Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Australia 0 Italy 1
It is now 24 hours since the Socceroos dream was shattered by yet another "very ordinary" refereeing decision. Rather than vent my spleen on the standard of FIFA officials at the 2006 World Cup, here's a quote from an independent observer.
Rohit Brijnath of The Hindu writes:
Driven by dreams
Football is driven as much by dreaming as it is by tactics and fitness, thus leaving room for heartbreak. Ronaldinho has said that at 14 he realised his purpose was to win the World Cup. Australia's dream was just to arrive at a cup, and there is something grotesque about men striving for 95 minutes only to have their ambitions betrayed by a referee's error.
How tragic was Italy's penalty against Australia: it came with no time left for reply, it came because of a foul against Lucas Neill who did not put a foot wrong all tournament, it came because an Italian swooned on contact with Neill and the referee believed the performance. Cried Tim Cahill: "All the hard work and spirit has been for nothing."
Australia is possibly the story of this cup, for almost every other attending nation lives for football, in Australia it is only being discovered. Now the prime minister has been filmed cheering, and for a politician to turn a sport into a photo opportunity it must be important.
For all the imperfections of Australian football, its performances were almost perfect in their effect. They demonstrated to sceptical Australians the beauty of football (the thrill of three goals in the final eight minutes against Japan, the catastrophe against Italy), and advertised to the football world, where it is mostly unacknowledged, the boldness of the sporting Australian.
They will get over their heartbreak, but for us the tragedies of the cup remain. Like waking up to watch an ugly England, and then wondering why we did not sleep on.
Thanks for the memories boys.
Rohit Brijnath of The Hindu writes:
Driven by dreams
Football is driven as much by dreaming as it is by tactics and fitness, thus leaving room for heartbreak. Ronaldinho has said that at 14 he realised his purpose was to win the World Cup. Australia's dream was just to arrive at a cup, and there is something grotesque about men striving for 95 minutes only to have their ambitions betrayed by a referee's error.
How tragic was Italy's penalty against Australia: it came with no time left for reply, it came because of a foul against Lucas Neill who did not put a foot wrong all tournament, it came because an Italian swooned on contact with Neill and the referee believed the performance. Cried Tim Cahill: "All the hard work and spirit has been for nothing."
Australia is possibly the story of this cup, for almost every other attending nation lives for football, in Australia it is only being discovered. Now the prime minister has been filmed cheering, and for a politician to turn a sport into a photo opportunity it must be important.
For all the imperfections of Australian football, its performances were almost perfect in their effect. They demonstrated to sceptical Australians the beauty of football (the thrill of three goals in the final eight minutes against Japan, the catastrophe against Italy), and advertised to the football world, where it is mostly unacknowledged, the boldness of the sporting Australian.
They will get over their heartbreak, but for us the tragedies of the cup remain. Like waking up to watch an ugly England, and then wondering why we did not sleep on.
Thanks for the memories boys.
# posted by Brutus : 1:03 PM
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Letter to the Editor 29.06.06
'PENALTY FITS THE CRIME'
This week's heartbreaking World Cup loss by the Socceroos team to the Italians rekindled memories of a similar sporting feat that ended in dramatic fashion.
They played their hearts out against a better opposition with some of the best players in the world. They battled hard, never gave up and fought to overcome a huge task. No one had given them a chance of victory.
They played the ball all around the park with some spectacular shots. They sniffed the possibility of an upset and pushed on. Decisons went their way and they found themselves with a chance of winning. Then came a decision that shocked the world in the last seconds of the game, when they had done so well. What was set to be remembered as a memorable match would be remembered for all the wrong reasons. At the very last moment Trevor Chappell bowled an underarm delivery. Justice, perhaps."
Too bloody right - go the Krauts
'PENALTY FITS THE CRIME'
This week's heartbreaking World Cup loss by the Socceroos team to the Italians rekindled memories of a similar sporting feat that ended in dramatic fashion.
They played their hearts out against a better opposition with some of the best players in the world. They battled hard, never gave up and fought to overcome a huge task. No one had given them a chance of victory.
They played the ball all around the park with some spectacular shots. They sniffed the possibility of an upset and pushed on. Decisons went their way and they found themselves with a chance of winning. Then came a decision that shocked the world in the last seconds of the game, when they had done so well. What was set to be remembered as a memorable match would be remembered for all the wrong reasons. At the very last moment Trevor Chappell bowled an underarm delivery. Justice, perhaps."
Too bloody right - go the Krauts
# posted by 
: 8:26 AM
: 8:26 AM
If you thought elephants had long memories, they have nothing on your "Kiwi" sports nut.
It's 25 years since this non-descript one day cricket match between Australia and New Zealand. Get over it. It's hardly comparable to the 2006 World Cup.
And they still claim Phar Lap as one of theirs, despite the fact that he never set foot on a New Zealand racecourse.
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It's 25 years since this non-descript one day cricket match between Australia and New Zealand. Get over it. It's hardly comparable to the 2006 World Cup.
And they still claim Phar Lap as one of theirs, despite the fact that he never set foot on a New Zealand racecourse.
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