Hiddink Takes Gamble

Well there we go Hiddink did take the gamble with Cahill,Moore n Grella but they did come out with no more additions to their personal yellow card tallys. Although Emerton and Culina were added on to the list of yellow card holders in the Australian lineup. The side overall performed well, not the best they could’ve but yea they were asking plenty of questions from the brazilian defence in the 2nd half specially when harry kewell came on. He had a couple of chances himself as well including an open net but oh well it wasn’t meant to be Australia’s day today and the last goal by brazil when the ball rebounded off the post and back onto the feet of Fred really did sum up Australia’s day and well really they should be relatively happy with their performance an ounce of luck here and there something which the socceroos struggle to get and perhaps it might have been a different story. But don’t get me wrong Brazil were clearly the dominant team and did deserve to win and congratulations to them however I thought a 1-0 score was more than suffient

Posted from  Australia

yea LOKi01 i thought the ref was extremely trigger happy so much so Sterjovski was even hearing whistles that weren’t even there, thats the reputation thing with Australia the dutch started that bs and I still fail to see how that crap was true infact it was the dutch that started the physical confrontations and then when a cpl of them got injured they turned into cry babies oh well thats just something we’re going to have to live with although Harry Kewell decided to give the ref a good dose of what he thought about the decisions after the match. Which he was quite entitled to do cause there were quite a few instances where brazil got free kicks but australia when in the same situation and exactly the same foul was committed didn’t get the free kick and really questions have to be asked about how fair and even that really was.

Posted from  Australia

Hi guys, first of all, welcome to Germany (OK, a bit late). Second, congratulations to your great games so far. It was fun to watch you play Brazil. I hope you’ll make it to the next round. We want to have you and your awesome fans around longer!

Posted from  Germany

@Michael, Cheers mate! Let’s hope we get the result against Croatia.

It was my very first time I watched Australia play this type of football. What a surprise! You have a very solid team, well coached and fit. It was fun to watch you steal the ball from so visibly unfit Brazilian players. Hope you will get to the next round, and hope you will quickly learn how to close the game – that last push, perseverence to score.

Posted from  United States

A really quality game produced by Australians. They were a bit tired and seems to lack a concentration at the end the game, which resulted in two goals, but …. Good job!!!
Looking forward to seeing them in the next round.

all the best

Posted from  Canada

Watch out Aussies!

Remember this: http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200606/200606130025.html
if you should ever play against Korea. Whose side is Hiddink on anyway?

Posted from  Malaysia

Fcuken commentators and journalists saying Brazil dominated?! Fcuk off! We dominated the 2nd half only to have Brazil counter attack!

Posted from  Australia

this is for the smarta$$ Juan from the USA who commented…

” ‘…play the australian way…’ you mean like aussie rules (or) rugby (sic)”

…no, we mean with our heart, passion and skill (as limited as it may appear to you to be). Maybe you should put on some boots and play a game of rugby, no doubt you’d be cringing like a baby after 2 minutes.

Go the Aussies, we just stuck it to the world best!!!

This is Australias last sporting front-(tear) that we haven’t yet won. We may not win this year but we will win it one day.

How many world cup’s has the USA ever won?? (in any sport)

Posted from  Australia

The Aussies had an amazing defense, however they really lacked an offense. The majority of the shots were much to far away and too direct for the goalie to miss.

Overall however, Australia performed well against the WC’s leading champions.

BOB, you shouldn’t generalize because it makes you sound like a dumbass.

That was a stupid comment from Juan, but to rip on “Americans” because of it, makes you no better than him.

It doesn’t matter if he’s from USA, France, China etc. Look at some of the other blogs and see what some people from Australia, France, etc have said. There are idiots everywhere and you are no different.

Let’s see…how many of our sports have a world cup? Second who won the summer olympics? Third who came second in the Winter Olympics?

jono,

Yeah your right, I am an idiot for writing it that way. Sorry mate (and world). And I wasn’t trying to sound like ripping on Americans. Just a bit bored…and obviously not much sleep…haha

Posted from  Australia

hey bob, you might be an idiot, and well, we might all be idiots, but at least you got a sense of humor.

The aussies played well, but obviously need to do some shooting practice today. I hope Guus runs the cr@p out of them and makes them practice shooting goals for hours for the next few days. I was impressed with some evidence of fluididty that was in their game, and the defense was great for most of the match. Am not convinced Brazil were giving it everything though?? They seemed a little lax at times.

Go the ‘roos.

Posted from  Australia

Umm … cheers ron.
that brazilian striker who came on for ronaldo (robino – spelling?), he looked really dangerous as soon as he was on – i understand he was fresh and that the aussies were concentrating on attack, but i’d like to see more of him.

go the roos – i’m with ron

Posted from  Australia

No problem BOB lol, a real idiot would have gone crazy at my comment

GL in your next game!

Does anyone know what Harry Kewell was yelling about at the umpire after the game ended?

Posted from  Australia

rock and roll jono.

Posted from  Australia

Who thought the Ref was unfair in the Oz vs Brasil game? Is this was Kewell was shouting about?

Posted from  Australia

The way Kewell was carrying on it must have been a bit more than just unfair! Thats why I’m wondering?

Posted from  Australia

I reckon Kewell just wanted a chance to vent his frustration. He’d be kicking himself all day today for missing that shot I reckon.

Refereeing was a little soft, but Vinnie Grella is bloody lucky to be playing the next game after raking his studs across Ronaldo’s shin in the first few minutes. Should have been at least a yellow card.

Posted from  Australia

I thought Culina needs some srs shooting practice he had quite a few chances in the opening half where had marco been there it might have been a different story. But instead he just shot really softly straight into the dida’s hands, hope hiddink makes him practice the long range strikes over and over again caus Australia does need him to fire if he’s going to play in the midfield. His defence was good but shooting was hopeless and harry was venting his frustrations at the 25-9 penalty count which was absolute rubbish and Emerton’s foul on Roberto Carlos was crap n he ended up earning a yellow card for it as well for venting his frustrations with the decision, the referee gotta say was hopeless, the slightest tap on the brazilians and they would get the free, the brazilians have become the untouchables not for their skill but for their protection from such referees which is bs.

Posted from  Australia

Hey Troy if you wanna go ill go … oh and i think i was right in saying brazil would win .. somehting you all said would nto happen .. so i muct know a little more than u

Posted from  Australia

We can all sit here and speculate about Hiddinks tactics and his coaching but none of us (sorry if otherwise) are in any contact with the team, nor do we see them train, nor do we know them oustide of what we see on TV. Hiddink and his Mgt. staff (Neeskens, Arnold etc.) are in a much better position than us to make decisions. Also, just because we may lose a match or appear to have been dominated in posession or any other aspect, people cannot begin to blame Hiddink for his tactical short-comings… let’s be honest, Australia lacks the quality and depth to carry out all of what Hiddink desires.. some may disagree but if you are honest with yourself Australia, (at the moment) does not exactly churn out world class soccer players like other countries such as Brazil, Italy, The Netherlands, Argentina etc.

Also, look at Hiddink with The Netherlands in 1998… in my opinion one of the Greatest teams (Dutch ot otherwise) of all-time. He certainly had the quality (Bergkamp, Stam, Deboer brothers, Overmars, Cocu, Van der Sar, Reizeger) and they did manage to make it into the final 4 where they lost in a penalty shoot-out to Brazil..

They absolutely dominated that match, Hiddinks tactics worked to perfection, but in the end, soccer is an extremely unpredictable game and often, no amount of tactical genius ensures a win.. so all we can do is hope that Hiddink and the rest of the Mgt. staff have got it right and we shouldn’t sit in forums undermining all that they have done.

Also, i hope that the FFA heed Hiddink’s ‘warning’ and appoint Arnold as coach or at leat retain him in the coaching staff… he has learnt a massive amount under Hiddink and to bring in a new Coach (especially a non-european) will destroy all the Hiddink has done… He has taught the Aussies a very Dutch style of play and i love it.. i hope that the FFA’s new appointment does not change this because there is still such a long way to go… sooooooo much potential.

Posted from  Australia

what kind of answer is that marco. thats a cop out.

Posted from  Australia

Hiddink is a Korean supporter. Watch out!

Posted from  Malaysia