World Cups are always unpredictable, but few could have imagined that Grella, of all people, would become the most despised man in Australia this week.
It all began at December’s World Cup draw. After that draw, Grella earmarked Australia as an easy match for the USMNT. A layup, he infamously said, immediately drawing the ire of Australian media. Of the Pot 2 teams, Australia were the lowest ranked, which is why the Americans had reason to be pleased. Australia, meanwhile, had reason to smile, too: they’d avoided teams like Spain, Argentina and France to draw the third-lowest-ranked Pot 1 side.
While Grella celebrated being paired with the Socceroos, the American media also latched onto the reaction of Australia boss Popovic, who didn’t seem displeased with his side’s group given the circumstances.
“I watched the Aussie coach’s interview after the draw, and it was really interesting,” Donovan said on his State of the Union podcast after the draw. “It was unique because most coaches say all the same stuff you’re expecting, like, ‘Oh, it’s a difficult draw, it’s gonna be so hard,’ and his first comment was, ‘We’re satisfied.’ I was like ‘Really? Are you?’ He just had this smugness about him, and I’m like, ‘Alright, I can’t wait.’
“I wish I was on the field. I wanna play these guys.”
Donovan isn’t the only legend to get into the fray. Australian icon Kewell took his opportunity to fire shots at the U.S. when asked about the reaction from over in the States.
“The USA is talking like they’re some unbelievable footballing – or soccer – nation,” Kewell told Code Sports. “I would love to play their golden generation against our golden generation. It wouldn’t even be a contest. I don’t know what they’re harping on about, I really don’t.”
Kewell made things a bit more personal, too. When asked if he even knew who Grella was, Kewell said: “Nope, no idea.”
Grella, for his part, has doubled and tripled down on his comments.
“What are they drinking over there?” he said. “Because they have no shot of doing anything at the World Cup.”
As all of this has played out in the media, the USMNT’s players have been left to answer for the pundits’ comments. Their answer has generally been the same: they don’t represent the feelings of the USMNT, particularly after Australia’s tournament opener.
