Opinion
‘What’s he doing?!’ The decision that saw Graham Arnold silence his critics
Andrew Webster
Chief Sports WriterMark Bosnich’s mobile phone lit up with phone calls and text messages from all over the world in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold had just substituted first-choice goalkeeper Mat Ryan with Andrew Redmayne for the penalty shootout of their World Cup qualifier against Peru at Qatar’s Al-Rayyan Stadium.
Nobody had seen the switch coming, including Bosnich, a former Socceroo and English Premier League gloveman, and each text pinging on his phone asked the same question: “What is he doing?!”
Critics have been asking that of Arnold — and savagely so — for months as Australia walked a qualification tightrope to the World Cup finals in Qatar in November.
Among them has been Bosnich, one Arnold’s former teammates and now one of the most respected voices in the game.
Bosnich wasn’t ready to pile on like the rest of his address book just yet. “Let’s wait and see,” he replied.
Graham Arnold reacts during the Socceroos’ clash with Peru.Credit:Getty Images
As it turned out, Arnold’s bold substitution proved a masterstroke.
Dubbed the Grey Wiggle because of his comical dance on the goal line before each penalty kick is taken, Redmayne stopped Alex Valera’s shot to deliver the Socceroos a 5-4 victory after neither side had scored in normal then extra time.
While the players ran about the field in celebration, Arnold had tears in his eyes. Few will understand why the result meant so much.
Credit:Matt Golding
Outwardly, the 58-year-old can be gruff and obstinate. But those close to him say this qualifying campaign has worn him down as his tactics and ability were repeatedly questioned.
Never mind that border closures and quarantine restrictions forced 16 of 20 matches to be played overseas. Never mind that he’s had to play with squads decimated by injury or availability.
In March, Arnold contracted COVID-19 just days before the match against Japan in Sydney. Football Federation Australia considered sacking him when it emerged he had breached self-isolation laws while going for a quick swim.
Before that, pundits and fans alike jumped all over him for describing his side’s form as “great” after a dull draw against Saudi Arabia late last year.
It was an adjective that didn’t sit well with Bosnich, whose criticism hadn’t sat well with Arnold. Their relationship was frosty before Bosnich dropped a text of support before the match against Peru.
“I’m delighted for Arnie,” Bosnich said. “He trained Mat Ryan and Andrew Redmayne when they were growing up, so he would’ve known that Redmayne was the best at penalties. That substitution … I’ve seen it before, but very rarely. That’s courage. Planning for something then doing it are two different things. He had the kahunas [sic] to do it.”
Such is the fickleness of sport: if the Socceroos had lost, Arnold would’ve been sacked within days. Instead, the victory was reminiscent of the scenes at Sydney Olympic Park in 2005 when John Aloisi scored a penalty against Uruguay that sent Australia to the finals for the first time since 1974.
After the match, Arnold refused to take aim at those who have been calling for his head. He preferred to pay tribute to his brother Colin, who has supported him since their parents died when Arnold was young.
“The doubters don’t bother me, it is these boys I care for, the game I care for,” Arnold said. “I do it for my family and I want to dedicate this one to my brother, Colin. When my parents died when I was young, I didn’t have anyone really to support me. My older brother has been that my whole life, and he is No. 1.”
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