The Socceroos bow out, but what a way to go!
That was the most mature performance by the socceroos I've ever seen. They have grown unbelievably under guus. There is no doubt he is a super coach.
However we were always going to be caught on the counter. the signs were there in the first half when Toni could have scored 3 times. Only last ditch efforts by chipperfield and legendary scwharzer saved us. I believe that Italy falling to 10 men actually was the worse thing that could happen to us. At that point we really thought we could crack their defense and pushed, really really pushed.
The reality was that the Italian defense is superburb. I mean fort knox, alcatraz, nuclear bomb shelter, AC -1000 brilliant. Australia attacked it ferociously, but without kewl to provide an extra cutting edge we really didn't have a chance. Cannavaro is a monolith in the middle.
Not only that, even though they were a man down they ALWAYS had numerical superiority in their half. ALWAYS.
And because we pushed so hard, we were almost one on one at the back. The quality of the Italian passing (from Pirlo and later Totti) always found space for their massive strikers.
In the end we paid the price for having an attacking midfielder, Bresciano, at right back. This is where Emerton would have been and Emerton would have closed that long ball no problem.
Instead Brescia failed to make his tackle, Lucas Neil made the ONLY mistake in his world cup and we were gone. In the cruelest, most horrendously unfair and heart renching way possible no less!
A fitting end.
Plenty of regrets, it was a dive, we should have respected the Italian counter more etc. But in the end Italy deserved to win despite the fact that we didn't deserve to lose. They were tactically smarter, more composed and more patient. Their experience showed.
I was also tremendously impressed with the spirit in which the game was played. The Italians were honourable enemies and kept their theatrics to a minimal (Del Piero was the only consistent diver), despite their reputation. Although the game was decided by a 'simulation', you can't blame the bloke for going down in that situation. It was up to the ref to see it for what it was, and he didn't. Every fallen player was helped up by his counter part and the game flowed brilliantly. This game was the clearest indication of the new found respect the Socceroos have earnt.
At least we all get some more sleep now.
Asian Cup starts in August. Lucas Neil will Captain Australia for years to come. On him will we build our temple of Football.
However we were always going to be caught on the counter. the signs were there in the first half when Toni could have scored 3 times. Only last ditch efforts by chipperfield and legendary scwharzer saved us. I believe that Italy falling to 10 men actually was the worse thing that could happen to us. At that point we really thought we could crack their defense and pushed, really really pushed.
The reality was that the Italian defense is superburb. I mean fort knox, alcatraz, nuclear bomb shelter, AC -1000 brilliant. Australia attacked it ferociously, but without kewl to provide an extra cutting edge we really didn't have a chance. Cannavaro is a monolith in the middle.
Not only that, even though they were a man down they ALWAYS had numerical superiority in their half. ALWAYS.
And because we pushed so hard, we were almost one on one at the back. The quality of the Italian passing (from Pirlo and later Totti) always found space for their massive strikers.
In the end we paid the price for having an attacking midfielder, Bresciano, at right back. This is where Emerton would have been and Emerton would have closed that long ball no problem.
Instead Brescia failed to make his tackle, Lucas Neil made the ONLY mistake in his world cup and we were gone. In the cruelest, most horrendously unfair and heart renching way possible no less!
A fitting end.
Plenty of regrets, it was a dive, we should have respected the Italian counter more etc. But in the end Italy deserved to win despite the fact that we didn't deserve to lose. They were tactically smarter, more composed and more patient. Their experience showed.
I was also tremendously impressed with the spirit in which the game was played. The Italians were honourable enemies and kept their theatrics to a minimal (Del Piero was the only consistent diver), despite their reputation. Although the game was decided by a 'simulation', you can't blame the bloke for going down in that situation. It was up to the ref to see it for what it was, and he didn't. Every fallen player was helped up by his counter part and the game flowed brilliantly. This game was the clearest indication of the new found respect the Socceroos have earnt.
At least we all get some more sleep now.
Asian Cup starts in August. Lucas Neil will Captain Australia for years to come. On him will we build our temple of Football.
posted by lucky at 2:03 pm
1 Comments:
I'm soooooo tired!!!!!!!!!!
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