World Cup Qualifiers

[Homer1]

Originally Posted by sarge

I'd expect that comment from a league fan. Typical tall poppy gripe - can't you just be content that after a hard slog Australia is through after 31 years.
What's a euro club's salary got to do with showing the fans respect? seriously, these players wouldn't be where they are without going through the ranks and playing overseas - being exposed to top level football.
players do give a rats about all internationals that are relevant - friendlys are a chance for the locals / young talent to have a shot and get noticed at international level, their is no player out there who is fit and able that would knock back a callup in the national squad for a world cup relevant match - IN ANY COUNTRY!

(ps: just qualifying means $16.5million is put back into the local game.)

If the big names come back for every game, between the hectic overseas schedules, then people like you would have a go that they were taking the place of a 'local.' If they don't show up - then they are unpatriotic, elitist and not deserving of a position. Get real.
To play at that level you also need experience and conditioning - something the local league has had very little of given the upheavals of late - which I'm pleased to say have changed it for the better. Soccer now has direction at local level which will in time build a larger pool of available players but for now, the guys on the pitch tonight all deserved to be there. If we took your advice, players the likes of Kewell, although not currently at his best, (which is vastly better than most local players best,) would never have had the shot because no one knew who he was here. He never played a meaningful game at NSL level. If the selectors concentrated on what we only have here, what a loss that would be. As for the stars being too big for their boots, that's rubbish - I've met some of the guys in the team and have coached many young fellas currently in Europe, knocking on the door for selection, you need a certain level of arrogance to play with the worlds best but one thing they have in common with us all is they were raised here and that arrogance doesn't translate to a true part of the Aussie character - they know how big their boots are and that there is plenty of by-standers at home, like yourself, ready to pull down their achievments.
We'll see the state of league now that the player drain - dash for cash is taking them overseas. I don't see you passing that sort of judgement onto who should be selected based on where they currently play at club level in that code. True, most of them are has-beens but salary caps here and standards over there will change that.
So how about sitting back and supporting the guys who did it the hard way and most importantly, did it here - in front of their own people.

I agree with you 100%. IMO if we can get more Aussie kids into Soccer, the only true "World Game" (You'd be hard pressed to find 1 country that doesn't play it in some form) rather than Aussie Rules or League which nobody outside Australia or the Commonwealth gives a f**k about (including me), then we'd be in a much better position in the future World Cup qualifiers.

[Timmeh]

Absolutely fantastic to see Australia get through. Wasn't it a great game to watch! I was on the edge of my seat all night!

I am suprised noone made mention (unless I failed to see it) of how Uruguay tried to change match times to screw us over and give us less time to train than them, and then when it all turned pear shaped they whinged to FIFA who then ruled in their favour and we were forced to play revised match times to suit Uruguay. So that's extra satisfying.

Australia always gets hard done by, by FIFA (automatic entry to Oceana anyone?), so its good to see them defy the odds by qualifying through South America (before we change to qualifying through Asia next World Cup, which should prove easier).

Anyone who criticises Viduka as a crap player clearly know nothing about how many years / decades of his life he has put into Australian soccer to consistently find heartache when we don't make the World Cups, and how he has been an outstanding player Australia has been able to rely on over the years. One miss on a penalty does suck, but Beckham has done it before and noone would say he is crap (not saying Viduka is Beckham but the point is even good people miss at important times), and in the end proved inconsequential anyway.

As a soccer goalkeeper, I have utmost respect for Mark Schwarzer. He performed well the whole game, and stepped up another level to ensure Australia won the shoot-out in style.

Now, noone can take this away from the Socceroos. In summary:

Congratulations to the Socceroos, look forward to seeing you at the 2006 World Cup Germany!!!

Timmeh!

[MYVYSS]

LOL ALready

[Valknutr]

please no VYSS please noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! But still LOL the Hoff is everywhere

[MethodX]

Will be interesting to see who Australia gets grouped with.
Hopefully not brazil or the Argies.

Being a tad tough on Viduka some ofu, All players miss penalties from time to tme, a lot of pressure.
never mind that Viduka could have played in 2 world cups or more if hed chosen to play for Yugoslavia/Croatia.

[ratman]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Will be interesting to see who Australia gets grouped with.
Hopefully not brazil or the Argies.

Being a tad tough on Viduka some ofu, All players miss penalties from time to tme, a lot of pressure.
never mind that Viduka could have played in 2 world cups or more if hed chosen to play for Yugoslavia/Croatia.

that's right, I don't see anyone mentioning the fact that it was HE who offloaded the cheeky back heel to kewell - who in turn muffed the shot that Bresciano cleaned up and put into the back of the net

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by sarge

I'd expect that comment from a league fan. Typical tall poppy gripe - can't you just be content that after a hard slog Australia is through after 31 years.
What's a euro club's salary got to do with showing the fans respect? seriously, these players wouldn't be where they are without going through the ranks and playing overseas - being exposed to top level football.
players do give a rats about all internationals that are relevant - friendlys are a chance for the locals / young talent to have a shot and get noticed at international level, their is no player out there who is fit and able that would knock back a callup in the national squad for a world cup relevant match - IN ANY COUNTRY!

(ps: just qualifying means $16.5million is put back into the local game.)

If the big names come back for every game, between the hectic overseas schedules, then people like you would have a go that they were taking the place of a 'local.' If they don't show up - then they are unpatriotic, elitist and not deserving of a position. Get real.
To play at that level you also need experience and conditioning - something the local league has had very little of given the upheavals of late - which I'm pleased to say have changed it for the better. Soccer now has direction at local level which will in time build a larger pool of available players but for now, the guys on the pitch tonight all deserved to be there. If we took your advice, players the likes of Kewell, although not currently at his best, (which is vastly better than most local players best,) would never have had the shot because no one knew who he was here. He never played a meaningful game at NSL level. If the selectors concentrated on what we only have here, what a loss that would be. As for the stars being too big for their boots, that's rubbish - I've met some of the guys in the team and have coached many young fellas currently in Europe, knocking on the door for selection, you need a certain level of arrogance to play with the worlds best but one thing they have in common with us all is they were raised here and that arrogance doesn't translate to a true part of the Aussie character - they know how big their boots are and that there is plenty of by-standers at home, like yourself, ready to pull down their achievments.
We'll see the state of league now that the player drain - dash for cash is taking them overseas. I don't see you passing that sort of judgement onto who should be selected based on where they currently play at club level in that code. True, most of them are has-beens but salary caps here and standards over there will change that.
So how about sitting back and supporting the guys who did it the hard way and most importantly, did it here - in front of their own people.

Well said ^^^^^^

BIG BIG Congrats fellas,coaching staff and support crew.
Now THATS FOOTBALL on the world stage !!!
Coming from an Australian born migrant family I finally have MY team to support in the BIGGEST WORLD CUP in the World.
What a joy to finally cut the mustard !!

[Teleto]

Guus Hiddink = legend

He took Korea past the group stage and they were very average. So Australia have a very good chance making it past the group stage in the world cup.

Tony Vidmar played a blinder last night.

[MRJUCY]

I've grown up in a football mad family & have always loved the game but been through heart break so many times watching us fall at the last minute. It was a fantastic effort by all the boys I'll never forget that night & can't wait for next year. I was in the city all night celebrating & back in to the domain today to cheer them all on once more. I still haven't taken my jersey off so I'm sure I stink but i couldn't care less.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by MRJUCY

I've grown up in a football mad family & have always loved the game but been through heart break so many times watching us fall at the last minute. It was a fantastic effort by all the boys I'll never forget that night & can't wait for next year. I was in the city all night celebrating & back in to the domain today to cheer them all on once more. I still haven't taken my jersey off so I'm sure I stink but i couldn't care less.

yer you stink !!! Mark :
and I thought you were a big egg shaped ball follower :

[FTE217]

yep you said it Timmeh re Schwarzer, he was the final piece to the puzzle !!!!

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by vztrt

You know if the Aussies lost there would have been a big picture of Viduka with the words choked under him. I was a crap kick, for a player of his ability.
He would be thanking the keeper, who was great.

The keeper did a great job. I heard today at work that the coach only wanted him as the goalie. Proved to be a wise choice.

[MRJUCY]

Originally Posted by Bluedriver

yer you stink !!! Mark :
and I thought you were a big egg shaped ball follower :

Gee Thanks mate :

No football has always been my real passion (well after motorsport of course) but we've not until this year had a decent home comp & while I enjoy watching other comps I could never get passionate about a foreign club so I watch the league as the other 2 codes don't interest me in the slightest.

I've probably watched every Socceroo game in my lifetime tho & last night was the first game in Sydney I wasn't at in memory

[BOSS 540]

Originally Posted by Oscar of Markoz

Gay or not, we'll be showing the Aussies how to play with a round ball tonight. Sorry guys. Uruguay all the way!

Yeah, all the way back home to Monty Video on their pov Aerolinas Argentinas flight to the awaiting appreciative crowd who will of course,
spit on em!