Only in football

Only in football can a win be a defeat.

As sort of predicted by me last night, Australia got the win, but it mattered little, because we didn't score enough, and Germany didn't score enough/Ghana didn't win. It was actually heart-wrenching stuff. Comparable to Italy stealing the win against Australia last time. Although I think I actually cried then.

An excellent performance by the Socceroos, I thought. It makes me all the more sadder that we did that badly against the Germans in the first game. Their team isn't even that great. It's just when you're Australia, and you're trying to play defensively, you're usually asking for trouble. Sometimes attack is the best defence. At least then you sort of get to keep the ball, thus keeping it from them i.e. Spain style.

Anyway, the way the Socceroos were playing this morning, they could've taken on almost anybody. The pressing and the passing was all reminiscent of the way they played under Hiddink, when they actually looked like a team.

It's a shame that the golden generation should disband like this. If we had gotten a better coach in/played better against Germany, things might have turned out differently. I mean, the second-placed team in this group, which would've been us, plays the USA. While that's no walk in the park, it's manageable, especially if they play like they played today.

Ifs and buts matter not now. What's done is done. I'm going to miss this generation of Socceroos, and all the great memories that they gave us.

In all seriousness, one of the biggest regrets in my life thus far is not watching the Japan vs Australia game in 2006. All my parents' fault. That game means so much, especially because I missed it. Sigh. I never understood why they used to let me wake up ridiculously early, but not sleep late.

On a side note, I don't know why TAB and all that keep underrating Australia. You'd think that with professionals and stuff, they'd get it right sometimes. Against Ghana, Australia winning was about three times the payout of a Ghana win. Today, similar odds for an Australia win. Australia's not that much worser than Serbia, in my opinion, even before the game. I actually tipped an Australia win. Yeah. Bizarre.

Anyway, I hope a new generation emerges sooner rather than later. Doesn't look promising right now. But then again, a good coach can make a mediocre team good. Take Switzerland for example. I watched them beat Spain. Unbeknown to me, their coach has won, like, everything there is to win. And they played great.

To summarise, good effort lads.

Word of the Day: Socceroos

Le World Cup

I was informed by Marie, the French exchange student that Sarah has staying over, that in France, they call the World Cup...

...wait for it...

...this is so momentous it deserves a proper set-up...

"Le World Cup!"

Said, of course, with the requisite French accent. World-changing, that bit of information. You know, I don't really want to be going "Le Coup de Monde" every time I speak to a French person about the World Cup.

Speaking of accents, how funny is that Ronaldo ad? I don't know why. His accent is just funny. The first thing that strikes me (har har) is his pronunciation of places. Or, as he says it, play-cez. Here it is here, in all its glory.



I also love how he says "so do I" and "liquid engineering". "So-doh-why." "Likwud engineerink." Gotta love the guy. An arrogant, self-important, antagonistic, ball-hogging guy, but a joy to watch. The Premier League is a lot less exciting without him.

And speaking of French, a real pity about how the French team went out. Such a talent-laden team, ruined by in-fighting and politics. The would've done really well if they'd actually functioned as a unit.

And here we sit, on the eve of Australia's do-or-die match. Yes, the Ghana one was do-or-die. But this one is really do-or-die. Personally, I think 'die' is a bit intense. Having said that, it does promise to be a great morning (early, early morning at that too) of football, as so much can happen, and so much is dependent on what happens simultaneously in the other game. I love how people are talking about it as though Serbia are just waiting to be beaten, and it just depends on how much we beat them by.

Serbia, just at first glance, have one of the best defences going around. Just Vidic and Ivanovic alone would constitute a top defence. And the other two apparently aren't shabby either. One's going to Real Madrid, the other is apparently wanted at several awesome clubs too. Oh, and they also beat Germany, something which we failed to do.

However, as I have seen far too many times over the years, football is a crazy game. I've just realised at this moment how many random completely unexpected moments I've actually witnessed, and I don't even watch it on TV all that often. Arsenal v Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals second leg a few years back. Arsenal taking a one-goal lead at the Nou Camp, and subsequently getting destroyed by Messi. Wigan beating Arsenal at the tail-end of last season. Australia managing a draw with Croatia last World Cup. Chelsea getting knocked out by Barca in virtually the last minute of their second leg Champions League semi-final game. Kevin Muscat, the guy who never, ever misses a penalty, missing a penalty in the A-League Grand Final. Cronaldo, the guy who almost never, ever misses penalties, missing the Champions Leageu final.

The point is, anything can happen, and I believe that something crazy may just happen tomorrow. Yes, the odds are in favour of Australia losing regardless of what happens in the other game, but this is football, and part of its beauty is that the unexpected happens all the time.

Let's go Socceroos!

Word of the Day: Unexpected