World Cup 2006

[Y2C]

lol read the story in the bottom right corner.

[yianni]

[toxic rooster]

Originally Posted by El Capitano Gatisto 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]

Originally Posted by Wee Gooner 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.

Originally Posted by Wee Gooner 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.

Originally Posted by Wee Gooner 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.

Originally Posted by Wee Gooner 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]

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.

[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]

Originally Posted by El Capitano Gatisto 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.

Originally Posted by El Capitano Gatisto 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.

Originally Posted by El Capitano Gatisto 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]

Originally Posted by Kid Robb 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.

Originally Posted by Kid Robb 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.

Originally Posted by Kid Robb 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]

Argentina clearly paid the price for not including D'Alessandro in their squad

[McDoogle]

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

[Joey Slugs]

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

[ct2k]

Some would say Petr Cech is better

[Joey Slugs]

LLLLLLLLLLUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

[McDoogle]

Originally Posted by ct2k 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]

Originally Posted by El Capitano Gatisto 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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[Rob]

Bye Bye Rooney

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]

Originally Posted by Rob Bye Bye Rooney 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

Everyone else: :foc:

[RoXer]

At least Lampards shot wasnt 100 ft wide.

[Rob Ban Fan]

Same old story

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

[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