World Cup 2006

[BCWWF]

Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Spain

My current semi-finalists. If Germany and Argentina meet in the second round, it will be a classic match. I remember a great one between Argentina and England in the first or second round in 98 I believe?

[BCWWF]

One thing that kind of sucks is that the upstart teams really aren't making as big of an impact this year. I mean the semifinals in 2002 was Germany, Brazil, South Korea and Turkey. That is the true World Cup.

Argentina and Brazil both have a good chance at making the semifinals, but it could very easily be an all-European group. I was disappointed to see Korea get knocked out and it was also disappointing that no African team's really stepped up. I would love to see Australia make a run, but starting out against Italy doesn't help. That being said, a win over Italy makes the semifinals in definate reach as both Ukraine and Switzerland are beatable.

[Loose Cannon]

Ghana sure stepped it up if you ask me

[BCWWF]

Yeah but now they have a first round opponent of Brazil without Essien, so as nice as their little run has been, it is basically over. The only kind-of darkhorse team that I can see making a run now in the second round would be Australia.

[Flair Wooo]

Argentina have already won it

[yianni]

Victoria in Australia is alot like America in that respect. No disrespect to those of you that watch Football and support it - it's just a shame the majority of your country has their heads stuck up their arses.

I agree wholeheartedly with this. It is just cringeworthy seeing all the undeserved anti-shit STILL being plastered everywhere. I won't go into it cos I did a detailed post on it in the "overrated sports" thread, but yeah very disappointing.

[treen007]

I'm gonna go on record and say Argentina vs Spain in the final. and it will be a glorious match.

[Flair Wooo]

England v Argentina will be the final

[toxic rooster]

You won't get past Portugal/Holland

[Rob]

England v Argentina will be the final

Get off the drugs kid.

[CSL]

<font color=white>Can't really see past Brazil vs. Argentina myself</font>

[toxic rooster]

I'm not sure, Brazil haven't convinced me yet.

Granted, they played us and Croatia and we both just stuck our whole teams behind the ball and closed down the spaces, making it impossible to do all their joga bonito. I guess it's all you can expect the weaker teams to do, make it hard for Brazil to attack.

But the fact is, the only reason we didn't get anything from them is because we didn't finish. Bresciano had a paddock which he ran into and never shot. Kewell missed an open goal. Viduka went inches over. Bresciano did as well.

They'll have either Spain or France in the next round. We couldn't punish them with our chances, but I'm not entirely convinced they'll be so lucky defending against an Henry or a Raul.

[yianni]

France are fucking shit. Brasil will eat France alive if they play them.

Spain I think they will choke again but if they played Brasil would give them a run for their money

[Flair Wooo]

You won't get past Portugal/Holland

We will beat portugal. Holland anyones game. we will beat brazil then lose to argentina.

[toxic rooster]

You do realise that none of those things will happen, right?

[Flair Wooo]

Get off the drugs kid.

Wish i had some :'(

[Flair Wooo]

You do realise that none of those things will happen, right?

What your saying we wont beat portugal? The best is yet to come for England. Write us off at your peril!

[toxic rooster]

OK.

You won't beat Portugal.

[yianni]

We will beat portugal. Holland anyones game. we will beat brazil then lose to argentina.


I've just died with laughter. You have got to be fucking kidding me. :o :o :o :lol:

[yianni]

Apparently the referee for the Australia-Italy game is the same one who did the Australia-Uruguay game in Sydney. To me he was ok, in other words a fuckload better than the other 3 useless fucking cunts we've had so far in the group stage.

[Flair Wooo]

we will get to the semis at least on pure english (gerraRd) passion.

Just put £120 on argentina first half second half :D COME ON YOU ARGIES!

[yianni]

we will get to the semis at least on pure english (gerraRd) passion.

:rofl:

[Rob]

It's good night for England if they make the quaters.

[Loose Cannon]

I'm going for the Portuguese the rest of the way. I want to see Figo and the rest of that Golden Generation that's left win it.

[Flair Wooo]

Everyone was saying that about liverpool when we won the champions league. But they forgot we had king steven fucking gerrard!

[ct2k]

I'm going for the Portuguese the rest of the way. I want to see Figo and the rest of that Golden Generation that's left win it.

I'm the exact opposite, i think generally Figo is thoroughly normal, when i saw the 'galactacos' the only two worth a shit were Zidane and Ronaldo (they were awesome being honest), Figo was lazy, probably weighed down by that massive schnozz on his face.

Also, Christiano Ronaldo is a smug little cunt who needs to be brought down a peg, i've not forgiven him for kicking Ashley Cole in the face in 2004 and laughed about it as he walked off.

[yianni]

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7050/pollyellow3fx.jpg

AHAHAHAHHAHAHA

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">Theres that rousing Mexican national anthem again. :love:</font>

[yianni]

How awol is it? I've said it before and I'll say it again - their fans are fucking wild.

[Flair Wooo]

Fuck off you mexican cunts!

[ct2k]

Yianni are you implying the Mexican fans are all drunk on tequila and chilli so hot it sends you into a spice fueled daze?

[Flair Wooo]

Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">Rafael Marquez 4tw

The fact i have him in my fantasy team is twice as good.</font>

[ct2k]

FUCKIN COME ON MEXICO!!!!1

[yianni]

Yianni are you implying the Mexican fans are all drunk on tequila and chilli so hot it sends you into a spice fueled daze?

No :|. I'm implying they are nutters who love their football.

1-0 indeed! Awolness has hit extreme levels. What a finish! Great start to the game.

[ct2k]

Yianni is such a racist, typical Piss drinking Criminal-grease ball:roll:

[yianni]

:roll:!

1-1! Awolness

[RoXer]

Tied up. Christ.

[Loose Cannon]

woah

1-1 already

[Flair Wooo]

YES!!! COME ON YOU ARGIE TWATS!

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">Well thats quite good, cos I like Argentina anyway.</font>

[yianni]

What a start to the game

[ct2k]

Fuckin Crespo tryin to claim it, motherfuckin fucksucker:rant:

[yianni]

Man you need to chill out and stop going wild on everyone.

[ct2k]

Nah i'm hyped man, in a fighting mood:D

[yianni]

:D

[BCWWF]

I am going to go with either Argentina or Germany vs. Spain in the finals, I'd rather see Argentina but I think Germany is playing so hot right now that they could pull through.

[BCWWF]

Argentina has had some opportunities to win this, but overall it doesn't look as good as it did in the first round.

[Team Sheep]

Seriously, backing Spain is not wise.

[Flair Wooo]

Argentina are shit

[Downunder]

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7050/pollyellow3fx.jpg

AHAHAHAHHAHAHA

:lol: :lol:

[packt up]

MAXI YOU FANTASTIC MOTHERFUCKER

Christ what a goal.

Flair Woo I don't want to call you retarded but your footballing statements seem to support this.

[Team Sheep]

England are going out today. Ecuador have rested 5 of thier players from the Germany game, apparently it's going to be the hottest day of the year in Germany today which will suit the Ecuadorians, and German fans have been driving past England's hotel all night beeping their horns, so the players have had no sleep. :rofl:

[Rob]

I'd be shocked if England lost. They have too much quality for Ecuador. Heat is just the excuse for when they do get knocked out. Well they can use it in the next round because they have no hope of beating Portugal or Holland.

[Team Sheep]

Well Ecuador beat Poland with a clean sheet (something England failed to do twice, even they though did win both games 2-1) got a clean sheet and a resounding 3-0 win over Costa Rica (not exactly tough opposition but an impressive win none the less), and in qualifying they beat Argentina 2-0, and Brazil 1-0.

I dunno, it's just the more I read in the paper, and see on television, the more I feel that everyone thinks that this is going to be a stroll in the park for England, not by a long shot if you ask me. I think England will, and probably should win, though if they do win comfortably I will take my hat off to them.

[The Mask]

im just expecting another really boring match tbh

[packt up]

BOREFEST seriously boring.

Wtf at people saying Carrick motm. Ashley Cole for me.

And I'll say it again but I love Aaron Lennon.

[packt up]

Oh yeah and ffs Frank Lampard is playing absolutely shite. CONSTANTLY SHITE

[ct2k]

Lampard has wasted pretty much every opportunity he's had in this tournament thus far, that first shot from the edge of the area in the first half is the best he's done so far, fucking shocking.

[RoXer]

Yeah how come every single time I watch that Lampard guy take a shot its always redicoudoouley off target?

[RoXer]

Also, I'm pretty pissed at myself. It didn't occur to me that Telemundo and Univision would be showing most of the games. :mad:

At least I get to watch it now though :love:

[RoXer]

It would be way sicker if Netherland's socks and shoes were orange with the blue shorts white shirts.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Also, I'm pretty pissed at myself. It didn't occur to me that Telemundo and Univision would be showing most of the games. :mad:

At least I get to watch it now though :love:
..What?

Every single game has been a national broadcast here in the States

[Rob]

England are shit. There's nothing much else to say. No tactics. Formation that the team can't play. Lampard now has 21 shots and no goals at this championship. Someone should tell him brothels are legal. Maybe he'll have half a chance of scoring. Ecuador didn't want to know once they lost the goal. BBC pundits can keep kidding themselves saying they are better than they are because they are in for a shock on Saturday big time.

If England win this World Cup, it would seriously be the biggest robbery in professional sports.

[RoXer]

I don't have cable.

[RoXer]

Whoa. Pushing and shoving going on.

[packt up]

Shit hot match.

I.e its a brawl and therfore quite funny.

[RoXer]

15 yellows 3 reds



and counting

[packt up]

LMAO funniest ref ever.

By funniest I mean worst and most card happy.

If I were a fan of either team I would be so pissed off but its funnier than watching England.

[McLegend]

lol this game is out of control.

[RoXer]

These guys on Univision are great. !!RICCCCCCCCCCCCCCCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">Jesus this refereeing is a farce.

Pierluigi Collina must be turning over in his grave.</font>

[packt up]

He's not dead RBF fucks sake.

He graces car ads don't you know.

[packt up]

You know what that game needed.

More cards.

Oh wait Gio got sent off. Now its jussssssssssssst right.

[OssMan]

Holland :wavesad:

good luck to Portugal winning with like 9 guys though

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">I meant grave in a metaphorical sense since he has retired now :'( He's as good as dead.

Poor Gio, he is the man.</font>

[The Miz]

So did Ronaldo and van Nistelrooy fight again or what?

[OssMan]

Van Nistelrooy didn't even play

[Rob Ban Fan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4999648.stm

<b>Despite the clampdown, Hackett does not expect the new guidelines to lead to a spate of red and yellow cards</b> because of the way the new instructions have been handled.

"There will be very tight control as to how referees operate. Fifa has gone down the eight areas of concern route so that players fully understand what is expected of them," explained Hackett.

:rofl:

[ct2k]

Father Jack Hackett by any chance?

[The Mask]

Someone should tell him brothels are legal. Maybe he'll have half a chance of scoring.

booooooo

[Flair Wooo]

England are shit. There's nothing much else to say. No tactics. Formation that the team can't play. Lampard now has 21 shots and no goals at this championship. Someone should tell him brothels are legal. Maybe he'll have half a chance of scoring. Ecuador didn't want to know once they lost the goal. BBC pundits can keep kidding themselves saying they are better than they are because they are in for a shock on Saturday big time.

If England win this World Cup, it would seriously be the biggest robbery in professional sports.

If i wasn't english i would be laughing my ass off right now.

[Flair Wooo]

MAXI YOU FANTASTIC MOTHERFUCKER

Christ what a goal.

Flair Woo I don't want to call you retarded but your footballing statements seem to support this.


i know more about football than you know about life son.

Just passionate about england tis all

[Downunder]

If i wasn't english i would be laughing my ass off right now.

Rob says he's Scottish (but he won't live there) so you can laugh away.


Australia > Scotland

[toxic rooster]

Wooo! Flair Wooo!, you're an idiot.

[treen007]

I am supporting england, and am english living in america. (sigh) but England wont win this world cup I'm sad to say. Crouch is shite, owen was never fit, lampard and gerrard keep skying the ball. beckham is overrated as all he can do is set pieces (be that do them very well). And overall none of them can play together as a team. so Argentina vs Spain it will be. with Germany my dark horse pick.

on a side note, I was happy to see C. Ronaldo crying once again. he's such a little bitch.

[treen007]

btw, has anyone noticed how many ex-Leeds players are in this world cup. Ferdinand, Kewell, Viduka, Aaron Lennon, Paul Robinson, Scott Carson, oh and one current one Eddie Lewis. Are there others I'm missing? I think I'll go shoot myself...

[packt up]

i know more about football than you know about life son.

Just passionate about england tis all

There's certainly nothing wrong with being passionate but being passionate doesn't mean that you should support in blind faith and go round ignoring the facts. I'm passionate about England too in that I want them to win but it doesn't mean that I think that they will win at the current rate.

You can even be passionate and optimistic if you so desire :y:

And I believe I'm older than you but maybe not :p

[Mr. Monday Morning]

England are shit. There's nothing much else to say. No tactics. Formation that the team can't play. Lampard now has 21 shots and no goals at this championship. Someone should tell him brothels are legal. Maybe he'll have half a chance of scoring. Ecuador didn't want to know once they lost the goal. BBC pundits can keep kidding themselves saying they are better than they are because they are in for a shock on Saturday big time.

If England win this World Cup, it would seriously be the biggest robbery in professional sports.

You should listen to the Five Live commentary mate. They do a better job of ripping England than you ever could :p

[Rob]

You should listen to the Five Live commentary mate. They do a better job of ripping England than you ever could :p

I've been listening to the 5 live commentary during the BBC matches because I can't stand fucking Motson and Lawrenson. They aren't much better really. Thing is, I'm seriously saying all this as a neutral. You definately know when I'm just being a bitter jock :p

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Apparently record numbers are listening to anything but Motson, so hopefully someone somewhere at the BBC who doesn't have their head up their own ass (or more to the point, isn't swanning it in Germany off the licence fee) is paying attention.

[Cactus Sid]

Barry Davies :'(

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">I dunno who it was doing the commentary on the Holland game, it sounded like David Pleat but i dunno, he said something that made me crease up. Just when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink came on, he was like "well lets hope he doesn't get booked too, that'll waste another 5 or 10 minutes".

David Pleat is a cunt though. </font>

[Rob]

Apparently record numbers are listening to anything but Motson, so hopefully someone somewhere at the BBC who doesn't have their head up their own ass (or more to the point, isn't swanning it in Germany off the licence fee) is paying attention.

Ian Wright is in his own bubble and it's allowing everyone to see what a stupid cunt he really is.

Gary Linekar is getting right on my tits though. His constant stabs at Ronaldo being fat aren't funny. I'll show him something funny - Let's play a game of "show us your medals". Ronaldo has 2 World Cups, European Cups, La Ligas, World Player of the Year's, World Cup all time top goalscorer, etc.

What's that fanny from Leicester got? I mean aside from selling out his sons own illness to the papers to stop them publishing details of his many affairs. Filthy disgusting prick.

Budweiser adverters on ITV = Amusing.
BBC pundits doing those same gags and trying to make them funny = pathetic.

[toxic rooster]

I've come to the conclusion that I hate Brisbane football fans. This was made clear to me when I saw a bunch of plastic fans in Vodafone advertising garb walking the streets in Socceroos scarves yelling "AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE, OI OI OI", and there were people following them around yelling "GO AUSTRALIA, WOOO". Plastic bastards.

Much as I hate Sydney and Melbourne cunts, at least a few of them actually have an idea about how to be football fans. They're chest-beating arseholes, granted, but at least they support the team properly.

Sydney intersection at 7am Friday morning (when the Croatia game finished here)

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NXM7yOAV6LU"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NXM7yOAV6LU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

I'm watching the game at Troy's place w/2 mates and beer. How I miss the scenes after the WCQ :(.

Kewell and Emerton are both out tonight, I think what they'll do is push Culina back into defence and put Bresciano in the middle, which is good because Bresciano will get forward and run at the Italian defence.

This World Cup's been a huge success for us already. We've got nothing to lose tonight, against a team I fucking hate. I bet on Italy tonight, so either way I'll be very happy tonight. Come on Lucas Neill, just break Materazzi's leg farken.

Come on Aussie.

[ct2k]

TBH as far as Itv or BBC goes, i'm easy, i like Alan Hanson and Leonardo seeing as they both know what they're on about generally, Ian Wright is comedy, Linekar is not bad plus the ott fake tan is amusing, also Ray Stubbs is a legend, real nice fella too.

As far as ITV, well Logan is nice to look at but not exactly an expert, them having Shane Warne on there is what puts them below BBC for me, i mean Marcel Desailly is atleast a footballer, granted his bad English means he's pretty ineffective as an anlyst but Shane Warne? What the BEANS does he know about football? Fat Aussie Turd!

[toxic rooster]

Halftime and we haven't conceded yet. Schwarzer has made himself enormous in the Aussie goal, when he plays like this he inspires a lot more confidence than Kalac.

Loving this running battle between Cahill and Gattuso. I'm sure they are too. Italy have probably had the better of that half, they've definitely had more chances and they looked to be getting a lot of balls into Toni and Gilardino. They've been playing a lot more defensively than Brazil were, and that's made it hard for us to create chances.

We've been using Viduka's height a lot, when we've gone forward we've pumped a lot of high balls and diagonal balls, trying to exploit this formation they're playing. Bresciano's free kicks have been pinpoint so far, they'll be dangerous all day. Let's hope someone can just finish one of them.

Come on Aussie.

[ct2k]

MUSSINO SPOZZATA DE ITALIANO IL MOSTOVIENDENTE!


Roughly translated thats come on you fuckin Eyetalian cunts

[ct2k]

:-O RED CARD

[ct2k]

How the FUCK was that a red card?


Diving Australian minge:mad:

[Rob]

Wasn't a dive. Just wasn't a red card. Shame for the Italians though. They never dive, cheat or bitch.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Not to take away from the game going on or anything, but by God is Tim Cahill a whiny cunt.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">More shite refereeing.</font>

[Rob]

Not to take away from the game going on or anything, but by God is Tim Cahill a whiny cunt.

I'd still have him in my team every week.

[ct2k]

Cahill = god

The rest of the Aussies are twats though, especially Mark Viduka

[Rob]

They aren't twats. Well, okay Harry Kewell is.

[ct2k]

Nah they're not actual vaginas but yknow, call it a petname

[Rob]

They'll turn Italy over in extra time.

[ct2k]

Yeah i reckon they could well do, Bresciano's not gonna keep missing forever, unlike Frank Lampard

[Rob]

Fatty Lampy probably has more chance that this fanny Totti though.

[ct2k]

I've hated Totti ever since the spitting incident.

They need to keep Toni on when they can, he's missed so far but he's hardly been skying it, get him the opportunities and he'll put them away more often than not.

[ct2k]

PENALTOY!!!

[Rob]

filthy fucking wops

[Rob]

They got robbed

[ct2k]

Well...I'm not entirely happy with that, much as i've had a go at them, Australia deserved to go through, fuckin Totti scoring the winner too, on another dubious decision:n:

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">Sorry about that Aussies, that is fucking harsh.

But Lucas Neill is the biggest cunt ever.</font>

[Rob]

Nothing dubious about it. It was a blatant dive.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Harsh beyond words.

[ct2k]

I wouldn't say he dived tbh, he just fell over him, either way it wasn't a foul imo so it shouldn'tve been a penalty.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

<font color="#ff6600">Sorry about that Aussies, that is fucking harsh.

But Lucas Neill is the biggest cunt ever.</font>

Can we stop with this 'Lucas Neill to Barcelona' bollocks now then?

[Loose Cannon]

and it had to be Totti. dammit

[toxic rooster]

So this is what it's like.

Gutted. Though I guess it makes it slightly easier than being thumped 8-0 by someone. I bet on Italy to try and 'soften the blow', and made quite a sizeable amount too. Doesn't help though, and I guess it shouldn't.

Very proud of the boys. They've made a very good account of themselves and Australia over there. We're on the map now, and next year we're in the Asian Cup. A few of the boys are staying on after the World Cup to play in that, and judging by the game against Japan it's a very good chance for Australia to finally get some silverware. It'll just be interesting to see how Australia sustains the positive steps they've made over this last year now that Hiddink's gone. Word is Houllier's coming in, let's hope to shit that doesn't happen.

Where's that Football Manager guy who wrote to Middlesbrough? Let's get that guy in, he had Henry and Raul at Doncaster :P

I guess that's what it took to beat Lucas Neill in this World Cup, a blatant dive and a shit penalty. Neeskens is on his way to Barcelona now, and word is he may take Neill with him, so big things ahead.

Not sure what he was thinking with the sendoff, whether it was for a 2-footed tackle or denying a goalscoring opportunity. It wasn't even a foul, Bresciano took it too far ahead of himself and it was always Buffon's ball, so unless it was for the 2-footed tackle it shouldn't have even been a foul.

If they were going to play so many aerial balls, I don't understand why Kennedy didn't come on. Cahill looked to be having trouble in the air today, he got booked for one aerial challenge and scooped a header that would have been a winner. Hindsight = 20/20 though.

Italy didn't convince me at all tonight. They shouldn't have advanced today, I can't see them getting far. Hope Switzerland put 9 past them, I fucking hate the boring, diving, dirty cunts.

I guess if there's any positives to come out of this, it's that all the plastics will jump off the bandwagon now. Gonna be good to go to the pub and not deal with the wankers yelling "OI OI OI".

That's it from me.

[yianni]

IF THAT REF DID THAT IN GREECE HE WOULD NOT GET OUT ALIVE - WHAT A FUCKING DOG CUNT TO PAY THAT PENALTY YOU FUCKING FILTHY FUCKING CUNT. COME ON CUNT I DARE YOU TO EVER FUCKING COME OUT HERE AGAIN AND DO ANOTHER GAME HERE CUNT COS I WILL FUCKING BELT YOU MYSELF ABSOLUTE FUCKING BULLSHIT FUCKING CUNT

FUCK OFF ITALY BIGGEST FUCKING BANDWAGON TRAITOR FUCKING CUNTS ON THIS PLANET GO GET FUCKED AND KEEP WHINGING YOU DISGUSTING FILTHY RACE OF PEASANTS

To lose to a fair penalty I can take but to lose to THAT, after the previous 3 DISGRACEFUL ref performances in the Japan, Brasil, Croatia games, fucking HELL what else do these poor cunts have to put up with. FUcking swear to fucking god that ref will die if he ever does another game here. Fucking just pray you're in Germany instead of Greece cos you would NOT have lived another day fucking cunt

[Kid Robb]

Shattered.

[yianni]

I'm sorry but that is just unacceptable. These referees are fucked in the head they have completely WRECKED this whole tournament. Fucks sake the referees in the state leagues here do a fucking better job than these peasant cunts. Fuck off all of you cunts and get Colina to referee every single international game then you wont have clueless FUCKWITS like the cunt that just wrecked our game. Fucking bullshit

[toxic rooster]

Are you cunts rioting down there?

[toxic rooster]

I'm sorry but that is


...FOZZIE :D

no rant tonight :(

[Kid Robb]

What angers me the most about it is that he was in perfect position. When you watch the replay, the Italian bloke took a step away from the ball to initiate contact with Neill, who was still on the ground. For the referee to not see that is simply unforgivable.

Be interesting to see FIFA's response to this decision, especially in light of the incorrect goal against Japan, the massive free kick against count against Brazil and the three card yellow against Croatia. Four Australian games where refereeing had a major impact.

Bet it wouldn't have happened if we were the US. What a pity our "market value" isn't high enough to warrant fair treatment.

[Kid Robb]

Are you cunts rioting down there?

I started trying to drink it off but I couldn't. Only got a few sips in and gave it away, the heart just wasn't in it.

[Joey Slugs]

Squadra Azzurra!

[toxic rooster]

I dunno, I'm taking strange comfort in the fact that we weren't beaten because we played poorly; we were beaten by a dud refereeing decision.

It made me $350 too. It was meant to 'soften the blow' but I dunno, I don't even want to take it now. I will though :o.

I've never been this gutted before, this is worse than 1997 and 2001. Welcome to world football, I suppose.

[Joey Slugs]

Bet it wouldn't have happened if we were the US. What a pity our "market value" isn't high enough to warrant fair treatment.

We were on the wrong end of a bullshit penalty as well. Don't think we got any better treatment.

[toxic rooster]

Squadra Azzurra!

No, you don't get to follow Italy.

You've had 2 teams, you don't get a third :mad:

[toxic rooster]

We were on the wrong end of a bullshit penalty as well. Don't think we got any better treatment.

Don't say 'we', you support like 18 teams.

Be specific.

[yianni]

I hope the Aussies go and smash Lygon Street. Fucking poulimenoi yiftoi cunts (sellout gypsies)

Go do your stories on "soccer shockers" you fucking media cunts I dont care anymore. At least you'll be off the bandwagon.

And Rob is right FIFA will do sweet fuck all. Go Ukraine/Switzerland DEMOROLISE the fucking poulimenoi cunts next stage, please just smash the fucking gypsies

[Kid Robb]

We were on the wrong end of a bullshit penalty as well. Don't think we got any better treatment.

Fair call, but I was more in reference to the US top 5 ranking despite having little to no talent.

The favourable decisions that FIFA grants out to certain nations has repeatedly not included Australia - from the qualification system to the supposed change to give Oceania a single place, to taking that away (leaving it still as the only region not to be represented automatically), to now four referee dramas in a row.

Perhaps if FIFA were genuinely interested in the Fair Play it preaches things would be different. Unfortunately Fair Play doesn't include certain nations.

[Joey Slugs]

Don't say 'we', you support like 18 teams.

Be specific.
Oh go fuck yourself man. I have ties to 3 teams and I will root for them as much as I want. I was born in America of Polish/Italian descent. I am also first generation American, so my roots to those countries are even closer.

So get off it and go rant about how bad the "Italian cunts" are.

[toxic rooster]

Why did it have to be Totti, the absolute epitome of everything that's bad about football? I hope someone breaks his leg in 12 different places.

It's OK, you won't go far at all. You'll be fodder for Switzerland and/or Brazil.

[yianni]

FIFA Fair Play? AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA if they were so fair play they would fucking change the qualifying system America 'qualifies' through and would have fucking restructured Asia/Oceania a LONG time ago. Fucking moronic cunts. FIFA Fair Play my fucking arse.

[Joey Slugs]

It's OK, you won't go far at all. You'll be fodder for Switzerland and/or Brazil.

That's just fine for me. If one of my teams cannot make it to the end, I'm still going to enjoy the matches.

[toxic rooster]

Between the 8 countries that qualified from North America and Asia, ONE of them made the Round of 16 and are now eliminated.

Of the 5 countries from South America and Oceania, only one of them DIDN'T make the round of 16.

As I've said before, it makes sense in footballing terms and geographically if Oceania played off against Asia and North America played off against South America. Fucking ridiculous system in place now. Ah well, they'll be forced to restructure Oceania/Asia next time round when Uruguay beats the Solomon Islands 32-0 in both legs.

[yianni]

Very well said Troyzalegend. Now get Sepp and his French fucking ponies to do something about it

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Australia were poor today and Italy were much the better side. Italy defended superbly and made the better chances, despite being down to ten men for almost half the game.

If the ref was favouring Italy then he had a strange way of showing it by sending off one of their defenders just for a clumsy tackle.

Lucas Neill shouldn't have went to ground. Grosso played on Neill's mistake, there's no reason why he should have stayed on his feet after Neill went to the floor in front of him and impeded his progress.

[yianni]

Ah get fucked. How you can say awarding the 'penalty' which literally decided the game is on the same level as a 50-50 red card is beyond me. One has the potential to influence the result of the game whilst the other DECIDES the game. For the record I thought it should not have been red, but you cannot sit there and tell me Italy would have won had they had 11 men on the park.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

They were far better than Australia. The Australians created absolutely nothing and their best chance was always going to be a set piece. The Italians carved the Australian defence open throughout the game and were let down only by poor finishing. Anyone who is fooled by the level of possession the Australians had obviously hasn't seen much of Italy over the years.

I expect Italy would have won with 11 men on. I expected them to win with 10. The manner of defeat was harsh but Australia can't pretend they gave that game their all or put any kind of real pressure on the Italians.

The lesson Australia should take from this is watch Fabio Cannavaro: that's a defender. He concentrates for 90 minutes. Lucas Neill had a great tournament, but one stupid mistake cost his team.

[toxic rooster]

Italy have done nothing to convince me they can get past Switzerland/Ukraine.

Penalty call aside, ECG is right. We didn't create enough chances to put them away. I said it a few pages ago, our finishing needs work if we're ever going to compete with these teams.

The amount of aerial balls that we played today, I'm mystified why Kennedy never got a run. If he had Cahill's free header, we'd be in a quarter-final.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Switzerland and Ukraine are both extremely average sides.

[toxic rooster]

That is a gauge of how unconvinced Italy have left me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v154/weegooner/betslip.jpg
Dirty, dirty money.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Italy can play better but whoever beats them will have their work cut out. Cannavaro is having an absolutely superb tournament. If Nesta were fully fit they'd probably be unbeatable.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

That Zambrotta isn't bad either

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Zambrotta is top class in any position they throw him in.

[toxic rooster]

Right, off to bed. Will pray to God one more time first that we don't end up with fucking Houllier.

Hey yianni, I've got August 16 and 17 free. You better be up for storming Sydney for the Asian Cup qualifier v Kuwait...u cunt

[ct2k]

Isn't it like 9am in Australia at the moment?:wtf:

[BCWWF]

Bet it wouldn't have happened if we were the US. What a pity our "market value" isn't high enough to warrant fair treatment.

What? The US had two red cards that were harsh, if not worse. Also, remember Ghana's go ahead goal? A 50/50 ball won by a 6'6" defender standing straight up warrants a PK? Then look back to 2002, the US outplayed Germany in that quarterfinal match and had a goal that was kept out of the goal by a blatant hand ball.

I'm not saying the US has it worse than anybody else, but to imply that the US is getting favors done for it is quite rediculous.

[McDoogle]

Italy has the best defence. They've had the the top 3 defensemen in the world for the last 3 or 4 world cups. Italy is solid and to say that Ukraine or the Swiss is a far better team is a joke. Do I expect Italy to cake walk over them? No, but I won't beat against them.

[McDoogle]

There are no easy teams anymore.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Right, off to bed. Will pray to God one more time first that we don't end up with fucking Houllier.

Houllier has a pretty cushy life at Lyon, no offence but I really don't see why he'd give that up to manage you lot, especially since Hiddink has basically set the standard by which future teams will be judged.

[Joey Slugs]

i :heart: shoot outs

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I don't think Italy will be overly worried if they watched Ukraine vs. Switzerland tonight.

[Rob]

I watched the highlights again and it's soooo not a penalty. If anything, it's an indirect free kick to Italy. He was already on the floor and Grosso ran into him. That's fucking obstruction. If that was my team, I'd want a penalty but it would definately be wishful thinking.

Materazzi shouldn't have been sent off though.

Rino Gattuso needs to sign for Manchester United immediately.

[Kid Robb]

What? The US had two red cards that were harsh, if not worse. Also, remember Ghana's go ahead goal? A 50/50 ball won by a 6'6" defender standing straight up warrants a PK? Then look back to 2002, the US outplayed Germany in that quarterfinal match and had a goal that was kept out of the goal by a blatant hand ball.

I'm not saying the US has it worse than anybody else, but to imply that the US is getting favors done for it is quite rediculous.

Read what I said higher up on this page. My US point relates to their favourable positioning in the rankings despite not beating anyone, not to any of their World Cup games.

This whole thing reeks of South Korea's run in 2002, when they got past Italy and Spain on questionable calls.

Certain countries get favourable calls at crucial times. We saw it in the last World Cup, and we're seeing it in this one. One bad game from a referee? Ok, you cop it, because it can happen. FOUR games in a row? Smells fucking fishy to me... It just fits the way FIFA has treated Australia for years.

It wasn't a penalty against Neill. There shouldn't have been a red card against the Matarazzi bloke, it was worth a yellow only.

One altered the games result, the other didn't.

[Rob]

You think you have it bad? Try following Scotland.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I watched the highlights again and it's soooo not a penalty. If anything, it's an indirect free kick to Italy. He was already on the floor and Grosso ran into him. That's fucking obstruction. If that was my team, I'd want a penalty but it would definately be wishful thinking.

Materazzi shouldn't have been sent off though.

Rino Gattuso needs to sign for Manchester United immediately.

It's not a typical penalty because Grosso effectively "won" it but in my opinion he's entitled to go over the challenge from Lucas Neill. He can stay on his feet and try to climb over Neill if he wants, but why should he? Neill has impeded his progress, maybe stopped a goal-scoring opportunity. It's not obstruction either, from the ref's point of view, because he trips Grosso up.

And anyway, my first impression was penalty. It looked dead cert at full speed and at the time which is all the ref has to go on. So less of the bias rubbish from the Aussies. Claiming conspiracies is pathetic. Get over yourselves.

[toxic rooster]

Houllier has a pretty cushy life at Lyon, no offence but I really don't see why he'd give that up to manage you lot, especially since Hiddink has basically set the standard by which future teams will be judged.

We won't get another Hiddink. Which is a shame, because the next step our national team makes needs to be forward rather than backward, and I don't know too many Aussie coaches around who've had experience coming down from a World Cup.

We need someone in who'll keep us moving forward ahead of the Asian Cup next year, which judging by the performance of the Asian teams in Germany is a fantastic, fantastic chance for Australia to finally win something. We should also have a much easier qualification for the next World Cup, so it's big things ahead for us. But who can we realistically get in to take us now?

What's Scolari doing after the world cup? :p

[El Capitano Gatisto]

An easier qualification? Fucking hell, how is that possible.

[toxic rooster]

Kid Robb is right though. I wouldn't go so far as to say conspiracy, but we've had an awful run with refereeing decisions. The thing is, until last night none of the questionable calls had actually cost us anything.

Against Japan, the ref missed a clear foul on Schwarzer which led to Japan's goal. We scored 3 late goals so that didn't end up costing us.

Against Brazil, Merk looked quite intimidated by the fact he was reffing Brazil. You could see he didn't want to give any of the 50-50s against them, which led to a ridiculous foul count in their favour. That didn't really cost us either, because we couldn't finish the chances we made so there's no point blaming the ref for that.

We all know what happened against Croatia, Poll just had a really bad day which isn't good enough in the World Cup. It didn't cost us because Kewell's equaliser from offside saved us, though if Croatia had won I'm sure we'd have been granted a replay.

The penalty is a moot point now, but the feeling over here is that we were eliminated by Italy, but not defeated by them.

What sucks now though is that tomorrow I'll be going into work, and my pseudo-Italian boss (who's lived in Brisbane her whole life) will be gloating like there's no tomorrow. That's one thing which annoys me about the ethnic communities we have here. Yes, follow your heritage, but if you were born here, you're Australian first. If you're gonna support Italy over Australia, fuck off and go live there :mad:

Troy out.

[toxic rooster]

An easier qualification? Fucking hell, how is that possible.

You tell me.

A group with Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait for 2 direct spots versus travelling nearly the whole world round to play a team like Uruguay twice in four days?

Group please.

You'll be comparing us to your qualification in Europe and you're right, both routes of qualification are easier than that, as Europe's is the hardest in the world to qualify from. But yes, qualifying through Asia will be much easier than through Oceania.

[BCWWF]

Don't the South American teams have to play like 3x as many games as the rest in qualifying?

[toxic rooster]

South American teams each played 18 games, not including Uruguay who played 20 including the playoff with us. The top 4 teams from the 10-team group qualified directly, and the 5th team (Uruguay) played off with us.

African teams each played 10 games. They had 5 groups, the winners from each qualified.

Asia had 2 group stages. Teams which made the second played 12 games in total. The top 2 from each group of the second group stage went through, with the 2 third placed teams playing off for the right to play-off against a North American team.

Europe had 8 groups, each winner went through and the 6 worst second-placed teams played off for the final 3 spots. They played 12 games each, plus 2 for the teams who played off.

North America's was epic. Teams played off to qualify for the first group stage, where every team played 6 games. The 2 best from each group went to a second group stage where each team played 10 games, top 3 went through and the 4th team (Trinidad and Tobago) played off against Bahrain (Asia) to go through.

Oceania had 2 group stages, Australia and New Zealand plus the 2 best teams from each of the first group went through (after playing 4 games each), each team played 5 games in the second group stage then the 2 best (Australia and Solomon Islands) played off for the right to play off against Uruguay (South America).

[toxic rooster]

Trinidad and Tobago played the most games in qualifying for the World Cup. The rest of the North American teams played as many as the South Americans.

[yianni]

Bollocks, you cunts don't understand what I'm saying. Yes Italy were the better team BUT you cannot tell me that they definately would have won with all 11 men on the park. Yes it was highly probable but never a certain fact.

As for qualification, I have been saying all along the play-offs we have had have been absolute shit and finally we are in a confederation that actually has a proper qualifying system. Now if we don't make it we have absolutely no excuses. And any cunt who says we have (in the past or currently with Asia) had it easier than America to qualify, has no fucking idea about football whatsoever. They have the EASIEST route EVER.

[Downunder]

http://members.iinet.net.au/~helgar1/images/frontpage_smh.jpg

[RoXer]

Hahahaha. Thats got to be fake right?

[treen007]

there goes my final prediction. I guess this means England has a chance. come on England!

[Joey Slugs]

Is all you fucking Aussies ever do is bitch? Fuck me. You lost. Get the fuck over it. You are worse than the French in '02. It's like a huge fucking scandal when things don't go your way.

The United States got fucked by bad calls in two games, and do you still hear us fucking complaining? No. Two bad calls against us... AND WE WERE A SHITTY TEAM. I can't even imagine the scene if you all lost to the "Yanks" and not the Italians in the fashion.

Jesus.

And we're the "sore losing assholes" of the world. Wow.

[RoXer]

I would say the referring in Aus's group is more questionable than the U.S.'s

[Joey Slugs]

I would say the referring in Aus's group is more questionable than the U.S.'s

Oh come on. Has anyone watched the fucking replays of the foul that set up the Italy win? Grosso played it smart. He saw a chance to make something happen after Neill dropped and impeded his path. Simple as that.

Not one person here would bitch if it was the other way around... no matter what team it was. If your team benefited from it... then fucking fair play.

But since it was the "dirty Italians" it's a fucking worldwide nightmare.

The Aussies should just be happy with how far they got. First time in 32 years and they made the round of 16. Be thankful for that.

[Kid Robb]

Not one person here would bitch if it was the other way around... no matter what team it was. If your team benefited from it... then fucking fair play.


Big difference - Australians don't dive.

Breciano might have added a few rolls when the Italian bloke got sent off, but he at least took the contact.

When you look at Australian sport as a whole its played hard but played fair. In Rugby or Aussie Rules that's fine because that's the nature of the sport. In soccer it became an issue when the Japanese staff publicised it heavily before the first match.

If an Australian player took a dive to win a penalty that got us through the media here would be all over it about how it was unsportsmanlike and all that. That's how the Australian media is and that's how Australians are in general. The only thing brought up would be that it would be a makeup for all the calls that went against us in the group games.

In any case, like others said, if you cop a bad call in one game, fair enough, you eat it. Four games in a row? Dodgy. The French press said it best, we should look forward to 2010 because we'll get the payback for this one, just like Italy has got there's for losing to South Korea in 02.

FIFA has said it wasn't a penalty and was a wrong call. What more do you fucking want than that?

[yianni]

Is all you fucking Aussies ever do is bitch? Fuck me. You lost. Get the fuck over it. You are worse than the French in '02. It's like a huge fucking scandal when things don't go your way.

The United States got fucked by bad calls in two games, and do you still hear us fucking complaining? No. Two bad calls against us... AND WE WERE A SHITTY TEAM. I can't even imagine the scene if you all lost to the "Yanks" and not the Italians in the fashion.

Jesus.

And we're the "sore losing assholes" of the world. Wow.

Fuck off, you cunts don't complain cos none of you give a fuck about the game. You got fucked in 2 games? Well we got fucked in 4. 2 bad calls against the USgAy? Try fucken like 50 for us. And we wouldn't cause an uproar if we lost to the Yanks cos we WOULDN'T lose cos we're not that shit. And Bruce Arena is a fuckwit arrogant loudmouth twat like 95% of wankers that come from Yankville

I'm over the loss but I'm not over the shitty fucking refereeing and that cunt who did the game is copping it if he ever steps foot down here.

[yianni]

Downunder I died when I saw that headline - ahahahhaha gold

[The Miz]

USgAy! USgAy! USgAy!

[Dave Youell]

OK here's my take as an impartial spectator.

It's well documented that the Italains play very defensivly and tend to go on the counter and win a high amount of penatlies, it's therefore the responsibilty of the Aussie ciach to make sure the players don't make any rash challenges in the box, as the Italians will try to get the penalty.

Rightly or wrongly that is how the Italians play, yes it's a dirty tactic, but there's nothing in place right now to stop it. So the the defender shouldn't of gone to ground so fast as the Italian was bound to take that chance, as would 'most' other teams.

And as far as Oz and USA go, both you guys have had waaay more sucess in world tournements and events that England, so don't start moaning to us about losing, football is only OZ's 5th favourite sport and the USA have god knows how many sports and event that surpass football. Football in England is basically a way of life for many many people and we haven't had anything close to a sucess in my generation, it's been 40 years since we've had any kind of world sucess, so if you're bitching about being knocked out of a world cup that you've only qualified once for in 30 years, how do you think we feel?

[toxic rooster]

The difference is, England has a talent pool capable of winning the World Cup, yet fall comically short every time due to their inept selections, manager and tactics.

Australia hasn't made it in 32 years because we didn't have our act together, simple as that. The game here has suffered years of neglect because our administrators didn't have a clue what they were doing. Fuck, even a year ago we still had bloody Farina as coach, and were scheduling pointless friendlies in Venezuela in the middle of Europe's club season.

Now look at us; we're in Asia, got to the last 16 in the world, a class manager (well, we did) and people know who we are now. The late Johnny Warren predicted the way forward for us was Asia years ago, it's only now that we've finally been successful in getting there. Christ, when the last lot was in charge they didn't even allow Australians to go scout the South American teams we might have played. We even went over to Montevideo with a 1-0 lead and Farina was saying we had to score. How things have changed.

That is why everyone here is so glad we made it to the Round of 16. Don't think for a second that because we're unhappy about the bullshit way we went out, that we're not immensely proud of everything the boys have done in Germany.

I can see how much we appear like cry-babies to everyone right now. Fact is, there isn't a team on Earth who'd be happy with the crap we've put up with in the last 3 weeks. Joey Slugs, I find it rich that you think we're only bitching because we lost. If it was the only bad call we'd had against us, then you may possibly have a case.

Try stepping in Australia's shoes for a second; we've endured 32 years of pain, heartache, diabolical administrations and sporadic bollockings from FIFA to get to Germany this month. Despite all this, we've finally had a team worthy of advancing from their group, and taking Italy to the 93rd minute.

And what do we get for our trouble? Four games on the world's biggest stage ruined by poor officiating. That's where our beef is, with the officials at the Cup. There's 2 separate issues here:

1. We've finally got a team worthy of being on the world stage, and we're proud of every last one of them. Including Kalac.

2. It's taken 32 years to get to the 4 games we've had in the last 3 weeks, and 4/4 have been ruined by the referee. That Totti penalty was the closest I've ever been to crying over a football match.

You foreigners seem to be misconstruing our beef with the ref as meaning we're not proud of our boys. They'll be coming home for a tickertape parade, and I'd be surprised if the Melbourne and/or Sydney's CBDs weren't completely shut down by them.

[yianni]

Straya has done the true supporters of the world game here proud, not the fuckwits who nobody has any time for. I have said it I dunno close to 5000 times and Kid Robb has heard me say it - all this time the problem has been QUALIFYING for the Cup. Once we're there we were always capable of causing some damage and pulling off awol results. I have been saying this for the best part of 6, 7 years now and I was right. Also what I predicted came true: Beat Japan, lose to Brasil, draw with Croatia with the Croatia game deciding which country progressed to the second round. For me like I said a few pages back all I wanted was for the lads to beat what the blokes in '74 did and that was achieved after the Japan game.

Anyway Asian Cup qualifiers to look forward to in a few months as well as Greece's Euro 2008 qualifiers :cool: the football just never ever stops. :cool:

[The Mackem]

Spain fall short again, every tournament without fail they look like they will do something. Just goes to show that you just have to do enough in the group stages because total dominance doesn't count for much in the knockouts.

Hard lines Australia. It looked like a very convincing penalty at the time and I think, personally, it just edges a penalty for me on reflection because of the stupidity of going to ground in the last minute. To be honest, if there wasn't an outcry about going out of the World Cup, it just wouldn't be football. Just watch the reaction of each knocked out team from here on in.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Against Japan, the ref missed a clear foul on Schwarzer which led to Japan's goal. We scored 3 late goals so that didn't end up costing us.

Bullshit, Schwarzer initiated the contact and fucked up, that was not a foul.

[yianni]

I'm still 50-50 on that decision to allow the Japanese goal vs Australia. However the ref was a fuckhead in other parts of the game.

[toxic rooster]

Doesn't matter. I've said it before, I'll say it again, attackers have no rights when it comes to keeper challenges. Just by being there, it's a foul 9 times out of 10. In my career, I've given up that foul at least 20 times.

The ref even admitted he was wrong, and apologised to Schwarzer afterwards.

[CSL]

<font color=white>Fuck that. Goalkeepers are over-protected.</font>

[yianni]

Gooner the reason why the ref admitted he made a mistake was because he heard rumours that I was on my way to Germany armed with nothing other than the knife my old man and grandpa use to cut the lamb (while its still cooking on the spit at Easter and Christmas). He shat his fucking dacks and tried to save himself. Lucky I couldn't be arsed going over there cos I'd rather waste my cash on grog

[Joey Slugs]

Now I pray that Totti, Buffon, Connavaro, & the rest win this whole thing....

[Joey Slugs]

Fuck off, you cunts don't complain cos none of you give a fuck about the game.

Trust me, there are plenty of soccer fans here and the number grows larger every year. It's the number one youth sport in America.

[Shaved Monkey]

If you're gonna support Italy over Australia, fuck off and go live there :mad:

Troy out.

I dunno man, I support Italy and I live in Canada. But then again, I don't think any one pulls for the Canadian football team. :D

[OssMan]

Trust me, there are plenty of soccer fans here and the number grows larger every year. It's the number one youth sport in America.Yeah I played soccer when I was like 10 and I don't give a crap about the USA team, I'd say most sports fans care about soccer around world cup time but they just root for whatever heritage they are

[Rob Ban Fan]

Bullshit, Schwarzer initiated the contact and fucked up, that was not a foul.

<font color="#ff6600">Yeah, i'll give you the other decisions but i'm still not having that one.

Schwarzer is a massive cunt, if he called for it and ran out at full force he would've flattened the striker, defender and anyone else in the way and claimed the ball.

To me it looked like he was caught in two minds about what to do, got stuck in an area where he couldn't claim the ball and it was going to dip over his head so stood there hoping he'd get the foul. He was hardly impeided by the striker and it would've been bollocks if it was disallowed.

Gooner, you're right that most of the time the keeper gets decisions like that but they're almost always wrong and as has been said, keepers get far too much protection.

If the ball is loose then strikers have as much right to go for it as the keeper does, so long as he goes for it fairly. Far too often keepers try to claim the ball, jump into a striker, lose it and get saved by the ref giving them a foul.</font>

[Rob]

Bullshit, Schwarzer initiated the contact and fucked up, that was not a foul.

If he was fouled then the Australian defenders fouled the Jap first so it's a penalty. Either way the Aussies got what they deserved there.

As for the Italy match, no fucking way it's a penalty. If you run into someone it's fucking obstruction. That simple. If that's a foul then when players are injured and lying on the pitch, you might as well run into them for a free kick.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Big difference - Australians don't dive.

Breciano might have added a few rolls when the Italian bloke got sent off, but he at least took the contact.

When you look at Australian sport as a whole its played hard but played fair. In Rugby or Aussie Rules that's fine because that's the nature of the sport. In soccer it became an issue when the Japanese staff publicised it heavily before the first match.

If an Australian player took a dive to win a penalty that got us through the media here would be all over it about how it was unsportsmanlike and all that. That's how the Australian media is and that's how Australians are in general. The only thing brought up would be that it would be a makeup for all the calls that went against us in the group games.

In any case, like others said, if you cop a bad call in one game, fair enough, you eat it. Four games in a row? Dodgy. The French press said it best, we should look forward to 2010 because we'll get the payback for this one, just like Italy has got there's for losing to South Korea in 02.

FIFA has said it wasn't a penalty and was a wrong call. What more do you fucking want than that?

Oh shut up. You're getting on my tits now. You have an easy route to the finals every fucking time, a couple of tough games against a mediocre South American or Asian team and you blew it constantly.

I'd give anything for Ireland's qualification to be solely down to that. It beats playing fucking France, Switzerland and Israel (or Portugal and Holland) all in the same group as well as trotting off to Eastern European hellholes to get knives thrown at our players. You had your chance and you blew it. A ten man Italy team and your players never looked like beating them because they just weren't good enough. They came up short.

Australian players all play in Europe and they know exactly how the game works. Plenty of them dive and plenty of them exaggerate contact to make sure they get free kicks.

Your goal to equalise against Croatia was offside. That's a game defining moment that went Australia's way.

What does FIFA know about football, as well?

[El Capitano Gatisto]

If he was fouled then the Australian defenders fouled the Jap first so it's a penalty. Either way the Aussies got what they deserved there.

As for the Italy match, no fucking way it's a penalty. If you run into someone it's fucking obstruction. That simple. If that's a foul then when players are injured and lying on the pitch, you might as well run into them for a free kick.

It's not obstruction if you are tripped.

[BCWWF]

It's weird to not watch any soccer today, the first time in what, two weeks?

Anyway, I was all for Spain and had big expectations that they would finally do something, maybe even beat Brazil. But as the game went on, I quickly switched allegiance to France. I didn't want to see Zidane go out like that and now I hope they put up a good fight against Brazil.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I fancy them to beat Brazil.

Most of the Spain squad has at least 2 World Cups to come. Many of them won't be at their peak for 6 or 7 years. This might do them good in the long run because they didn't really look strong enough to win it at any point. They played nice football but their defending was always a little loose.

[Rob]

It's not obstruction if you are tripped.

Your right. And he wasn't tripped so it's obstruction.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

He was tripped by Lucas Neill's outstretched body.

[yianni]

ECG I guess Kewell's offside goal against Croatia being allowed cancels out the 2 CLEAR handballs missed by the fuckwit Poll, which would have wrapped the game (and progression to the second round) up much earlier. :roll:

Also you have got to fucking be kidding me about our qualification. Yeah you try and have no internationals of any importance or difficulty for 3.5 years and then have to play against a South American team over 2 legs who has played over 18 internationals together and a match-hardened. Also having to travel over there and cop it from their fans. Some of the cunts in our squad probably played together for the first time in these play-offs over the years. :nono:

Now tell me how that is easier than America's bullshit qualifying system. They get in EVERY time and breeze it in. I'll give you the fact that Ireland have a difficult qualifying process but that's cos you're in Europe where every group has some level of difficulty. But at least you have half the games at home where you can try and press to get some points. And you can afford to drop points a few times and yet still qualify. Remember in 1997 Australia didn't lose a game in qualifying yet still didn't make it. :nono:

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Well it does, since you got the result and went through. Poll's performance was poor all round, it's hardly an anti-Australian thing a seems to be claimed. You're exaggerating grossly the role refereeing played in Australia's campaign.

You're an average team with a manager that knows how to get a team fit and organised. The quality wasn't there. Time to accept it. You had a big helping hand from the ref with the red card but couldn't capitalise.

I think the USA's system is a load of shit too. The entire American system should probably be brought together in some way and the places spread out between North, Central and South America.

The Australian team being under prepared in the past is their own fault. I don't have any sympathy. Germany haven't played a competitive game in 2 years and they're doing ok in this World Cup. Poor you, having to travel to a hostile away game.

Even if Ireland manage to fight to second in a group we have to play-off against someone. Like Turkey. If you think going to South America is your bad, you should try seeing your team out there.

On the one hand I understand it's good for the game to have the USA and Australia there, even if they have a bye to qualify. On the other I know Ireland are a better side than both and I'd be quite happy to be in a qualifying group with either. I don't know why the Australians should be just allowed to play in a new qualifying system. Fuck it, I want us to qualify through Asia too.

[toxic rooster]

It absolutely mystifies me when people complain that our qualifying route is easy. You know what the argument ALWAYS IS?

"It's easier than getting through Europe".

Well guess what? So is everybody else's. Europe has the hardest qualification route in the world, so if you're going to compain that ours was easy, you should also be complaining that the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador, Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, South Korea and Japan also have an easy route.

Out of interest, a total of two of those teams are still in the tournament.

Oceania's qualification route is a lot of things; unfair, bullshit, disgraceful etc, but far from easy. Easy compared to Europe, but definitely not compared to the 17 other teams gracing this year's tournament. It's the only confederation where a group stage won't get you through; if Oceania had been granted a direct spot as promised, you may have a case.

So basically, while the rest of the world is playing similarly poor teams for direct spots, we're doing it to travel nearly the whole world round and play South Americans twice in 4 days.

You're to sit here and tell me that resting our whole chances of qualification on one playoff every 4 years (which happen to be our only meaningful games, as Oceania has no meaningful international competition, and nobody of note wants to play us) is easier than a group stage with 2 direct spots and a playoff spot, pitted against the likes of Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait? Or playing for 3 spots and a playoff against the US, Mexico, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala and Panama?

Please. Easy indeed :roll:.

[yianni]

100% right Wee Gooner.

Thank fuck we're in Asia now ie a PROPER confederation with PROPER qualifying systems.

[BCWWF]

ECG makes a good point, especially in this World Cup, that the European competition is very strong and very deep. There is no denying it, seeing as though 6/8 and 10/16 of the final teams in the World Cup hail from Europe.

That being said, I think a lot of that is due in part to the World Cup being played in Europe and some unlucky qualifying stages. I know that 2002 was a pretty random World Cup, USA in the quarters, Korea and Turkey in the semis, but I do think that the playing field is evening out and that South Africa will be a lot more like Korea/Japan.

If you look at the way things worked out for some of the non-European teams, it has as much to do with bad luck as anything else. Mexico easily gets out of the group as expected, but then is paired against Argentina. That's an easy loss of one of the non-European teams. Then a team like Ivory Coast. Second in the African Cup of Nations but falls into the hardest group in the tournament. I won't say the USA, because they didn't play like a team that could have made the second round, but Ghana is the only underdog team to get through. I mean Ghana was supposed to be a threat, but they aren't supposed to beat the Czechs 2-0 and they weren't supposed to move on.

So Ghana is really the only team like that who caught a break in this World Cup. You can attribute that to various reasons, but I really think that it is bad luck more than anything that there is such a discrepency this year. On the international stage, I think that teams like Korea, Australia, Mexico and a handful of African teams can definately compete with some of the worlds finest. Note I didn't say they are the best in the World, but I would just be shocked if the next World Cup is so top-heavy with the European teams.

[Joey Slugs]

Where is the love guys?

Well.... Here's The Love! (http://floorgasm.blogspot.com/2006/06/world-cup-chicks-in-bodypaint.html)

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">I don't really wanna get into the debate about whether or not Australia's qualification is easy, but if the problem is you play 2 hard games in 4 years, why don't you just arrange some harder friendlies?

Most of your players are based in Europe so surely you could play some European teams in friendlies in Europe, I know you played a few at Craven Cottage but surely you could go to places like Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark and places like that for games against harder opposition.</font>

[Y2C]

OMG Altakiri quit to save Timor.

[Y2C]

lol read the story in the bottom right corner.

[yianni]

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/2896/italia8cx.jpg

:lol:

[toxic rooster]

The Australian team being under prepared in the past is their own fault. I don't have any sympathy. Germany haven't played a competitive game in 2 years and they're doing ok in this World Cup.

You see, this is a situation where a having a clue what the fuck you're on about would be handy. Comparing our preparation to Germany's is laughable. I'm sure we'd be much better prepared as well if we'd played in Euro 2004.

Much as you love to deride us because we were in a shit confederation, we don't control the teams we play against. We can only play what's put out there on the park in front of us. And if there's nobody to play meaningful games against in your own confederation, you're up shit creek.

Our only option for playing meaningful games has been to look outside Oceania, and that's like trying to get blood from a stone. Since the loss to Uruguay in 2001, we've played a bunch of friendlies and in a Confederations Cup. Apart from that, there's really not a lot more can be done from inside Oceania.

When was the last time Ireland played a meaningful game against a team outside of Europe? I'll hazard a guess here and say it was the 2002 World Cup, which proves my point rather well.

The problem is, clubs don't want to release their players for friendlies and the ones that do show up aren't bothered, so friendlies are generally farcical and achieve nothing.

That's not to say we haven't tried, we've played friendlies against England, Jamaica, Venezuela, Holland, Greece, Liechtenstein, South Africa, Iraq, Indonesia, Turkey, Ireland and New Zealand since the last World Cup. That's on top of the Confederations Cup where we played Argentina and Germany's B teams, and Tunisia.

In effect, apart from the Confederations Cup we've played friendlies against 5 half-decent teams; England, Holland, Greece, Turkey and Ireland. Of which only the Ireland (preparing for Euro 2004 qualifying) and Holland (preparing for the World Cup) games weren't completely farcical. England made 11 subs at halftime, Greece came out here for a holiday and so did Turkey.

So out of all that, we've managed to have 5 games even resembling meaningful, one was after we'd already qualified and another was over 2 years beforehand. Again, we can only play what's put in front of us; it's hardly our fault if the teams we play aren't bothered.

Let that be a lesson to you; know what you're on about before you start talking.

[yianni]

Owned.

[ct2k]

I think personally lambasting a team for their qualification route into anything is pointless, you can say it was an easy route or a tough route, but the team has no bearing on that when it comes down to it.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

You see, this is a situation where a having a clue what the fuck you're on about would be handy. Comparing our preparation to Germany's is laughable. I'm sure we'd be much better prepared as well if we'd played in Euro 2004.

Only about half of the German line-up this year is the same as Euro 2004. Most of the squad are newly capped youngsters and they have a new coach. Essentially their preparation has consisted of friendlies and the Confederations Cup. However, most of their players (like Australia) play in top European leagues and thus are perfectly match fit and used to big games.


Much as you love to deride us because we were in a shit confederation, we don't control the teams we play against. We can only play what's put out there on the park in front of us. And if there's nobody to play meaningful games against in your own confederation, you're up shit creek.

Our only option for playing meaningful games has been to look outside Oceania, and that's like trying to get blood from a stone. Since the loss to Uruguay in 2001, we've played a bunch of friendlies and in a Confederations Cup. Apart from that, there's really not a lot more can be done from inside Oceania.

When was the last time Ireland played a meaningful game against a team outside of Europe? I'll hazard a guess here and say it was the 2002 World Cup, which proves my point rather well.

I don't deride you for playing in a shit confederation, I get annoyed because for the past 10 years or so the Aussies have done nothing but whine because they haven't been handed an automatic place. Long before you even started following the game there has been rumblings and complaints about unfairness, about it coming down to a difficult couple of games when it's like that for fucking everyone.

You shouldn't hazard a guess that's wrong because then your whole assumption collapses. Since World Cup 2002 Ireland have played friendlies against Australia, Canada, Brazil, Nigeria, Jamaica, China and Chile (from what I remember) from outside the European confederation. International friendlies are meaningful if your team makes them so. Generally our friendlies are well-contested and genuinely used to try out players and systems.

If the Australian side and coaching staff fail to use international friendlies as a means to try out systems and players then that is their problem. It is their own fault for being under-prepared, just as it is Sven-Goran Eriksson's fault over a number of years he has failed to find the system to get the best out of his players.


The problem is, clubs don't want to release their players for friendlies and the ones that do show up aren't bothered, so friendlies are generally farcical and achieve nothing.

That's not to say we haven't tried, we've played friendlies against England, Jamaica, Venezuela, Holland, Greece, Liechtenstein, South Africa, Iraq, Indonesia, Turkey, Ireland and New Zealand since the last World Cup. That's on top of the Confederations Cup where we played Argentina and Germany's B teams, and Tunisia.

In effect, apart from the Confederations Cup we've played friendlies against 5 half-decent teams; England, Holland, Greece, Turkey and Ireland. Of which only the Ireland (preparing for Euro 2004 qualifying) and Holland (preparing for the World Cup) games weren't completely farcical. England made 11 subs at halftime, Greece came out here for a holiday and so did Turkey.

So out of all that, we've managed to have 5 games even resembling meaningful, one was after we'd already qualified and another was over 2 years beforehand. Again, we can only play what's put in front of us; it's hardly our fault if the teams we play aren't bothered.


Clubs don't have a choice. They have to release their players. If Australian footballers are of the mindset that they don't feel it's important to get together for friendlies, then that is also your own problem and your own fault.

The teams being not bothered is no excuse for your team not being arsed. Being under-prepared will always be the fault of your own coaching staff, not anyone else. Just so happens you got a coach this time whose preparation is second to none.


Let that be a lesson to you; know what you're on about before you start talking.

I know a lot more than you. It's 16 years since my team first qualified for a World Cup and made it to the quarter finals. I'd still have a handful of friendlies and a semi-tough play-off every time to qualify. I don't see why the Australians should be allowed to move because all their deserve at this point is to play for half a place.

[toxic rooster]

Noted.

No time for a detailed reply now, I'm leaving in 20 minutes. Will be sure to tell you to get fucked properly in a week's time.

Troy out.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<Font color="#ff6600">Like ECG said, clubs have to release players for internationals. I always thought the problem you had was more like the problem Wales gets, where a lot of your big players suddenly develop hamstring strains or stuff like that just before friendlies and recover just after.

In which case the players should be told that friendlies are equally important.
</font>

[Rob]

Don't pick them for the proper games then. Problem solved.

[Danny Electric]

I just thought I'd say that no one team has impressed me.

[Kid Robb]

Oh shut up. You're getting on my tits now. You have an easy route to the finals every fucking time, a couple of tough games against a mediocre South American or Asian team and you blew it constantly.

You stupid tit, I didn't even mention qualification! I was talking about the four games we played in the World Cup. Gooner has covered the qualification issue so I won't waste my time with it. It's irrelevent for us now because we're in a proper conference with a proper setup.

Australian players all play in Europe and they know exactly how the game works. Plenty of them dive and plenty of them exaggerate contact to make sure they get free kicks.

Exaggerate not create.

That's the difference between Bresciano and the Italian penalty. All soccer players exaggerate contact, it's part of the games. Referee job in that instance is to tell the difference between genuine contact and created contact.

Your goal to equalise against Croatia was offside. That's a game defining moment that went Australia's way.

Tackle against Viduka in the 5th minute? No penalty
Handball in the second half? No penalty
Questionable offsides for both goals against Brazil?
No call to Schwarzzer that the REFEREE admitted was wrong against Japan?

Balance of calls? Undoubtedly one way.

One referee is retiring from internationals because of his performance in a game we played.

Australia got a rough run, anyone that denies that if full of shit. Why? Because we're not recognised as a genuine footballing country yet. When we are we'll get those calls.

No one's claiming we didn't win the World Cup because we had calls go against us. The Italian call was disgraceful, and it robbed Australia from a chance at going through into the next round.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

You stupid tit, I didn't even mention qualification! I was talking about the four games we played in the World Cup. Gooner has covered the qualification issue so I won't waste my time with it. It's irrelevent for us now because we're in a proper conference with a proper setup.

I mentioned it because Australians whined for fucking years about it being unfair and then when they actually get to the World Cup you start whining about refereeing conspiracies. I have absolutely no goodwill for the Aussie team. Several of them are thugs and your two most talented players are fat lazy mercenary fuckers who have screwed over clubs for money in their time and there is this history of whining.


Exaggerate not create.

That's the difference between Bresciano and the Italian penalty. All soccer players exaggerate contact, it's part of the games. Referee job in that instance is to tell the difference between genuine contact and created contact.

Australian players were going down in the Italy game under no contact. Tim Cahill is an accomplished diver too.

Grosso took advantage of a stupid error by Lucas Neill. If a player on my team jumped over a challenge like that and ended up losing the ball because his progress was hindered, I'd be disappointed. So would you. Letting himself be tripped is fair enough.


Tackle against Viduka in the 5th minute? No penalty
Handball in the second half? No penalty
Questionable offsides for both goals against Brazil?
No call to Schwarzzer that the REFEREE admitted was wrong against Japan?

Balance of calls? Undoubtedly one way.

One referee is retiring from internationals because of his performance in a game we played.

Australia got a rough run, anyone that denies that if full of shit. Why? Because we're not recognised as a genuine footballing country yet. When we are we'll get those calls.

No one's claiming we didn't win the World Cup because we had calls go against us. The Italian call was disgraceful, and it robbed Australia from a chance at going through into the next round.

The "balance of calls" is even. Neither of Brazil's goals were offside. I don't think Schwarzer should have been given a free kick either.

You got a penalty against Croatia. You had one missed but you were given a goal that shouldn't have been. Italy also recieved a grossly harsh red card only minutes into the second half.

Are you still suggesting there is a refereeing conspiracy?

The refereeing hasn't been consistently good and has been bad at times, however it's not down to conspiracies. It's down to the magnitude of the occasion making refs more hesitant to make certain decisions and stupid FIFA directives telling referees to clamp down on anything and also the continuing nonsense of not allowing video help to be brought in for certain decisions.

What robbed Australia of a chance of going through to the next round was not being good enough to create chances against a 10 man Italy and your defence not being able to concentrate right until the end. You should be asking how Bresciano not only failed to cut out a long ball, but then how he allowed himself to be beaten so easily by Grosso (fouling him in the process) and asking why Lucas Neill decided to dive in when he didn't need to and expose himself to that decision.

Neill has no top level experience. You can be sure if he played for Barcelona he'd have to cut those stupid challenges (which he regularly does for Blackburn) out pretty quickly.

But he won't be playing for Barcelona.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Funny how Argentina had what looked like a decent penalty shout for handball like a minute after Klose scored but the German TV pictures didn't show one replay.

Hoping it goes to penalties as one of them needs to lose a shootout for a change.

[ct2k]

Yet again there have been some really poor refereeing decisions in this game. The challenge Mascherano was booked for in particular, it was a bog standard slide-tackle that was a fraction late, absolutely shocking that he got a yellow for it.

[OssMan]

stupid germany

[ct2k]

Well the Argies are out!

[BCWWF]

Holy shit, Lehman was just sick in the shoot out. Even that third shot that barely went in, Lehman read it perfectly. The shot of him before that last shot, jumping around and holding his arms up, then he completely read the shot and was basically waiting for it. Insane job by him.

[ct2k]

Good job by Lehman, though i never read too much into shootouts, as far as i'm concerned they're almost solely detirmined by luck, the guy shooting has to place the ball well and the goalie has to guess which way to dive, occasionally a guy might give it away by being completely unsubtle, but generally as i said, its all luck.

[BCWWF]

I don't know, I think you have to give Lehman his credit. I don't think it was a coincidence that he went the right way on every shot.

The god damn US media still hasn't gotten off the "How will Italy respond to allegations" storyline. It was the reason why the US was better than Italy going into that match and now it is on their backs as they go into the game against Ukraine. Seriously, stop making storylines and shut up.

[ct2k]

Yeah its silly but its the media for you. England managed to do well in 86 before we met Maradona's fist, and again in 1990 we got to the semi's, all at a time when our fans were pretty much considered the scum of the world, endless controversy and trouble.

Italy will be fine, if they get phased by anything its likely to be the German bandwagon, they're gonna be a tough nut to crack

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">Argentina clearly paid the price for not including D'Alessandro in their squad :shifty:</font>

[McDoogle]

Im offically renaming Gian Luigi Buffon to Brick Layer Buffon. He is the best in the world bar none.

[Joey Slugs]

Im offically renaming Gian Luigi Buffon to Brick Layer Buffon. He is the best in the world bar none.

:y: :y:

[ct2k]

Some would say Petr Cech is better

[Joey Slugs]

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/fifa/20060630/i/4179974470.jpg
LLLLLLLLLLUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

[McDoogle]

Some would say Petr Cech is better

Those some would be wrong.

[BCWWF]

ESPN would have you believe that Kasey Keller is better

[McDoogle]

That's because ESPN needs to take their heads out of their asses and realize as most American football fans do that their national team is garbage.

[McDoogle]

I was watching a show on TSN called Pardon the Interruption and they had an "ESPN Soccer Expert Analyst" and his reason why the Amercians performed poorly is not that they showed no effort or heart but that they had other things on their mind like a chance of a terrorist attack against the team so they couldn't focus. At that point I wanted to throw my converter at the TV set.

[diothoir]

LOL :$

Brad Friedel is pretty awesome, but he must have retired if he wasn't in goal for you.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Buffon is the best in the business but Cannavaro is something else. The guy is a monster of defending. A sheer beast.

Argentina were disappointing. Some idiotic tactical decisions from Pekerman fucked them over in a game they were pretty comfortable in and should have won.

I fancy Italy to do it. Their defence is just ridiculous, Totti is looking sharper, their midfield is strong, Zambrotta is immense and Toni has got a couple of goals under his belt.

[Kid Robb]

Are you still suggesting there is a refereeing conspiracy?


No, I'm suggesting we got a rougher run because we are not recognised as a footballing nation yet. The old favourites get protected when push comes to shove.

If you honestly believe the "balance of calls" was even in the four Australian games, fair play to you. I'll take the statistics and the views of the international footballing media experts ahead of your anti-Australianism every day of the week.

I might hate the American national team (only because Bruce Arena is a useless cunt), but I'm not going to say they didn't get a rough run in a couple of their games.

If you look at the four Australian games analytically you'd agree with the rest of the world in saying that we copped a rough run all up.

[Rob]

Buffon is the best in the business but Cannavaro is something else. The guy is a monster of defending. A sheer beast.

Argentina were disappointing. Some idiotic tactical decisions from Pekerman fucked them over in a game they were pretty comfortable in and should have won.

I fancy Italy to do it. Their defence is just ridiculous, Totti is looking sharper, their midfield is strong, Zambrotta is immense and Toni has got a couple of goals under his belt.

I know I praise him like nobody else but Gattuso has been nothing short of fucking phenominal in this tournament.

[Rob]

Bye Bye Rooney :rofl:

If it's for the kick in the nuts, he had to go (and I don't think it was).

If it's for the push, this ref is a joke.

[RoXer]

From every mounnnnntain side
LETTTTT FREEEDOM RIIINNNG

[RoXer]

LOL those people at that pub they keep showing are hilarious

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Bye Bye Rooney :rofl:

If it's for the kick in the nuts, he had to go (and I don't think it was).

If it's for the push, this ref is a joke.

That's gonna be a fun dressing room next season.

Ronaldo: Hi Wayne, Gary, Rio :cool:

Everyone else: :foc:

[RoXer]

At least Lampards shot wasnt 100 ft wide.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">Same old story :(

We finally had a good performance and it still comes down to having no luck at penalties.</font>

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Hargreaves was fucking IMMENSE, he deserves all the credit in the world.

Lampard can fuck off.

Oh, and the Portuguese are diving cheating scum etc etc. But they're scum who are good at penalties ;)