This brings a responsibility and accountability of the likes we have not seen before. No longer can we use convenient truths and excuses to explain away any lack of progress. Now the issues and challenges that lie ahead will be tackled knowing that scrutiny and praise will be dealt in equal measure.

The Socceroos' situation this week has been a great test of how much the game means to Australia.

There have been numerous opinions expressed and as with any great pantomime, there comes the need to weed out the real villain in the piece. Was it the coach, the players, the media, the administrators - or maybe the man on the grassy knoll? The coach has lost his job and the captain came in for criticism.

But for me the reason we are in this position is that we have lost sight of what our national team represents and what its role in our game is. I have always believed that language is a very powerful tool and for a long time the language that we hear about the Socceroos has methodically stripped away any form of honour and prestige that a national team should represent.

First and foremost the team belongs to the country itself and its fans. It does not belong to any coach, player or administrator. Any representation within the team and management should be seen as privilege, not a right.