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Australia are one point away from claiming their entry rights for the 2010 World Cup, but quite frankly they are no were near World Cup material.
I was at the Australia Vs Uzbekistan game and, to my surprise, I found our European players quite terrible on the field. Don’t get me wrong: Kewell, Bresciano and, of course, Kennedy – aka Jesus – were great.
But for the best team in Asia, we definitely aren’t performing like it.
The first 25 or 30 minutes was poor football on Australia’s behalf, especially some Lucas Neill blunders which nearly cost us a couple of goals.
In the first 25-30 minutes, Uzbekistan had 64 percent of possession, compared to Australia’s 36 percent.
McDonald had an absolute shocker and Kewell wasn’t to be seen. We were lucky to have come away 0-0 in the first 45.
Kennedy came onto the field to change the tempo of the game, scoring one of Australia’s goals after just ten minutes of being subbed on.
I do like the Socceroos and want to see them do well. But we’ve really got to boost our team up as we are far from world class.
It’s great were playing, but honestly, playing Asian countries none of us have never heard of is doing nothing more than just elevating up our players ego.
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April 3rd 2009 @ 11:19pm
david said | April 3rd 2009 @ 11:19pm | Report comment
Only time will tell.
That possession stat was not what came up on my screen.
April 4th 2009 @ 6:10am
wilswils said | April 4th 2009 @ 6:10am | Report comment
Tom and David that was the possession stat at Homebush Stadium the first 20 or so mins into the game. Ok Argentina had a blunder but If u put them in our World Cup Qualifing group they would top it with flying colours… Our team talks them selves up too much and we need to get back to realty because at the end of they day very few countires we are playing have qualified for a world cup or even come close.
April 4th 2009 @ 9:38am
sheek said | April 4th 2009 @ 9:38am | Report comment
Wils,
With all due respect, yours is a stupid post, & I’m just as stupid for responding. But I couldn’t let it pass without comment. What is it with some of you people? No doubt this is the ‘instant gratification’ society.
The concept of patience & working towards a goal has been totally lost. Both the concept & the practice. As another poster mentioned elsewhere, Italy just qualified by the skin of their teeth for the world cup in 1982, & impressed no-one through the pool matches. Yet by the time the knockout stages came around, they were the form team, going on to win the world cup.
One thing’s for sure – the team attracting all the headlines at the beginning of the world cup is usually gone by the time the final comes around. Your expectations are totally unrealistic, & unfair.
We have to qualify first, that’s paramount. And in case you’ve forgotten, this is the first time we’ve qualified through Asia (well, almost qualified). So these guys are pioneers, pathfinders for future generations.
Most of our players have to come from Europe to Asia or Australia to play qualifying games. Back in Europe, they are in the thick of their season, playing twice a week. The training, playing, travelling, different time zones, must put an enormous strain on their bodies, both physically & mentally.
Have you given any thought to this? The guys are trying to survive, to keep their bodies in one piece. It’s a fine balancing act earning your living on one side of the world, & helping your country qualify (for the WC) on the other side of the world.
Qualifying is one comp. Competing in the WC is another. Once Pim selects his WC squad, he will look at different combinations, strategies, tactics. Never shoot all your bullets at once. Always keep your powder dry. Geez, I can’t believe I need to explain any of this to you. And I’m only a casual football fan!
April 4th 2009 @ 10:14am
Slippery Jim said | April 4th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Sheek, cut Wils Wils some slack, he is entitled to post his opinion, it does not necessarily need to be well informed or original to reflect his feelings about football based on the length of his personal football journey. Believe me, there are many, many football commentators who are award winning paid professionals who go down the same path of constant unjustified negativity when it comes to national football, both in Australia and overseas. If Wils Wils keeps it up he might even join them one day. Not that I will be cheering his article, mind.
April 4th 2009 @ 10:32am
sheek said | April 4th 2009 @ 10:32am | Report comment
Slippery Jim,
Yes, I know I shouldn’t have done it. I guess Wils copped my frustration at the whole band of people who carry on with this rubbish. And as you say, from commentators who ought to know better.
And God knows I’ve typed rubbish from time to time (albeit unintentionally).
April 4th 2009 @ 10:36am
Slippery Jim said | April 4th 2009 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Indeed. In fact if all of us posted rational, factual and accurate information all of the time none of us would have much to comment on except the usual inane mutual backslapping “I totally agree X” type of posts which I loathe.
April 4th 2009 @ 10:41am
aussie_sly said | April 4th 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
i wonder if pim will take nick carle to the world cup?
April 4th 2009 @ 10:48am
Slippery Jim said | April 4th 2009 @ 10:48am | Report comment
aussie_sly, I am sure he will.
The fact that he hasn’t given him any game time with the Socceroos and has not selected him for any of his squads in living memory shows that he has a cunning plan to keep him well rested in order to unleash his Zidane-like skills on an unsuspecting and unprepared World Cup, which we will subsequently go on to win and dominate for years to come, displacing the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Italy, and all those other overrated prima donnas. The roundball code will go on to replace the rugbies and the AFL in Australia as the number one field sport, and peace and love will reign. Obama will become an Australian citizen and be elected prime minister and we will pave the streets of Sydney with gold. etc.
April 4th 2009 @ 4:51pm
aussie_sly said | April 4th 2009 @ 4:51pm | Report comment
and then we all wake up
April 4th 2009 @ 6:39pm
Brickowski said | April 4th 2009 @ 6:39pm | Report comment
Typcal Eurosnob crap, the first half wasn’t that inspiring but hey certainly settled down in the last 10 minutes of the first half and started to dominate. I think you may have the possession stats back to front.
Alan Nicolea,
While I agree that South America is the toughest qualifying group, the title of easiest or weakest group must surely go to Concacaf, 3.5 spots for a confederation that feature 1, maybe 1 and a half ‘world class’ teams. I’m pretty sure my Abbotsford AA2s could qualify through Concacaf………