But the next week which includes World Cup qualifiers against Iraq in Tehran and UAE in Sydney are critical for Ange and his legacy. This week could define, or shape, how his reign is perceived.

Right now, he’s got the support of Australia.

He appears as a coaching expert on ABC’s insightful Offsiders program. He was appointed on AFL club Carlton’s coaching selection panel when they were after a new head coach. He does the public speaking circuit discussing coaching techniques.

He guided Australia to Asian Cup glory after all, something predecessors Graham Arnold and Holger Osieck couldn’t do, although the latter was mighty close and on foreign soil – an effort long under-estimated.

But the point is right now, people perceive Ange as someone who knows what he’s doing.

They’re not bothered that he coached Australia to three losses at the 2014 World Cup, because he took over the team at the 11th hour and did what the public wanted, re-generate the team and blood youngsters.

In Ange we trust, yeah?

That level of esteem, but also faith, is a far cry from that memorable SBS interview a decade ago, but that’s a discussion for another day.

While there were a few doubters after the Socceroos’ tepid 2-2 draw with Thailand, there is still genuine and fervent public belief he’ll get Australia to Russia.

We might be sitting third in our group at the halfway point and there has been a little angst, but Ange has pushed the right message. There’s no need to panic. We got this. We’re still unbeaten. We’ve got home games to come.

Externally, that message ensures the pressure doesn’t mount on the players. Internally, Ange will know this next week is crucial. If it doesn’t go to plan, the tension will be tangible.

Take one look at the Group B table.

Australia sits third on nine points, behind Saudi Arabia and Japan (both 10 points) and only +2 goal difference ahead of UAE in fourth. It’s tight.

If it stays this way, we’ll need to qualify through the backdoor, AKA two play-off ties, which can be a lottery. First against the other third best Asian side and then a CONCACAF side, possibly USA at this stage.

We want to avoid that. And, let’s be honest, Australia need to be aiming higher than sneaking into the World Cup, given our pointless display in Brazil in 2014.

Postecoglou, given the job nine months out from the 2014 World Cup, sold that campaign as the beginning of a re-generation towards 2018. He was given a five-year deal, after all.

So, a far stronger showing in Russia is expected, arguably reaching the last 16 would be deemed a success. Sneaking into a World Cup wouldn’t bode well.

Ange still insists we’re on track for a top two spot and automatic qualification and if that happens then everything should be rosy.

But the next week will reveal a lot. Six points is the goal. Four points minimum. Anything less and we’re in serious trouble.

Group leaders Saudi Arabia are away to Thailand and then at home to Iraq. There’s big potential for that to be six points for the Green Falcons who are well led by Bert van Marwijk, who memorably guided the Dutch to the 2010 World Cup final.

Second-placed Japan are away to UAE, where they’ll seek revenge for their shock first-up loss in Saitama, before a home clash with Thailand. Presuming again, but six points looks more than possible for the Blue Samurai.

Now we’re beginning to see where this week may lead. It will be interesting to analyse the levels of pressure and public confidence in Ange and the Socceroos this time next week.

In this context it's important to note, Australia’s next two games after this international break come against the two group leaders. 

If those two manage to gain a points buffer this week, they may be content to shut up shop and snuff the Socceroos out.

Don’t get me wrong. I hope this week goes swimmingly and we can stick these two games deep in our memory bank with glee. But there’s a few warning signs, like Australia’s display against Thailand or Japan, or the fact we’ve beaten one European team in nine attempts, or that we’ve won one game in five in the Middle East under Ange.

There’s a lot of assumptions above but if the Socceroos slip off the pace in the next week, suddenly things will change drastically.

Public perception included. And we move on and forget how we once perceived things very quickly. When we look back in time, usually the only things that matter are results.

Three losses, nine goals conceded at the 2014 World Cup looks very ugly if combined with a failure four years later, irrespective of the 2015 Asian Cup triumph.

We might be talking about these two games for years to come. Let's hope not.