ANGE Postecoglou has put the heat on Australia’s next generation to prove – over a consistent period of time – that they’ve got the ambition needed to succeed at the top level.

Despite being a manager willing to give youth a chance, with Terry Antonis, Jason Geria and Alex Gersbach the most recent beneficiaries, Postecoglou feels the recent Olyroos’ debacle highlighted a fragility that needs addressing.

Speaking on Fox Sports’ Shootout program, Postecolgou said that quality doesn’t just come from the ambition and consistency of Australia’s Socceroo hopefuls, but from those pandering to them to provide a more realistic dose of feedback.

Watch the extended interview with Postecoglou in the video at the top of the page.

The Socceroos boss admits that mistakes were made in the under-23s’ failed quest to make the Rio Olympics, particularly that more players should have been exposed in the lead-up once it became clear that a group of key players wouldn’t be released for the final qualifying tournament.

“But, having said that, looking at that group - we were good enough to get through,” he said.

“When you put the microscope on the Olyroos team, my disappointment is with those that were there.

“I expected more from them.”

He added: “I was there, the national team boss; regardless of everything else, they really should be busting a gut to make sure we qualify because they want to get to the next level.”

Shootout panellist Ned Zelic is arguably the owner of Australia’s most famous Olyroo moment, scoring a goal from an acute angle to steer the side past Holland to make it to Barcelona in 1992.

That kind of drive and initiative is missing at the moment, according to Postecoglou.

“When you’re there in the heat of the moment, Ned made it happen back in those days, so we need our young players – we spoke about it at Christmas time when I said we need to put more heat on our players – that’s what I’m talking about.

“We need them more ambitious than what they are.

“The A-league is fantastic, it’s a great competition.

“(But the players aren’t getting) enough scrutiny – good and bad, from the media and even from within.

“I get the sense we don’t want to tell them the truth sometimes: you’re going to make mistakes, you need to improve and you need to be better.”

In form Brisbane Roar striker Jamie Maclaren was one of the unlucky omissions from this squad but Postecoglou has challenged players like him to deliver at that level over a long period of time.

“It’s not enough for Jamie Maclaren to score in one year; Adam Taggart did it a few years ago and now he’s really struggling to get back on track – and I hope he does.

“That’s not enough.”

If the players want an example of ambition and confidence, they need not look further than their manager.

He delivered the Asian Cup within 18 months of his appointment, and now has even bigger aspirations heading to Russia in 2018.

When asked by Mark Bosnich if Australians should aspire to win the World Cup in our (the panel’s) lifetime, Postecoglou was adamant.

Adam Taggart at the World Cup. Source: Getty Images

“There’s no doubt about that.

“If we don’t say it, if we don’t put it out there, it’s never going to come to us, the football world is too competitive.

“I’ve already said: I’m going to try win this World Cup. If I’m the first to try and fail to win it, I’ll wear that. But hopefully the subsequent coach can take it to another level.

“Without that ambition it isn’t going to happen.”