Australia 1 Denmark 0: Huge World Cup shock with Danes OUT after flop showing as heroic Aussies reach knockouts
GRAHAM ARNOLD’S Socceroos reached the knockout stage for the first time in sweet sixteen years and claimed a big scalp.
Dreary Denmark became the first top ten team to be knocked out of the World Cup – and not only that they finished bottom of Group D.
Australia’s strongest opposition was Tunisia playing in the other game at the same time.
When they took a shock lead against defending world champions France after 58 minutes it meant the Aussies and the Danes were on their way home.
Word must have reached the players from boss Arnold as within two minutes Mathew Leckie fired them ahead after a lung-busting run and class work in the box.
Australia have faltered at the group stage in each of the last three tournaments and Arnold reckons getting to the last 16 at last will be the key to the big time for his players.
It may have come too late for Leckie though.
The Melbourne City striker is 31 with his best years behind him.
Not that it showed with the way he took the decisive goal in a drab game of few chances.
He exhibited his experience of playing in Europe for three years with Borussia Monchengladbach and Eintracht Frankfurt.
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Having broken down a rare Danish attack, Australia sprang free on the counter attack and found former Birmingham City playmaker Riley Mcgree on the left hand side.
He in turn pushed a probing pass upfield for Leckie to race into the box.
The Melbourne City player still had to round Denmark defender Joakim Maehle before planting a shot past the dive of former Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel with a neat finish.
Dismal Denmark barely mustered a response apart from a few half chances in the closing stages and this exit could well herald a big change around in the squad.
This must surely be the last time captain Christian Eriksen will be seen at a World Cup finals.
He is 30 and may not have the legs in him to play on for another four years.
But he has already shown great courage and durability to come to Qatar following his terrifying brush with death at the Euros last year when he collapsed on the pitch.
Keeper Schmeichel is also 36 and faces an uncertain international future as does the whole country.
Denmark ended their World Cup campaign without a win and only a point to show for it.
