Archie Thompson fully supports Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou and says the negative criticism is harming the team.
The Socceroos' 2-1 win over Thailand in Tuesday’s final World Cup qualifying group game wasn’t enough as Saudi Arabia’s victory over Japan meant they directly qualified for Russia 2018 at Australia’s expense.
Australia must now defeat Syria in a two-legged play off in October and then overcome the fourth-placed CONCACAF team in a two-legged tie in November if they are to make the World Cup.
Thompson’s 54 appearances for the national team included two successful World Cup qualifying campaigns, and he insists that Australia must get behind the Socceroos as they head into the play-offs.
“There’s been a lot of hype and publicity about Ange that he should be out, but I actually think he’s been amazing for our national team,” he said speaking exclusively to FourFourTwo.
“I hope we kind of lay off this thing and get behind the Socceroos because they’re going to need it. I’m over the negative publicity of it all.
“Negativity does harmful things to a team. What they need now is positivity and support.”
The Socceroos failure to qualify for Russia directly sparked a torrent of negative criticism around Postecoglou’s tactics, with Fox Sport’s Mark Bosnich the most vocal.
However, Thompson feels not all the blame should be aimed at the coach.
“I know it’s a pundit’s job to make these controversial headlines but we quickly forget that we used to be players,” he said.
“Ange is very strong in his beliefs and he obviously feels that playing this way is the way that our country will progress as a footballing nation.
“The issue is that his players are not playing regular football, they’re not fit and they don’t play this formation at their clubs.”
Thomson played under Postecoglou while at Melbourne Victory and he understands the frustration regarding the 3-4-3, however he still supports the Socceroos coach.
“Ange tried the two wingbacks in our first year where we had to stay high on the wings,” he said.
“When we counter attacked and it worked it was unstoppable, but after a bit of time teams started to figure us out and we still persisted with it.
“As a player you stay in the structure, but I was thinking maybe we need to do something different because they know exactly what we’re going to do and we’re running against a brick wall and it becomes disheartening for a player.
“It probably does get frustrating for someone watching. But that’s Ange. He’s always going to live and die by his own sword which is why I have the highest respect for him.”
While the Socceroos face a difficult play-off equation to qualify, Thompson has no doubts Australia will be at Russia next year.
“I can’t see us not being part of a World Cup,” he said.
“World Cup qualifying is hard and when you look at it we only lost on goal difference. That’s the fine line of football so we’ll just have to do it the harder way.
“You just have to keep an open mind and not be so bloody negative all the time. For our game to grow and get better, our national team needs success and I believe in Ange.”
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