FIFA World Cup Thread

[paddyl90]

Great pics BIJ. Glad you had a good night

[hillchaser]

Just thought that I would revive this thread. Tommorow night could well and truly be it !. Then we can start a new thread for World Cup Preparations.

I'd love to see Kennedy and Scotty Mac playing up front tommorow night. I'm sick of this lone striker rubbish.

[Sartorius]

So if we win tomorrow night, are we certainly through? Or is it just very, very likely?

[dom_105]

So if we win tomorrow night, are we certainly through? Or is it just very, very likely?

If we win, we will have to drop every game on the way in, and either Bahrain (play Qatar, Australia, Uzbekistan) or Uzbekistan (Australia, Japan, Bahrain) have to win every one. Even if that does happen, we'll go into a playoff with the top-ranked from Oceania (i.e, probably New Zealand)

In other words, we'll be home and hosed.

[Sartorius]

So if we win tomorrow night, are we certainly through? Or is it just very, very likely?

If we win, we will have to drop every game on the way in, and either Bahrain (play Qatar, Australia, Uzbekistan) or Uzbekistan (Australia, Japan, Bahrain) have to win every one. Even if that does happen, we'll go into a playoff with the top-ranked from Oceania (i.e, probably New Zealand)

In other words, we'll be home and hosed.

Awesome, thanks for that Dom. Should be a good night tomorrow then if all goes to plan!

[dom_105]

We've hold up our end of the deal. First half wasn't too flash but we got the job done in the end.

Obviously Uzbekistan is now out of the question, so a Bahrain draw or worse tonight will seal it.

[Madden]

No draw so we're still not officially in.

We only need 1 point from our final three games though. Should be a breeze.

Does anyone else feel like qualifying for this WC has almost felt a little bit too easy?

[swoodley]

It just seems easy after all the bullshit we've had to go through in the past.

[dom_105]

No draw so we're still not officially in.

We only need 1 point from our final three games though. Should be a breeze.

Does anyone else feel like qualifying for this WC has almost felt a little bit too easy?

There is a lot to be said about playing high quality opposition.

[grassy1]

C'mon BAHRAIN you can do it.

[hillchaser]

Just because we've qualified doesn't mean we'll do anything at the world cup ....It's awesome that we are going to qualify but I can't help wishing that we are good enough to make something of it when we are there. Like we did last time !

THis interview by Craig Foster is pretty interesting considering that our next mission is now to prepare for the WC. http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/socceroo ... ay-179933/

Funny when Pim let the dog off the leash that the players actually found some rhythm showed some real class. I reakon we need to play with that type of style in the WC.

[Crazyman]

tend to agree HC, however, having the extra days in camp would have helped with preparations for the game...that and not being jetlagged...

[hillchaser]

Time revive this thread again.

What do people think of the large squad selected ?
Viduka ?

Even with Kennedy I still feel like we don't have a strong agressive striker up forward without Aloisi or Dukes. We struggle to hold the ball up these days and this will be a problem when we actually need to win games rather than just playing for the draw. Scotty Mac, the K Bomb and Timmy Cahill are all junkyard dogs and need a big striker up forward who can hold up the ball and control it in the air. Kennedy can do this sometimes but in other games he gets pushed around badly.

I also have to say that I'm really impressed with the emergence of Valeria and Kennedy over the last year.

[Crazyman]

Little surprised Dukes didn't get in the squad, though that could be an attempt to blood some younger players at the international level...

Therefore, not too concerned. We only need one point from three games and as such and if we can't scrape even a point out of these last three games we don't deserve to qualify...

Also, it give Pim a chance to see what other strikers are waiting in the wings...

[Madden]

I think you'll find that Dukes will play at least 1 of the games. They have indicated that they would be willing to alter the squad if he indicates that he is keen.

[Rossoneri]

Would love nothing more for Dukes to want to come back and the team says no. So he waits until the team has qualified, he wants in?

No thanks Dukes, you were a great league player, never a good player for Australia.

[hillchaser]

Time to revive this thread. By the time we wake up tommorow we will know the draw for next year Here's hoping we get England ! but not Brazil

[Gyoza]

Group A
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay
France

Group B
Argentina
Nigeria
Korea Republic
Greece

Group C
England
USA
Algeria
Slovenia

Group D
Germany
Australia
Serbia
Ghana

Group E
Netherlands
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon

Group F
Italy
Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia

Group G
Brazil
Korea DPR
Cote d`Ivoire
Portugal

Group H
Spain
Switzerland
Honduras
Chile


Tough but not too bad. Helps that we get Germany out of the way in our first game.
Ridiculously easy group for England.

[Royza]

Yep, would've like to have replaced US in Group C.
Avoided Group G though. Brazil, Portugal, & Ivory Coast would've been the toughest.

Group B might've been ok too with Maradona almost completely insane.

[Madden]

Does anyone else hate the Socceroos new strip for the World Cup?

I much preferred it when it was only gold - the green makes it look a bit messy I reckon.



Not long to go now until the main event starts - how do we think the Aussies are shaping up?