Football world cup draw.

[HTCURRY]

its a real shame we lack skill players...Kewell circa 2000 was on his way to being one of the very best...pace...dribbling...flicks...a great shot with a ton of technique...add to that Dukes with all of the above, minus the pace, but the added bonus of being impossible to nudge off the ball, and things looked so promising.

Cahill is good honest hardworking player...but will he create something from nothing? Does he have that bit of magic? No.

All we have heard in Australia from SBS and ppl like Craig foster is how evil England is...and how all they do is "hoof" the ball, yet the continentals play the beautiful game..so all our technical ppl for the past decade have been Dutch...Serbian..Croatian...etc.

Well where is the talent? Dukes and Kewell went off overseas early in their careers, and even while here, learned a lot of their flair from their respective clubs, not the national set up.

errrrrrm, i lost my train of thought...this post doesnt really say much.

At least we our Gk is world class...actually thats a thought..other than at keeper do we have anyone else who is in the top 25 in their position, in the world?

[FTE217]

Exactely right about Cahill, he's a worker and importantly a poacher around the goals hence his impact.

Well the England of old was "hoof" shoot then look but I expect them to be far better than the last 2campaigns, meaning Lampard and the likes are learning more from the many other euros in EPL and the coach is the best they have had in years. If they don't improve now they have buckleys challenging Italy and the likes.

As for us re players in the Top25 apart from GK, NO.
Going to be a test of character but a hoot though I will be biting my nails LOL....

[anto]

i wouldnt write off our chances just yet.

germany will win the group, they are a machine when it comes to world cups.

ghana play a beautiful skillful game but will struggle to score goals

and the serbs although skillfull almost always get stage fright in big tournaments..

so qualification is not unrealistic

[FTE217]

Thought I would bring up this thread as its not long to go now for a real world cup compared to other sports

Has anyone been watching on Fox the past greats of the game ? and then theres' the road to Sth Africa.
I love watching this stuff !

So since earlier discussions who would have thought Beckham out achilles, Ballack out ankle,Essian out isn't he ? just to name a few bigge names.

Fox sports this morn reports players and keepers saying latest cup ball is rubbish, better get used to it fast haha

So Socceroos beat NZ in warm up, then who would have thought NZ beating the Serbs, ok its a warm up but nice scalp for them to have.
Poms 3nil win v's Japan a laugh, what 2own Jap goals.

[DBourne]

I'm interested to see how big the differnce is between that ball and the premier league ball for example

[FTE217]

You must watch EPL I assume saying the above - agree that ball moves right to left up down depending if you've hit the sweet spot or where on the foot the flight can change for sure.
Depends on the style of the kicker I see also - I only mentioned this to the wife yesterday watching the castrol ad young Ronaldo does - his place kicks from out the box, his leg stops straight after contact of the ball - where as others follow through with their leg after contact.
It works for him no doubt about it having baffled many keepers with the flight of the ball.

[FTE217]

See you later....
Cheers Professor F

[MethodX]

Tricky picking a winner, as several of the favorites have not picked the best available teams or have coaches who seem to have lost it.
France - Should be a favorite, but Domenech is nuts.
Argentina - Awesome talent, but with Maradona as coach? how long before they implode? Didnt pick Zanetti.
Brazil - Dunga didnt pick Ronaldihno, Pato or Adriano.
Italy- Lippi is stubborn, too reliant from the 2006 class, hasnt blooded enough youngsters, no Cassano, Miccoli, no totti.

Can Spain finally do it? or the Dutch?, the Poms?

[FTE217]

So true Methodx with the above.....

Notice you haven't mentioned the Germans, you can never discount them even without Ballack but I doubt they'll get to the final.
I feel France again just won't deliver but who knows, regardless of Domenech the cattle is there.
Argies - yes Maradona is so unpredictable either how he handles the media to who he plays on the pitch to what tactics - pity as Messi and the likes could take it all the way imo.
Brazil - yes regardless not having the above players still have the capability to get there.
Agree wholeheartedly re Italy - but can never discount the Azzuriiiiiiiiiiii !

Spain have the squad/confidence/youth/hunger - good luck to them.
Dutch finally to do it ? possible got a good squad.
Poms - I know you discount the EPL but I'm an avid fan - Capello is an ace they have needed but if any of their 1st choice players get injured ie Rooney/Lampard/Gerard their depth is not good enough - this is their weak link imo.

[MethodX]

This is Englands best chance in a long time, They have to keep Rooney fit though.
Oh yeah the Germans, Not a powerhouse like in the old days but still a good side, should go deep.
My Darkhorses - Serbia and Ivory Coast.

[RG]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Aus should get Hiddink back, offer him whatever he wants.

Can't beat the Dutch

[DJR David]

Can't wait!!!!! Yet again we might sneak under the radar
The germans have already decided the we are not a threat. Sure they said the same thing sitting outside Stalingrad in the 40s........

[saber]

Originally Posted by rodderz

What sort of times will the matches be played there and what the time difference to here?

Time difference appears to be 8 hours from the eastern coast. So for example, if its 8pm in Melb/Sydeny/Brisbane, it will be 12pm in Johannesburg/Cape Town.

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by DJR David

Can't wait!!!!! Yet again we might sneak under the radar
The germans have already decided the we are not a threat. Sure they said the same thing sitting outside Stalingrad in the 40s........

I'm fairly sure Kaiser Willhem once said "With German Generals and Australian soldiers I would have won the war"

[FTE217]

So an opportunist goal by JC < Kennedy.....
Poor trail game as expected though I thought the dutch would have been more polished which they were not - big trouble judging the ball flight at altitude.....

[DJR David]

eh FTE127? The dutch? we played the danish!!

As you said the goal by Jesus was opportunistic, but whenever we play under Pim, everyone (myself included) says we play like crap, but then we win!!

come on boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ralliart]

Australia

Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer, Adam Federici, Brad Jones.

Defenders: Scott Chipperfield, David Carney, Lucas Neill, Michael Beauchamp, Craig Moore, Mark Milligan, Luke Wilkshire.

Midfielders: Vince Grella, Carl Valeri, Jason Culina, Mile Jedinak, Tim Cahill, Brett Holman, Dario Vidosic, Mark Bresciano, Brett Emerton, Richard Garcia.

Strikers: Nikita Rukavytsya, Josh Kennedy, Harry Kewell.

[DBourne]

If it's anything to go buy, Australia won the world cup this year .... when I was playing fifa worldcup 2010

[Ralliart]

Originally Posted by SgtBourne

If it's anything to go buy, Australia won the world cup this year .... when I was playing fifa worldcup 2010

pity it dosn't come on pc

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by DJR David

eh FTE127? The dutch? we played the danish!!

As you said the goal by Jesus was opportunistic, but whenever we play under Pim, everyone (myself included) says we play like crap, but then we win!!

come on boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woops typo
Yep your right I hate Pims tactics but he has got us there thats all that counts.....

Well the team is full of trusted oldies as expected - Moore/Grella the hard men as they showed once again v's the Danes lol....Bresciano Emerton work horse's....midfield/backs look solid as long as they all keep fit, lack of pace maybe found out at times but I suppose when they recover the ground they'll smack 'em to remind them not next time
God help us in attack....Jesus needs all of Gods and our prayers to answer the challengers ahead but Game On anything can happen

[Racecraft]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Woops typo
Yep your right I hate Pims tactics but he has got us there thats all that counts.....
God help us in attack....Jesus needs all of Gods and our prayers to answer the challengers ahead but Game On anything can happen

Personally I can't believe he omitted Tommy Oar... With Harry suspect and prone to breakdown any time I would of had Tommy in my 23 just in case... Even if Harry plays well he has never been a 90 minute footballer, cue the X-Factor of Tommy Oar, instead we have a stable of work horses and reliables... We don't have a team of superstars and imho to nudge the World CUp we needed that someone special......

[DJR David]

Originally Posted by Racecraft

Personally I can't believe he omitted Tommy Oar... With Harry suspect and prone to breakdown any time I would of had Tommy in my 23 just in case... Even if Harry plays well he has never been a 90 minute footballer, cue the X-Factor of Tommy Oar, instead we have a stable of work horses and reliables... We don't have a team of superstars and imho to nudge the World CUp we needed that someone special......

Yep, agree Oar, even though very young, seems have some magic about him.
Saying that, the team is finalised and what is, is.

So let the games begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FTE217]

I agree Racecraft re Oar as well - got to play a wild card/newbie always IMO how else do you see someone perform beyond your expectations and provide the spark when you least expect it.......
Yep we are there DJR -
So Krauts beat Bosnia 3-1
Spain scrape through 1nil over Sth Korea
and the Azzuri down 1-2 v Mexico

Warm ups are so misleading and no guide anyway.

[MethodX]

What does outback have to say all the time?
leave it, lets have an old fashiones Football code or race war like the old days.


Oh yeah and the Azzuri look horrid, see you next Euro.

[Bucknaked]

Theres a couple of World Cup Apps on the Iphone for free, for those with an iphone of course. All the latest info

[AdzT3-146]

more friendly upsets overnight with France going down 1-0 to China.

Australia Vs USA tonight from 22.00 (AEST) on Fox Sports 3

[Barra 290]

Somehow you just feel that with Hiddink at the helm the Australian team was a lot more coherent and its just not there with the other Dutchman,i just heard the scores after the Aus v US game with the loss and things are not looking to good i hope i am proven wrong with my thoughts to how they will perform but you feel NZ is putting in a better performance.What do others think of how Australia are travelling.

[DJR David]

Originally Posted by Barra 290

Somehow you just feel that with Hiddink at the helm the Australian team was a lot more coherent and its just not there with the other Dutchman,i just heard the scores after the Aus v US game with the loss and things are not looking to good i hope i am proven wrong with my thoughts to how they will perform but you feel NZ is putting in a better performance.What do others think of how Australia are travelling.

I here ya. However the USA game like the last few was only to tweek the systems. Pretty much all the big team have also been losing or performing badly on the scorsheet as these games mean nothing

God I hope so anyway...........................................

[HTCURRY]

Australia are going to undo all the good work from the last WC. We earned a lot of respect and credibility in our matches.

I really did think, going into asia, having to play much tougher opposition would raise our standards, and to an extent it has. Despite what we showed against the US, defensively we are a very compact team now, but my God are we crap going forward. It is so very predictable. Germany and Serbia will beat us, without too much hassle. Our hope is Ghana, maybe we can salvage a draw from that match.

[FTE217]

Mmm yes watching the USA game I was like WTF Grella giving away the ball easily and he wasn't alone !
I'm trying not to be too negative being warm ups but where was some fluency ??
As usual we are good at passing the ball back god help us going forward...

Many friendly game results have been heartening to see unexpected results lets hope thats the case for us.....
Yes Methodx the Azzuri are no better than the Roos at this stage but I'm not abandoning them as yet.

This looks like a far more open cup than expected imo - no team barring brazils results is showing some sort of form.
Injuries are already playing a key role - Ferdinand - Drogba ? < pity here as he's the man for the coast and always puts on a great show and could have finished 2nd in their group with him firing,makes it better for my inlaws being Portugese.