Graham Arnold has taken a cheeky swipe at Denmark following the Socceroos’ shock 1-0 win, saying the now infamous Danish note suggested they didn’t have a solid plan for the final minutes.
In a now well-told story, footage emerged the day after Australia’s remarkable group stage win that booked a spot in the Round of 16 of a hand-written note from the Danes ending up in the hands of Arnold and his staff.
Footage of the note falling into the wrong hands 😂#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Pe8cImNbgF
— Danish Football (@DanishFTBL) December 2, 2022
Arnold changed his formation shortly after to a back five when defender Bailey Wright was substituted on, in response to the Danish note reportedly telling players they were changing formation.
Addressing the note specifically for the first time, Arnold stated his plans weren’t changed by what he read. However, his confidence was certainly boosted.
“Mitchell Duke brought it (the note) over to me, and I thought he was being nice cleaning up rubbish,” Arnold said on Friday.
“He handed it to me and I didn’t even look at it. I handed it back. I was just focused on the substitution. I knew when (Bailey Wright) came on that we had to go to a back five. I always have a Plan A, B, C and D… E, for every occasion if you’re down 1-0 or up 1-0.
“In that little way it showed me they didn’t have a plan ready. It was an off-the-cuff thing, if they’re having to send notes out to players… it’s not pre-planned beforehand.”
He added: “Whereas we pre-planned those types of things beforehand so the players know if Bailey Wright comes on like he did they knew straight away we’re going to a back five because we’d already done that messaging.”
Australia held off Denmark for the final 22 minutes after Wright’s substitution, sending the Danes crashing out of the World Cup after starting hot favourites to progress in Group D alongside France.
Australia’s win booked saw the nation progress to the World Cup Round of 16 for the second time in history, While Arnold becomes the first Socceroos coach to win two group games at the same World Cup.
The Socceroos face a do-or-die clash against Argentina on Sunday morning (AEDT) to progress to the Round of 16.