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ANGE Postecoglou jokes about his first appearance as Socceroos coach on the global stage at a World Cup briefing in Brazil.
"A few people came up and asked me how Holger (sacked coach Holger Osieck) was going, and wondered where he was,'' says Postecoglou. ''I think they thought I was just filling in.''
Postecoglou laughs about his anonymity on the international stage. But for some the fact Australia will be coached by Australia is an unusual source of concern.
Does Postecoglou have the wits to match it with the world's best? Will a team led by a man who has never been to a World Cup be overwhelmed and overawed?
Of course, in a game where some moan endlessly about allegedly racist stereotyping, that there was even a debate about the appointment of an Australian to coach the Socceroos at this World Cup is strange.
After the disaster of the last World Cup where Dutchman Pim Verbeek's Australians was thrashed 4-0 by Germany in the first game, the most shrill critics begged for an Australian coach. Or at least someone who would ensure the Socceroos played in some supposed ''Australian way''.
Yet, when it was determined an Australian would take the reins from German Holger Osieck, the same critics furrowed their brows and wondered if the successful candidate Postecoglou had the sophistication to compete on the global stage.
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In the coming few weeks, Postecoglou faces his first major test. Albeit one that, given the flimsy nature of his experimental squad, will not provide any conclusive evidence of his acumen.
For now, rather than fretting about any shortcomings, there is a strong case to be made the Football Federation Australia has done well to buy locally.
Socceroos striker Josh Kennedy has played at 2006 and 2010 World Cups under two Dutch coaches (Guus Hiddink and Verbeek) and, until late last year, seemed destined to compete in a third for a German (Osieck).
Asked if there was anything playing for an Australian, Kennedy cites the most obvious. ''There is probably lots of things, but I guess the first thing is that nothing gets lost in translation,'' he says. ''With Holger and Pim, they had sayings that wouldn't translate properly into English and that could be quite funny.''
If Postecoglou's message is sometimes more easily understood, Kennedy says it is not less sophisticated than that of his imported predecessors.
''He's just as professional, if not more so, than any coach I've experienced,'' says Kennedy. ''There are a lot of little things, but when it comes down to it he's just a good coach. Since day one the way he's gone about things has really impressed the players.''
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou cracks a rare smile at training. Source: Getty Images
If Postecoglou's coaching credentials were paramount, there is no question his marketability were also a factor in his appointment. At a time when the Socceroos have not major sponsor, and disappointing performances and a lack of star power have diminished their ''brand'', the new coach's ability to engage comfortably and intelligently with a local audience appealing.
FFA chief executive David Gallop was impressed with Postecoglou performance as both coach and ambassador when he coached both the A-League All-Stars against Manchester United and Melbourne Victory against Liverpool last year.
Osieck had treated most involvement with the media and fans as a necessary evil. When the German's fate was sealed about an hour into the Socceroos' 6-0 defeat by France in October, Postecoglou's comfortable relationship with the home town fans gave him a significant advantage over the foreign coaches FFA chairman Frank Lowy is believed to have favoured.
Given Postecoglou's mandate to revamp the national team, maintaining the faith of the media and the public is particularly important. Since taking control he has had to sell the idea that a handful of Socceroos superstars – Harry Kewell, Lucas Neil, Mark Schwarzer – had reached their use-by dates. A difficult task performed with aplomb.
But perhaps the greatest advantage of an Australian coach, during a time of generational change, is Postecoglou's intimate knowledge of the local talent – or lack thereof. Those players Postecoglou had not seen in the A-League he spent several weeks scouting in Asia and the minor leagues in Europe.
''Put it this way,'' says one official close to the team. ''Holger or Pim wouldn't have anywhere near the same grasp of what and wasn't available in the A-League. They wouldn't have identified someone like Bailey Wright who's playing league two in England. They wanted the finished product which is why Holger was probably so reluctant to let go of the golden era players.
''That's the advantage of a local coach right there. Ange doesn't have the luxury of walking out on the training ground and putting them through their paces. He's had to put the squad together by hand.''
The test in the next few weeks might be whether an Australian coach has an untested Socceroos's team playing in the supposed ''Australian way''. Defeats will be tolerated, but – as Verbeek and Osieck found - abject surrender is not an option.
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