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Croatia Lineup

June 22nd, 2006 | By: Matt | 39 Comments »

While we know who our opponents will be fielding against us on Friday morning (Aus time), it remains unclear exactly what Hiddink’s tactics are coming into this crucial match. We know for certain that Tony Popovic won’t be taking part, and we pretty much know who will and won’t play, it is the starting lineup that keeps everyone guessing. Latest reports are suggesting we will play three at the back, meaning an all out attack in order to secure a preferred win instead of a draw. The back three consisting of Neill, Moore and Chipperfield. Emerton would come up into midfield, and would work alongside Grella and Culina in defensive/central roles. This would leave Bresciano, Sterjovski and Cahill in attacking roles with Viduka up front alone as we have usually seen him. I think it is highly unlikely Kewell will start, as Hiddink has preferred to use him as an impact type player. Having said that, whatever I have predicted and whatever was talked about before the game has always been altered by Hiddink come kickoff. Anyway, this is the lineup I predict we will start with.

Australia: Schwarzer, Moore, Neill, Chipperfield, Emerton, Culina, Grella, Bresciano, Sterjovski, Cahill, Viduka

Tags: Australia, Croatia

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 39 comments.

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By jegen | June 22nd, 2006 at 1:43 pm

good luck socceroos. let’s roast them. i hope we will discussing tactics against italy in a few days time. GO SOCCEROOS.

Posted from India

By Tom | June 22nd, 2006 at 2:23 pm

Worth every penny, Matt. No wonder he gets so excited during the games.

6 and a half hours to go now. I’ve realised that there is absolutely no chance of me getting any sleep tonight at all.

Posted from Australia

By Matt | June 22nd, 2006 at 3:20 pm

Yeah I am the same. Italy v Czech is on the cards before the game, so I am doing an all nighter.

I hate this waiting game, feels like a kid on Xmas eve.

Posted from Australia

By Martin | June 22nd, 2006 at 5:44 pm

I have not been a huge fan of Stejovksi but he had a solid game against Brazil.

I think your lineup Matt is pretty much on the money. I would keep Aloisi and Kennedy on the bench just in case we need goals.

If we get the win, what we need is no yellow cards to the 6 in question. Be a shame if this game was a yellow card affair and it affects team selection for the next round.

The WC is on the line - let them play. No silly cards.

Posted from United States

By Martin | June 22nd, 2006 at 5:48 pm

Getting very nervous now. Butterflies galore!

Taped the game so can’t watch it till get home from work and just pray no-one leaks the result. This makes the waiting even worse.

Posted from United States

By MattE | June 22nd, 2006 at 8:18 pm

Kalac in…..

and Kewell up front, according to BBC.

c’arn boys.

Posted from Australia

By jegen | June 22nd, 2006 at 8:38 pm

the thriller of a lifetime in about 20 mins… Oh my… i hope we win… I have really been thinking of Italy…!!

Posted from India

By Martin | June 22nd, 2006 at 8:45 pm

Interesting if Kalac is in.

Kewell up front. Why not, come out and try to get an early goal. Try to kill the game early if we can.

Come on boys. Would love to play Italy (sure Guus would too).

Posted from United States

By FIFAworldcup.com - Passionate Fan on Fifa World Cup 2006 | June 22nd, 2006 at 9:36 pm

End Game Tactics

The group stage has come to an end and teams specifically Australia and Brazil had made changes to help boost their chances in the Finals. Coach Hiddink of Australia has put Liverpool winger Harry Kewell alongside Tim Cahill to form the fiercest attac…

Posted from United States

By jegen | June 22nd, 2006 at 10:15 pm

kalac… ok, now i realise, is indeed CROATIAN… Hiddink, Why of all games, NOW, KALAC…???

Posted from India

By jegen | June 22nd, 2006 at 10:48 pm

we did it. wee did it. WE DID IT> KEWELL FOR PRESIDENT….

Posted from India

By jegen | June 22nd, 2006 at 10:49 pm

MATT. get a thread started now. i WANT to celebrate….

Posted from India

By Jan the Man | June 22nd, 2006 at 10:54 pm

Jezus H Christ what a game! The game of the tournament. And that number three of Croatia got 3 yellow cards :-). And to think Aus didn’t even play that good! There’s much more to be had, more potential. Italy beware!!!

Posted from Australia

By Ritz | June 22nd, 2006 at 11:10 pm

Ref/linesmen should be sacked! And the croatian players should be ashamed of themselves! Who’s dirty marco? I believe the croats are…

Do i care? NO! Cos we’re through!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted from New Zealand

By marco | June 22nd, 2006 at 11:39 pm

Jan the Man that was not game of the tornament .. ghana V italy … australia was lucky … kellew was offside and the penalty was soft (although viduck could have got one first time) .. if australia play like that italy will destroy them

Posted from Australia

By BOB | June 23rd, 2006 at 12:07 am

nice!!!
we’re through…!!!
as far as australia are concerned we’ve made the quarter’s and anything else is a bonus (for this year)!!!

marco the penalty was not soft, and in reality there should have been a second penalty in the second half.

can anyone shed light on why kalac was in goals?? - mark S is much better. and what is wrong with the aussie finishing…its still only mediocre…a lot of the first half cross’ on goal were rubbish.

Kewell definitely improved his performance this game and had a much larger impact…perhaps his groin is on the mend? Viduka had a bit of a shocker though…

I also think the aussie movement in croatia’s goal third was slow and lazy…they need to show more alacrity around the goals area and suprise the opp. with more movement! that would allow more goal opportunities hopefully.

All up, a fair game, and well ref’d i thought. (however i missed the yellow card onslaught at the end as i had to go to work…)

Go the aussies…beware the juggaurnaught is here!!!

Posted from Australia

By marco | June 23rd, 2006 at 12:14 am

bob — wat u mean uv made tghe quaterfinals … dont you mean second round .. or do u mean that australia will beat italy .. lets say this italy should win the WC this yr .. so if they beat them you tellen me aus will win the WC

Posted from Australia

By troy | June 23rd, 2006 at 12:45 am

for gods sake marco. croatia were rubbish and used the most dirty tactics becuause they figured they wont be punished. suprise suprise they were spot on. the only reason croatia got the second goal was becuase of kalac the holes australia created in croatias defense was briliant. croatia should be ashamed and they were lucky it wasnt a 5-2 score line. australia should have had at least another 2 penalty kicks (suprise the ref missed the rugby tackle on viduka and the blatant hand ball “not”) so not has only australia made it. they have made it against some of the most biased umpiring in the world and fifa should take notice that australia are playing by the rules. croatia didnt play with any sportsman ship. prso and kovak played with there hearts and they should be proud. but the guy who was red carded and siminic and smnr should be disgusted. they were arrogant. true products of the old nsl days i fear(they are australians for anyone that doesnt know). any side lined up to play australia should be fearful because the amount of shots australia have had and missed borders on ludicris. i bet against italy they will be more on target. croatian fans imagine what your tornament would have been if your coach wasnt so defensive. they do have goal scoring capabilities when they attack. there coach should be sacked on the spot. what more does australia need to do to be given a fair shot. fifa should definatly reprimant the refs. they were terrible.

Posted from Australia

By BOB | June 23rd, 2006 at 12:47 am

yeah…second round…sorry…getting excited…apologies. i think italy will win against australia, but stranger things have happened.

I don’t think its easy to predict who will win the WC this early…there are some really good teams…argentina, germany, and of course brazil. Italy will need to play out of their skins to win (as will any team).

I would like to say if australia play well, the italy game will be close…lets hope italy have a not so great day…they’ve been known to be volatile when under pressure before…i hope the italians self destruct.

good luck anyway.

Posted from Australia

By T Mayes | June 23rd, 2006 at 1:14 am

I agree with everything said by Troy. The refereeing was absolutely appauling. He should be sacked on the spot. How can one player get THREE YELLOW CARDS in one match. Absolute idiocrisy. It is unfortunate that Emerton will miss Italys match but it would’ve been worse if Cahill or Kewell missed it. Kalac should never play for Australia AGAIN. And Viduka - well, you have been so so disappointing this wholoe campaign. How many international goals have you scored for us? 6 in TOTAL or something? And you call yourself a striker. You better shape up or ship out.

Posted from Australia

By BOB | June 23rd, 2006 at 2:05 am

viduka is as fat as ronaldo…hahaha

3 yellow cards and no red??…that’s BS…i didnt see that (missed the last 15min.). In general play the ref. was good though. Not trigger happy like some others…or maybe he really is blind and couldn’t see what was goin on?? the hand ball missed in the box was crazy.

Lets call in a dietition for the players and an optometrist for the officials!!!

Posted from Australia

By LOKi01 | June 23rd, 2006 at 2:29 am

Marko you must be dreaming.

Croatia was outplayed pure and simple, and the Aussies had two penalties not given, one for a
rugby tackle on Viduka and the other for handball, and the last goal disallowed.

If it wasn’t for our goal-keeper being so useless, you would be lucky to score.

How about supporting Croatia #2 now and get behind the Aussies.

Posted from Australia

By velebit | June 23rd, 2006 at 2:36 am

Congratulations kangaroos!!

we’d played bad in last 5 games, our team is tired, they can’t run at all, and witouth pace the technique is nothing…
That’s our reality.
You score second goal from the offside, our player played with hand 2 times, but the referee didn’t react, just 1 penalty for you. Bye!

Posted from Croatia

By England Fan | June 23rd, 2006 at 8:09 am

Well done Australia! What a brilliant game, how dirty were the croations?!! I think that Australia will beat Italy easily. Good Luck! (Except when you come up against England of course!)

Posted from Australia

By Jeff | July 3rd, 2006 at 11:50 am

The italians played dirty.. they should all be ashamed of themselves.. all a bunch of little fairies who go down for anything. thats not soccer.. thats a disgrace and id be ashamed to call myself an italian

Posted from Australia

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