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Ho ho ho Australia. Leading 3-0 at half time and then having a man sent off to lose 4-3 against Ecuador.
I'm going to change my prediction for the World Cup. Australia is still going to lose all three matches but I now suggest that it will concede 25 goals rather than 20.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rollo
Yeah, but we'll score 8 goals now instead of 1
Against World Cup holders and number 1 ranked Spain? Against World Cup runners up and number 10 ranked Netherlands? Against number 14 ranked Chile?Quote:
Originally Posted by millencolin
Even Darryl Kerrigan would say "Tell him he's dreamin".
Australia's problem (much like New Zealand) is simply player depth. If they can keep the best 11 on the pitch and injury free, they could possibly surprise their higher ranked opposition, they have done it before. But if players are unavailable, the replacements they have are just not good enough, this is when they will struggle. Unfortunately for Aus, they have the toughest group and chances are, their best 11 will not be able to play all three games.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rollo
Not just player depth but in this case completely out of their depth.
The 6-0 thumpings that both Brazil and France gave the Socceroos should have been indicative of what the World Cup will be like. At the last world cup, even with in theory the best XI on the pitch, Australia was torn to curtains by Germany.
I don't think that Ange will have any possible reply when they meet Spain who won both the last World cup and Euro 2012 and who went through Group I in Europe undefeated. The Netherlands who were runners up in 2010 went through Group D in qualifying also undefeated.
Chile did lose 6 times on their way to this tournament but bear in mind that CONMEBOL as a confederation is probably better on average than all the final 16 teams a Euro tournament.
Australia on its way to the World Cup, knocked up a string of draws and a few wins and did just enough to get there. They go into the tournament as the lowest ranked team.
Look, I can understand the optimism but the 23 which Australia will send to Brazil certainly won't be a golden generation but maybe in Russia in 2018 (if it gets played there), there will have been four years to develop a class side.
2014 though is like pitching the Socceroos to the lions, except that this time, Daniel gets eaten.
0-1 to Valladolid...and I don't think on current form (defensive mainly) that they can get more than a draw at Bernabeu..
so the league is gone. :(
There is some deep issues in this squad now for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Storm
It could be a summer of huge change, otherwise the rot will continue and they will be a UEFA Europa league team.
Juve-Fiorentina 1-0
Napoli-Roma 1-0
+14 points and scudetto almost sure ! :D
Fair point and a more than fair assumption as well. As an English-born kiwi, this should make me smile - the thought of Aus getting sliced to ribbons and used as fish bait, but in truth I really want to see them do ok.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rollo
Messy !! :D