Skipper Mile Jedinak says unwavering belief was the key behind the Socceroos' impressive 2-2 draw with world champions Germany on Thursday morning (AEDT) in Kaiserslautern.
Despite missing a host of regular starters through injury and going a goal down early on, the Socceroos didn’t relent and eventually got their rewards to register an eye-catching result against the world’s best.
It was another fearless performance from Ange Postecoglou’s young squad and follows on from their historic Asian Cup triumph on home soil in January.
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“We have a great belief in what we’re trying to do,” Jedinak told Fox Sports.
“We’ve been at it now for 18 months and we stick by these principles. We’ve seen the success it’s given us in the Asian Cup and even against some of the sides at the World Cup as well.
“We know it works. It’s a platform that’s taken a little bit of time and we haven’t mastered it but we believe in it and everyone’s pulling in the right direction. It’s great that we can come here and put in a performance like that.”
Jedinak had a mixed night, coughing up possession for Germany’s opener but redeeming himself with a cracking free-kick to put Australia in front early in the second half.
“It felt good off the boot,” Jedinak said of his brilliant strike, which was the history making 1000th A international goal for the Socceroos.
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“I’m happy to be a part of it and happy to chip in with a goal but I’m very proud of my team-mates. Guys travelled in from all over the world and on not a lot of rest but we put that aside and delivered tonight.
“I thought we created a lot of opportunities and maybe we were unlucky to not get a couple more goals. But overall it’s a step in the right direction and something we can all be proud of.”
In a team full of strong contributors, debutant Luke DeVere did a sterling job against Germany’s star-studded attack and rewarded Postecoglou’s faith in including him in the side.
“It was a great honour and thrill to play. I was itching to get out there in any capacity and to be starting was an even bigger thrill,” DeVere said.
“I was delighted with it and I just wanted to go out there and put my best foot forward. It’s a bit of a different standard to what I’ve been playing the last few weeks.
“That first 10-15 minutes I was finding my feet and felt I got more comfortable as the game went on.”