Australia turned on a sparkling display late in the match to defeat Thailand 4-0 in their must win group match. They now move into the quarter-finals and travel to Hanoi for Saturday’s sudden-death match against Japan.Michael Beauchamp scored early for the Socceroos, leaving up to the experienced stars of Mark Viduka (2) and Harry Kewell finish the job off.
Coach Graham Arnold was delighted with the teams performance, moving the Australians back into contention for the Cup.
Is this the start of the resurgent Socceroos, and the continued rise of soccer in Australia? Or a dead-cat bounce. Time, and the continued performance of the Socceroos in Thailand, will tell.
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Hopovski said | July 17th 2007 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
Finally Arnold plays with two strikers for most of the game and look what happens. When Aloisi was taken off the field Viduka lacked the support of his teammates which proves we need two strikers (but he still managed to score this time).
David Carney was great and Beauchamp was a good replacement for Kisnorbo (who has been poor).
Schwarzer was a rock again.
Where is Nicky Carle though!?!
The players rediscovered the heart and discipline that is needed to win football matches in pressure tournaments. The only exception of course is Brett Emerton who seems to think he is Maradona despite continually being caught in possession upfield and putting his mates under pressure on the counter attack.
Well done Aussie, now for Kaiserslaughtern all over again…
Greg said | July 17th 2007 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
Milligan, Beauchamp and Carney were all good inclusions and deserved their call-ups. And Kewell and Cahill were used to great effect as super subs, after they both came on we scored 3 goals.
Japan are going to be tough – it looks like that game is shaping up to be the game of the tournament!
Emerton was useless again and wandered around like he wasn’t interested, Grella should be better after the 5 day break.
Shah Sahari said | July 17th 2007 @ 5:07pm | Report comment
Greg, were you not watching or don’t you understand the game?
Emerton was not “useless again”. He was the best Socceroo in the first two games – not that hard, i admit – and he wasnt useless last night.
He kept the Thais very quiet on their left flank, and did make a vital clearance after an attack on the right. And just as he did against Japan a year ago, when Hiddink threw on all his attackers and needed someone super fit to cover at the back while also coming forward with the ball, Emerton and his fitness shored up his two inexperienced fellow defenders, who in turn had their best games for Australia.
I reckon for the next game, he should be used as right wing back in place of Wilkshire, with the option of dropping back to form a back four when neede, and have Neill back in in a back three with Beauchamp and Milligan. I reckon’s Neill’s form has been lacking because he also has to cover for a shaky Kisnorbo. With mobility around him, we should see the Neill we know.
Greg said | July 18th 2007 @ 8:50pm | Report comment
Shah Sahari
Clearly not watching the same game, watch a replay and keep an eye on him, he was constantly caught too far up in no-mans-land and I counted three shots on goal came from his turnover/lack of marking. I’m not saying he didn’t do some good things but overall the I thought the cons outwieghed the pros. Don’t turn it into a personal attack either it doesn’t do your argument any favours. The Thais did most of their attacking down the right wing but when they did go down the left there were a few occasions we looked vunerable.
Emerton did have a good world cup and hopefully Neill can regain some of that form in the next game – he hasn’t been the same player since about the time he moved to West Ham.
I hope Milligan doesn’t get dropped for Neill beacuse he had a great game, then again, so did Carney and Beauchamp.
Shah Sahari said | July 19th 2007 @ 11:58am | Report comment
Yes, Greg, I apologise for going for the man when i intended to go for the ball.
But I did watch the replay and still stand by what i said about Emerton, who by the way, I am not a fan of. I think he has never quite fulfilled his early promise and does have the same lack of drive and dropped-shoulders style of, say, Chris Waddle. And the same maddening inconsistency.
But I do think his big engine and top-level experience has proved crucial in Australia’s Asian Cup so far, and will continue to do so.