2014 FIFA World Cup

[MTTY]

I just wish Robbie Kruse had of been available, then we wouldn't have been stuck with playing Tommy Oar.

[Justin Bieber]

They have been really good, but their qualifying was dodgy. But if they weren't versing the Melbournes and GWS of the World, then they would of never qualified.

[j959]

I just wish Robbie Kruse had of been available, then we wouldn't have been stuck with playing Tommy Oar.

that's harsh MTTY, I thought he did really well??  ???

[PowerBug]

I just wish Robbie Kruse had of been available, then we wouldn't have been stuck with playing Tommy Oar.

that's harsh MTTY, I thought he did really well??  ???

Robbie Kruse is class though.

[Nige]

I just wish Robbie Kruse had of been available, then we wouldn't have been stuck with playing Tommy Oar.

that's harsh MTTY, I thought he did really well??  ???

Robbie Kruse is class though.

[MTTY]

I just wish Robbie Kruse had of been available, then we wouldn't have been stuck with playing Tommy Oar.

that's harsh MTTY, I thought he did really well??  ???

Really?! I thought he was terrible, particularly against Chile. Every time he got the ball he either gave it straight to the opposition or put it out. That's why Chile allowed him so much time on the ball, and to get the ball.

[Jay]

I just wish Robbie Kruse had of been available, then we wouldn't have been stuck with playing Tommy Oar.

that's harsh MTTY, I thought he did really well??  ???

Really?! I thought he was terrible, particularly against Chile. Every time he got the ball he either gave it straight to the opposition or put in out. That's why Chile allowed him so much time on the ball, and to get the ball.

Agreed, didn't rate Oar at all.

[j959]

I just wish Robbie Kruse had of been available, then we wouldn't have been stuck with playing Tommy Oar.

that's harsh MTTY, I thought he did really well??  ???

Really?! I thought he was terrible, particularly against Chile. Every time he got the ball he either gave it straight to the opposition or put in out. That's why Chile allowed him so much time on the ball, and to get the ball.

Agreed, didn't rate Oar at all.

my comments re Oar only apply for the game against the Dutch - I missed the Chile game unfortunately ...  :P   ;)

on the Aus vs Netherlands discussions, we didn't deserve to win but we should have won if we didn't make the defensive mistakes that led to the last 2 Dutch goals - but I guess that's why we're not quite at world class level.

obviously, apart from Tim Cahill we don't have any other 'finishing class' that you need to win at international level so that's why Australia will always struggle - that's why there's a premium for world class strikers.

I was impressed with Ange's tactical plan to the extent where the Dutch changed their formation in the 2nd half!!!  :o  8)

good effort by Australia but I hope they rue the missed opportunity of that game and the 1st half performance against Chile - if we can just find 1-2 world class finishers then we can make waves for Asian Cup and maybe even World Cup 2018 dare I dream!!!  :o  :P   ;)

[Vinny]

I know he is young but he was terrible in the Chillie game, very bad decision making.

[MTTY]

Things i've noticed, watching Australia play:

- We don't lack in an attacking sense

- Our better players are attacking players e.g. Cahill, Kruse, Leckie etc.

- Our defence was way too inexperienced.

The defence is the only problem I had with Ange's squad selection. Fair enough if you want to build for the future and take a young squad over, but why not do it with attacking young players and not defensive young players.

If mistakes are made in the attacking half, they aren't overly worrying and will probably (not always) not result in a goal. This allows teams to play these young inexperienced players in such positions as wing, attacking midfield and forward, as mistakes aren't the end of the world. However, when a defence is inexperienced this will likely lead to goals from their mistakes, making the blooding of young defenders much harder to do (especially if you're doing it with four/five at the same time).

Most of the up and coming young players, that are given the chance, in the top clubs in recent seasons are attacking players. You rarely see young defenders thrust into senior selection in clubs like Barcelona, Chelsea or Bayern (particularly in big tournaments/ games).

This was Ange's biggest mistake, trying to play four inexperienced backs together at a World Cup.

Look at the goals we conceded. (I don't blame these goals solely on who I mention, but it is a factor in the goal being scored)

Chile g1 - Not entirely down to defending, as the Chilean players play a part with skill, but Mat Ryan should not be out chasing that ball against a player. Either an Australian defender goes to him, or Mat Ryan leaves him and waits for him to get closer to goal (or for an Aussie defender to get closer.

Chile g2 - Wilkinson (I think it is) is caught ball watching, while his Franjic follows Wilkinson's opponent, leaving Valdivia unmarked.

Chile g3 - In this instance it is not overly down to poor defending.

Netherlands g1 - Not particular down to poor defending (Despite the missed tackle near halfway) in the sense that it was not down to inexperience.

Netherlands g2 - Jason Davidson keeps RVP on side, as he fails to stay in line with the rest of the defence.

Netherlands g3 - Mat Ryan fails to get his hand fully to the ball, in order to put it around the post.

Now there's the argument that even experienced players could of made all these mistakes, but I see most of these goals as being down to inexperience, bar the ones i've pointed out as not being defensive mistakes.

Leaving Wilkshire out and an experienced CB was our major downfall.

[Andrew3747]

Reece Williams was injured which really hurt our defense plans.

[PowerBug]

Goal 3 against Chile can be ignored, that goal came at a stage where Australia had to push players forward to try and get that equalizer. It was that initial 15 minute period that cost Australia the match (nerves, which led to the points stated above), apart from that they matched them (if not bettered them) after that.

I didn't watch the Dutch game but sounds like we were unlucky not to take a point from that, if not three points.

[RaisyDaisy]

I'm watching the France vs Swiss game now and that first half was probably the most exciting half of soccer I've seen (Granted I don't watch much soccer)

France score from a corner, and than 66 seconds later score again making it 2-0 18 mins into the game

Swiss have a huge chance and bugger it up, and then France get a penalty only for the keeper to save it, and another French guy follows up from the keepers save and somehow rockets the ball into the crossbar!

They go on to eventually score a 3rd goal and it's 3-0 at half time

Exciting half!

[Jackross10]

I'm watching the France vs Swiss game now and that first half was probably the most exciting half of soccer I've seen (Granted I don't watch much soccer)

France score from a corner, and than 66 seconds later score again making it 2-0 18 mins into the game

Swiss have a huge chance and bugger it up, and then France get a penalty only for the keeper to save it, and another French guy follows up from the keepers save and somehow rockets the ball into the crossbar!

They go on to eventually score a 3rd goal and it's 3-0 at half time

Exciting half!

It was a great half. Hope the second is along the same line.

[Nige]

Costa Rica casually sitting on top of Group D.  ;D

Switzerland lost.  :(