Not content with delivering the Socceroos’ best World Cup campaign, coach Graham Arnold wants to take Australia to the semi-finals of the 2026 tournament.
Arnold led the Socceroos to two group-stage wins, both including clean sheets, and the round of 16 in Qatar, with Australia’s only losses coming to eventual champions Argentina and runners-up France.
The former Socceroos striker was recognised for his decorated career as a player and coach on Monday, when the oval in his home suburb of Sylvania was renamed in his honour.
Graham Arnold Oval is the home of Gwawley Bay Football Club, where Arnold started playing aged four, and where his late parents Barry and Fay, along with his brother, Colin, all served as volunteers.
Reflecting on the "special" moment, Arnold urged young footballers to believe in themselves as he shared his own lofty dreams for the World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico in two years' time.
“I am here, and I do feel very, very honoured to have the field and everything named after me, but I feel like I've still got so much more to achieve,” Arnold said.
“I'm not just coaching the Socceroos just for the sake of making the World Cup or anything.
"It's about getting to the World Cup, like we did last time. Last time we got (to the) last 16. This time I want the semi-finals.
“And I want to put, and I do put, those expectations on the boys, that you only get these moments and these times in life once or twice. And it's these opportunities that you have to take.
"Every national anthem you'll probably see if you watch closely, or if it gets put on TV, the national anthem of Australia, I've always got my hand in my heart. I'm always looking up.
“That's because I know Mum and Dad are looking down and they're hard on me, but they're making sure that I'm doing what they want me to do, and that is to make the country proud, but also the family.”
Arnold will return to action with the Socceroos in World Cup qualifiers, starting with a home clash with Bahrain at Robina Stadium on September 5.
He became emotional when talking about what the renaming of the oval meant to he and his family.
"Obviously it's something very, very special and huge," Arnold said.
"It's an incredible feeling, very emotional for my family and my mum and dad.
"I'm grateful for this today. I wanted the day to be today because Mum would have been 91 today."
