Australia exit the World Cup with a whimper against Spain, going down 3-0 in their last group match. That’s all she wrote for Australia’s World Cup campaign, and it’s not the performance we were looking for.
Not many positives to come out of this one, as Australia were finally shown up by a better class of opposition. Spain showed why they were the best team in the world for the past 5 years, as they just controlled the ball and never really allowed Australia any time with the ball.
FINAL SCORE:
Spain 3
Australia 0
It may be a dead rubber, but that certainly doesn’t mean there won’t be any excitement surrounding the clash between the Socceroos and Spain. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:00am (AEST).
Australia have been officially eliminated from Brazil 2014, but not before winning some respect amongst fans worldwide.
Their first match they went down to Chile 3-1, but not before giving the South American’s an almighty scare in the second half. They then played the Netherlands, and went down 3-2 in one of the more exciting matches of the World Cup so far.
The Socceroos will be looking to gain some much deserved points against Spain – something to take home aside from memories of their inspiring play.
Spain have been the biggest disappointment of the World Cup, becoming the most recent reigning champions to be eliminated in the group stage, and only the first to suffer their fate after two games.
They went down to the Netherlands 5-1, before succumbing to Chile 2-0 to seal their fate. They’ll be looking to take some respectability home with them and flex their muscles against a side that, at the start of the competition, would have been seen as a pushover for the might of Spain.
Following the result of each of their opening group matches however, this game could prove far more enthralling than the odds suggest, as both teams have pride on the line.
A loss for Spain is hard to imagine purely as it would mean they leave Brazil without a single point for their efforts. On the other hand, Australia are playing to reinforce their impressive form in the competition so far, and a point by there name is the only way to do it.
Australia have some fitness issues going into this clash. Mark Bresciano may not be fit to take the pitch in their final group match, while Mark Milligan is still in doubt for this one. Tim Cahill will miss this clash after picking up his second yellow card in as many matches against the Dutch.
Spain have been fairly lucky with injuries in this World Cup, but they will still make some changes for this match. Expect a lot of their regulars to start on the bench for this clash.
Prediction
As much as I’d love to pick Australia for a big win, I have to be realistic here. Expect another good performance, with the Aussies coming up just short once again.
Spain 2-1
peterdoogie
Guest
Ryan is not up the class of world cup ,they will sack him if they don't we will never win a game
Mals
Guest
Bit unfair to compare a guy who's played 100+ Socceroos games to a 22 year old who is a rookie at international level. Ryan does need to improve his shot stopping & I'm sure he'll be the first to put up his hand and admit this.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Reality check? Yes. We were outclassed by a side that contained some of the current day's finest players. No shame in our loss because we had a very inexperienced side who were put together in the last six months but who acquitted themselves admirably and played with a style, desire and hunger missing in our last few campaigns. I'm looking to the next stage of our development come the Asian Cup. And for young Adam Taggart, he does deserve a go and he can make it but our distribution and decision making in the final third didn't serve him well. Having said that Leckie had a fine WC due in no small part to his football development in Europe.
Redsback
Guest
I admit I haven't seent a lot of him, but from all of his press leading in I was expecting big things and was disappointed. I thought his game today was his best. He was okay at best against Chile, poor against the Netherlands, but he pulled of a number of good saves today, plus his sweeping allows the team to play a long way forward. I'm hoping it was just an off tournament for him rather than what we can come to expect. On his effort at this tournament, I definitely think we would have done better with Schwartzer.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Have to agree with you, the Klinsmann comment was very odd. He is married to an American and has lived there for some time. The States were desperately unlucky not to beat Portugal and were outstanding. They deserve to go through and will give Germany a good run.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
This game was really ever going to go one way. Spain were determined to finish on a good note and did just that. Our lads battled hard but without Cahill we were always going to struggle. Our defence has been leaky along with Ryan's keeping. However this young group will take a lot out of this tournament and have competed hard. Despite finishing on this note you have done the country proud in this tournament. Well done Ange and the boys.
Punter
Guest
I think you have to put it all into perspective, when a team can bring on subs like Febregas, Mata & Silva we are not going to our foot on their throats with players plying their trade in the A-League, & other 2nd-3rd tier competitions. However as SlickAs says we played football & was not good enough, we have a way to go but we gave it a go.
Kenjac
Guest
Klinsmann's a mercenary? Of the country he lives in and where he's chosen to raise a family? You know of his American wife and kids. He's in charge not only in charge of the men's team but of the larger project of bringing order to the lower tiers of soccer in the US. A mercenary wouldn't take on that task. You have alot to be proud of. The Socceroos put on a good showing with much to build on for the future. Where in that it's necessary to denigrate the efforts of a country that's trying to grow the game just like you are doesn't make sense but perhaps that's just emotions. Oh and by the way I hope you'll be watching while our naive players with their mercenary coach play to make it into the next round. G'day mate.
Dasilva
Guest
There were periods where we had some possessions and there were periods where we got into dangerous position but in the end we had barely any shots and zero shots on target. I'm not too sure how that is having foot at their throats or turning the screw where we didn't threaten the goal once in the entire match. We had foot on the throat of Chile and Netherlands but Spain were pretty comfortable here.
SlickAs
Guest
I don't know why people are saying it is a reality check. Honestly, we are not that far off. When the game opened and Iniesta was unable to get around McGowan, that right there was my 'whoa' moment! The moment when parallex happened in my vision and I had to hang on to something and check that this was reality. It might be cliché, but the results were not important to me. It would have been easy for Australia to come out and play negative football like Iran. Or play direct athletic football like the USA. To take the current crop given their talents, and attempt to get them the furthest in the tournament possible. But no-one can ever challenge to win the world cup by playing cynical football. Countries who hire a Jurgen Klinsmann style mercenary to get them as far as possible are just there to enjoy being part of the show without ever having the ambition to really progress. Australia threw away the cynical football completely this world cup and tried to play. Tried to play against Spain! And you know what? We are not that far off. Some of our players like Halloran was lacking some quality and unable to execute what was in his mind. And of course a couple of 'special' players are needed like a RVP or a Villa. But for the most part we looked in the same class. I thought the game was a festival ... a celebration of good football. There were some periods there in the second half where we had our foot on their throats. And were turning the screws on them, even if only for a two or three minutes at a time. This with a bunch of A-league players, Korean based players, Chinese based players, Bundesliga 2 players. But playing the Australian way, the way the national curriculum wants us to play.
Dasilva
Guest
Maybe we should play Matt Ryan in midfield. Good touch and exceptional passing. He could be the Australian Pirlo Seriously though he has disappointed for the socceroos. Sure defensive errors cost us but Schwarzer covers up for defensive mistake with good saves but Matt Ryan isn't going to do that. Goal through his legs and I don't really rate his ability to save shots that requires any degree of diving
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
Agreed.
1860melbourne
Guest
The team was 5 games old going into this world cup. The experience will set us up for 2018. I am more confident we will make it after 2014.
AGO74
Guest
Kalac is a plonker.
Scuba
Guest
Disappointing end to the tournament. We looked good going forward but without Cahill as a focal point there was little in the final third. Defence has been a real problem throughout the tournament - you don't get too many points leaking three goals a game
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME That's all she wrote for Australia's World Cup campaign, and it's not the performance we were looking for. Not many positives to come out of this one, as we were finally shown up by a better class of opposition. Spain showed why they were the best team in the world for the past 5 years in this one, as they just controlled the ball and never really allowed Australia any time with the ball. This also sees the World Cup careers of Mark Bresciano and Tim Cahill come to a close. Cahill has put his hand up for selection in January's Asian Cup, while I believe Bresciano has played his last game in the green and gold. Australia exit the World Cup with a whimper against Spain, but Australia has given us a lot of reason's to cheer in the first couple of games. Make sure to join us for the second round of matches today, as Brazil take on Cameroon, and Mexico and Croatia play off for a spot in the Round of 16.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
No shame but a reality check. Now for Asian Cup where we'll step it up one more level under Ange. Thanks Socceroos for some great memories from this WC.
AGO74
Guest
Looked a bit lethargic but you have to give the Spanish credit for the way they kept the ball and eventually ran us ragged.slightly disappointing way to end the tournament - not with the loss but the ability to really create sustained pressure - but perhaps even a slight reality check as to how far we still have to go. Proud of the team and thanks for the thrills this last week or so.
1860melbourne
Guest
No Cahill we are a worry!
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
defensive errors let us down but a good tournament from the boys.