Brazil only Need a Half, Oz Needed a Miracle
Was there ever any doubt? After sleepwalking for a half, Brazil managed to rouse itself to bury a vastly overmatched Japan side 4-1. Even Big Ron himself managed to get two while he continues to play himself into shape.
But, the match of the day–the match of the tournament, so far–was Australia with their miracle last minute goal against Croatia. Harry Kewell is one of my least favorite players on the planet, so I wasn’t thrilled. But, they go through with that 2-2 draw.
There were several lessons to be learned by the likes of the US and even England in these matches. Brazil shot 21 times. If you don’t shoot, you don’t score. Granted, not everybody gets to play Japan. But you have to create shots and take them when they’re there. Otherwise, you end up waiting on some last gasp header with 5 minutes to play.
Australia needed the tie. They played as if their very lives depended on it. They threw everything they had at Croatia, playing with 4 forwards late. The US finished their match as if they were already packing.
Well Done Oz.
There is a very interesting undercurrent to the pending Italy Australia match, a game which not many pundits had predicted to take place. Not to toot my own horn too much, but I foresaw this one of the pages of Bullzeye.com before the tourney started.
What is interesting is that the coach of the Aussies, Hiddink, was coach of the South Korean team that shocked Italy in the 2002 World Cup and knocked them out of the tournament. Many, myself included, state that the refs also gave a hand but Hiddink had his part too! Coach Lippi of Italy even mentioned this fact on TV in the post game yesterday and so this has go to be in the back of the mind of the Italians.
I predicted over a month ago that Australia might upset Italy in round 2 and now we have the match up. I think the Aussies will be ready to fight when they take on Italia and so the key to the match will be if the Italians show up in playboy mode or if they show up ready to fight
The second round is going to be spectacular!
Playboy mode – that’s hilarious!
I think this Italian team is the best I’ve seen since the 82 champions. They go after it, and they don’t rely too much on defense and conservative play. I like their chances to get to the final 4.
Gerardo
With all the bella figa here in Italia and the millions these guys have in their bank account, the Italian guys get a lot of practice in playboy mode. Rumour has it that they often get this practice 7 nights a week including before game day.
On the bright side, Thursday game showed us that Lippi has lots of choices. Materassi is one of the best defenders in the Italian league, he lines up every Sunday for Inter Milan. For the National team he is a bench warmer but when Nesta got hurt, he jumps on the pitch and sends one into the goal. I understand Nesta will be out against Australia and Italia shouldn’t suffer this loss too much if at all. Also Inzaghi came in and gave 30 great minutes with a nice goal.
The Italians off the bench performed well but still I like Australia’s chances against Italia even though it would be the upset of the tournament.
Should be interesting.
By the way, the “playboy” comment is pretty much the universal critique of “our boys” here in Italy. Literally they use the word “playboy” stolen from our English vocab.
Italians have a love hate relationship with this team. It’s roses and love when they win and pure spite when they lose. Italians expect nothing less than the World Cup and all that counts is winning. No matter if they give a good effort and lose, there will be hell to pay if these guys drop out anytime before the finals.
The players are under huge pressure but I guess I would accept that pressure if I had their salary and nightlife…