BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA — Every day that the Socceroos are at their World Cup hotel, they walk past a giant poster of Mathew Leckie celebrating his goal against Denmark that sent Australia to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2006 and etched him into the country’s national sporting pantheon.
Every day, that’s a reminder that one of their teammates created history; they can, too.
With Australia now counting down to the final game of their World Cup group, against Paraguay, the stage is set for someone to join Harry Kewell and Leckie as the scorers of the goal that puts the side into the knockout stage.
The equation is slight different this time, with third place a potential route should Tony Popovic’s side not seal second place. But as it stands, the Socceroos are second. A result will maintain that.
FEATURE: Inside the Socceroos’ team hotel: The Johnny Warren rallying cry fuelling campaign
MORE JEDINAK: Legend responds to pundits’ reaction to US defeat and explains the message given to Socceroos
Often coaches try to put a lid on an occasion; Jedinak spoke with hair raising passion about the stage that awaits.
“I think they’ll know that,” he said of the opportunity to create Socceroos history.
“When Lecks scores his goal against Denmark and the celebration, it’s a moment etched in our World Cup history, so I think without even saying too much, I think the players will be aware of that.
Players walk past a poster of Mat Leckie’s iconic goal every day.
“They’ve also got such a tremendous privilege to still have him in the room and he’s been a part of this journey.”
He continued: “I know what it meant to me and I wasn’t even there.
“So if the boys are feeling in such a way, I know Mat Leckie would be very much willing to give his side of that as well.
“It is drawing upon that and what that moment meant and I don’t think you should shy away from that because I guess every single one of us here knew exactly how they felt in that moment.
“Apart from being tremendously proud and I was just so pleased for him as an individual because I was there with him in the trenches, to go and play in these World Cups, and see him have to deliver.
“But for him to get his moment in that game, probably speaks more volumes of him and his journey than anything else.
“It’s no different for any one of these individuals that we’ve got at the moment.”
Mathew Leckie against the USA. Photo: Aleksandar Jason
Jedinak is at this first World Cup since 2018; his first as a coach, after three as a player, two of which he wore the armband.
“Me coming here as a coach and being around this group as a coach, I still have the same feelings I had when I was playing,” he reflected.
“The only thing I can’t do is on a match day walk out and contribute. However, I’ve learnt how to do that in another way and as a coach and being in a tremendous staff and the way that those messages have been given and so your influence is in the build up to that
“I’m enjoying every moment of that.
“I’ve drawn on my experiences for being in these environments, being at the World Cup as a player, on top of my experiences of coaching and and what it’s like to be in that environment, when you’re together for a little bit of time and implementing certain things and and processes to try and help support.
“This is about supporting our players, our staff with me and doing everything I possibly can to to make sure that we give ourselves the best possible opportunity to go out and deliver what we need to do on a match day.”