By Doug Conway
April 1st 2009 @ 6:07am
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Socceroos to qualify for Cup in their sleep
The Socceroos could qualify for the World Cup while they’re all tucked up in bed, the nation sleeps and the lights of ANZ Stadium are long turned off.
What a change from John Aloisi’s dramatic penalty against Uruguay at the same venue in 2005.
That’s what will happen if Australia beats Uzbekistan in Sydney on Wednesday night, [...]
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Pippinu said | April 1st 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment
Geez – talk about putting the mozz on a team!!
Pippinu said | April 1st 2009 @ 8:50am | Report comment
Macca has been unbelievable for Celtic, and has shown that he can mix it with the very best in the World – but for the moment – that hasn’t translated across to the NT.
Millster said | April 1st 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
YAY YAY YAY I have tickets 7 rows from the front. Bugger the rain… I can’t wait!!!!
But speaking of rain, I think the chances of 2M Jesus starting have improved dramatically given the weather over the past 48hrs. Will be one heavy, heavy pitch.
Midfielder said | April 1st 2009 @ 9:25am | Report comment
What is about key football matches and rain …. and not just rain but beyond belief rain… last match in QLD almost washed away Brisbane and the percentage of rain effected A-League matches is very high over 20% and often Big matches.
Its been pissing down now for about 2 full days solid parts of the mid north coast are in flood conditions …. interestingly on my way to work today … a lot of local flooding…..
Obie One must be wondering how he has upset the rain God…
Milly did you see my link and note to you in http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/03/31/should-penalties-decide-football-matches/#comment-131900 near the end it was an NBN link.
Pippinu said | April 1st 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Mid
if that’s what it takes – we need to schedule more international games!!
Midfielder said | April 1st 2009 @ 9:37am | Report comment
Pip
Play them in Central Australia and charge for the rain …. ya Pip your on to something here.
BTW whats your stating line with Top Cat looking out.
My mid field is Kool, Culina, Vinney, Bresh / Garica (and myself as the RM or CM)
Up front Jesus & Old Macca
Back, Chips, Lucas, Coin, Brechm’s (RB), he can play RB very well
Keeper… well picks himself ….. Danny V (LOL)
Pippinu said | April 1st 2009 @ 9:54am | Report comment
Mid
the last time I tried predicting a starting line up – I was way wrong (I can recall that I doubted Pim would go with a std 442, with Culina in the holding mid role – but I was wrong!).
In the four mids you mention above: with Vinney in the team, does that mean that Jase is at the tip of the diamond? (he can do it by the way, he’s sufficiently versatile and why GC have made an excellent choice)
Midfielder said | April 1st 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Pip
Culina ia a massive signing … can hardly wait to see him at Bluetounge… good point on playing him at the tip of the diamond.
Brenden said | April 1st 2009 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Last night I took some photos of the training session at ANZ Stadium. I have uploaded them to my website: http://brendenwood.com.au/index.php/2009/03/unauthorized-world-cup-soccer-photos/
Pippinu said | April 1st 2009 @ 10:55am | Report comment
Latest news is that food poisoning has hit the Australian team, knocking out a good half of them.
It looks like we won’t get a pairing of Macca and 2M Jesus afterall, and that Arch and Danny boy will have to take their places.
The good news is that Holman is one of the casualties.
Midfielder said | April 1st 2009 @ 10:57am | Report comment
Harry … Harry .. KOOL
Harry … Harry ….KOOL
It’s Farking scary TBH … we should win but … but … a lump in my gut until it’s won… bananna skin game..
Having Kool back ………AHHHHHHHHHHhh .. he is a class above everyone else… if Harry is on the park their we will win….
IMO Harry is the best Australian football player of any code I have even seen in my 54 years to date.
O’Leary at Leeds flogged him to death and he has been injuried much over recent years at the Knob.
Harry regardless of injuries, poor form & whatever his attitude may be,has been one of those players who can cause consternation in the opposition. This alone makes him practically worth his weight in gold & it is not only the fear & confusion he creates around himself but the knock-on effect that has in the defense & general play of any team he faces that makes him such an asset.
Aftering putting himself in the shop window as it were, because finally Benitez could no longer justify him hanging around, ………….BUT,…………………. remember that Harry is also the player who has been picked to start in Champions League finals …………after long term injuries / absences precisely because of the magic he brings.
Form does not always indicate what may happen next, thus we are in the position that so many defenders have been, nor sure what he might do but we’re hoping it is great at Gala and for Australia. He is in form and Pip said he is getting back to his best.
Sorry my Harry rant over, I just think this guy is such class and if he had been free of injury …. but he is back …….AHHHHHHHHHH magic man we will win with Harry on the park simple as.
Midfielder said | April 1st 2009 @ 11:04am | Report comment
Pip
My April Fools day one about Blacktown council pulling out of the AFL deal was more believable… but good try..
Pippinu said | April 1st 2009 @ 11:18am | Report comment
Mid
I agree with you!
Midfielder said | April 1st 2009 @ 11:34am | Report comment
Pip
Just on the rain and storms have a gander at the smh today on match day … people riding surf boards inside Sydney Harbour.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-on-alert-as-wet-weather-lashes-nsw-20090401-9ij0.html
Greg said | April 1st 2009 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
I agree with Mid regarding Harry’s quality. If he fires, we win the game. I am not sure if he is the best Aussie footballer of any code in the past 54 years. Wally Lewis, John Eales, Mark Ella were all champions of international status, albiet their chosen codes are limited in terms of world wide participation. Harry is by far the most talented player the Socceroos have ever had.
Art Sapphire said | April 1st 2009 @ 2:36pm | Report comment
How OZ will qualify for the WC – Straight from the boffins at the FFA –
If you are an optimist, I suggest you stop reading after the first 2 scenarios.
If Australia wins tonight:
* Australia would need just 1 point from its remaining three games to ensure a top two finish (however Australia could still finish in top two if it lost all three remaining games depending on other results)
* Australia cannot finish lower than third in the group
If Australia wins tonight, AND Bahrain-Qatar draw:
* Australia will finish in top two of group
* Australia has qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and will be the first team to qualify
If Australia DRAW tonight:
* Australia would need at least 3 points from its remaining three games to ensure a top two placing
* Australia would need at least 1 point from its remaining three games to ensure a top three placing (ie. Australia could still finish fourth in the group – if it lost all three remaining games)
If Australia draw tonight, AND Bahrain win:
* Australia would need 3 more points from its remaining three games to ensure a top two finish
* However, Australia cannot finish lower than third in group
If Australia draw tonight, AND Bahrain-Qatar draw:
* Australia would need 1 more point from its remaining three games to ensure a top two finish
* However, Australia can still finish fourth in group
If Australia draw tonight, AND Qatar win:
* Australia would need 3 more points from its remaining three games to ensure a top two finish
* However, Australia can still finish fourth in group
If Australia LOSE tonight:
* Australia would need at least 4 more points to ensure a top two placing (however Australia could still finish in top two if it lost all three remaining games)
* Australia would need at least 2 more points to ensure a top three placing
* Australia could still finish last in group
If Australia lose tonight, AND Bahrain OR Qatar win:
* Australia would need at least 4 more points to ensure a top two placing
* Australia would need at least 1 more point to finish in the top two (ie. Australia would finish 3rd, 4th or 5th if it lost all three remaining games)
If Australia lose tonight, AND Bahrain-Qatar draw:
* Australia would need at least 4 more points to ensure a top two placing
* Australia could still finish in top two if it lost all three remaining games
Greg Russell said | April 1st 2009 @ 2:38pm | Report comment
If there are two draws tonight, then the table will have Australia on 11 points, and all of Bahrain, Uzbekistan and Qatar on 5 points, all with 2 games to go. Given that
1. Australia will have a game in hand (i.e., 3 to go rather than 2), and
2. Goal differentials will still be as currently, viz. Australia +6, Uzbekistan -1, Bahrain -2, Qatar -8
one can say that two draws tonight will make WC qualification a near certainty for Australia.
Millster said | April 1st 2009 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
Ok time to put up the predictions.
I say 2M Jesus will start and it will end 2-0 to Australia, one off his head and another off the head of Cahill who will not start but will be used as a super-sub around 75 min mark. Little Macca and/or Holman will both get a good run but their role will be to be decoys and disrupt the defense to allow the main play (feeding Jesus and then Cahill, and to give Kool some space) to occur.
Midfielder said | April 1st 2009 @ 6:23pm | Report comment
Off to the pub …………. Go Aussies……………… World Cup here we come………..
Dave said | April 1st 2009 @ 8:59pm | Report comment
Great result and South Africa HERE WE COME!!
Plenty of time to analyse the performance later but why not enjoy the moment…this has happened only 3 times in the history of football in this country.
There are probably a coupla hundred countries who are envious of Oz right now…with many facing do or die battles to get to the position we are in now. Well done boys
Now where was that web address for tickets??
Joe FC said | April 1st 2009 @ 9:58pm | Report comment
Dave
better 2nd half and the win we wanted. Only a catastrophic meltdown could stop us now. An early morning draw and we’re the first in. How good does that feel.
Millster
Well done on the predictions. 2 nil & Josh scored first. Nice to see Harry score.
dasilva said | April 1st 2009 @ 9:59pm | Report comment
Great result
Although don’t celebrate too much yet Dave as we haven’t mathematically qualified yet.
We have to wait for tonight match of Bahrain vs Qatar. Anyone staying up to watch that?
But yeah we perform fairly well. A poor first half but we were reasonably entertaining in the 2nd half although frustrated that Mcdonald got subbed off and we never played with two strikers. Bresciano had his best match for the Socceroos with a man of a match performance and I haven’t seen him playing better in the green and gold. He showed excellent touch, pin point passing, great assist and cross, good dribbling and worked hard and track back and won possession as well. The only thing missing was a goal where he should have put away in the first half.
Midfielder said | April 1st 2009 @ 10:07pm | Report comment
Das
Normally I would but have a HUGEEEEEEEEEEeeee business meeting tomorrow and need to be on my toes….
Das I found this the other day and tho you would love it I think recorded in the 20″ or 30’s … but a voice and a message .. mainly the voice maybe almost 100 years old … I often wonder what you could do today with all the gear with a voice like this..
anyway hope you enjoy…. and is a good way to cerebrate .. well that’s my excuse….http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XlEzY4tMyg&feature=related
Midfielder said | April 1st 2009 @ 10:08pm | Report comment
Das I will try that link again http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XlEzY4tMyg&feature=related
Albert Ross said | April 1st 2009 @ 11:03pm | Report comment
The goal that put Aus in WC2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s0z8k4CGYM
Of course as Pip and Mick will point out the crowd was only 57k meaning that football is dead in Australia…
Mllster said | April 1st 2009 @ 11:08pm | Report comment
Just back from the game…. YEEEEAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! And I can’t wait but stay up and watch Qatar-Bahrain on the internet.
Joe FC don’t be too flattering though, I thought Jesus would start, I thought Cahill would get a few minutes, and I was surprised by Garcia’s 90 minutes. Happy for Jedi that he got a late run though…
As for Pip and Mick and “football is dead”, let me tell them its dead from singing so loud at central station before the game, all the way to homebush, for about 120 minutes there… and all the way back. The crowd was rocking!
sheek said | April 2nd 2009 @ 6:18am | Report comment
A question to our Footy experts -
Come WC time, should Pim have BOTH McDonald & Kennedy up front? And a midfield of Kewell, Cahill, Breschiano & Grella. In defence, Emerton, Culina, Wilkshire, Neill, with Schwarzer in goal. Then there’s Garcia, Valeri, Chipperfield, Beauchamp, Moore, Viduka, etc.
I’m no expert, but I think you need two guys forward. I’m a fan of the twin attack principle, whether it’s two strikers in footy; two midfield playmakers in union & league; or two opening fastmen in cricket. The purpose being to increase the options while dividing the defence.
How’s it shaping, guys?
Pippinu said | April 2nd 2009 @ 8:36am | Report comment
No one needs to put words into my mouth, thank you very much.
The number two is the only important stat.
Joe FC said | April 2nd 2009 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
An interesting scenario sheek. Assuming our qualification is officially confirmed at the next matchday that will leave 2 WCQers, 4 ACQers and some friendlies for Pim to tinker with formations & tactics before June 2010. He has shown himself to be a conservative manager who plays to his strengths & seeks to exploit the opposition’s weakness. I don’t see this approach changing. How well we go in Sth Africa will depend on who’s available, who we’re playing, that intangible thing called form and luck.
Albert Ross said | April 2nd 2009 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
“largest ever Foxtel audience tunes in” – “The game averaged 431,000 people watching from 8pm to 10pm. ” – per Crikey
Pippinu said | April 2nd 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
Sheek
Impossible to predict what will happen in a WC campaign without knowing the opponent.
But I think it’s fair to say that playing two upfront will be the exception rather than the norm as we move to the next level of competition.
Put it this way – can anyone recall whether Guus started with two strikers in any of the four games we played in Germany? I’m pretty sure he didn’t (although in the first game – we ended up with four strikers on the field after the 80th!!)
Pippinu said | April 2nd 2009 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
Also, I mentioned a few days ago that the Jesus/Macca combo is yet to prove itself (not saying it can’t work, theoretically at least, it looks fantastic on paper, but it is yet to produce the goods after a least a few try outs)