Lior Rafaelov puts Israel 1-0 up , 77mins
Paddy MacCourt on
Mick O Neill is cutting a pretty grim figure on the sideline
the absence of sectariansim from the ground must be noted actually
the time wasting here from Dudu Aoute is fucking epic
Israel 1 up:clap:
David Healy on for NI - 83 mins
Eden Ben Bassat ⌠2-0 Israel ⌠84 mins
benayoun on for shecther who has been outstanding tonight - 85 mins
MONTENEGRO HAVE SCORED
game over
Northern Ireland 0 Israel 2 ( Rafaelov and Ben Bassat)
Montenegrins take a point from the English.
Scotland have become the first team in the European phase of World Cup qualifying to officially be eliminated.
[quote=âPhil Leotardo, post: 752270, member: 197â]Fitzy what is the craic there?
Oman were utterly useless when Ireland played them last year[/quote]
I was actually quite surprised at Oman Phil, they were very well organised and have a few handy players like Al Muqbali who scored a terrific first goal (he scored a hat trick last week against Haiti) albeit against some awful defending. They played like a proper international team and weathered the storm when it came (Trap are you listening?), especially their captain and goalkeeper (plays for Wigan?) Al Habsi. But the Socceroos were fucking terrible. They played what looked like a 3-5-2 but got overrun at times in midfield (I didnât watch all of it) exposing themselves time and again at the back with some very inexperienced defenders. Some of the commentary I heard bemoaned Lucas Neillâs injury and unavailability, astonishing really, as I despise him and think he is one of the most overrated footballers in history. The Aussies started this whole whinging shit as well about time wasting, which was laughable. If they were 3-0 up we wouldnât have heard a thing about it. Ironic, considering James Holland should have been sent off for a frankly disgusting tackle in the first half which left I think Al Mugbali on the ground for a few minutes, as they played on. The fuckers should have put the ball out, it was incredibly unsporting and then they complain about a little bit of time wasting.
Jordan beat Japan 2-1 and both results leave Australia with a lot of work to do to qualify. Time to let Tom Rogic loose in midfield.
Australia are shit, mostly because they are starting to believe their own hype about the A-League. There must be something seriously wrong between amateur/youth etc and the transfer to the pro and national level. The talentand standard at local level is as good as anywhere else I have seen.
Now much of the amateur league standard is boosted by ex-pats of Ireland, Croatia, Serbia, Greece, Italy and a massive English Soccer playing population. The coaching seems pretty good from what I see (massive Englush influence un WA) but the attitude up the line seems backward and disorganized.
In all sports here, in WA at least, they waste money on big names andignore development alot. I know Perth Glory and Football West are trying to do that now, nut it seems they couldnât figure it out for themselves. Itâs outsiders are driving the changes.
Mexico v USA about to kick off in the cauldron that is Estadio Azteca⌠Yanks have their work cut out hereâŚ
Live stream⌠http://www.firstrow1.eu/watch/177141/1/watch-mexico-vs-usa.html
Rousing rendition of âMexicanos, Al Grito de Guerraâ, with 120,000 Mexicanos in full voiceâŚ
To be honest Kev, I donât think its anything to do with the A League. The problem Australia as a footballing nation are always going to have is the tyranny of distance. Most of the Socceroos team are playing in Europe (not many in high profile clubs) and Asia (apart from the J League, not really viewed with much credibility really) and for them to get a team together for a home game in the middle of the European season, is never going to be easy. Theyâre probably comparable to Ireland in terms of ability at the moment. But when Ireland play, the vast majority of the team are a 50 minute plane flight from being together to start training. 36 hours really and then jet lag for an aussie team. Never going to be easy.
In fairness, the standard of the A League has improved markedly over the last few years. Iâve watched every team this season live and every team is passing the ball, most very well organised, all trying to play the game as it should be played, with an emphasis on tactical thinking. More and more players are learning coaching in Europe. Look at what Tony Popovic has done with WSW this year, a nothing team in their first ever season and they have done incredibly well, primarily because of what he has learned as a coach.
Like Ireland, we need a successful national team here in Australia. The current state of the socceroos doesnât really have anything to do with the A League, but the A League will be the future of the national team as more and more players who start there such as Tom Rogic, Mustafa Amini, Bernie Ibini, Marco Rojas etc etc go overseas.
El Tri are wearing all black tonight, instead of the usual green jerseys. Interesting.
CâMan Mehico!
Fitzy the fact WSW could do what they have dine says it all. The thing is itâs all gram playing the ball around, but itâs comparitively slow and they donât know how to inject pace.
They just copy stuff from Europe tactically but itâs all ad-hoc from what I have seen.
I understand the Soccerooâs have travel issues but so do Brazil and Argentina. After years of doing it you would suspect they have at least the logistics right, thus itâs not an excuse. I think a slight issue may be the passion, or lack of, for Australia. Many of the Balkans I have met (even 2nd-3rd generation) would put supporting Serbia or whoever ahead of Oz. If thatâs very common then it has to manifest itself un some way up the line. Also I donât think they respect many of the other Asian teams, the media talk coming up to this game was hilarious. I was not one bit surprised by the turnout. The media and players did not seem to be taking it that seriously.
No. Iâd disagree with your assessment of the A League, it can be ponderous, but some teams such as the Mariners, Victory, Roar, WSW have explosive players and their games are played at a very fast pace.
Agree with you about the build up to the game last night. The media had it as a given that Australia would win and win well. They were found out badly.
Mexico just denied a stonewall penalty.
almost 80min gone and US hanging on by skin of their teeth. Mexicans have absolutely dominated, but a combo of very poor finishing from El TRi and backs to the wall defending from the yanks has kept it 0-0.
[quote=âFitzy, post: 752700, member: 236â]No. Iâd disagree with your assessment of the A League, it can be ponderous, but some teams such as the Mariners, Victory, Roar, WSW have explosive players and their games are played at a very fast pace.
Agree with you about the build up to the game last night. The media had it as a given that Australia would win and win well. They were found out badly.[/quote]
One thing that stands out to me here at any level of soccer is natural athleticism but some basic technical deficiencies. Alot of the clubs try to have players playing in the No.10 role and having holding passing midfielders but the fact is these players hardly exist. But they persist with tactics that donât suit the players they have. Vision is a rarity from what I have seen, but so what, itâs a help to have players like that but you can win without them too.
There is much more of a gra for soccer and participation than I ever imagined, they could actually become a force if they step back and have an objective look at it.