World Cup - Brazil 2014

[dedja]

3-0

^ what a dickhead

[PatowalongaPirate]

I liked Ange's comments about wanting to play exciting football. They were brave and didn't deserve to lose.

[nuggety goodness]

Spain are going home!!!!!!! Chile 1-0 up in the 20th minute

[nuggety goodness]

And now it's 2-0 to chile in the 43rd minute... Book your tickets home now boys!!!

[mighty_tiger_79]

Wowee

thats a big upset on the cards


hindsight is a wonderful thing but the first 15 mins v chile and missed opportunities v dutch look like being the difference between progressing and coming home.....

Even before the Spain game its fair to say that it has been a suprisingly good tourney for the socceroos

[LPH]

Taped the game - got up @ 4am to watch with the Boy before Swimming Training.
Fantastic performance, generally.
Cahill's Goal was sublime - best of the Tournament IMHO, defenders all around him & he absolutely cracked it.
Ryan is dodgy - hope its just inexperience but he struggles to read the play IMO, too often caught out of position & that was a pathetic effort to miss the 2nd Goal. Yet he manages to save a couple of others, so prepared to 'wait & see' - Asia Cup will tell us more about him, I think.
Cahill out for the Spain game means we will struggle to score - not just off his own boot but also his defensive work & the fact that he draws defenders.

I think a number of our player's managers will be getting calls from bigger Clubs over the next few weeks.
Lecke has had 2 fantastic games, Jadenek too has done well as Skipper.

How bad Spain?
Akin to France (as holders) in Korea/Japan 2002

[JK]

Wow Chile should have just gone 3-0 and sealed the deal - although it's hard to see the Spanish clawing back from here anyway, they're not handling their opponents or the cauldron

[Bully]

Spain on verge of being out

Wow chile is doing well .

Had an argument with someone as I said Spain will be no good in South America and they laughed at me , this was before the cup started I mean . Seems my prediction is true ...

[JK]

Spain on verge of being out

Wow chile is doing well .

Had an argument with someone as I said Spain will be no good in South America and they laughed at me , this was before the cup started I mean . Seems my prediction is true ...

Yeah I thought they'd struggle, although didn't think they'd fall at the Group stage.

They've been at the top for a long time, too many great players among strong countries for that to continue, they did well to remain so strong for so long.

[woodublieve12]

considering i thought we'd get beat 5-0... really good effort...

[Dogwatcher]

Great performance, but we need some class finishing.
If we get into position in the box, we can't afford not to score - we've got to take every opportunity.
We had two chances - first half, Wilkinson, I think, couldn't manufacture anything with space he had; then there was Leckie's chested attempt.
Leckie's had a fantastic tournament, I'm stoked for him, he just needs an extra touch of class.

Having said that, many people predicted we'd struggle to score in this tourney - well, thank goodness we proved them wrong.

Proud of the lads, but realistic.

Agree on Ryan and the Asian Cup. I think, however, that point will stand for the whole squad. We'll find out what they've learnt, how much they've improved and how good our future is going to be at that tournament.

[JK]

Yep Ryan's had a stinker today, hope he can learn from it because a world class keeper shouldn't have allowed the 1st and 3rd goals through - his defence also could have helped him for the first goal (and the 2nd for that matter by not playing RVP onside).

Croatia just smacked Cameroon 4-nil - Funny to say two Cameroon teammates have a heated discussion and a little headbutt near the end of the game

[whufc]

Got to say I have never been prouder of an Australian International sporting team as I am today. What an effort by a bunch of guys who were a class level below but punched above there weight.

Got a bit of spare time so going to do a review of each of the starting players and a couple of others, sorry to bore use

Matty Ryan- Was real good in the warm up game against Croatia but unfortunately it seems World Cup nerves may have got the better of him. You don't win a European league keeper of the year without having some serious talent. Unfortunatly for Ryan you cant have two shockers in a row when Mitch Langerak is waiting in the wings so he will probably lose his spot and will be relying on Langeraks form to get back in the side. These two though could be quality Aussie keepers for the next 5-10 years.

Wilkinson & Spiranovic- I will pair these two centre backs together. So far they have been brilliant, they have taken on 3 different style of strikers and have probably come out on top each time. Both are very tall and good in the air, look composed with the ball at feet and are very hard to breakdown. Kept arguably the worlds best striker to only one real scoring opportunity. Hopefully in time both can become more of an ariel threat at our set pieces forward, we need as many scoring avenues as possible.

Davison- The finger could be pointed at him for both the RVP goal and the goal against Croatia where twice now he has failed to push up and kept the opposing striker on side BUT imho he has so much upside, strong in the air, hard in the tackle, works hard and is very composed on the ball. Only young a with more experience I can see him being a crucial part of Australias back 4 for years to come.

McGowan- Considering he wasn't even a starter and then when he came on he had to play out of position he has done extremely well. Probably should have brought Robben down earlier and taken a yellow card for NED first goal. At times he sat abit far off his opponents while jockeying but much like the rest of the back 4 he seems very composed on the ball as well as putting in some nice crosses. Will probably lose his spot once Ryan Williams is fit but is definatly a player who could come in and play crucial roles

Jedinak- Second fav player (behind timmy like everyone else) Captain couragoues. ultimate team player, rock solid defensive midfielder. Players the highest standard out of all the Australian players. WIll lead the team to the next world cup, hopefully by then he could have added the ability to go forward. I can see him eventually being similar to a Yaye Toure still midfielder

Oar- Work rate is brilliant, heart is brilliant. If he can add some strength to his frame and the ability to get on the scoreboard he will become a superstar. Put in some very nice crosses (except almost the most crucial of our WC) Will probably be pushed out the side once Kruse is fit again.

Leckie- Thought his game against Croatia was awful (would have went at 10% efficiency) imho was lucky to hold his spot and then had an absolutely terrible defensive effort in the first half against Chile. AND THEN WOW, came out and just started taking the game on and kept running both ways. Ended up being our most dangerous player and always threatened when he got the ball. If he can add some polish to his game (still yet to get an assist or goal in these 3 games) despite getting into some very good positions he could become ANYTHING.

Bresciano & Cahill- Both despite losing pace and stamina still have enough class on the ball to hold their spots. Only difference between the two has been Cahill taking his quarter chances while Bresciano has blown his half chances. As Bosnich said on Cahill, (he may not be the most talented or 'best' player we have every produced but without doubt he is the greatest Socceroo in our history.)

Bozanik- Thought his touches when he came on were extremely classy. Looked very composed, strong on the ball and gave the simple options. Hopefully he is a potential replacement for Bresciano or at least pushes Tom Rogic to fulfil his talent to take the role.

McKay & Milligan- There ok but realistically there has to be some young players coming through who can look to play that similar role

Cant wait to the Asian Cup, the future is starting to look bright in Australian Football.

[NO-MERCY]

Great effort by the Aussies well done as i thought we would lose convincingly as did alot of australians.
I didn't agree with Tom Rehn on 5AA thismorning, he was quoted as saying if Eugene Galekovic was goalie it would of been a different result, meaning in the Aussies favour.
ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT.

[Dog_ger]

Every world cup we hear how good we play.

But we always lose.

Losing should not be accepted as playing well.

Get tougher guys.

[Bully]

This is apparently stalking C Ronaldo at the world cup

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/photos/andr ... 77105.html

[dedja]

Every world cup we hear how good we play.

But we always lose.

Losing should not be accepted as playing well.

Get tougher guys.

[smac]

Every world cup we hear how good we play.

But we always lose.

Losing should not be accepted as playing well.

Get tougher guys.

Once a loss is acceptable, you're a loser.

We can be happy with developing, but not with losing.

[nuggety goodness]

Columbia and Ivory Coast was a quality match. A lot of attacking and quite an open game. Finished 2-1 to Columbia.

Next up we have la Celeste V the poms in a do or die match, both teams must win to give themselves a decent chance, the loser will almost definately be going home

Tough one to call,

Vamo arriba la Celeste!

[Jim05]

Rooney hit the bar from 1m out