FIFA World Cup 2010

[Sydney Sider]

Its now 45 days 22hrs & 55min till the world cup (not that Im counting or anything )

Very excited but extreamly nervous at the same time - we have a hard group with Germany, Serbia and Ghana but still I think we will come away with a win, a loss and a draw and get through to 90% sure it will be England we end up facing ( only beating Itay would be sweeter then being the ones putting the Poms out of the Cup

Cmon Sportzchick nothing could be better than beating the Poms at their national sport , beating Italy would IMO be a more impressive win but beating the Poms at sport is a national Pastime. ( tounge in cheek to all the Poms on here) It cant get any better than that

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Aus have an uphill battle getting out of that group.
Germany are Germany
Serbia have a very good squad, dark horse team imo.
And Ghana wont be a push over, especially as it is in Africa.
I think they will come 3rd or 4th to be honest.
Hope they do well though.

 

[sportzchick]

Aus have an uphill battle getting out of that group.
Germany are Germany
Serbia have a very good squad, dark horse team imo.
And Ghana wont be a push over, especially as it is in Africa.
I think they will come 3rd or 4th to be honest.
Hope they do well though.

Everyone said that last time so its obvious most havent learnt their lesson

We were not suppose to win a game in Germany and only cheating from the Italians stopped us to a Quater final.

No matter the sport Aussies know how to puch above their weight, we have done it for years! Cycling fans should know that by now!

Our squad is announced on Tusday

 

[theyoungest]

Everyone said that last time so its obvious most havent learnt their lesson

We were not suppose to win a game in Germany and only cheating from the Italians stopped us to a Quater final.

No matter the sport Aussies know how to puch above their weight, we have done it for years! Cycling fans should know that by now!

Our squad is announced on Tusday

I think Timmy-loves-Rabo (who is an Aussie, BTW) knows a little bit more about football than you, and is wise not to expect too much from your squad, because honestly I don't see how they'll ever survive the group stage.

 

[sportzchick]

I know a damm sight more then the idiots who wrote us off before we went to Germany, havent learnet their lessons and are silly enough to do it again.

Im confident we will get past the group stage and have the last laugh - and if optimism and faith mean you know nothing about the sport then well I cant do much about that.

Cmon Sportzchick nothing could be better than beating the Poms at their national sport , beating Italy would IMO be a more impressive win but beating the Poms at sport is a national Pastime. ( tounge in cheek to all the Poms on here) It cant get any better than that

Beating the Poms is like shelling peas - Italy would be very nice!

 

[Sydney Sider]

I know a damm sight more then the idiots who wrote us off before we went to Germany, havent learnet their lessons and are silly enough to do it again.

Im confident we will get past the group stage and have the last laugh - and if optimism and faith mean you know nothing about the sport then well I cant do much about that.


Beating the Poms is like shelling peas - Italy would be very nice!

Im not as confident in the squad compared to Germany , i feel Viduka is a massive lost to the structure of the side , we dont have that big strong striker who can keep the ball and hold off Defenders . Viduka use to create space for our attacking midfielders and was a very skilful player in setting up chances for others .

Playing in Asia is one thing against alot of smaller quick sides where Viduka's presence didnt seem to be missed but when we will be playing top qaulity European sides i have a feeling we may struggle without his presence there.

In no way i am writing us off but in Germany i was very very confident we would progress , where as now i think its a toss of the coin between the three sides for second

PS Im glad we have drawn Germany first as this may be our best chance of a result against them .

 

[Moondance]

I like Ghana a lot. I picked them to go all the way to the semis way back when...

But that was with a fit Michael Essien. Now Essien is stuggling to get fit in time for the WC, and even if he does a 6 month layoff because of a ruptured cruciate takes some time. Without him in good a top midfield force (which is Ghana's strength) is weakened significantly... They've still got some other quality players, but they are highly beatable. And Serbia, well, some people here have suggested that they might do well, which I don't really see. They came out on top of a qualifying group with France and Romania (who are not a bad team) but qualifying isn't the world cup... And Serbia have a lot of good players, but noone who can break out and take on a game. Obviously a team of good players can get far (Greece in Euro 2004), but that is an exception. I would say that Australia has a pretty good shot of getting through. Maybe slighly less than in 2006, but good nevertheless.

 

[craig1985]

Is it true that Wesley Snijder and Robin van Persie hate each other's guts? I guess it would be a Dutch football team without several important players ready to punch each other out if given half a chance.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I know a damm sight more then the idiots who wrote us off before we went to Germany, havent learnet their lessons and are silly enough to do it again.

Im confident we will get past the group stage and have the last laugh - and if optimism and faith mean you know nothing about the sport then well I cant do much about that.


Beating the Poms is like shelling peas - Italy would be very nice!

different circumstances. Last world cup there group was easier. Yes they had Brazil, but japan is one of the easiest games you'll get in the wc imo. And croatia of 2006 (they were in shambles, playing like crap) are no serbia of 2010 (very good defense, considering all Australia do is counter attack, it will be interesting to see if Australia breaks the Serbian defense down).

And although I think on a whole the squad might be as strong as last wc, maybe a tad weaker -- Having pim Verbeek, compared to Guus Hiddink in 2006 needs no explanation.

Australia simply don't have a world class team compared to other teams. In terms of players I certainly would not have them in the top 20 of the world. And honestly since Verbeek has taken over, Australia hasn't been mind blowing by any standards. Struggling against some average teams in Asia (IMO the weakest continent in national football --- actually CONCACAF is pretty terrible. The way they play, they won't worry the defense's of too many big teams.
That being said, Defense will be key for Australia, if the defense can hold out against serbia and ghana, they will be a chance to progress.

What they did have going for them in germany was heart, they really worked hard for what they got, and although it was never easy for them, they did it with heart -- Qualification, Japan comeback and absurd Croatia game!

Again I hope they do well, but don't hold your breath. Getting out of the group is a massive task.

AND finally as regards to cheating from italy. Well Australia have no one to blame but themselves. Italy had 10 men for most of the game, and still they did basically all the attacking in the game. Australia failed because they didn't have the balls to use the extra man, and create holes in the italian defense. That was probably the worst tactical game I've ever seen by Hiddink.
What was an Italian defender doing, attacking the aus defense in the dying minutes in game when they had one less man?? Australia sat back and let the 10 man italy attack them. Aus didn't deserve to get through, the way they exited was sad and unfair I agree, but like I said it should never have gone to that.

Is it true that Wesley Snijder and Robin van Persie hate each other's guts? I guess it would be a Dutch football team without several important players ready to punch each other out if given half a chance.

Indeed. It started at Euro 08 I believe. Over a freekick. Sniejder was the designated freekick taker, but RvP stole one at the end of the russia game. And it resulted in a war of words. I think they might be over it now, though I'm not sure. ANywho silly reason for tension, Sniejder can be a difficult personality I've heard.

 

[theyoungest]

Indeed. It started at Euro 08 I believe. Over a freekick. Sniejder was the designated freekick taker, but RvP stole one at the end of the russia game. And it resulted in a war of words. I think they might be over it now, though I'm not sure. ANywho silly reason for tension, Sniejder can be a difficult personality I've heard.

Sneijder said in a recent interview that RvP and himself have regular phone and text message contact, as well as sharing a bed on numerous occasions (ok, the latter isn't true). For a long time, Van der Vaart and RvP weren't the best of friends either, but apparently that's been cleared up as well.

No doubt they'll hate each other's guts again, come June.

 

[uphillstruggle]

@timmy-loves:

Bang on assesment of Aus chances. Remember Hiddink took a south korea team to the quarter finals (albeit with a few favourable refereeing decisions).

Really cannot see the dutch doing much this year Van Persie will not be sharp enough by a long way and Van der Sar is a big loss for them. They will do ok but I will be surprised if they make the semi's.

The really interesting one will be Spain, who on paper are by far the best team but have a few issues. Many of their players will have played for two years without a good rest period. Xavi may not be 100% as he is playing with minor knocks through the last games off the season. Torres has been poor and injury prone all season. Iniesta is also an injury worry at the moment

I would like to see them take the tournament by storm and play brilliant football (assuming England bomb out in the quarters like usual) but to keep that up and actually win two knock-out tournaments in a row is a difficult feat (ask Barcelona).

 

[Galic Ho]

Maradonna is rubbish, and will be the number one reason why arg, fail at the world cup.

Ivory cost are the only hope africa have.

Agree on both of those.

Ruud has always performed well for the dutch imo, not many players with such football intelligence as himself imo. I would add him to the sqaud (over guys like JVH anyway..), but he probably wouldn't get a game with guys like RVP, Huntelaar, Kuyt, Babel etc...

Ruud is not going. Been official for about a week or more now. Good thing. A team needs more than a star striker on the wrong side of 30 who can only score inside the 18 yard box (my sister and her boyfriend say 9 yards but were being mean).

This logic would mean Portugal leaves cristiano at home, because he has got to be the biggest 'Me' player in the world. Watching him in the closing stages of last season made me wanna punch him in the face. Selfish player, yet I'm think lance armstrong would eat my shorts before they leave him home of such reasons.

Bad comparison. Christiano Ronaldo today and Ronaldhino are miles apart. The Brazilian substitute for Ronaldo is his Real team mate, Kaka. Kaka is going to South Africa. He will be the glue for the Brazilian team. He shines, they shine. Ronaldo is a me player and he is also fit, has great form and can deliver a stroke of genius randomly and turn a match. I haven't seen Ronaldhino do anything similar for over 4 years. That is why he was left out. You can have attitude but you need to back it up. Ronaldhino is just a wasted jersey on the pitch for the Brazilian national team. In his home town there was a magnificent life size replica statue in his image. Locals burnt it to the ground after the 2006 world cup. He cannot back up his bravado anymore.

Absolutely not. They were god awful in the group stages and did not at all deserve to get through to the 2nd round; the swiss were far better, korea deserved more then a draw against france and they struggled to beat a togo in tatters over wages. They were as pathetic in most of the world cup, as they were in the recent qualifiers. France were brilliant - or zz - against brazil. The rest of the tournament came down to a lot of luck. France sucked, and I was very glad they lost.

I look at it differently. France's recent qualifiers are much worse than 4 years back. Much worse. The national team is in a transition and Domenech needs to be shown the door. They did what they needed to do to get through. Yes you can struggle to score in group stages but you cannot fluke every game and just happen to make the final. The Swiss were unlucky. They had a perfect defensive record but lacked scoring ability. At least France scored...maybe not often but they had goals in the opposition net. The Swiss entire strategy was based around Phillipe Senderos, their centre back. It sucked for them being eliminated in a shoot out but those are the rules. France had the points. They played well after the group pool.

As for Italy being deserving. If I'd been in a French jersey on the pitch blood would have been spilt. Cannavaro would have left the pitch on a stretcher. Gutless coward who was lucky in qualifying Nesta was there to hold his hand. Also lucky Buffon could cover his mistakes. Henry was taken out by him because every time he got the ball he could put it between Cannavaro's loose legs. Don't get me started on Gattuso and Materazzi. A term comes to mind. Prima donnas. They made Italians look bad. Pirlo was and still is their best player. Italy did what they needed to do to win. Penalty shootout proves jack $h1t. Make them come back in two days and play again. Every time that happens...there is always a winner.

 

[theyoungest]

Ruud is not going. Been official for about a week or more now. Good thing. A team needs more than a star striker on the wrong side of 30 who can only score inside the 18 yard box (my sister and her boyfriend say 9 yards but were being mean).

He's just not been invited for the first team training camp. Nothing's definitive yet. Although it's not likely he'll go.

 

[Galic Ho]

Im not as confident in the squad compared to Germany , i feel Viduka is a massive lost to the structure of the side , we dont have that big strong striker who can keep the ball and hold off Defenders . Viduka use to create space for our attacking midfielders and was a very skilful player in setting up chances for others .

Playing in Asia is one thing against alot of smaller quick sides where Viduka's presence didnt seem to be missed but when we will be playing top qaulity European sides i have a feeling we may struggle without his presence there.

In no way i am writing us off but in Germany i was very very confident we would progress , where as now i think its a toss of the coin between the three sides for second

PS Im glad we have drawn Germany first as this may be our best chance of a result against them .

Wrong on all counts.

Viduka is a dead weight. He played five club games last season on 60,000 pounds a week for Newcastle. He was as useful as c0ck flavoured lolly pop. Remember the Asian Championship that Iraq won were the Socceroos played with Graham Arnold as coach? Viduka was terrible and a waste of a player. Plus his ego got in the way. "Make me captain." Send him back to Croatia. Wait, we don't have to, he is already there. I won't even list the amount he pocketed so Newcastle could be rid of him. He extorted quite a sum. Honourable people would have left freely of their own will after contributing nothing to a relegated team. Not Viduka. He is the Aussie Van Nistelroy, only he is a douchebag and not nearly half as talented. Viduka stirs up dramas with the other try hard on the Socceroos. Lucas Neill.

We do not need a holding player like Viduka. We need strikers with midfielders who can get them the ball. We need a real strategy and the good news is we have the players to fill the roles the Socceroos need to progress in SA. Problem is Verbeek has not experimented with the players and roles needed to show some attacking flair. Simple fix is to stick Nicky Carle permanently on the left midfield and have Kewell and McDonald up front. Verbeek cannot even play the right people in the right positions. We are literally screwed.

Get yourself a backup team to cheer for, because barring a major stuff-up by another team, we aren't going very far.

Oh and I almost forgot. Germany have won their first round match in World Cups since before I was born. They don't lose. History is on their side and on over 90% of those occasions they won by at least two goals. Losing by 1 goal would be a good result and hopefully allow us to salvage something from the later two matches against the Serbs and Ghanans. Win against Germany? I don't see it happening.

 

[Galic Ho]

He's just not been invited for the first team training camp. Nothing's definitive yet. Although it's not likely he'll go.

Yeah I know. I saw the training camp press release a week back. Also saw another one a few days later where the reporter speculated he wasn't going at all. Can't remember whether it was his choice or the teams. Article was on the DailyTelegraph.com.au website. They know next to nothing about football. Rugby League is their specialty. Their football expert is a moron. Worse, he was once a Socceroo and still knows very little about the finer aspects of the game. Did not bother to check the SBS WorldGame website to confirm. They on the other hand, know their stuff.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

considering his move to hamburg was to increase his chances of first team football to make the world cup, I'm guessing it wasn't his

And yes we all saw the press release when it came out.

Regarding Australia's group: I can see serbia taking 1st place.

 

[craig1985]

Yeah I know. I saw the training camp press release a week back. Also saw another one a few days later where the reporter speculated he wasn't going at all. Can't remember whether it was his choice or the teams. Article was on the DailyTelegraph.com.au website. They know next to nothing about football. Rugby League is their specialty. Their football expert is a moron. Worse, he was once a Socceroo and still knows very little about the finer aspects of the game. Did not bother to check the SBS WorldGame website to confirm. They on the other hand, know their stuff.

Is it Craig Foster? If somebody could smack that **** out, that person should get a medal IMO. Robbie Slater is another sack of fail, giving 24556325764 stories on his time in England and playing in Ligue 1 blah blah blah.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Is it Craig Foster? If somebody could smack that **** out, that person should get a medal IMO. Robbie Slater is another sack of fail, giving 24556325764 stories on his time in England and playing in Ligue 1 blah blah blah.

I'd like to slap Craig foster. He really grinds my gears.

 

[themissile147]

I think Spain will win the world cup. They have to much quality all over the park

 

[Galic Ho]

Is it Craig Foster? If somebody could smack that **** out, that person should get a medal IMO. Robbie Slater is another sack of fail, giving 24556325764 stories on his time in England and playing in Ligue 1 blah blah blah.

I'll ignore the Foster talk. He knows his stuff. FFA should take some of the SBS guys advice down. The DailyTelegraph guy is Robbie Slater. He is a sack of fail. He cannot even make an accurate or meaningful call on the A League. My dog knows more about the round ball game than he does. Robbie Slater is still involved in a long going slinging match with
the SBS boys. SBS were critical of his old pal Graham Arnold and Robbie couldn't understand by Fozzie would suggest Arnold should vacate his post.

I pray that once Verbeek goes, Arnold is shown the door as well.

As for the Van Nistelroy article. Correction. Saw the first report on the Dailytelegraph site where they said he was not in the training squad and the later report that he was out for good on 7 News. Not that I trust 7 news.

 

[craig1985]

Don't know if you have Austar/Foxtel Galic, and therefore ESPN, but I can't stand Tommy Smyth. Jesus H Christ he is annoying.

 

[Sydney Sider]

Yeah I know. I saw the training camp press release a week back. Also saw another one a few days later where the reporter speculated he wasn't going at all. Can't remember whether it was his choice or the teams. Article was on the DailyTelegraph.com.au website. They know next to nothing about football. Rugby League is their specialty. Their football expert is a moron. Worse, he was once a Socceroo and still knows very little about the finer aspects of the game. Did not bother to check the SBS WorldGame website to confirm. They on the other hand, know their stuff.

Didnt your mum and dad cuddle you enough as a child , where are the positive thoughts , is there anyone you are a fan of.

 

[Sydney Sider]

Don't know if you have Austar/Foxtel Galic, and therefore ESPN, but I can't stand Tommy Smyth. Jesus H Christ he is annoying.

Martin Tyler still the best IMHO.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Don't know if you have Austar/Foxtel Galic, and therefore ESPN, but I can't stand Tommy Smyth. Jesus H Christ he is annoying.

ahaha. worst commentator alive. He is so inconsistent with his bs.
soccernet is frustrating to watch him blabber on.

 

[sportzchick]

I'll ignore the Foster talk. He knows his stuff. FFA should take some of the SBS guys advice down. The DailyTelegraph guy is Robbie Slater. He is a sack of fail. He cannot even make an accurate or meaningful call on the A League. My dog knows more about the round ball game than he does. Robbie Slater is still involved in a long going slinging match with
the SBS boys. SBS were critical of his old pal Graham Arnold and Robbie couldn't understand by Fozzie would suggest Arnold should vacate his post.

I pray that once Verbeek goes, Arnold is shown the door as well.

As for the Van Nistelroy article. Correction. Saw the first report on the Dailytelegraph site where they said he was not in the training squad and the later report that he was out for good on 7 News. Not that I trust 7 news.

Arnie is going to be coach of CCM so it begs the question what will happen with our coaching structure come post SA

And what grinds my gears is the Craig Foster bashing - id take him over 90% Aussie commentator/analysits any day of the week! I agree with u there Galic