Pim's excellent Socceroos adventure is over. A magnificent curling lob from distance on the left to the top right corner ended Australia's qualifying clean sheet. Now the implications of the closeness of the group have become clear. Australia, this time looking unable to muster much in the final third, must beat the Brazilian Qatar in the heat or wounded pride China in perfect playing conditions.
China went down 1 nil as the result of a very soft penalty call - high ball from the right - defender and naturalised Brazilian both go down - penalty.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Socceroos among the 10 best in Asia
442 online have given us the updated rankings and it shows Australia on top. I hope no one is taking that for granted like FFA seemed to have done for the Asia Cup.
What rankings don't tell you is how things are going to go in World Cup qualification. Particularly in Asia. As Asian Confederation countries have perhaps the broadest range of climatic and geographic conditions, home ground advantage can be almost insurmountable. As Sydney FC about their match in Indonesia in the team's Asian outings.
When the Socceroos play here it is about entertainment and the business of football. Otherwise we would be setting up stadium in areas of our unique geographic and climatic advantage. But when we play away - it's at altitude in China, 40 degrees and dry in the Middle East, 40 degrees and 100% humidity in Thailand ... Our world ranking means nothing it is about stamina, endurance and the ability to handle culture shock.
Because China has not made points progress against Qatar in the first round of home and away games, Australia's 7 points is well within reach of both those countries. China will have not disadvantage in Australia. Qatar and Iraq, particularly based on the Brisbane performance the other night, could beat Australia in their home conditions.
Even getting to the next round, bear in mind that Bahrain (a seasoned participant at World Cups) has already beaten Japan 1-0.
Yes the Socceroos playing in Europe with our winter acclimatised players are the best team in Asia. In Asia, across home and away, we are as good as: Bahrain, Japan, China (on their day), Iraq (on their day), Iran (remember Sydney?), South Korea, North Korea (bumped us for 1966 and went onto be the surprise of that cup), Saudi Arabia, - and other teams drafting Brazilians for citizenship (and if you think that will end soon because Sepp Blatter says it should remember that Qatar are doing it and their rep is the AFC president. Only 4 and half Asian teams go through.
The answer:
- two or more A-League teams based or regularly playing games up north to produce more and better conditioned players
- win the junior recruitment battle with AFL
- AFL sees their competitive advantage as having locally based stars - so more locally based stars for the Socceroos (Pim to stop encouraging them to go to Europe)
Monday, June 02, 2008
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Socceroos 1 v Iraq 0
Mark Schwarzer just may be the best goal keeper in the world. He should probably be playing for Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal. He was standing right in front of me and was as tall as I expected but thinner. He saved Australia tonight. That and Iraq's very poor finish in front of near open goals. The Socceroos defence was brittle. A good team would have had 3 goals by half time. For one, we were lucky Schwarzer can drag his feet. For another, there were about 5 Socceroos defenders but none were marking the striker in front of goal. It was like junior games. Fortunately, the striker's header was poor and the wrong option. He actually had the time to cushion the ball down to his feet and belt it in. Lucky he didn't.
I was a little dejected after the game. I thought it was a good ad for the A-League, that seemly offered games with more entertainment. But when I got home I watched most of it again and realised that, particularly in the first half, the Socceroos attacks had been much more entertaining than I could see from behind Schwarzer's goal.
The 48,000 strong crowd were a bit subdued. Perhaps because it was the Iraq that looked so fast and exciting. Perhaps it was the atmosphere from the rain that was there but fortunately only a soft pat on our faces. Perhaps it was because the guys next to me were drunk and often lost interest in the game to sing songs or try to pick fights with the dads with kids in front of them. To be fair they may have been the only ones in the crowd like that but I got to sit next to them. No 2 crowd sturing moment in the game were the 2 Iraqi's that invaded the pitch near the end - one of them pushed a Socceroo - I wonder if he will get jail for that?
The telling element of the game for me was the number times the Iraqi team had played together v the togetherness of the Australian team. The Iraqis' had far more caps that us. As I saw at home, in attack Australia was good and looking danagerous. In defence, we looked poor. I don't know how they will go in the heat of the middle east against better teams. Don't forget that Bahrain beat Japan 1-0 and Qatar beat Iraq. Our defence, in the best possible conditions for players coming out of Europe looked slow. David Carney did not look at home at left full back. And in the second when he offered the opportunity to push forward on the left, his team mates ignored him. But it was Beauchamp who had the most disappointing game. Based on this game and the other game I saw him in at Land Park against Paraguay, I don't think he cuts it at international level. Jade North looked OK.
The man of the match was Brett Emerton. He ran all night and all over the park. It was a truly Dutch performance slotting into others roles and excelling in them. And of cause setting up the goal for Harry to finish with his head just after half time. In the second half Emerton was brilliant running with the ball, passing... Harry looked good too. And the Iraqis looked like they would sacrifice a man to keep him quite.
Perhaps the most memorable moment of the second half, after the goal was Jason Culina looking to pass into attack, having to turn and pass back to another defender, and then remonstrating with his colleagues, yelling at them about their static play.
Scott McDonald was another disappointment for me. I may have missed his action because I didn't see him create much. He doesn't seem strong enough or creative enough. On the other hand, Pim Verbeek's surprise was to cap Bruce Djite - despite his Adelaide rift and Europe move, another proof that the A-League is doing its job. Bruce Djite had a great time on the park. He looked dangerous. Put together some great moves and crosses. Schwarzer landed the ball on his head a number of times and he gave his defenders a very difficult time. The drunk guys near me wanted Nicky Carle, but we got great value from Bruce.
Can Australia win in the heat? We will know next week.
I was a little dejected after the game. I thought it was a good ad for the A-League, that seemly offered games with more entertainment. But when I got home I watched most of it again and realised that, particularly in the first half, the Socceroos attacks had been much more entertaining than I could see from behind Schwarzer's goal.
The 48,000 strong crowd were a bit subdued. Perhaps because it was the Iraq that looked so fast and exciting. Perhaps it was the atmosphere from the rain that was there but fortunately only a soft pat on our faces. Perhaps it was because the guys next to me were drunk and often lost interest in the game to sing songs or try to pick fights with the dads with kids in front of them. To be fair they may have been the only ones in the crowd like that but I got to sit next to them. No 2 crowd sturing moment in the game were the 2 Iraqi's that invaded the pitch near the end - one of them pushed a Socceroo - I wonder if he will get jail for that?
The telling element of the game for me was the number times the Iraqi team had played together v the togetherness of the Australian team. The Iraqis' had far more caps that us. As I saw at home, in attack Australia was good and looking danagerous. In defence, we looked poor. I don't know how they will go in the heat of the middle east against better teams. Don't forget that Bahrain beat Japan 1-0 and Qatar beat Iraq. Our defence, in the best possible conditions for players coming out of Europe looked slow. David Carney did not look at home at left full back. And in the second when he offered the opportunity to push forward on the left, his team mates ignored him. But it was Beauchamp who had the most disappointing game. Based on this game and the other game I saw him in at Land Park against Paraguay, I don't think he cuts it at international level. Jade North looked OK.
The man of the match was Brett Emerton. He ran all night and all over the park. It was a truly Dutch performance slotting into others roles and excelling in them. And of cause setting up the goal for Harry to finish with his head just after half time. In the second half Emerton was brilliant running with the ball, passing... Harry looked good too. And the Iraqis looked like they would sacrifice a man to keep him quite.
Perhaps the most memorable moment of the second half, after the goal was Jason Culina looking to pass into attack, having to turn and pass back to another defender, and then remonstrating with his colleagues, yelling at them about their static play.
Scott McDonald was another disappointment for me. I may have missed his action because I didn't see him create much. He doesn't seem strong enough or creative enough. On the other hand, Pim Verbeek's surprise was to cap Bruce Djite - despite his Adelaide rift and Europe move, another proof that the A-League is doing its job. Bruce Djite had a great time on the park. He looked dangerous. Put together some great moves and crosses. Schwarzer landed the ball on his head a number of times and he gave his defenders a very difficult time. The drunk guys near me wanted Nicky Carle, but we got great value from Bruce.
Can Australia win in the heat? We will know next week.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Socceroos and my football week
Rain. That is the latest threat to tomorrow's Socceroo's game. And not merely slowing it down and making it less expansive. We are expecting the winter version of a tropical storm. Fraser Island coped 150 mils. It is forecast to start raining in the afternoon and keep going.
This comes on top of the week of heartache we have had over whether FIFA would let Iraq play. And it is just too hard to know who or what to believe on that score. Iraq Football Association president Hussein Saeed came to the FIFA congress and reassured everyone he hadn't been sacked. And the World Cup qualifier was given the go ahead. But we are also told that Saeed is FIFA boss Sepp Blatter's friend. We are also told that Iraq's winnings from last year's Asia Cup have disappeared, that the former head was kidnapped in 2006 and not heard of again and that several other board officials have also disappeared. And that deadlines for a FIFA required election of IFA officials have long past and that the last election was 5 years ago. So if all this is true can a football federation continue without sanction? And was the previous IFA under Uday Hussein (Saddam Hussein's son) OK even though there was no election and apparent torture?
Anyway, on the entertainment front Miron Bleiberg is back in the news. You will recall that the FFA decided not to allow his Gold Coast Galaxy team to be the 9th A-League team this coming season. At the time the Fox commentators wondered who else FFA may have in mind. I thought they meant bidders from elsewhere. But there is now speculation that Miron has gone behind the Galaxy bid to a new bid funded by billionaire Cliver Palmer. Galaxy have dismissed Miron and asked the FFA for clarification. Apparently, Palmer wanted to be part of the Galaxy bid but terms couldn't be agreed. there is more water to go under this bridge (probably tomorrow but hopefully not at Lang Park). Oh and the decision not to go with 9 this season has meant we only get two teams in the Champions' League.
Juventus beat Melbourne 4-1. The difference was their capacity in front of goal. If only players in the A-League could head like that - bam break the back of the net (2 of the goals came from headed crosses).
At the last minute former Juventus star Zidane cancelled his Australian exhibition game and refugee coaching session. Apparently he was off somewhere else. However, it seems he over-estimated interest in seeing him here. He doesn't have the crowd interest here of Beckham and it was a poorly chosen weekend. Although at one stage we thought he may be called up to Brisbane to play the Socceroos if the Iraqis were denied.
I've go to go and prepare my wet weather gear... snorkel anyone?
This comes on top of the week of heartache we have had over whether FIFA would let Iraq play. And it is just too hard to know who or what to believe on that score. Iraq Football Association president Hussein Saeed came to the FIFA congress and reassured everyone he hadn't been sacked. And the World Cup qualifier was given the go ahead. But we are also told that Saeed is FIFA boss Sepp Blatter's friend. We are also told that Iraq's winnings from last year's Asia Cup have disappeared, that the former head was kidnapped in 2006 and not heard of again and that several other board officials have also disappeared. And that deadlines for a FIFA required election of IFA officials have long past and that the last election was 5 years ago. So if all this is true can a football federation continue without sanction? And was the previous IFA under Uday Hussein (Saddam Hussein's son) OK even though there was no election and apparent torture?
Anyway, on the entertainment front Miron Bleiberg is back in the news. You will recall that the FFA decided not to allow his Gold Coast Galaxy team to be the 9th A-League team this coming season. At the time the Fox commentators wondered who else FFA may have in mind. I thought they meant bidders from elsewhere. But there is now speculation that Miron has gone behind the Galaxy bid to a new bid funded by billionaire Cliver Palmer. Galaxy have dismissed Miron and asked the FFA for clarification. Apparently, Palmer wanted to be part of the Galaxy bid but terms couldn't be agreed. there is more water to go under this bridge (probably tomorrow but hopefully not at Lang Park). Oh and the decision not to go with 9 this season has meant we only get two teams in the Champions' League.
Juventus beat Melbourne 4-1. The difference was their capacity in front of goal. If only players in the A-League could head like that - bam break the back of the net (2 of the goals came from headed crosses).
At the last minute former Juventus star Zidane cancelled his Australian exhibition game and refugee coaching session. Apparently he was off somewhere else. However, it seems he over-estimated interest in seeing him here. He doesn't have the crowd interest here of Beckham and it was a poorly chosen weekend. Although at one stage we thought he may be called up to Brisbane to play the Socceroos if the Iraqis were denied.
I've go to go and prepare my wet weather gear... snorkel anyone?
Monday, May 26, 2008
Socceroos breaking news
Socceroos were meant to sign autographs in the Brisbane mall today for Amart Allsports. They didn't appear. So I rang Amart. They said FIFA had cancelled. So I asked if they meant FFA? They thought it could have been. So I asked if the match was on on Sunday. They thought it may not be.
I had wanted to photo Ginger Megs and get him to sign a glove or something. So I photographed the empty space and will hope Lang Park doesn't look like it on Sunday.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Changchun 0 v Adelaide 0: Adelaide shows A-League should get 4 spots & China only 2
Changchun and their 4 national team players had a great opening 20 minutes. But when they couldn't make anything out of good breakaway opportunities and getting behind Adelaide - they lost their spark.
ACL has made a mistake offering the A-League only 2 spots and teams from China and Iran 4. they should have looked at the opportunity that is Brisbane and Sydney for Asian football. The A-League lost points for 'organisation'. I wonder what the assessment was based on? Perhaps all the questions were whether they think we are arrogant (which we are but so are the countries that won out - the more self effacing nations lost their spots). The A-League is not the 21st best organisation in Asia.
Adelaide, and in particular coach Vidmar, have earned their place in the top 8. It should be like the tennis Davis Cup. Your country proves it can make the finals and it gets automatic entry to the group stage.
Changchun were outplayed by Adelaide and by the second half it became clear that they had no answers except diving and lost tempers. I imagine Chinese players are pushed to the edge and when they look like missing out the pressure gets too much from them (remember the Chinese U21 tour of England and their fight with they hosts).
Adelaide know how to play 'ground them out' football and with the Chinese playing 'long ball' it just became too easy.
Some player analysis:
Eugene Galekovic played a risky game in goal and chose wrongly to punch out too many times.
Richie Alagich had a great last game, no one really got past him.
Sasa Ognenovski is fitting right in and will be a massive loss to the Roar (I haven't seen any sign of a replacement yet).
Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite played their last games and will both be missed. However, Adelaide has signed two more Brazilians and Cassio will be back for the start of the A-League season. Nathan Burns had it over the Chinese mid-field.
Angelo Costanzo is back to form.
ACL has made a mistake offering the A-League only 2 spots and teams from China and Iran 4. they should have looked at the opportunity that is Brisbane and Sydney for Asian football. The A-League lost points for 'organisation'. I wonder what the assessment was based on? Perhaps all the questions were whether they think we are arrogant (which we are but so are the countries that won out - the more self effacing nations lost their spots). The A-League is not the 21st best organisation in Asia.
Adelaide, and in particular coach Vidmar, have earned their place in the top 8. It should be like the tennis Davis Cup. Your country proves it can make the finals and it gets automatic entry to the group stage.
Changchun were outplayed by Adelaide and by the second half it became clear that they had no answers except diving and lost tempers. I imagine Chinese players are pushed to the edge and when they look like missing out the pressure gets too much from them (remember the Chinese U21 tour of England and their fight with they hosts).
Adelaide know how to play 'ground them out' football and with the Chinese playing 'long ball' it just became too easy.
Some player analysis:
Eugene Galekovic played a risky game in goal and chose wrongly to punch out too many times.
Richie Alagich had a great last game, no one really got past him.
Sasa Ognenovski is fitting right in and will be a massive loss to the Roar (I haven't seen any sign of a replacement yet).
Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite played their last games and will both be missed. However, Adelaide has signed two more Brazilians and Cassio will be back for the start of the A-League season. Nathan Burns had it over the Chinese mid-field.
Angelo Costanzo is back to form.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)