Australia manager Graham Arnold insisted that Guus Hiddink’s stint as his assistant during the 1-0 win over New Zealand in Brisbane last night was a unique event and the Dutchman will not be working with him in the Cup of the World in Qatar.
Hiddink, an Australian icon after leading the national team to the 2006 World Cup finals and ending a 32-year absence from the tournament, was on the bench when he won Australia’s last game in front of his fans before the start of the World Cup in November.
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The 75-year-old former coach of the Netherlands and Real Madrid has taken on the role of assistant manager Rene Mullenstein as part of the centenary celebrations of Australia’s first international match.
Arnold pointed out that this is Hidnik’s last match.
“It’s to celebrate 100 years, that’s all,” he said. He made great sacrifices to participate in the game. My assistant is watching France and Denmark now and Gus helped celebrate 100 years since his first international match. He just wanted to be part of it. “
Hiddink witnessed a bumpy performance from Arnold’s side as he prepared for the World Cup in a group that includes reigning champions France, Denmark and Tunisia.
Or Mabel, a professional winger in Spain, scored the only goal of the game from long distance, 13 minutes from halftime.
Arnold admitted that his team needed to improve before entering the final.
He continued: “We changed the way we played and tried to press them hard with three forwards and our chances came from that. We will not play anywhere with this opening on the pitch. We were pushing too high and leaving gaps and that’s what I wanted. I wanted a physical match where the team would play man to man all over the pitch and fight physically. And we have it. I wanted to see how fit I am. Some of them don’t play for their clubs and don’t have much time to play. It’s hard to stop training and not play and suddenly do what I tell them to do. So I take this responsibility. “
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