Australia missing the World Cup soccer at the last hurdle!
Greg J
Yet another certainty in life
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Greg J
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Dr Alf Andrews
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Yes ... it did have a certain air of inevitability about it.
For starters, I never thought a one goal head start was going to be enough.
When Uraguay scored their first it immediately wiped out all the hard work the Aussies had done in Melbourne.
From then on, they were like a turkey waiting for Thanksgiving.
Amazingly we still had a chance with only a few minutes to go ... and we were attacking and creating chances. Then, after another near miss, we turned it over, they went forward and scored goal number 3 ... and it was all over for another 4 years.
In all honesty, I think Uraguay is very classy team. Silva is an absolute genius. They'll be genuine contenders in Japan. Whereas, if Australia had made it, we would have only been making up the numbers.
I thought, even in Melbourne, Uraguay looked the more dangerous team, even though Australia really dominated that match. Too many wasted opportunities.
No doubt, we'll here a litany of excuses ... the ground was too uneven ... the Uraguay supporters were too feral ... the weather was too hot ... or too cold ... the zodiac wasn't right ... rah rah rah.
The reason we're not going to be there is we're not good enough.
floreat pica
**************
My Ph.D. thesis, "Football: the People's Game?" is now available for viewing and/or downloading at http://alf.magpies.net
For starters, I never thought a one goal head start was going to be enough.
When Uraguay scored their first it immediately wiped out all the hard work the Aussies had done in Melbourne.
From then on, they were like a turkey waiting for Thanksgiving.
Amazingly we still had a chance with only a few minutes to go ... and we were attacking and creating chances. Then, after another near miss, we turned it over, they went forward and scored goal number 3 ... and it was all over for another 4 years.
In all honesty, I think Uraguay is very classy team. Silva is an absolute genius. They'll be genuine contenders in Japan. Whereas, if Australia had made it, we would have only been making up the numbers.
I thought, even in Melbourne, Uraguay looked the more dangerous team, even though Australia really dominated that match. Too many wasted opportunities.
No doubt, we'll here a litany of excuses ... the ground was too uneven ... the Uraguay supporters were too feral ... the weather was too hot ... or too cold ... the zodiac wasn't right ... rah rah rah.
The reason we're not going to be there is we're not good enough.
floreat pica
**************
My Ph.D. thesis, "Football: the People's Game?" is now available for viewing and/or downloading at http://alf.magpies.net
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Millane42
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But are we really not good enough?
How about FIFA giving the deserved Oceania champions a direct route into the World Cup Finals. Why do the south americans get 4 automatic qualifiers and 5th gets a chance against Oceania? The system beats the aussies everytime, i think we are good enough to compete we just lack some finesse.
well done team they did their very best!!
How about FIFA giving the deserved Oceania champions a direct route into the World Cup Finals. Why do the south americans get 4 automatic qualifiers and 5th gets a chance against Oceania? The system beats the aussies everytime, i think we are good enough to compete we just lack some finesse.
well done team they did their very best!!
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PeterWH
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We lost that game as soon as the Argies scored their first goal.....it was all over then.
Can you imagine the riots that would have been caused if the Socceroos had won...my god I shudder to think.
All that we can say is that we werent good enough on the day and 80,000 screaming Argies woulnt have helped either.
catch you all later
PeterWH
PIES FOR PREMIERS 2002
Can you imagine the riots that would have been caused if the Socceroos had won...my god I shudder to think.
All that we can say is that we werent good enough on the day and 80,000 screaming Argies woulnt have helped either.
catch you all later
PeterWH
PIES FOR PREMIERS 2002
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foxy
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millane42 - please tell me you're kidding. the reason south america has 4 automatic qualifiers is because the south american nations are so bloody good. the competition includes teams like argentina (who'll probably win the world cup), brazil, and a host of other powerful, classy sides.
though i'd love for australia to have an easier route to qualification, it'd be ridiculously unfair if we automatically qualified having played such powerhouse nations as tonga, fiji, and, ummm, american samoa. a lot of other countries would be REALLY pissed off if our only genuine competition on the way to a world cup berth was new zealand.
that said, i'd much prefer us to play one of the sides from asia, rather than a south american side.
though i'd love for australia to have an easier route to qualification, it'd be ridiculously unfair if we automatically qualified having played such powerhouse nations as tonga, fiji, and, ummm, american samoa. a lot of other countries would be REALLY pissed off if our only genuine competition on the way to a world cup berth was new zealand.
that said, i'd much prefer us to play one of the sides from asia, rather than a south american side.
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Dr Alf Andrews
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80,000 screaming Argies?
I thought we were playing Uraguay. And I think there was only about 65,000 of them according to the TV coverage.
It would have been no worse for the Aussies than for an away team at Victoria Park in the olden days.
floreat pica
**************
My Ph.D. thesis, "Football: the People's Game?" is now available for viewing and/or downloading at http://alf.magpies.net
I thought we were playing Uraguay. And I think there was only about 65,000 of them according to the TV coverage.
It would have been no worse for the Aussies than for an away team at Victoria Park in the olden days.
floreat pica
**************
My Ph.D. thesis, "Football: the People's Game?" is now available for viewing and/or downloading at http://alf.magpies.net
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junkboy75
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no doubt about it, uruguay were the classier side, although soccer IS the national sport over there, unlike in australia. alvaro recoba was one of the differences. it's amazing that he is the most expensive player in the world, hasn't played all season for his club inter milan, yet everytime he touched the ball he looked dangerous. and montoya was the centre of an almost impenetrable defence.
but let's give credit to the socceroos, they were outclassed but they gave it their all. sure, they were a shambles in the first half, with predictable "route one" football that was easily picked off. and maybe harry kewell should have started on the left from the start to swing in those crosses. and maybe viduka should have made more of his chances. but, really, the final score flattered uruguay, the first and third goals were as soft as shite, and the aussies largely dominated in the second half.
however, I cannot help but feel that we were once again the victims of our geography. if australia is in asia, why aren't we playing in the asian qualifiers? they are hardly pushovers, with iran, china, japan and korea in those groups. was it just the draw of a hat that ireland got to play iran but australia ended up with a sth american team, where the support is the most fanatical in the world? oh well, sour grapes at this stage I guess.
I congratulate uruguay, but I don't think they will progress beyond the first round in japan/korea. I predict that argentina will be the team to beat in 2002. veron, batistuta, crespo, ortega, et al. it's scary.....
"consectatio excellentiae"
but let's give credit to the socceroos, they were outclassed but they gave it their all. sure, they were a shambles in the first half, with predictable "route one" football that was easily picked off. and maybe harry kewell should have started on the left from the start to swing in those crosses. and maybe viduka should have made more of his chances. but, really, the final score flattered uruguay, the first and third goals were as soft as shite, and the aussies largely dominated in the second half.
however, I cannot help but feel that we were once again the victims of our geography. if australia is in asia, why aren't we playing in the asian qualifiers? they are hardly pushovers, with iran, china, japan and korea in those groups. was it just the draw of a hat that ireland got to play iran but australia ended up with a sth american team, where the support is the most fanatical in the world? oh well, sour grapes at this stage I guess.
I congratulate uruguay, but I don't think they will progress beyond the first round in japan/korea. I predict that argentina will be the team to beat in 2002. veron, batistuta, crespo, ortega, et al. it's scary.....
"consectatio excellentiae"
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Brown26
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Uraguy aren't that good.
Australia is always one mistake away from the world cup.
their first goal was WAY too easy - classy yes but too easy.
their second goal was from, might I say, a rather soft free, although comming from an AFL background every free in soccer looks soft. I think anyone who dives or rolls around after they've been fouled should be yellow carded. They just make me feel sick. But the goal was from a soft free- the guy tripped over emertons foot, he wouldn't have fallen unless he threw himself on the ground, he just would've stumbled a bit.
their third goal was because we had attacking players attempting to play defense - not anyones fault Farina had to try to score at that point.
So, one mistake and one dodgy free kick and one final stages goal against offenders rather than defenders, and suddenly Australia loose 3 nil, when we were challenging for a place in the world cup.
I think anyone who says Austrlia isn't ready for the world cup has to get thier head checked.
First look at the game against France 3 weeks ago - a full strength France vs a full strength Australia. Their goal was marginally offside and Agestino (or Aleuisi?) deserved a penalty shot at the end - so we could've very easily won 2 nothing -against the reining world champs.
In the olympics vs Italy - quality side, a one nil loss, and their goal came from an "arm ball" - I was there, it was obvious, Uragyina unpire if I remember rightly as well!! Remember when you argue we didn't have Kewel, the italians fielded a weak second string side - but we did a bloody good job.
Australia are close - we'll win some games at the world cup, we just need to get there!! We waste too many opourtunities, and make costly mistakes about every third game, which we can't afford if we're going to be at the highest level.
Pies for Premiers 2002, 3, 4, 5, 6....
Australia is always one mistake away from the world cup.
their first goal was WAY too easy - classy yes but too easy.
their second goal was from, might I say, a rather soft free, although comming from an AFL background every free in soccer looks soft. I think anyone who dives or rolls around after they've been fouled should be yellow carded. They just make me feel sick. But the goal was from a soft free- the guy tripped over emertons foot, he wouldn't have fallen unless he threw himself on the ground, he just would've stumbled a bit.
their third goal was because we had attacking players attempting to play defense - not anyones fault Farina had to try to score at that point.
So, one mistake and one dodgy free kick and one final stages goal against offenders rather than defenders, and suddenly Australia loose 3 nil, when we were challenging for a place in the world cup.
I think anyone who says Austrlia isn't ready for the world cup has to get thier head checked.
First look at the game against France 3 weeks ago - a full strength France vs a full strength Australia. Their goal was marginally offside and Agestino (or Aleuisi?) deserved a penalty shot at the end - so we could've very easily won 2 nothing -against the reining world champs.
In the olympics vs Italy - quality side, a one nil loss, and their goal came from an "arm ball" - I was there, it was obvious, Uragyina unpire if I remember rightly as well!! Remember when you argue we didn't have Kewel, the italians fielded a weak second string side - but we did a bloody good job.
Australia are close - we'll win some games at the world cup, we just need to get there!! We waste too many opourtunities, and make costly mistakes about every third game, which we can't afford if we're going to be at the highest level.
Pies for Premiers 2002, 3, 4, 5, 6....
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foxy
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emerton had a shocker. on his day he's nearly as good as kewell.
uruguay's first goal was just class. i'm sorry but as soon you get a one-on-one between dario silva and shaun murphy you gotta worry.
what's really worrying is that australia can never seem to score from general play. nearly all our goals are from set pieces.
i'm amazed no one's talking about that clearance off the goal line by an australian defender (was it murphy? i think so). seriously, that's gotta be one of the most brilliant clearances of all time.
uruguay's first goal was just class. i'm sorry but as soon you get a one-on-one between dario silva and shaun murphy you gotta worry.
what's really worrying is that australia can never seem to score from general play. nearly all our goals are from set pieces.
i'm amazed no one's talking about that clearance off the goal line by an australian defender (was it murphy? i think so). seriously, that's gotta be one of the most brilliant clearances of all time.
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Dr Alf Andrews
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Brown26,
I agree with you completely about players taking a dive. That first half was excruciating with all those players falling over theatrically at every opportunity. It has got to be THE most annoying thing in soccer.
Can't agree about Australia being ready for the World Cup, though.
Obviously, the third goal was just the result of a turnover after an unlucky attempt by Australia to score ... so I think 0-2 would have probably been more indicative of the strengths of the two sides in Montevideo.
I thought Uraguay looked a class above Australia even in the first game. I reckon Uraguay did it very much "on the bit" in Melbourne. They were saving themselves for another day and only did as much as they had to to keep in touch. They would have prefered 0-0, but I reckon they would have still been pleased with 0-1. Their attacks looked a lot more purposeful. Australia just seemed to be hoping for the best.
As for the match against France ... that means absolutely zilch. It was a "friendly". A match about as meaningless as our own pre-season AFL games. It has about as much bearing on the World Cup as a barrier trial has on the Cox Plate.
I actually think we were more "ready" 4 years ago than we were this time.
floreat pica
**************
My Ph.D. thesis, "Football: the People's Game?" is now available for viewing and/or downloading at http://alf.magpies.net
I agree with you completely about players taking a dive. That first half was excruciating with all those players falling over theatrically at every opportunity. It has got to be THE most annoying thing in soccer.
Can't agree about Australia being ready for the World Cup, though.
Obviously, the third goal was just the result of a turnover after an unlucky attempt by Australia to score ... so I think 0-2 would have probably been more indicative of the strengths of the two sides in Montevideo.
I thought Uraguay looked a class above Australia even in the first game. I reckon Uraguay did it very much "on the bit" in Melbourne. They were saving themselves for another day and only did as much as they had to to keep in touch. They would have prefered 0-0, but I reckon they would have still been pleased with 0-1. Their attacks looked a lot more purposeful. Australia just seemed to be hoping for the best.
As for the match against France ... that means absolutely zilch. It was a "friendly". A match about as meaningless as our own pre-season AFL games. It has about as much bearing on the World Cup as a barrier trial has on the Cox Plate.
I actually think we were more "ready" 4 years ago than we were this time.
floreat pica
**************
My Ph.D. thesis, "Football: the People's Game?" is now available for viewing and/or downloading at http://alf.magpies.net
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NICK THE PIE MAN
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Brown26
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I reckon these guys would love to play in the world cup, tehy'd relish it, and you'd see a few of them step up, Alf.
Emerton did have a shocker, he went missing in both games, and he is class when he's on, but not great when he's off.
Silva made a huge difference to their attack, he is sooooo quick but still manages to maintain control, although I think Murphy should've done more on that first goal, still easy in hind sight.
Pies for Premiers 2002, 3, 4, 5, 6....
Emerton did have a shocker, he went missing in both games, and he is class when he's on, but not great when he's off.
Silva made a huge difference to their attack, he is sooooo quick but still manages to maintain control, although I think Murphy should've done more on that first goal, still easy in hind sight.
Pies for Premiers 2002, 3, 4, 5, 6....
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JLC
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I went to the casino to watch the game and i was bitterly disappointed. But lets not worry to much we can thrash tonga 31-0...........lol lol lol lol lol
We wont be any good until we play qulaity teams more often with our strongest team in. We need to play as a TEAM not just a bunch of individuals who have no idea what each other is thinking. Viduka should also leave Leeds and go play in the Italian or Spanish League to get a more all round game.
APA
EVERYONE IS A COLLINGWOOD SUPPORTER ITS JUST THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE IN DENIAL
We wont be any good until we play qulaity teams more often with our strongest team in. We need to play as a TEAM not just a bunch of individuals who have no idea what each other is thinking. Viduka should also leave Leeds and go play in the Italian or Spanish League to get a more all round game.
APA
EVERYONE IS A COLLINGWOOD SUPPORTER ITS JUST THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE IN DENIAL