia is deeply disappointed by the unacceptable comments made by Marty Sheargold on Triple M regarding the CommBank Matildas. Such remarks not only diminish the extraordinary achievements and contributions of our women’s national football team but also fail to recognise the profound impact they have had on Australian sport and society.
“The CommBank Matildas have inspired a new generation of Australians from young boys and girls to men and women who now see a future for themselves in football and sport more broadly. They have broken barriers, set new standards, and elevated the game to unprecedented heights. Their success has been instrumental in transforming women’s sport in Australia, and they deserve to be covered with the respect and professionalism they have earned.
“While we acknowledge the apologies issued by both Triple M and Marty Sheargold, this incident is a stark reminder of the responsibility media outlets and personalities have in fostering respectful and constructive discussions about women’s sport and its participants. Every comment, every report, and every discussion shape public perception and reinforces our society’s values toward women and girls in sport.”
The Young Matildas kicked off their AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup campaign in Uzbekistan on Sunday night against Korea Republic in unconventional circumstances, to put it kindly.
Australia and Korea Republic were met with testing conditions after snow blanketed the field, with an attempt made to clear at least parts of the pitch for the players from both teams.
Although the best that could be managed was just the sides and sections of the centre circle, with players left to make futile attempts to pass the ball which instead continually got stuck in the snow.
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The weather conditions in Tashkent weren’t necessarily unexpected with Amy Sayer, who plays club football for Kristianstads DFF in Sweden, explaining to the Matildas’ official website before the game how cold climate — and potentially snow — could impact play.
“It takes a lot of mental fortitude to push through that [the weather],” she said.
“There will be some differences in how the ball rolls, how the field feels to us.
“But I think that the strength of this team is so great. We can really push through any condition, whether it’s two feet of snow or whatever else Uzbekistan might throw at us.”
Australia last played Korea Republic in the most recent edition of the tournament, going down 9-1, and trailed 1-0 at halftime on Sunday evening after a goal from Jeon Yu-gyeong.
But they fought back brilliantly after the break, with Peta Trimis levelling the scores in the 73rd minute before a 90th minute winner from Naomi Chinnama.
It leaves the Aussies top of the group before matches with Uzbekistan and Taiwan.
Jurgen Klinsmann vowed to carry on as South Korea coach despite failing to fulfil his stated objective of reaching the Asian Cup final following a 2-0 defeat to Jordan on Tuesday.
The German legend has not won over South Korean fans and media since taking over a year ago and is likely to face demands to quit after his team went out in the semi-finals.
Despite boasting Asia’s best player in Son Heung-min, South Korea’s wait for a first Asian Cup since 1960 goes on after they were well beaten by Jordan in Qatar.
Asked by AFP if he will quit, Klinsmann said: “I am not planning to do anything. “I plan to analyse this tournament and talk to the (Korean) federation about what was good and not so good.
“There was a lot of good stuff we saw. It is a team that is growing and still needs to develop towards the next World Cup.
“There is a lot of work ahead of us.
“Apart from that, I am not thinking of anything.”
Playing in the semi-finals for the first time and ranked 64 places lower, Jordan fully deserved their victory over Jurgen Klinsmann’s shell-shocked side.
South Korea’s talisman Son endured a frustrating night and his country’s wait for a first Asian Cup since 1960 goes on.
In front of 43,000 at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, South Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo was busy almost from the off, saving from Noor Al-Rawabdeh after good work from Tamari.
Jo kept out a fierce drive from Naimat after the South Korean defence opened up, before Tamari blazed over the bar.
Klinsmann vowed not to quit his role as South Korea’s coach. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)Source: AFP
South Korea were awarded a penalty on the half-hour that was overturned after the referee consulted the pitch-side monitor, and Lee Jae-sung pinged a header onto the post.
Naimat went up the other end and slalomed his way through three weak Korean challenges before drawing a close-range stop from Jo.
Jordan took the lead on 53 minutes when Park Yong-woo gave the ball away, Tamari ran towards goal and slipped in Naimat, who popped a cool finish over the advancing Jo.
South Korea could not cope with the rampaging duo and on 66 minutes Tamari drove to the edge of the box before unloading past an exposed Jo.
Klinsmann, a World Cup winner as a player but who has not reached the same heights as a coach, has been criticised in South Korea for smiling even when his team lose.
He was asked in the post-match press conference about smiling when he greeted Jordan’s coach Hussein Ammouta at the end of the semi-final defeat in Doha.
“I am disappointed, I am angry,” the 59-year-old said.
“We did not exist in the first 20-30 minutes (of the game).” Klinsmann said Jordan, who were the better side in the first half and scored twice in the second, deserved to win despite being the underdogs.
“We had the big goal to get to the final,” he said.
“(But) they were more aggressive, they won almost all the one-on-one battles in the first half-hour.”
The Socceroos have been sent packing at the quarter final stage for the second consecutive Asian Cup after losing 2-1 to South Korea in extra time.
It was a cruel result considering the graft the Aussies had put in throughout regular time, before a costly error from a substitute gave the Taegeuk Warriors a late, late avenue back into the contest.
The errors coupled with the Socceroos inability to convert gilt-edged chances contributed to their exit, leaving Aussie boss Graham Arnold wondering what could have been.
Foxsports.com.au analyses the Socceroos’ defeat in Talking Points!
You’d have thought Lucas Neill giving away a penalty in the Socceroos’ Round of 16 clash against Italy at the 2006 World Cup would have served as a lesson why defenders don’t go to ground inside the box.
Unfortunately for Lewis Miller, he didn’t heed the warning.
The Hibernian defender replaced Nathaniel Atkinson in the 73rd minute, largely due to the latter struggling with an ankle injury sustained during the first half.
Sadly, it was a substitution that will be remembered by Socceroos fans for some time to come, but for all the wrong reasons.
With only a handful of minutes remaining in second half stoppage time and the Socceroos inching closer towards a semi final against Jordan, South Korean skipper Heung Min Son picked up the ball in the Aussies’ 18-yard box.
Son, who didn’t have much room to operate, nudged the ball ever so slightly from out of his feet as he tried to get to the byline.
Much like a shark sensing blood in the water, Miller tried to pounce on what he perceived as a slightly loose touch from Son.
But the Korean sensation snatched Miller right into his trap as the Aussie lunged at the ball, only to collect none of it and all of Son.
Lewis Miller was devastated at full time. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)Source: AFP
It gave the referee an easy decision to point to the spot, gifting Hwang Hee Chan a golden chance to equalise in the 96th minute and it was a chance he gratefully took as the match went into extra time.
Former Socceroos Alex Brosque and Luke Wilkshire didn’t hold back in their verdict of Miller’s foul.
“The penalty is just a brain explosion,” Brosque told Channel 10, while Wilkshire described the incident as “a brain fade to give away a needless penalty.”
Miller’s nightmare didn’t stop there.
On the stroke of half time in extra time, Miller clumsily fouled Hwang right on the edge of Australia’s 18-yard box, gifting Korea a set piece from a dangerous spot.
Son stepped up to take the free kick and delivered a beautifully-curled effort over the wall and past a sprawling Mat Ryan to score what proved to be the winner.
Miller cut a devastated figure after the game and slumped to the turf as his teammates went over to embrace him.
Speaking after the match, Arnold offered his full support to the crestfallen defender and reiterated it’s all a part of the learning experience in football.
“I put my arm around him and give him a hug and tell him that these things are lessons in life,” Arnold said in his post-match press conference.
“You learn from these type of things and move forward.”
Souttar was one of several Socceroos who went over to console a crushed Miller. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)Source: AFP
‘HEARTBREAKING’ MISSES THAT PROVED COSTLY
It was Garang Kuol’s miss against Argentina that was the Socceroos’ ‘what if’ moment of the 2022 World Cup.
And we might come to look back on Mitchell Duke’s wayward header as the ‘what if’ moment of Australia’s 2023 Asian Cup campaign.
The Socceroos had broke forward on the counter attack as substitute winger Jordan Bos found himself with space inside the box.
Bos’ cross took a deflection off a Korean defender and flew into the air, producing the most inviting of crosses for Duke, unmarked at the back post, to steer home.
Unfortunately, Duke’s header flew agonisingly wide of an open goal.
Had Duke scored in the 84th minute, the Socceroos would have gone 2-0 up and preparations for a semi final clash against Jordan would have begun straight after the final whistle.
How costly that miss would prove to be.
It’s a header Duke will replay over and over in his mind. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP
Even prior to Duke’s miss, Martin Boyle had a golden chance to score.
A delightful cross from Craig Goodwin found Boyle unmarked at the back post, but the Hibernian flyer’s header went straight at Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-Woo.
The rebound fell kindly to Boyle but he was quickly foiled again by Hyeon-Woo.
The ball then landed for Duke who was just metres from goal, but he thrashed his volley well over the bar.
As Wilkshire noted, a failure to bury chances like these when they come along will almost always prove costly.
“When you don’t take these chances, you go, you just know they’re going to come back and bite you,” Wilkshire said.
“It’s heartbreaking, it really is.”
Duke was left to rue two missed chances to give the Socceroos a two-goal cushion. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ARNIE’S GAME PLAN LAUDED AS SOCCEROOS DELIVER ‘BEST PERFORMANCE’ OF ASIAN CUP IN LOSS
In Australia’s first four games at the Asian Cup, they’d dominated possession but largely struggled to break down teams who essentially parked the bus.
But against South Korea, the Socceroos did not enjoy the lion’s share of possession.
However, as we’ve seen throughout Arnold’s tenure as Socceroos boss, it is in these types of games where the team thrives.
The Aussies started perhaps a little sluggishly, but grew into the game after 20 minutes and were a constant threat on the counter attack.
Led by Duke up front, the Socceroos pressed intelligently and knew when to drop back and get bodies behind the ball.
At the half time break, Brosque loved what he’d seen from the Socceroos without the ball.
“We are keeping everything in front of us, allowing them to move the ball,” Brosque said.
“Yes, the speed at which they move the ball, and their crisp passes, great to watch, but it is not troubling us at all.
“We are in a good block there … they have been a few times where it has been very close, but that back four has kept the perfect line. It has made all the difference.”
Channel 10 commentator Andy Harper also waxed lyrical about the pace at which the Aussies switched from defence to attack.
Arnold had the perfect game plan to stop South Korea but was undone by one defender’s moment of madness. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“Australia, their transition passes have been a high point,” Harper said.
Much like their Round of 16 fixture against Saudi Arabia, South Korea grew into the match and began to look the better team but the Aussies continued to valiantly defend.
The Taegeuk Warriors tried to go through, around and over the top of the Socceroos backline but each time, a man in green and gold thwarted the attack.
Eventually South Korea did find a way through thanks to Miller’s lapse in concentration, but up until that point, Arnold nailed the game plan.
He can’t score gilt-edged chances for the Socceroos, nor make defensive blunders that cost the team the win.
Speaking after the match, Wilkshire and Brosque had plenty of praise for Arnold’s tactical set-up.
“That is our best performance of the tournament,” Wilkshire said.
“The way it played out tactically, defending in transition, we were threatening.”
Brosque recognised the fact everyone clearly knew their tasks and stuck to it as a reason why the Aussies were so successful up until the late stages.
“It looked like everyone was in sync, they were in the same page in terms of being where they needed to be, covering the players they needed to cover,” Brosque said.
“The one chance they (South Korea) had on goal was a soft shot that Mathew Ryan picked up comfortably and that was it.
“They had nothing else, they were looking tired. So were we, but we were still doing enough to progress, it seemed.”
The Socceroos face South Korea at 2.30am on Saturday morning (AEDT) for a place in the Asian Cup semi-finals in a blockbuster rematch of the 2015 tournament final.
Australia beat the team – now ranked 23rd in the world – in extra time to lift their maiden title on home soil.
Now, in their first tournament meeting since that thrilling final, the two Cup contenders will do battle in Qatar, and it promises to be another epic encounter.
Neither team fully hit their stride in the group stages, but the world number 25 Socceroos racked up three clean sheets in their first four matches – including the 4-0 win over Singapore in the Round of 16.
So far, they’ve scored eight goals and conceded just once, continuing to build on an unbeaten run that now stretches to eight matches.
And Australia have a key boost for the crunch clash against South Korea – the Aussies played their Round of 16 match a full 50 hours before their opponents, who were taken all the way to a penalty shootout by Saudi Arabia.
“I think there’s gonna be some sore bodies and tired bodies from the South Korea camp,” Socceroos striker Mitch Duke said on Thursday.
“We’ve got to exploit that with our high energy and our physicality of how we play anyway, I think it could be an advantage for us to use for sure and I’m sure we’re going to look at that in the coming days.”
But South Korea coach Jurgenn Klinsmann – a former German playing great – said his side were ‘ready to suffer’.
“Rest days are what they are. You accept it, you move on. We are ready,” Klinsmann said.
“We are ready for this huge game and we are very hungry. We want to go through.
“And if you want to go through in the knockout phases of a big tournament, you have to suffer. You have to be ready to suffer, you have to deal with pain, because you are banged up from the last game.
“That’s normal. It’s normal. And the players play this way at their club teams. Many of them play in Europe every three or four days. So it’s no problem.
“It will be a 50-50 match, it will be a hard-fought match. We are ready for the battle. We battled through 120 minutes against Saudi Arabia and we will go and battle through whatever it will takes against Australia.”
Key to South Korea’s hopes of victory is Son Heung-Min, the Tottenham talisman who is back to his best form since Australian manager Ange Postecoglou took over at Spurs this season.
In a funny twist of fate, Postecoglou was in charge of the Socceroos for their 2015 Asian Cup campaign – when Son scored in the final but was not able to overcome Postecoglou’s Socceroos.
Asked about his plans to shut down Son, Graham Arnold joked: “I rang Ange and asked Ange if he can take him back!”
Son Heung-Min is the danger-man leading South Korea.Source: Getty Images
South Korea, ranked two places higher than the Socceroos, will be their hardest opponent of the tournament so far and were considered one of the pre-tournament favourites.
But Keanu Baccus said the Aussies weren’t afraid of South Korea’s bevy of superstars including Son, Kim Min-Jae (Bayern), Lee Kang-In (PSG), and Hwang Hee-Chan (Wolves).
“We’re not too worried about them, we just worry about ourselves, but yeah they’ve got some individual players that are great, and we’ve got talent too, we respect them, but we don’t fear them,” he said.
“We go out and play our game and do what we’ve been doing this tournament. We’ve only conceded the one goal this whole tournament, if we do that again the rest will take care of itself.”
While South Korea pose an immensely difficult task, both teams will be bullish about their chances of reaching the final should they win tonight.
World no. 87 Jordan or Tajikistan, ranked 106th in the world, loom as the semi-final opponent for the victor.
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History will show it was the Ange Postecoglou-led Socceroos who emerged victorious, with a James Troisi strike in extra time proving the difference.
It was the first continental triumph in Asia for the Socceroos and a landmark moment in Australian football.
For South Korea, the defeat meant its agonising wait for a first Asian Cup triumph since 1960 — a tournament which featured only four teams and 80-minute games — rumbled on.
In the early hours of Saturday, the two nations will collide for the 29th time in the quarterfinal of the 2023 Asian Cup, as South Korea looks to banish the demons of 2015.
And, in a cruel twist for the Socceroos, one of their own could be the architect of its downfall in Qatar.
The Socceroos will take on South Korea in the quarter final of the Asian Cup. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WILD CONTRAST IN PATH TO ASIAN CUP QF AS ARNIE’S TROOPS SHOW UP WORLD NO. 23
South Korea’s road to the final eight at this Asian Cup has been far from smooth.
Jurgen Klinsmann took over managerial duties from Paulo Bento last February but his tenure has been dogged by large swells of criticism from South Korea.
The German great quickly found himself offside when he elected to remain living in the United States once appointed to the role, relying on his assistants to attend K-League matches and report back to him.
It is in complete contrast to Klinsmann’s predecessors, who all made the move to South Korea after earning the job.
Klinsmann’s early results did not help either, failing to win any of his opening five matches before finally achieving his first victory as South Korea boss after beating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in September.
Drawn in Group E alongside Bahrain, Jordan and Malaysia, nations ranked 86th, 87th and 130th in the world respectively, it represented a golden chance for Klinsmann and his troops to make an early statement at the Asian Cup.
But if pundits thought a cruisy 3-1 win over Bahrain was a sign progression to the knockout stages would be a breeze, how wrong they were.
Klinsmann hasn’t exactly won over Korean fans since his appointment in February 2023. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
South Korea were bailed out by an own goal in second half stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw against Jordan and conceded in the 15th minute of second half stoppage time against Malaysia to draw 3-3.
Klinsmann was even seen sporting a smile after the draw against Malaysia, a gesture that gave his most vocal detractors even more ammunition.
The two draws meant South Korea, rather embarrassingly, finished second in their group behind Bahrain.
In a twist of fate, not topping Group E meant the Taegeuk Warriors avoided a clash against fellow Asian heavyweights Japan, as a Round of 16 fixture against the Roberto Mancini-led Saudi Arabia beckoned instead.
Yet again, South Korea were rescued by stoppage time heroics as Cho Gue-Sung scored the equaliser in the 99th minute after Abdullah Radif put Saudi Arabia ahead almost as soon as the second half began.
Neither side could find the winner in extra time, forcing the contest into a penalty shootout in which South Korea prevailed to seal a quarterfinal showdown against the Socceroos.
In contrast to South Korea’s journey, the Aussies were rarely troubled by their Group B rivals.
Graham Arnold’s side kept clean sheets in wins over India and Syria but once again, a perceived lack of inventiveness in the final third was the main talking point from the first two games.
Struggling to break down teams who defend in deep, low blocks has been a constant criticism throughout Arnold’s tenure, although the Aussie boss has passionately argued it is results rather than style that matter most in tournament football.
Arnold has been criticised for a lack of creativity in the final third. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Former Socceroo Robbie Slater also defended the team’s tactical approach in the Asian Cup, reiterating the need to “build” as the tournament goes on.
“I spoke to Arnie about it, and he doesn’t like to get too much into it but I can tell his disappointed … I think (the criticism) is unfair,” Slater told SEN.
“We’re in a tournament (where) we’ve conceded one goal, we’ve scored eight. Have we played like Brazil at their best? No, but it’s a tournament and you build.”
A controversial penalty helped the Socceroos seal top spot in Group B with a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan and was followed by a comfortable-yet-feisty 4-0 victory over Indonesia in the Round of 16.
Given South Korea have a day less to recover from the draining 120-minute encounter against Saudi Arabia, it is a huge bonus for the Socceroos, even if Klinsmann suggested a penalty shootout win “gives the team an enormous amount of energy.”
Couple that with the Socceroos’ propensity to perform with reduced possession against better teams and it’s as good a chance as ever for the Aussies to make the semi finals.
A win for either nation would lead to a semi final against Jordan or Tajikistan, who are ranked 106th in the world.
It would be too dismissive to suggest the winner between South Korea and Australia would go on to a spot in the Asian Cup final, but an easier ride to the last stage might not present itself ever again.
The Socceroos will face either Tajikistan or Jordan should they beat South Korea and qualify for the semi finals. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP
THE TRIO OUT TO VANQUISH DEMONS OF 2015 … AND HOW ANGE HAS PLAYED A HELPING HAND
Few in South Korea have forgotten what happened in the final of the 2015 Asian Cup.
That day, a 22-year-old Heung-Min Son scored a stoppage time equaliser in the second half to cancel out Massimo Luongo’s sizzling strike and send the contest to extra time.
But, as then-Socceroos boss Postecoglou was at pains to point out during his team talk prior to extra time, Son and his South Korean teammates had exhausted every ounce of energy they had while the Aussies appeared fresh as a daisy.
The Socceroos soon found the winner courtesy of James Troisi in a moment etched into Australian football folklore, but for South Korea it represented yet another Asian Cup heartbreak.
Of that Socceroos team that started in the final, only Mat Ryan and Aziz Behich remain.
As for South Korea, the trio of Son, Kim Young-Gwon and Kim Jin-Su are the sole survivors.
Having come agonisingly close to ending the nation’s wait for a first Asian Cup since 1960, the trio’s desire to vanquish the demons of 2015 will burn deep.
Much has changed since that day at Homebush, especially for Son.
It was only a few months after the 2015 Asian Cup he moved from Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham Hotspur for $AUD42 million, where he remains today.
In the near-decade he has spent in north London, Son has established himself as one of the Premier League’s deadliest wingers.
Heung-Min Son was left devastated after losing the 2015 Asian Cup final to Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Whether it be burning defenders for speed or producing Houdini-like escapes to wriggle out of tight spaces with the ball, the South Korean has constantly dragged Tottenham out of several holes.
Although Son suffered a dip in form last season under Antonio Conte and scored only ten league goals — his lowest tally since the 2015/16 season — the 31-year-old is back to his brilliant best.
Behind Son’s resurgence this season has been former Socceroos boss Postecoglou, who took over from Conte as Tottenham manager.
It was Postecoglou who named Son as Tottenham’s new captain in the wake of Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich and it is a role in which he has embraced and subsequently flourished.
Even though some pundits anticipated Son to struggle without Kane, he has stepped up in the latter’s absence with 12 goals and five assists from 20 league games.
Despite entering the Asian Cup as the most dangerous player across the entire competition, Son has been largely nullified by weaker opposition.
But it didn’t stop Arnold from cracking a joke about how he plans to stop the rampant Spurs winger.
“I rang Ange and asked Ange if he can take him back,” Arnold said during a press conference.
Ange Postecoglou has got Heung-Min Son firing. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Although Arnold publicly took a humorous stance on the matter, privately he will have been intensely plotting on how to prevent Son from running riot.
But it’s not like the Socceroos boss will need to draw up a blueprint from scratch.
After all, the Socceroos defenders have come up against the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jack Grealish and Lionel Messi twice in the space of just over a year.
Son isn’t the only attacking threat the Socceroos must plan for, with Wolves forward Hwang Hee-Chan and Paris Saint-Germain winger Lee Kang-In also presenting major defensive headaches.
However, the Socceroos are one of the strongest teams defensively at the Asian Cup having faced just four shots on target throughout the entire tournament.
It’s why Behich is not losing sleep about what South Korea’s forwards are capable of.
“We don’t focus on individuals in teams,” Behich said, per ESPN.
“Yeah, you have to be careful, it’s obviously in the back of your mind as a player when you’re on the pitch that these types of world-class players can change a game in a moment.
“But it’s all about us and what we can do as a team.”
Socceroos gear up for South Korea clash | 01:27
Given South Korea’s short turnaround from their Round of 16 fixture, the deck is heavily stacked in the favour of the Socceroos when it comes to the physical battle.
But, much like the Socceroos against higher ranked opponents, beware the team that is ready to run itself ragged for the cause.
Couple that with a trio, led by talismanic skipper Son, desperate to avenge the 2015 Asian Cup final defeat, and Arnold will be in for one of the toughest tasks of his managerial career.
But if he passes the test, the case for Arnold as one of the Socceroos’ greatest coaches will be significantly strengthened.
Socceroos defender Aziz Behich is set to play alongside Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo after he secured a loan deal to join Al-Nassr until the end of the season, while another A-League Men’s player could be on the move to the EPL.
And a former Socceroos midfielder Jimmy Jeggo is back in Melbourne after an eight-year stint in Europe.
The 33-year-old is currently with Melbourne City but will move to Saudi Arabia when the Asian Cup wraps up.
It’s a huge move for Behich, who will link up with Ronaldo as well as former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, with Al-Nassr in second spot in the Saudi Pro League, seven points behind Al-Hilal.
Fellow Socceroos veteran Craig Goodwin also plays in the SPL with Al-Wehda.
Aziz Behich will play for the same team as Cristiano Ronaldo. Picture: AFPSource: AFP
Behich has played every minute of the Asian Cup so far and his speed could come into play against a Korean side that will be physically exhausted after a taxing comeback in the round of 16.
The Aussies have conceded just one goal so far in the tournament, but questions remain over their attacking fluency that hasn’t been as smooth as fans would like.
Joe Gauci is on the verge of joining Aston Villa in the EPL. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Behich isn’t the only local player set to leave Australia, with Adelaide goalkeeper Joe Gauci tipped to join Aston Villa before the transfer deadline.
Gauci is with the Socceroos and would be behind Emiliano Martinez at Villa, with the shot-stopper crowned the best keeper at the 2022 World Cup after helping Argentina win the final.
But going the other way is ex-Socceroos midfielder Jimmy Jeggo, wh ohas returned to the A-League to join Melbourne City.
Jeggo, 31, has spent the past eight years plying his trade in Europe for clubs in Austria (Sturm Graz and Austria Vienna), Greece (Aris), Belgium (Eupen) and in Scotland, where he was a teammate of Socceroos pair Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller at Hibernian.
However, after a year with Hibs, Jeggo has returned home after signing a deal set to keep him at City at least until the end of next season.
“I am thrilled to be joining Melbourne City for the next couple of seasons,” said Jeggo, who has had previous stints in the A-League with Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United.
“This is a club that has had great success in recent years, it’s professionalism and facilities are second to none in the country, and I want to play my part in adding more silverware to the cabinet.
“I’ve absolutely loved my time overseas and I still feel like I’ve got a lot to give, and if I came home, I really wanted to get stuck into something, and City is the perfect club to do that.”
City were quick to pounce on the services of Jeggo – who earnt the most recent of his 15 Socceroos camp in March 2022 – following Moroccan midfielder Hamza Sakhi’s decision this month to leave the club for personal reasons.
City director of football Michael Petrillo said Jeggo’s “considerable experience in Europe and with the Socceroos” would add “significant depth” to the club’s midfield stocks.
“He’s a highly skilled footballer who will further strengthen our squad as we embark on the business end of the season,” Petrillo said,
“Not only will he bring an abundance of experience both in Australia and abroad, he’s a player that will suit our style of play and one that City fans will enjoy watching over the coming seasons.”
