Aussies vs. Croatia/Brazil vs. Japan
I reckon that Brazil will stink it up again today with little to accomplish from this match with the guileless Japanese, so I'll be watching the Aussies who can book their place in the next round with a simple draw against Croatia. Added interest here comes from the Croatian ancestry of several Oz players including big Mark Viduka. Feel free to blog away on either or both matches as the ESPN folks are leaving no mystery as to the results in both games.
posted by gatorbob @ 2:59 PM
71 Comments:
Gus Hiddink has started with an unusual 3-5-3 formation. It'll probably revert to five at the back in the second half, but this'll be interesting to see.
Rats, the Aussies are losing after a couple of minutes.
I really want them to win.
I see Schwarzer has been dropped. Wonder why?
Great looking free kick
GOAL: 1-0 Croatia; Chipperfield gives us a free kick in a dangerous position and Srna polishes off the free kick. Hiddink's 3-4-3 gamble hasn't paid off. I've chosen the right match for sure. This could get lively.
Come on, you Socceroos. Oggie, oggie, oggie - oi, oi, oi!
Yeah, I don't understand the reason for dropping Schwarzer.
Oh dear, Graham Poll's going to make this a long day. Viduka's just gone down after being blatantly held but get's nothing from Poll.
now, that was a penalty
Yeah, definite penalty. These refs are really wretched this time. It makes me feel less than sanguine about England's chances in the tight games to come.
This is Graham Poll... it is supposed to wacko foriegners that are hopeless
Brazil are losing
You're having a laugh, aren't you Sir Trev? I can't believe even FIFA are that thick. At least we didn't finish 32nd this time. It looks as if the Serbs have won the wooden spoon this time.
Unbelievable - I can't believe Brazil are this bad. This will have the Argies laughing.
handball... penalty
Finally Graham Poll has seen right to award the Aussies a penalty. It's been a scrum in the penalty box all day.
Craig Moore slots home - an odd choice for the spot kick but they all count.
1-1!
goal... a center back from Newcastle takes the kick?
I mean that is like having Nocito and Menditto on the field and having Dahlgren taking the pk!!!
who'd a thunked it... a Magpie scores in the world cup and it isn't Michael Owen
Ronaldo just scored
Actually, I reckon having a solid defender take the pen was a stroke of genius. I can only imagine the kind of wildly imaginative miss the Harry Kewell would have conjured up in his current state of mind.
Half-time: 1-1 in both matches. If these results hold up, it's Brazil against Ghana and the Aussies vs. Italy. Interesting match-ups and it saves the big boy match-ups for later in the competition.
Did I even get a smile with that last comment? I was laughing when I typed it.
I get nothing from you and Sir Trev must have had his nose pointed to the air after his Knighthood.
What the comment about Fat Ron scoring? I suppose it is amusing to imagine him moving his lardass quickly enough to score, but really....
you're funny...
lookin
you know what has struck me about this world cup?
There have been so many times that the cross hasn't beaten the first man. Why is that?
what a howler
GOAL: 2-1; What a clanger! Kovacs shoots and Kovacs bobbles it in.
It is only me that smells a Croatian plot involved in this match? That's the second one the keeper's been at fault for.
Now Brazil are two-one up. A free kick from that Juninho bloke from Lyons. About time he got a game.
Now, it looks as if Croatia might slip through. The Oz need a goal!
3-1 Brazil.
Brazil's second was a free kick it was just a blast
Who scored Brazil's second then?
You were right with the scorer
Ah, Juninho was the second and sounds like Ze Roberto scored the third.
I don't believe Kewel missed that
take off pace and place the bloody thing.
Then from the corner he dinks it and doesn't blast it.
It must be his Elland Road up bringing.
It wasn't in
Yes, Harry's had three or four that he should've scored now. Oz must score. I agree - the Croat keeper did well to keep that out. I do like the look of this Bresciano guy - he should've started rather than Emerton.
speaking of Blackburn. Did you see that Bellamy went to Liverpool
Handball - intentional - definite penalty. The second one that Poll's missed.
This one's a thrilla, Bruce!
Hey AZ; great match, eh? Let's go Socceroos!
Yeah, Dave. I'm not sure that's a good move for either Bellamy or 'Pool.
about time 'arry
Yes! Goal for Kewell 2-2; Finally - Harry only needs 8 or 9 chances to score.
Now, let's not sit back. Keep going forward
Ronaldo scored his 14 World Cup goal.
I don't like the idea of him being #1
Ronaldo's scored again. That puts him level with Gerd Muller as highest scorer ever in WC history.
Ronaldo scored his 14 World Cup goal.
I don't like the idea of him being #1
Kewell was offside
Kewell was offside
Yeah, I sort of feel the same way, Dave. He was amazing in '98 until the final, amazing again in 02 but he's a shadow of himself now.
Croatia down to ten... game over?
Way hay, Dario Srna's lost his mind and has been sent off for deigning to touch Mr. Poll. I'd have given him a kick arse for good measure.
I suppose the offside goal makes up for the two missed penalties?
What a chance!!!!
What is going on
Now Emerton off
Sorry, it seemed like Srna - but it was Simic in the end.
Aussies clear one off the line. Nudge in the back?
And now Brett Emerton's gotten a second yellow for intentional handball - he'd already been suspended for the next game. It's all happening, Bruce!
The Aussies are starting to lose it
are any americans still watching
Hey Mr. Snobby
Isn't that Simunic's second yellow? I could have sworn he was booked earlier in the half.
is the bulge in the onion bag man right.
Did he get a second yellow and is still on.
This is great
I think so. Graham Poll has totally lost this game.
Poll has blown it. He is going to in trouble for this
What will happen if Croatia score and he should be off.
VERY INTERESTING
Simunic is clearly on the three yellow card program.
"Credit to Croatia" (Tommy Smyth) - surely not; those guys are thugs.
Is that the end.
Poll is a disgrace.
He could of let that goal count
Yes! Simunic's finally gotten his third yellow card! Brilliant. And Graham Poll has blown up, I reckon, because he got fed up with having lost control.
Full-time 2-2 - Aussies move on.
GOOD GAME.
Off to work.
See you tomorrow
There are some fascinating matches coming up on Saturday and Sunday now:
Germany vs. Sweden
Holland vs. Portugal
Brazil vs. Ghana
Italy vs. Aussies
Of course it goes without saying that the England match is must watch stuff, but a lot of great games. Second round is always my favorite part of the WC.
Cheers, Dave.
Make sure that you do the time-honored Gooner Steve thing and ask the captain to announce scores as they go along, AZ.
That's not the first time that Poll has forgotten that he's booked someone before and let them stay on the pitch. But it's an instant trivia question now. Who's the only player to be sent off for three yellow cards. Hilarious.
Great fight back for the Aussies. Couldn't be happier for them.
I went back and watched the Brazil/Japan on tape last night and I'll tell you what, the second half performance was a bit tasty. Yeah, yeah, it was Japan, but still...
I think that by resting some players, Parreira actually stumbled upon a better side, replacing the crusty old defensively minded midfielders Emerson (he's only 30 but looks 80) and Ze Roberto with Gilberto and Juninho (not the bloke who played for Boro - he's Juninho Paulista), Robinho instead of the static Adriano up front and most impressively Cicinho for the ancient Cafu on the right side.
Let's hope Parreira doesn't twig when Brazil play us in the semis, eh?
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