Former Qantas Socceroo Craig Moore has slammed ex-Socceroo coach Guus Hiddink for being too timid in Australia’s excruciating World Cup exit in Germany in 2006.
Former Qantas Socceroo Craig Moore has slammed previous national team coach Guus Hiddink for being too timid in Australia-s excruciating World Cup exit in Germany in 2006.
Speaking at the Greatest Ever Australian Footballer awards in Sydney, Moore said he still holds regrets about the way the Socceroos let Italy off the hook in Kaiserslautern.
“The Italians were down to 10 men for most of the second half, but I felt we didn-t really have a go at them,” said Moore.
“Guus was sitting and waiting for extra time and hoping we-d run over them, but it never got that far.
“Even now I regret that we didn-t have a go at them. It-s not in the Australian character to be that cautious.”
History shows that Italy emerged with a controversial 1-0 victory in the Round of 16 match, courtesy of a penalty by Francesco Totti in the 95th minute.
Fabio Grosso had won the penalty by making the most of the slight contact from Lucas Neill.
Earlier, Italy had lost Marco Materazzi through a red card in the 50th minute and managed to hold on against the Socceroos.
The Aussies enjoyed 59 per cent of possession, but managed only eight shots on goal to Italy-s 11. Despite the stalemate, Hiddink made only one substitution - in the 81st minute.
At the gala awards, Hiddink was controversially named as the Greatest Ever coach in Australian football, despite being in charge for less than a year.
The voting public and expert panel overlooked Rale Rasic, who guided the part-time Socceroos to the 1974 World Cup finals, and Frank Arok, who masterminded a Socceroo victory over reigning world champions Argentina in 1988.
Moore was named as one of the Greatest Ever centre backs.