The gob-smacked look on Arnie's face as the ref flashed the red card at Timmy said it all.
In the stadium, at freezing cold fan sites and in millions of Australian lounge rooms his expression was mirrored on the faces of the faithful who were suddenly silenced by the unbelievable scene unfolding on the pitch in Durban.
To see the Roos return to training today...
To see Germany 2-0 up against Australia at half time was disappointing, but to see our golden boy handed a totally undeserved sending off for an innocuous challenge was beyond our worst nightmares. Even more so because it came so soon after an obvious German handball that the ref apparently didn't notice.
Ironically, it was another handball against Serbia that had earlier decided the outcome of the other Group D match. After 86 minutes in which both teams created chances, it was Ghana who emerged victorious after a late penalty. Paranoid fans in green and gold were already devising conspiracy theories about FIFA's imagined favouritism towards the powerhouse countries of world football alongside their wish to see an African team do well.
The truth is, Ghana were on a deserved high (especially that fan in the stands whose head was smoking ) while Australia were about to face their lowest point in living memory.
The two German goals that followed Timmy's dismissal were sheer agony and left us battered, angry and exhausted. We were always prepared for a tough match, but how did it come to this? Germany are a young, strong and gifted side but we were surely capable of a much better performance.
Alarm bells started to ring when we gazed bleary-eyed at the starting XI. Pim, who has stuck rigidly to his system, even to the exclusion of quality players, was suddenly experimenting with his line-up : Garcia and Cahill playing upfront while Culina shifted to the left.
What on earth was he thinking ? (And if he was planning a 4-4-2, why didn't he take McDonald) This was hardly the time to be taking chances or testing formations. It appeared uncharacteristically reckless or worse, arrogant.
This was Germany : fast, skilful, playing at the highest level with half a dozen hotshots fresh from the Champions League Final. We didn't expect miracles but we did expect to see some fighting spirit, not to mention an Aussie striker on the pitch.
Instead, we watched helplessly as they carved us up. The midfield looked as spacious as the Simpson Desert, while up the back we were so busy appealing for offside we forgot to defend. When we inevitably took refuge in desperate measures, yellow cards and angry sprays at the ref were the unflattering result.
It was like watching a precision-engineered Mercedes splatter mud all over a group of elderly, foul-mouthed peasants.
Germany have started their campaign with style, power and total class. Even after one game it's difficult not to rate them as likely finalists. No doubt, disinterested football fans would have appreciated the textbook moves of Podolski, Klose, Ozil et al, but it's a "football lesson" very few Socceroos fans can appreciate right now.
Although crushed and humiliated, the Socceroos must regain their self-belief and face Ghana with renewed energy. Lucas Neill must step up and present a positive, inspiring face to the public and most of all his teammates. His "we're not worthy" comments before the German match were unrelentingly negative. That's not what his team or the fans need to hear.
As a senior player, Grella also needs to drop the "lovable buffoon" act and take more responsibility. His "no-one died !" comment insults the fans who've paid large sums of money to follow the team around the world. Something did die, Vinnie : your team's reputation, the respect of the fans and maybe even your career. Or do you want to be remembered as The Socceroos squad who went to the World Cup, got hammered and really didn't give a stuff ?
Australian football fans have suffered enough and they deserve better. We have paid a high price for the lack of youth in our squad and the often inflexible attitudes of our national coach. While glaringly obvious, that discussion now needs to be put aside as we seek redemption in the very place that has caused us misery.
We must see Harry Kewell on the pitch or at least be given a decent reason for his absence. And above all, the Socceroos must pull out all the stops to beat Ghana : for their own self-respect, for Tim Cahill, for the good of Australian football and most of all, for the fans. This will be the greatest test of their character and they cannot be found wanting.
To see the Roos return to training today...
