WOOOO HOOOOto the SOCCEROOS

Onya Boys...Can't wait 'til 2006

2006 is just 45 days away.

This will suit most of our players because most of them are based in Europe/England anyway.

[quote=Lawnbowler]my heart stopped during the penalty shootout......

I had my eyes half-covered most of the time during the shootout...now that's drama (and I still think it's a terrible way to sort out the winner)

At least I know tomorrow the newspaper headlines will be good news for a change

Johnny Warren must be turning cartwheels up there somewhere

I left the room, my heart wouldn't take the excitement! w00t!

WOOO HOOOO GO THE ROO'S HELL YEAH!!!

...(and I still think it's a terrible way to sort out the winner)

yeah I agree.

I would have bet my life Kewell would have been given man of the match. Hiddink is a genius and Aloisi had balls taking that last kick. I don't think there was an aussie out there who had a bad run, I still can't believe it.

You mean I dont have to listen to 3 1/2 years of "we wus robbed"?

oh no wait, that will come when we get beaten.

Not being much of a sports fan . . can somebody please tell me how this
works?. . I mean the path to the World Cup next year. ?? . .like. . how many more games to the final. . . who is still in the running. . *you know. . all the basic stuff I have no clue about* .      

Was so happy!!! I was standing during the penalty shootout hiding behind the door so nervous and excited. It's been a really good year for sport. CONGRATS!!!

Quoted from Gizmo

Not being much of a sports fan . . can somebody please tell me how this works?. . I mean the path to the World Cup next year. ?? . .like. . how many more games to the final. . . who is still in the running. . *you know. . all the basic stuff I have no clue about* .      

Well Giz there's so much to know...and so little time...the wikipedia entry is a pretty good explanation of how the regions all work and it does list all the final 32 so you can go here if you want all the details http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Cup_2006.

Basically, what's happening in Germany next year (and what we qualified for) is the finals.  There are 32 teams in the finals (out of 197 teams who vied for those spots) and we were the last team to qualify.  

Each of the 6 qualification groups (based on geographic regions) gets a certain number of spots in the finals and the countries in those regions get to play off for the spots.  Depending on where you live you will have a different view of how fair this system is -

Europe Group has 51 teams competing for 13 places,
Africa has 13 teams competing for 5 places,
South America has 12 teams competing for 4.5 places,
Asia has 39 teams competing for 4.5 places,
North America and the Carribean has 34 teams competing for 3.5 places
Oceania has 12 teams competng for 0.5 places

The unfairness of all of the above is due to the massive corruptions within FIFA (the body that governs world football)(yes this is my opinion only)(but its true dammit)

The winner of Oceania (Australia this time) had to play off the fifth place team in the South American group (uruguay)

Clear as mud eh?

Suffice to say...it's damn hard for Australia to make it in and it's a jolly good show that they did.  I'm not the worlds most fanatical sports fan but I do like to see a fariy tale come true every now and again to restore my faith in the goodness of the world (besides soccer players are sooooo cute)

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!!

One hell of a game!!   Bring on Germany!!

I don't believe Oceania deserves a spot yet. While some areas of the qualifying system seem abit grey I do think Fifa has done a decent job in handing out the fair amount of spots respective to how good the quality of football in each region is played. I think they should have instead made us qualify through Asia and maybe after last nights performance, surely they've got to rethink where we stand in the whole process. I just hope they don't fall into the same group as my beloved Portugal, that would be heart breaking and its gonona be different without having the irish there next year. I always enjoyed watching them play, they had alot of heart.

Quoted from Complicatedsimplicity

I don't believe Oceania deserves a spot yet. While some areas of the qualifying system seem abit grey I do think Fifa has done a decent job in handing out the fair amount of spots respective to how good the quality of football in each region is played...

I don't necessarily think Oceania deserves a whole spot either (I'd like it but that is the heart talking) and I certainly don't think qualifying one time should change things.  But I also don't think the Europe or North American groups deserve all the spots they get - their performance does not justify the numbers.  

But I don't really care today...'cos we're going to Germany...we're going to Germany

ok we aren't going to Germany...they are

Thanks for that BSquared. . now I see how far they still have to go. . not in the bag yet.  

No Gizmo they'll in all likelihood not make it past the first stage of the finals (although I'll hope like heck they do) which is why the getting there is worth celebrating

This reported today in the media:

Socceroos tell of intimidation battle
Thursday Nov 17 22:36 AEST

Uruguay's failed dirty tricks campaign continued ahead of Wednesday night's World Cup playoff, with the Socceroos telling of a pre-match physical altercation, intimidation tactics and insults and threats in the players' tunnel.

Several Socceroos confirmed Uruguayan striker Richard Morales and Australian centre-back Tony Popovic had each other by the throat in the Telstra Stadium players' tunnel before the match.

"They grabbed each other by the throat and were ready to fight," penalty shootout hero John Aloisi said.

Uruguay staff and players were shouting abuse and making noise in the echo chamber-like atmosphere to try to intimidate the Australians ahead of the game.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=72657

Quoted from BSquared

No Gizmo they'll in all likelihood not make it past the first stage of the finals (although I'll hope like heck they do) which is why the getting there is worth celebrating

i disagree with that most profoundly.  Given a good draw they are capable of making the quarter finals, if not the semis.........They will be practising as a team for the leadup to the finals, something that has not been possible before and I really believe it will pay off.  They are a good team now, but can get better...

Quoted from SuziH

Several Socceroos confirmed Uruguayan striker Richard Morales and Australian centre-back Tony Popovic had each other by the throat in the Telstra Stadium players' tunnel before the match.

"They grabbed each other by the throat and were ready to fight," penalty shootout hero John Aloisi said.

Soccer players fighting? - Be like getting beaten to death with a limp lettuce leaf wouldn't it?

Quoted from BB

Soccer players fighting? - Be like getting beaten to death with a limp lettuce leaf wouldn't it?

No.  Some time ago "someone" did some "tests" on who were fitter and stronger, AFL players or soccer players and there was very little in it.  In fact, if memory serves, the latter group came out marginally better.

Quoted from Lawnbowler

i disagree with that most profoundly.  Given a good draw they are capable of making the quarter finals, if not the semis.........They will be practising as a team for the leadup to the finals, something that has not been possible before and I really believe it will pay off.  They are a good team now, but can get better...

I didn't say they weren't capable of making it further lawnbowler...just that it isn't likely...probabilty suggests they won't make it to the final 16 (let's face it...half the teams can't make it to the final 16)...it's not like they'll be the only team to be practising as a team for the leadup...and it is the first time for any of them to be competing in the world cup...of course they may well make it...and I will be hoping like heck that they do...but I think getting there is an achievement worth celebrating...and if they don't make it past the first round I won't consider it a failure

Quoted from Paula

No.  Some time ago "someone" did some "tests" on who were fitter and stronger, AFL players or soccer players and there was very little in it.  In fact, if memory serves, the latter group came out marginally better.

Yeah - but that just means the soccer players can roll round squeeling for longer before running out of breath (as they are often seen doing from the slightest little tap on the ankle).

I've seen AFL footballers do exactly that.  And they squeal far louder!

Cricketers just grimace.

PS I don't watch Rugby, but I bet they do the same.

surely one can't compare the physical toughness between AFL and Soccer .
this comparo is absolutely laughable!

Afl = does a knee - goes down in pain (justifyable)

soccer = whipped in head with frayed shoe lace - goes down for good 5 minutes while holding is ankle ...and rolling over more times than one would if thrown out of moving vehicle @ 100 kmh  ..what the ! ( academy award winning wimpy BS )

soccer ! nah ...bit girly i think

Quoted from Mal_Function

soccer ! nah ...bit girly i think

*snort* methinks Mal must be an AFL tragic


What a rotten stroke of luck being in the same group as Brazil though, eh?