Australia v Croatia

[William of Walworth]

but ask yourself this;

Why is poll even at the world cup when we all know he's arse ?

Why was riley sent to the CL and international tournaments when he was 'fucking up' week after week ?

Theres a whole industry based around 'talking points' and the FA are more than happy to oblige it.

I'd hardly be advocating his being sent home and punished professionally at home, if I needed to ask those questions to myself!

Willing to bet every country has some really notorious referee. I'd agree we may not be seeing the worst of those at the WC, but so you think it's worse from England than anywhere else? Any other English refs anywhere near as bad?

If so, and even in Poll's case alone, blame the MEDIA more ...

 

[William of Walworth]

It was the Rugby tackle !

Oh shit yeah, was talking about that myself

All that incident, my memory went all Poll-like ...

 

[lighterthief]

Thought it was an excellent game, meself, two teams desperate for a result. Bring on the second round!

 

[astronaut]

What a load of rubbish!!!

If a team like Australia can get through to the last 16, the World Cup is diminished beyond repair.

They qualified playing against GIANTS of football Solomon Islands, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, and Vanuatu.

Fair enough, they beat Uruguay in a play-off, albeit in a penalty shoot-out. But that hardly rates them as a good team.

Now, in the World Cup itself, they go through by beating Japan, a lousy team by any standards, and barely managing a draw against Croatia, which is hardly the best team in the world either.

 

[Genghis Cohen]

I'd hardly be advocating his being sent home and punished professionally at home, if I needed to ask those questions to myself!

Willing to bet every country has some really notorious referee. I'd agree we may not be seeing the worst of those at the WC, but so you think it's worse from England than anywhere else? Any other English refs anywhere near as bad?

If so, and even in Poll's case alone, blame the MEDIA more ...

Oh doubtless, as you say, they just dont get rewarded with jollies to the world cup.

Depends what you mean by 'worse' doesnt it, in Italy it looks like all those last minute penalties and decisions in favour of major sides were as the result of corruption rather than feeding the machine, think there were investigations in Germany, in Spain the government helps out the 'big' club, but the standard of football is better so they can talk about that.

Riley, Rennie, Wiley, all hillariously 'bad.'

Martin Atkinson, theres another good one.

 

[pinkychukkles]

Fuckin 'great, enjoyed watching this match far more than watching Ing-er-land so far. Well pleased for my many Aussie mates, totally looking forward to Monday What they lack in abilty compared to England they sure as hell make up for determination and flooding forward.

 

[pinkychukkles]

Double post

 

[liquidlunch]

What a load of rubbish!!!

If a team like Australia can get through to the last 16, the World Cup is diminished beyond repair.

They qualified playing against GIANTS of football Solomon Islands, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, and Vanuatu.

Fair enough, they beat Uruguay in a play-off, albeit in a penalty shoot-out. But that hardly rates them as a good team.

Now, in the World Cup itself, they go through by beating Japan, a lousy team by any standards, and barely managing a draw against Croatia, which is hardly the best team in the world either.

Ah yes astronowt,you dont really like aussies do you?I remember reading your drivel about the Commonwealth games and bleating about all the medals we win etc.etc.
Now we have made it thru to the final 16 is there any credit from you?Is there fuck,just more shitcanning.
99 percent of the sportsfans give credit where its due but there will allways be one who is biased to the point of being stupid.If the cap fits....
Well done Aussie

 

[pinkychukkles]

What a load of rubbish!!!

Yeah, fark off go suck on a big one!

 

[mhendo]

What a load of rubbish!!!

If a team like Australia can get through to the last 16, the World Cup is diminished beyond repair.

They qualified playing against GIANTS of football Solomon Islands, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, and Vanuatu.

Fair enough, they beat Uruguay in a play-off, albeit in a penalty shoot-out. But that hardly rates them as a good team.

Now, in the World Cup itself, they go through by beating Japan, a lousy team by any standards, and barely managing a draw against Croatia, which is hardly the best team in the world either.

Just out of interest, how many decent performances would they have to produce in order for you to accept them as a reasonable entry?

They are currently ranked 43 in FIFA's world rankings. In order to get into the Cup, they beat Uruguay, ranked 22. Sure, it was on penalites, but that's how the game works.

In their group, they beat Japan (ranked 18) quite convincingly. Sure, sure, all of Australia's goals were scored in the last 8 minutes, but again, the game's not over until the final whistle is blown.

Then they played Brazil (ranked 1) and, despite losing 2-0, put up what just about every football commentator in the world has called a strong and credible effort. They took the game to the Brazilians on a number of occasions, and didn't make it easy for the world champs. Sure, Brazil is a class above Australia, and the result is what everyone expected, but that doesn't mean Australia doesn't deserve to be there.

Finally, they played Croatia (ranked 23), and, in my opinion, outplayed them fairly convincingly for much of the match and probably deserved to win. Had Australia not changed goalkeepers for this match, i think they would have won.

Not only that, but much of the commentary i've been hearing and reading about the team is very complimentary, with plenty of seasoned football experts saying how impressive the Socceroos have been throughout the tournament. And these commentators are not parochial Australians either; i get most of my World Cup news from UK and American websites, as well as from the official FIFA site.

I fully concede that, compared to many teams, the Aussies had a relatively easy run to get to the World Cup in the first place. But having to beat the fifth-ranked team in South America is still no easy task. Also, it seems to me that your reasoning is somewhat circular; you seem to believe that the Aussies are crap because they had an easy ride (Fiji, Tahiti, etc.), but then you also claim that Uruguay and Croatia and Japan are crap just because they couldn't beat the Aussies. My guess is that, if the Australians somehow manage to upset Italy on Monday, you would claim it's only because Italy is useless. Hell, if the Aussies made it all the way to the final and won the whole thing, it would probably only be because the rest of the world is so crap, right?

I'm a realistic guy, and i know there's very little chance they'll move beyond the round of 16. I also know that Australia isn't really a world power in football. But it seems to me that, while they lack the raw talent of countries like Brazil and Argentina and Germany and England, the Australian team makes the most of what they've got with hard work and teamwork.

If you feel the need to see their success as some barometer of the decline of world football, be my guest. To you, the Aussies advancing might smell like rubbish, but from here the only odour i can detect right now is sour grapes.

 

[Sunray]

I fully concede that, compared to many teams, the Aussies had a relatively easy run to get to the World Cup in the first place. But having to beat the fifth-ranked team in South America is still no easy task.

Sorry, but there are two teams in South America and then there is everybody else whos quality varies on a weekly basis.

 

[mhendo]

Sorry, but there are two teams in South America and then there is everybody else whos quality varies on a weekly basis.

Well, that incisive analysis certainly makes me reconsider my whole position on Australia in the World Cup.

Thanks for playing, though.

 

[William of Walworth]

Well, that incisive analysis certainly makes me reconsider my whole position on Australia in the World Cup.

Thanks for playing, though.

Ah comeon, he's only picking up your point about South America. Not saying anything else.

The rest of your post was fine -- all credit to em.

 

[Dirty Martini]

Well done, Australia.

Who cares how they qualified? They've got out of a potentially tricky group, played some good football through midfield. Everyone always overrates the Croats, but this was a performance of real guts and some technique. They'll scare the life out of the Italians.

 

[mhendo]

Ah comeon, he's only picking up your point about South America. Not saying anything else.

The rest of your post was fine -- all credit to em.

True enough, and i might have been a bit snarky, for which i apologize. Sorry Sunray.

But i also disagree with the implication that beating Uruguay is not significant, and with the suggestion that South America is not a very strong football continent outside of Brazil and Argentina. Sure, it's not Europe in terms of overall strength and consistency, but it's pretty good.

Look, the bottom line is that, if we selected the 32 World Cup teams based on their actual strength and FIFA rankings, the competition would look very different indeed. But everyone accepts that, in order to make it a true world event, the selection process allows in some teams that might not otherwise make it. Personally, i think that's a good thing, and not just because i'm an Australian. And if some lower-ranked teams take advantage of their opportunity and do well, i don't think that's sufficient reason to lament the decline of football as we know it.

 

[holden]

Well done Australia for showing real character and passion as well as ability. Reminded me of Irelands' glory days in Italia 90', along with the predictable patronising b***cks from the BBC commentators.

Good luck against the Italians, a pity that they won't be getting stuck into England instead!

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

I watched the Ghana US game, then this one. I don't watch much soccer.

I thought the Aust Croatia game looked like the better game. That Cahill guy looked like quite a good player.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

One question: how can the refs arbitrarily add time to the game like that?

 

[Yossarian]

It's stoppage time, to make up for time lost during the game due to injuries etc, added at the discrestion of the referee.

 

[mhendo]

One question: how can the refs arbitrarily add time to the game like that?

It's actually not arbitrary.

The length of the game is officially 90 minutes, with 45 minutes for each half.

During each half, there may be unscheduled stoppages in play. This happens most often for injuries, such as when a player goes down in a screaming heap and play is halted while he recovers or is stretchered off the ground. There can also be stoppages for other reasons, like the referee conferring with his line judges over a play, or giving a player a yellow card for time-wasting.

Each time one of these unscheduled stoppages occurs, the clock that you see on the screen continues to run, but the referee actually stops his watch. So, when the 45 minute mark arrives, the amount of time used up in stoppages during that half is added on.

According to the official FIFA Laws of the Game:

Allowance is made in either period for all time lost through:

• substitution(s);
  
• assessment of injury to players;
  
• removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment;
  
• wasting time;
  
• any other cause.
  
• The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.

For the complete rules, go here, scroll down a bit, and click on the part that says "English Laws of the Game 2006."

 

[Yossarian]

and barely managing a draw against Croatia, which is hardly the best team in the world either.

Third best team in the world in 1998! Well done to the Aussies, that was an excellent game and they've been very entertaining to watch this World Cup - I wish the reception on the telly in the pub I was in hadn't gone, so I could have seen the last five minutes...

 

[astronaut]

Ah yes astronowt,you dont really like aussies do you?I remember reading your drivel about the Commonwealth games and bleating about all the medals we win etc.etc.

That's right. I don't like arrogant, self-satisfied blowhards.

Now we have made it thru to the final 16 is there any credit from you?Is there fuck,just more shitcanning.
99 percent of the sportsfans give credit where its due but there will allways be one who is biased to the point of being stupid.If the cap fits....

I'm not the one who places sport on the highest pedestal possible, and views success at sport as tantamount to the greatest achievement in the universe.

When Aussies care more about playing the game than winning, then they'll get some respect from me.

Go BBQ your shrimp snowey.

 

[astronaut]

Just out of interest, how many decent performances would they have to produce in order for you to accept them as a reasonable entry?

If the Aussie public actually cared about football, then I might give them some credit. Actually, the average Aussie doesn't give a shit about football, and it is one of the least popular sports there.

Australian success has everything to do with:

1) Government funding -- I personally believe that the Aussie govt. has an ulterior motive in its very generous sponsorship of Aussie sport. Let's put it like this, Aussies were too pleased about their victory over Japan.

2) Sending Aussie players to Europe -- only 3 of the team actually plays in Australia, so Aussie success says more about UK/European football than it does about Aussie football.

They are currently ranked 43 in FIFA's world rankings. In order to get into the Cup, they beat Uruguay, ranked 22. Sure, it was on penalites, but that's how the game works.

Sure, and like I said, they deserve credit for it.

I fully concede that, compared to many teams, the Aussies had a relatively easy run to get to the World Cup in the first place. But having to beat the fifth-ranked team in South America is still no easy task. Also, it seems to me that your reasoning is somewhat circular; you seem to believe that the Aussies are crap because they had an easy ride (Fiji, Tahiti, etc.), but then you also claim that Uruguay and Croatia and Japan are crap just because they couldn't beat the Aussies. My guess is that, if the Australians somehow manage to upset Italy on Monday, you would claim it's only because Italy is useless. Hell, if the Aussies made it all the way to the final and won the whole thing, it would probably only be because the rest of the world is so crap, right?

Like I was saying to a friend yesterday afternoon, before the Aussie win, I have been very disappointed with the quality of this competition. I think it is the worst world cup for many years.

Part of the reason for that is that lousy teams are playing (Saudi, Korea, Japan, Australia, Angola, Costa Rica, Serbia & Montenegro, USA, Iran, Trinidad & Tobago, etc.).

That brings the quality of the game down -- a good team playing against a poor team doesn't try so hard.

Look at England for example. They played Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago, hardly the strongest teams around, and England played far far below what they are capable of. If they had been in a group with three strong teams, I bet the games would be better, and certainly more meaningful.

The whole group qualification system is flawed hopelessly, weighted towards countries without a strong football presence.

Just because its a "World" Cup doesn't mean a minor footballing nation should be present when a major footballing nation is absent.

I'm a realistic guy, and i know there's very little chance they'll move beyond the round of 16. I also know that Australia isn't really a world power in football. But it seems to me that, while they lack the raw talent of countries like Brazil and Argentina and Germany and England, the Australian team makes the most of what they've got with hard work and teamwork.

Government funding by a government obssessed with showing Australians to be racially superior. Based on personal experience, and speakig with many many Asian colleagues, Australia is one of the most racist places in the world. That is my feeling of the matter.

If you feel the need to see their success as some barometer of the decline of world football, be my guest. To you, the Aussies advancing might smell like rubbish, but from here the only odour i can detect right now is sour grapes.

I'm not from Croatia or Japan, if that's what you mean.

 

[Barking_Mad]

What a load of rubbish!!!

If a team like Australia can get through to the last 16, the World Cup is diminished beyond repair.

They qualified playing against GIANTS of football Solomon Islands, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, and Vanuatu.

Fair enough, they beat Uruguay in a play-off, albeit in a penalty shoot-out. But that hardly rates them as a good team.

Now, in the World Cup itself, they go through by beating Japan, a lousy team by any standards, and barely managing a draw against Croatia, which is hardly the best team in the world either.

You clearly know as little about football as you do about politics. ie nothing.

 

[mhendo]

If the Aussie public actually cared about football, then I might give them some credit. Actually, the average Aussie doesn't give a shit about football, and it is one of the least popular sports there.

Credit for what? You were talking about the Australian football team; what does the level of support for football in Australia have to do with whether or not they deserve their success, or whether or not "the World Cup is diminished beyond repair"?

Australian success has everything to do with:

1) Government funding -- I personally believe that the Aussie govt. has an ulterior motive in its very generous sponsorship of Aussie sport. Let's put it like this, Aussies were too pleased about their victory over Japan.

I won't deny the importance of government funding for Australian sport, and it is, in fact, something i've been critical of in the past myself. But your implication about racial supremacist motives are completely irrational and way out of tune with reality.

In fact, most Australian sports fans that i know take the most pleasure in beating pasty-faced countries like England and the United States in major sporting events.

Of course, if Australians look too little pleasure in the victory over Japan, you'd probably accuse them of being too dismissive and therefore racist.

2) Sending Aussie players to Europe -- only 3 of the team actually plays in Australia, so Aussie success says more about UK/European football than it does about Aussie football.

Having just checked the FIFA World Cup website, i can tell you that only three of the Brazilian squad play their professional football in Brazil. So fucking what?

The fact is that Europe has the strongest football competitions in the world, so it's completely logical that the best players gravitate towards Europe. It's where the money is, it's where the best competition is, it's where you go to prove yourself in football. It's exactly the same reason that the world's best baseball players--from Japan, Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, etc., etc.--move to the United States, and the world's best ice hockey players move to the US and Canada.

The World Cup--and most other international sporting events, for that matter--and exercises in and excuses for irrational nationalism. Criticise that if you like, but singling out Australia simply makes you look stupid.

Government funding by a government obssessed with showing Australians to be racially superior. Based on personal experience, and speakig with many many Asian colleagues, Australia is one of the most racist places in the world. That is my feeling of the matter.

I'm not denying the presence of racism in Australia, but i've encoutered just as much of it when living in the US, Canada, and the UK. Also, while it is possible to have a rational discussion about issues of race in Australian culture, you seem singularly incapable of it, content to parrot hearsay and pathetic generalizations that say more about you than about your alleged subject. And your attempt to connect it to government sponsorship of sport just demonstrates what a dribbling idiot you are.

I'm not from Croatia or Japan, if that's what you mean.

Actually, i was referring to your apparently pathological hatred for Australia, and the irrationality it seems to bring out in you.

Of course, it's possible that your idiocy is not caused specifically by references to Australia, and that you are, in fact, a drooling moron the rest of the time as well.

It may be that your critique of the World Cup qualifying system has some merit, but i prefer not to waste my time on trying to debate rationally with idiots. Argue with a fool long enough, and people might not be able to tell the difference; i'll bow out while you're the only one looking stupid.

 

[astronaut]

Of course, it's possible that your idiocy is not caused specifically by references to Australia, and that you are, in fact, a drooling moron the rest of the time as well.

It may be that your critique of the World Cup qualifying system has some merit, but i prefer not to waste my time on trying to debate rationally with idiots. Argue with a fool long enough, and people might not be able to tell the difference; i'll bow out while you're the only one looking stupid.

I really don't give a flying fuck if you think I'm an idiot/drooling moron/fool or not. You don't know me from Adam. I have my reasons for what I write. You have a problem with that? Tough shit.

 

[Flashman]

If the Aussie public actually cared about football, then I might give them some credit. Actually, the average Aussie doesn't give a shit about football, and it is one of the least popular sports there.

Turn it up, to use Aussie parlance.

Something in the vicinity of 2.5 million Australians tuned in to the match last night, which began at 5am in the east and 3am in the west, and on a weekday morning. The national population is only 20 million. Football is growing by the year, being played by many thousands, and this kind of success will only encourage them more. The World Cup is as much about these kind of success stories as it is about the likes of Argentina, Brazil or England.

Your comments to Snowy show you up for what you are, an ABA.

 

[LDR]

What a load of rubbish!!!

If a team like Australia can get through to the last 16, the World Cup is diminished beyond repair.

Why? They played well and deserved their win.

I thought it was a brilliant game. I only wish I could remember how and when I got to bed last night. I'm really feeling it this morning.

 

[Rollem]

astronaut, i think you perhaps dont fully undestand the ethos of the world cup

are you croatian?

 

[astronaut]

astronaut, i think you perhaps dont fully undestand the ethos of the world cup

The World Cup is a festival of football, and most countries seem to appreciate that. It should be about playing great football.

Some countries however seem to think the World Cup, or any sporting event, is about superiority. "We're there, therefore we're better than you."

I've argued about this before, and IMHO, Australians are the worst at this.

When the Aussies win at cricket or win a gold medal, they take it a certain way, they assume it has a certain meaning, an extreme arrogance, and that is entirely negative, IMHO. It takes the enjoyment out of the game.

I'm not Australian, I've been there many times, but I came there with a fairly objective outlook on the place, but was astonished at what I saw and heard - the racism, the arrogance, which I have suffered there myself, and the many Asians and Jews I know who have suffered it there.

Moreover, I'd like to see it being less inclusive, to give access to the best teams, not teams that had to beat Vanuatu to get in.

are you croatian?

No, neither am I Japanese or Brazilian or Italian.