Outclassed, outplayed and totally destroyed; an Australian team left licking it’s wounds after an abysmal loss.
It started positively with Richard Garcia unlucky not to score, but just eight minutes in, the slow defence of Australia began to fracture. Neill held a good high line but his compatriots just aren’t at his level with Moore and Chipperfield getting caught out on more than one occasion.
Then it came, the opener. A swift move from Germany finding a free running Lukas Podolski at the edge of the area and the German talisman buried a venomous strike.
Australia were a yard slower all night and there was no excuse. Germany lined up with a 4-2-3-1, exactly the same as us but somehow managed to always be free, always be first to the ball.
It was looking more and more ominous as Chipperfield kept diving in and Moore’s lack of pace and awareness made our defence look more like Swiss cheese than any sort of blockade. Very worrying as our coach is a defensive nut.
Any hope for Australia slowly disappeared as a handball shout, which should have resulted in a penalty, was waved away.
Then a second for Germany. Schwarzer came but could not collect in a rare mistake from our custodian as it became apparent that the German’s knew they were superior and were running freely from midfield to be played in by their play makers. It was all too simple and Australia were left clutching at straws.
At half-time Holman was in for Valeri. Discussion was growing that the game could turn into a blowout with Germany already picking us apart.
Into the second-half and Australia started as they did in the first; positive and going forward. This lasted about as long as a Paris Hilton chastity oath would have and all hope for a comeback was lost as Cahill was wrongfully sent off. If that challenge was worthy of a red card then both teams should have lost two or three players.
Down to ten men and an already monumental task became impossible. Verbeek accepted defeat as Australia went into damage control, trying to patch up a shaky midfield and stem Germany’s flow.
This failed miserably as Germany introduced two more attacking players to round out a 4-0 win.
With goal difference looking to be a crucial factor to progress for the Socceroos, big wins are in need against Ghana and Serbia if we are to progress.
Let’s hope that Germany go out and destroy both our competitors to finish first and give us a chance.
Verbeek left an underdone Bresciano on the bench and Harry Kewell was no where to be seen. Ominous signs? I’d like to think not. Hopefully this match was seen by Verbeerk as one we were going to lose and he wants to build for Ghana and Serbia.
Chipperfield needs to be dropped, Valeri needs to be replaced by someone who will track back from midfield and Australia need to get some fire power up front after losing Cahill.
After Ghana beat Serbia 1-0, two wins for Australia should see us progress. That is unless Germany spoil the party and rest their best in the last game against Ghana.
Verbeerk will need to lift the boys and find a way to score because it is clear we are going to leak goals.
The only bright point for Australia was that Cullina, Emerton and Wilkshire played well down the right and those three might prove pivotal in the next two matches.
As I said, we were taught a football lesson; one that we need to learn from quickly if we want to escape embarrassment.
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Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
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