quentinSoccerwho? Socceroos!
August 17th 2006 08:38
Today Sport Talk breaks from the twists and tales of a knee reconstruction to report on Australia's 2-0 defeat of Kuwait in last night's Asian Cup qualifier in Sydney.
The Socceroos became the first team to qualify for next year's Asian Cup finals after a tepid victory over Kuwait at Aussie Stadium.
This team was far from the Kewells, Cahills and Vidukas that stormed Australia into the knockout stage of the recent World Cup, but the new look Socceroos were still an instant hit.
Temporary coach Graham Arnold had promised 'entertainment' and for 30 minutes of the 90-minute match, he delivered on his word. With a resounding lack of international experience and more than 32,000 fans cheering - the Socceroos seemed content to square the ball rather than probe forward for most of the lacklustre match.
But in the last 15 minutes of each half, the all A-League team starkly outran, outplayed and outsmarted their opposition. Kuwait were far from disappointing, but the likes of Archie Thompson and excitment machine David Carney proved too much to handle.
Adelaide United midfielder Travis Dodd nailed the decisive goal in the 76th minute after receiving a classy ball from Carney on the edge of the goal-line. It was all Dodd again in the 86th minute after a dangerous shot on goal was parried away by the Kuwaiti 'keeper Nawaf Al Khaldi, only to be drilled into the back of the net by striker Sasho Petrovski.
The performance has been touted 'disappointing' by some, but for my eyes it was a good sign - the Socceroos can still win games without their marquee players.
Remember, this was not Australia's world cup squad, nor was it even the second side - it was a running, crossing and tackling advertisement for the Hyundai A-League and the boys still managed to deliver.
Coach Arnold is likely to have the majority of his World Cup squad for the Socceroos next qualifier in Kuwait City on September 6, and the final match against Bahrain in Sydney on October 11.
Socceroos 2
Kuwait 0
Adelaide United star striker Travis Dodd celebrates his goal for the Socceroos which put the green and gold in the Asian Cup finals. (Source: www.news.com.au)
The Socceroos became the first team to qualify for next year's Asian Cup finals after a tepid victory over Kuwait at Aussie Stadium.
This team was far from the Kewells, Cahills and Vidukas that stormed Australia into the knockout stage of the recent World Cup, but the new look Socceroos were still an instant hit.
Temporary coach Graham Arnold had promised 'entertainment' and for 30 minutes of the 90-minute match, he delivered on his word. With a resounding lack of international experience and more than 32,000 fans cheering - the Socceroos seemed content to square the ball rather than probe forward for most of the lacklustre match.
But in the last 15 minutes of each half, the all A-League team starkly outran, outplayed and outsmarted their opposition. Kuwait were far from disappointing, but the likes of Archie Thompson and excitment machine David Carney proved too much to handle.
Adelaide United midfielder Travis Dodd nailed the decisive goal in the 76th minute after receiving a classy ball from Carney on the edge of the goal-line. It was all Dodd again in the 86th minute after a dangerous shot on goal was parried away by the Kuwaiti 'keeper Nawaf Al Khaldi, only to be drilled into the back of the net by striker Sasho Petrovski.
The performance has been touted 'disappointing' by some, but for my eyes it was a good sign - the Socceroos can still win games without their marquee players.
Remember, this was not Australia's world cup squad, nor was it even the second side - it was a running, crossing and tackling advertisement for the Hyundai A-League and the boys still managed to deliver.
Coach Arnold is likely to have the majority of his World Cup squad for the Socceroos next qualifier in Kuwait City on September 6, and the final match against Bahrain in Sydney on October 11.
Socceroos 2
Kuwait 0
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Comment by Anonymous
definately not a post-world cup hangover.
Comment by Glen Atwell
I thought the first 30 minutes were most disappointing in terms of playmaking and team cohesion, but after that everything improved.
Lucky for Arnold they ended up pulling out a couple of girls.
Does anyone think the Aussies can go on and win the Asian Cup? Or is the absence of Hiddink too hard to handle?
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Glen Atwell
Not sure how to tackle that comment! I'd have to conservately disagree - Viduka and Kewell are stars of today's game and far from aging heroes.
Look to the future? Did you see the Australia vs Kuwait game? That's future enough for me!
Comment by Stanley
i actually can't wait for the asian cup to go ahead to see how the footballroos would do with some of the asian powerhouses since they would have to face them for world cup qualification. if australia sets a benchmark in the tournament by being a tough team to face, then they'd have a psychological advantage when it comes to cup qualification.
plus, it helps that the hoodoo placed by that witch doctor has been lifted on the aussies as well.
Comment by Glen Atwell
The problem with having a team based away from Australia, however, is that players come and go between tournaments - so here's hoping our number one team is committed to playing the remaining qualifiers and then the Cup itself next year.
Comment by dave
Comment by Glen Atwell
But please call me Glen!