Another 4 years of obscurity and irrelevance awaits.
Australian soccer is afflicted by an evil curse. The jinx continues, my heart is broken. A grown adult like myself shouldn't be reduced to tears at a result of a game; but I am. Why why why do I follow this stupid game? The natural state of an Australian soccer fan is one of frustration and high blood pressure. So close, and yet so far yet again.
To the long-time fans of the game here, who have seen this happen time and time again and keep coming back for more, you are legends who deserve so much more than what you get. I'm only a relatively recent fan, but this is [expletive deleted]ing sickening. Now I'm off to work to face people who no doubt will act normally. They may have watched on telly, but they won't feel our heartbreak. They won't feel our pain. Why why why?
More thoughts tonight maybe, once my eyes have dried up.
Written by tealmeister@yahoo.com.au
All the post-game arguments make no bloody difference to the fact that we lost to a better team. Period.
But you know something? I felt a lot worse after the Iran game. There we had our chance, 2-0 up with 20 minutes to go and boom. Today we progressively got out of the game after Silva scored his first and their defense just tightened up.
I am as shattered as everyone else in Australia, I feel damn sorry for Frank and the team. They tried and lost. Not good enough. Quite simple as that. Back to the drawing board.
I'm going back to bed.
Written by Ted Mulder
I know what you mean David, after the iran match i was balling my eyes out.. right now i'm sitting here at work at unprecedented time, and i'm just feeling numb. I think i'm in denial right now. I'm trying to tell myself that it doesn't really mean anything and it's just a game.. knowing full well that i'm so lying to myself.. it's working for the moments so i might stick with it. I've decided that if anyone here at works makes one single smug remark then i'll have to either hit them or walk out.
I'm just cursing the timing of that second goal. we were so on the ascendency, and they were tireing.. *sigh*
In order to prepare myself for the game i decided that we had already lost beforehand and that anything we got out of irt was a bonus (a technique that worked well for a hundred Breakers matches or so - you had to really - it was the only way i got through those 5+ seasons..).. but ahh.. what's the point.. i'm off for a sulk now. :(
Written by Rui Melo
It is human nature at a time like this to look for excuse's, find someone or something to point the finger at - for some it is therapy - others prefer to kick the cat to release the built up anger - reality is - yet again we were not good enough.
At the moment I feel physically sick - what makes it worse are that those that had almost been converted will turn on us again and soccer in this country returns to that game with "heaps of potential" and never taken too seriously.
One goal was never going to be enough against a team of match-hardened, street-wise professionals representing a country where the world game is more important than anything else domestically or internationally.
Congratulations to Uruguay - thanks to Frank and the lads for doing their best and giving us a couple of weeks that will live in my memory forever.
Maybe next time ?
Cheers
Lucio - who thankfully at the moment is being given lots of space by fellow
workmates - who clearly are too scared to say anything to me !
Written by Lucio Viggiano
I feel a bit numb, but not as the Floyd would say, comfortably numb. Actually, I feel more a complete sense of lethargy. I left for work as soon as the third goal went in, because I had managed to compress my usual hour of daily preparations into the fifteen minutes of half time, and because I could not bear to watch as the final whistle was blown. Wish I had a cat to kick. Hurling my slippers into the wardrobe didn't quite release the required amount of anger.
I pity anyone who gives me a hard time at work today. I briefly considered wearing my Socceroo top to work anyway, just to show that I am still proud to be an Australian soccer supporter, but that might have started people talking to me about the game and I just can't face that at the moment. My conversation about it with my boss as I walked in was as brief as I could make it. There is no-one around here who could understand the way I am feeling at the moment. There were plenty who watched the first leg and I had some good conversations about it, but they were simply clinging to the bandwagon for a couple of weeks and today will be much like any other Monday for them.
I started briefly looking for answers as to what went wrong - why didn't Frank start with the successful tactics of the second half of the first leg? Why did Emerton have to rush in on Recoba to give away the fateful free kick? Why am I yet to see Mark Viduka play a really good game for his country? The fact is, though, that at the moment, I just don't care. It's back to another four years in the wilderness. Another four years of not seeing our best team in action. No European Championship or African Nations Cup for us to look forward to. Shit, I don't even have an NSL club any more.
Life sucks.
Then you die.
No cheers,
Written by Joel Gaskell
sitting at my computer totally dejected
called in sick (I would of smashed someone at work)
still not out of my pj's
still not showered
still not shaven
still haven't qualified
fu*kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
another four years of what??? talking about soccers potential, following the force
not much to look forward to.
Written by Fab Callisto
The next year, the game's administrators must focus on sleeping with whoever it takes to get Oceania a direct qualification spot to the World Cup. From this day forth, until the next World Cup draw is decided a few months after the 2002 World Cup, we must lobby FIFA, and our plead our case for 1 direct spot to the World Cup and end this pain and suffering.
Do not kid yourselves about regular competition for the national team. Youngsters like Harry Kewell should not be burnt out by our national team, they should be protected by their clubs, his performances for Australia virtually justify Leeds' stance for the past two years.
To add weight to Oceania's argument, and voting power, bring in New Caledonia and East Timor, perhaps Phillipines and some other weak Asian countries.
Oceania must realise what it is they want from the world game, take it, and get on with it.
Written by Markian Jaworsky
Always fun to be armchair critics after the even and provide some ratings.
I'll go first and risk the flak from still emotional fans:
Schwarzer: (6) Wasn't the worst, but out of position at times, and got hands to the Recoba free kick and should have parried at least. Excellent one-on-one save that earned him an extra rating point.
Muscat: (5) Not as good as the first leg. Did OK on the nippy bald guy, and came off for tactical reasons I assume (or red card possibility perhaps).
Moore: (7) Another solid effort. Did nothing wrong, except maybe not being the one to chase Silva when he scored.
Murphy: (5) Should have done better than letting Silva score what I considered a soft goal. Was adequate, without sighting any of his heading ability. Better in Melbourne.
Vidmar: (7) With Moore, our best averaged over both legs. Not as good as he was in Melbourne, but had his hands full. Maybe could have attacked a little more at risk of exposing defence, but we needed a goal.
Skoko: (6) Also did OK, despite getting kicked a lot. Not the best, nor the worst.
Lazaridis: (4) Looked flat and tired. Needed more penetration and good crosses to bring forwards into game. Could hardly lift the ball above shoulder height in 2nd half. Would have taken him off for the Agostino/Kewell manouvre at halftime.
Okon: (5) Not the match winner everyone says he can be, and was average in both legs. Needed his experience and skill to move clever balls forward, but chose the easy option to go backwards every time. Disappointing.
Emerton: (3) So disappointing. Loads of talent, but completely intimidated by tough opposition. Needs to add steel to his game and back his ability to run at defenders more. Could have used more of his bite on the right in both legs.
Kewell: (5) Wasted up front, and only started to get into the game, as he always does, when moved back and wide. By far our best player, but not used best. Having him on the left all game may have changed things our way...or maybe not.
Viduka: (4) I just don't know......one of the players who perhaps can't produce club form at international level. Then again, his height and size were not used with constant incisive passing instead of crosses stretching the Uruguay defence. Looked lost.
Agostino: (1) Brought on too late and didnt feature.
Aloisi: (1) Ditto above.
Referee: (9) Fantastic effort for all the difference it makes. Tough, sharp and in control. If only every NSL referee taped this game and studied it closely. Best on ground.. ;-).
Uruguay ratings:.........ah, who cares.
Written by Lance Librandi
Another sad chapter has been written in Australian soccer. Sadly we were not good enough, and while we might want a post-mortem on the second match, the reality is we needed to score at least 2 goals at home in the first leg, we didn't, and we have paid the ultimate price. We dominated the first game and for the amount of possession we had should have scored at least twice, which would have made life a little easier in game two.
I agree with all the sentiments surrounding the queston of direct qualification into the 2006 World Cup for Oceania, but we can't for a moment think this will cure all the ills. This is only part of the puzzle, SocAus must act NOW to reassess Farina and make a decision on his future. If they want him, sign him for four years, if not cut our losses and start again. I don't want to see any farce where we have 'caretaker' coaches like Raul and Les pulled out for the interim, but rather see a clear direction for our national team and a calendar prepared for the next four years to include regular international matches.
This might sound like pie in the sky to SocAus but its the only way we can improve and stop things like this happening again.
A very sad
Written by Greg Stock
Farina's tactics were rather puzzling, over the 2 games. I know tis easy to be armed with the benefit of hindsight BUT. As I posted before the 1st leg, Kewell does not belong up front as an out and out striker. Frank should have known that. Also in Melbourne Frank put Agostino on to enhance our chances of scoring. I would have thought that was what we needed to do at the start of the game - not at half time. In the 2nd leg I would suggest that everyone knew that Uruguay would score once. Which would bring them back to square one. So why didn't Frank start with Agostino to try to grab an early goal and really put the the cat amongst the pidgeons.
I guess we've all got a million theories to bandy about, but just acouple of my observations are that
1 Frank Farina will not be snapped up by a Serie A club
2 Harry can play whenever he wants, so long as it's the qualifiers.
3 Viduka is John Markovski (but less pace) with a few lucky breaks in Europe
4 Emerton just wiped $19.9 million off of his $20 million newspaper valuation.
5 Stan has played his last international
6 Moore and Vidmar excelled
7 Antoinette is smiling because her football mad husband won't be spending 10 grand
at the finals.
BIG PETE just off to Marconi for lunch and aint coming back today.
Written by Peter Ashby
Disappointed certainly, but not heartbroken, suicidal, tearful or bellicose.
For a few reasons.
Number one, we were beaten by a better side, of that I don't think anyone could argue.
Yes, I would have loved Australia to have gone through, but excuse me if I differ from what appears to be the majority on this list, and say that had we qualified, yes it would have been nice to see the Socceroos in action in the finals , but apart from the funds Soc oz would have received as a result, it would NOT I believe have been.....the "defining moment" in Australian fitba, as some non fitba commentators have called it, nor have 'revolutionised' the game.
I'm a bit of an iconoclast, and while I have enjoyed the recent coverage in the media by those who jumped on the bandwagon, I believed it was only a transitory thing, irrespective of whether we qualified or not.
The World Cup lasts for between three and four weeks, and once it is over, unless you win the bloody thing, it is pretty quickly forgotten about.
Yes, qualification may have raised the profile of the game for a while, but I didn't see any major, long term, major benefits taking place because of it.
Bit like the Olympics I guess, just over 12 months ago, Sydney was agog and very exciting..but now......the Olympics are well and truly forgotten.
I DO feel very appreciative of the effort and hard work put in by everyone involved, from Frank Farina through all the players and support staff....some of whom I reckon will now be looking for jobs.
I do not feel it is appropriate to look for someone to blame, but I was just informed by a colleague who listened to 2KY that the question was asked.."Ok who's head is going to fall because of this.."
Far from cutting off their heads, I believe the WC party should be congratulated for their efforts...they truly tried their very best..all of them.
Australia has undoubtedly come a long way, but I thought it self evident today that there is still a way to go , as Uruguay were, in my opinion, far technically superior.
I believe that there will be a media backlash (as I suggested yesterday, obviously prior to the result being known) by those very same 'bandwagon jumpers' s we so happily saw jump aboard, but my major concern, is what will happen to the National League, now that Socoz is NOT going to receive money to bail itself out of possible bankruptcy.
I also expect, that the relative political calm and unity that has been evident for a few months while we concentrated on fitba, as opposed to football politics will be quickly shattered, and I would say that that even may extend to this list.
Pity, but wouldn't surprise me.
I've been through may footballing disappointments, and I guess I'm a bit battle hardened by the years, so what I say may very well be misunderstood by some.
But football, like life goes on.
And if you'll excuse me, I've got to get ready for a game on Saturday.
Written by Fred Legget
And so it's come to pass. We are in exactly the same position four years on and fundamentally it is for EXACTLY the same reason.
Frankly I haven't been bothered to go through all the "direct qualification" posts today so I apologise if I'm about to repeat the bleeding obvious but, IMESH opinion, not having to qualify via a proper tournament, as does the rest of the world, does nothing but abject harm to our national side. I don't care for the philosophical / ethical arguments about whether a confederation winner should get automatic qualification anymore. The point is totally moot. Its not about the principle. It's not about the "fairness". It's not about anything to do with any other side in the world but our own. The effects of having to play these two cup ties every four years is plain for all to see this morning.
In the last 8 years, the Socceroos have never been, and unless they play a real qualification tournament, never will be a half decent TEAM. For world cup qualification, they are always thrown together at the last minute, with minimum preparation, and as soon as they are ever so slightly under the pump, they fall completely to bits. Then they disband and are not seen until four years later. Let's face it, the Socceroos NEVER play together (Do you think we will see the same team again line up against Italy a mere 4 months from now? Yeah, right.)
For the second time in 4 years, we faced an opposition who had gone through a tough campaign with a seasoned squad. Like Iran, that Uru team knew each other like the back of their hands over the two legs. Like Iran, they had been tested under many different conditions. Like Iran, they had about 4 full-on tough REAL qualifiers in the space of a month where we had a half arsed "friendly". Like Iran, if they were in a tough spot, they knew how to react in "battle" conditions whether they were 2-0 down with 20 minutes to go or 1-0 down with 90 minutes to go.
Iran and Uruguay and any other team we may have to face on the next ride of the merry go round, will do us 4 times out of 5 for exactly the same reason. Because they will have a team and we will have a dozen players thrown together two weeks before the big gig.
Bollocks to direct qualification if that means we reach the world cup only to fall apart as soon as we get there.
THAT is why we need to play in/with/against another confederation. THAT is why we can not get in with a defacto automatic entry. We need the competition so that we can once again have a socceroo *team*.
Written by Frank Savaglio