A Great Win

The Socceroos have come from behind to win against a strong Bahrain side. What made this win more memorable was the fact that it was our debut into Asia, and furthermore, we did it with a severly understrength team.

Even Guus was not in attendance, which further highlights the strength in our coaching department when someone like Graeme Arnold can step up and keep the team calm while being down 1-0 at half time.

With a draw being played out in the Kuwait/Lebanon match, the win puts us in a very strong position in the group and we are now hot favorites to progress to the 2007 Asia Cup for the first time.

Socceroos in Asia

Well our first entry into Asia is only days away and the game against and finally we see a write up in the papers about this historic occasion. While it is acknowledged that a second-string side will take the field due to the match falling outside the FIFA schedule, one would think that this match would still command a bit more than a paragraph in the Herald Sun two days before the game.

Perhaps I am being a bit narrow minded, however, I would have thought with the numbers behind the game these days that readers would want to hear about what is happening in the matches lead up, and not just when something negative has happened such as the injury to Vidmar?

Not too worry, as I am sure the warm up matches that will be played between now and then will command a little more coverage than a match against Bahrain.

On other football matters, Frankie may have secured himself some tickets and accommodation to the World Cup. More of this will be revealed in future postings.

New Australian Strips

Well the new strips have been released by Nike, and while no one would argue about the scientific merit of a fibre that makes you sweat less, the actual design and rationale behind it really makes you wonder.

It apparently is a tribute to our 1974 side, which once again one can understand the rationale, but could we have not put some more thought into it? This is our chance to shine on the world stage, and I would have thought that a little more imagination could be used in the design.

A more fitting tribute would have been to wear the white socks that the 1974 team adorned, as these were unique and made the team stand out from the crowd. Instead we have a strip that lacks imagination, color and flair.

I can only hope our boys play a lot better than the strip they are wearing.

Regarding myself purchasing one, well I am now not sure. I did have a preorder put in with FFA, however, having forked out $120 for the previous strip, which I wore religiously during the Ashes last year, I am not sure a further $120 would be well spent? I think I may have a look at the blue away strip, as I will need something to wear at our "away" matches, however, the other $120 would be better put on the bar in Munich!!

FIFA Ticket Fourth Phase a Joke

Well the fourth phase of the ticket allocations has pretty much come and gone, and all I can say is what a joke that was. I logged onto my home computer at about 9.50pm, ten minutes before the tickets went on sale, and kept refreshing the ticket home page.

Well 10pm came, and there were only very limited tickets available to all matches. With my mate Bernie next to me, and my cousin Frank on the phone, I tried to get tickets to the Brazil and Croatia matches. Got to the next stage where it asks to verify you are not a robot (C-3PO would be in trouble), and then it took me to this blank screen saying there was too much traffic and try again later.

I tried again straight away, but of course I could not even get that far with error screens aplenty. This went on for half an hour before we gave up in disgust.

When I went to log on this morning, well all the limited tickets were gone. So now it is going to be just turn up and try your luck at the grounds for Bernie and Frank, unless of course they are willing to pay $1,000 plus per game to get them online from an "authorised reseller". What a joke!

Well at least I have my tickets!!

Viduka or Aloisi

An interesting article appeared in the Herald Sun this morning talking about the form of the abovementioned players, and which way Aussie-Guus will go should this trend continue.

What caught my attention is the fact that Viduka is now struggling at club level, however, he has rarely performed for Australia unless it was against some backwater minnow when the match mattered little to anyone. On the big stage, he has failed often, this was highlighted no more so than the pressure of the penalty shoot out and his feeble attempt nearly costing us again.

I know that is a little harsh, as he did play reasonably well in the two Uruguay matches, but the fact remains that overall he has been mediocre at best for his country. I will not forget going to the MCG for the Olympics, and he was nothing short of embarrassing. I would have thought 100,000 fans cheering you on at the Olympics would be enough to get the best out of anyone. But not our Mark, so how would he go on the biggest stage of all.

Aloisi has now proven himself to all football fans, and in my honest opinion, would serve his country much better come the pressure cooker environment of Germany. I hope 'dukes proves me wrong, but at this stage, my money is on Aloisi.

Cousin Frankie

I went to a cousin's wedding on the weekend, and coming from a family that are all die hard football fans, the topic naturally came up about the World Cup. Two of my cousin's, Frank and John will both be there. John is actually a player agent and will be there on a working holiday, while Frank is a lot less organised.

His plans are to fly into Amsterdam and go and watch the Aussies final practice match in Holland and then find his way into Antwerp where he will stay with one of his brother's mates. He will then try to get into Germany by hiring a panel van in Belgium and just sleep in the back for a month! He plans to shower at train stations or hospitals. What a classic. He has also worded me up to stay in our room on the floor and to use our shower. I told him no problems, so long as he pays. Not likely was his response!

To top it off, he has not even got any tickets yet. Knowing Frank though, he will scam his way in somehow. He will be one of the many characters that will be there in Germany I am sure, and I am looking forward to downing copious amounts of the amber fluid with him.

Melbourne to Host FIFA World Cup

I read an article in the Herald Sun yesterday about how Melbourne's new Major Attractions CEO is putting forward the fact that Melbourne could host a World Cup in the future.

My opinion is, that Australia would be a great nation to have a World Cup in, however, there would need to be a major changing of the mindsets of the powerbrokers at FIFA for this to ever occur.

For one, who could forget them taking away Oceania's direct qualification? They have also made it as difficult as possible in the past due to our fragmented and ethnic based administration of the game here in Australia. However, times are changing. We are part of Asia now, have qualified for Germany and have a new A-League and administration that is functional and going places. It all points to the possibilities becoming greater.

However, there is still much work to be done, and this begins on the field. We will have to play well in the Asian Cup to begin with, and of course, when all the world is watching, perform well in Germany.

I will be there cheering the lads on to hopefully bigger and better things for all football followers in Australia.

Bernie Misses Out

I just got the email from FIFA and the news is not good for my mate Bernie. He has missed out on the ballot and must now try his luck in the free-for-all that is going to happen on the 15th of February. Not a good situation, and he will most likely be flying into Germany without tickets.

He can of course, pay a premium and get them from an authorised broker, however, this is a pricey option, and knowing Bernie, he would rather chance his arm at the games on the night.

In my opinion, I think this is a good idea for the Japan and Croatia games, but Australia versus Brazil will be the match of the qualifying rounds. He will struggle to get them for this game.

Also, I have received emails from FFA Travel which have informed me that itineraries are being finalised. It will be nice to find out exactly where we are staying and what we are doing.

Finally, I am about to pay the final istalment of the trip, the airfares, on Thursday. After saving the $400 or so, the downside was early payment. Oh well, it will be $400 more I can spend on beer at the Munich beer halls!