Yes, it's yet another soccer (football, if you prefer) post... you guys will have to bear with me throughout the whole of this World Cup. Considering that I have been waiting for 2006 Germany WC since 2002 Korea-Japan, you have to forgive and understand me. Lol. I'll probably post random stuff, probably complain/rant/jubilate about some matches, all the way to the finals on 9th July. =D Disclaimer: I do not know/understand everything about soccer, considering that I'm 'new' at this, hence, you may or may not agree with some of my viewpoints or 'ideas' about soccer, but heck. =P
Australia is through to the second round! The Socceroos are meeting Italy this Tuesday, 1 a.m. (Melbourne time). What glory for Australia; the television, radio and newspaper is full of jubilation over the win/draw, and Australia's advancement into the knockout rounds. What heartbreak for the Croatians, who fought bravely, but alas, will be heading home after yesterday's match; agonizing, considering that they were this close to getting through.
I went shopping with Ong Chi today, and some shops had the radio on as the background music, and the every single time the DJ was on, he/she just had to spout a sentence with at least the words 'Socceroos', 'advance', 'World Cup', 'win', 'Australia', etc.
Waiting at my friend Grace's place before heading to church for fellowship, I read the newspaper while her cousin switched on the TV and channel-surfed randomly. The huge headlines on the front page of The Age read: "KEWELL!" with the "Australia 2 Croatia 2" score in smaller font size on the top and below the huge "KEWELL!" caption were little bullet-points saying:
"History is made" , "Socceroos into round two" , "Now for Italy on Monday"
Harry Kewell, by the way, is the Australian player who scored the equaliser, which saw Australia's dreams come true. It had been a crucial match; Australia needed at least a draw to get through to the second round, while Croatia needed a win, and the score went back and forth as each side fought intensely. But what was with Hiddink's decision of putting in Kalac as goalie? He made terrible blunders!
The 5 o'clock news was full of Australia's win, and the Kewell equalizer which saw their World Cup dreams revived. The Australians are obviously very, very proud and happy. On SBS, they were showing the replay of the Australia-Croatia match again.
Funny, there have been these ads on TV as well, by Nike, shown very often during halftime breaks, before matches, and after matches; basically the ad shows this old man laughing at the Socceroos' chances of winning in World Cup:
"Soccer-whos?"
And stuff like, "You'll never beat Brazil, etc. etc."
(Can't remember exact words)
But anyway, the advert ended with the players aiming the soccer ball towards the old cackling man, knocking him off the stands. Haha, it's just sadistic, but it is funny.
Basically, it pretty much summed up the general perception of the Australian team - "Soccerwho", but defies that by:
STUFF history.
So I guess in a way, history really has been stuffed, seeing that Australia has defied all odds. Whether lucky or not, they've done it, and made it to the second round.
Anyway, it's been rather amazing. I'm not really supporting Australia as yet (I'm not supporting any particular teams, for that matter!), but I have to admit, they have been playing rather well so far, with Guus Hiddink at the helm, guiding the team. (Guus Hiddink coached South Korea at the previous WC, bringing them from mere 'outsiders', all the way to the semifinals - can the magic work again this time? Heh.) Guess this victory would be silencing most of the critics and doomsayers who haven't been too optimistic or positive about Australia being in World Cup.
I have almost recovered now, save for this annoying cough. It'll take another few more days for it to clear; but in the meantime - it's back to World Cup for me!!
=D
Australia is through to the second round! The Socceroos are meeting Italy this Tuesday, 1 a.m. (Melbourne time). What glory for Australia; the television, radio and newspaper is full of jubilation over the win/draw, and Australia's advancement into the knockout rounds. What heartbreak for the Croatians, who fought bravely, but alas, will be heading home after yesterday's match; agonizing, considering that they were this close to getting through.
I went shopping with Ong Chi today, and some shops had the radio on as the background music, and the every single time the DJ was on, he/she just had to spout a sentence with at least the words 'Socceroos', 'advance', 'World Cup', 'win', 'Australia', etc.
Waiting at my friend Grace's place before heading to church for fellowship, I read the newspaper while her cousin switched on the TV and channel-surfed randomly. The huge headlines on the front page of The Age read: "KEWELL!" with the "Australia 2 Croatia 2" score in smaller font size on the top and below the huge "KEWELL!" caption were little bullet-points saying:
"History is made" , "Socceroos into round two" , "Now for Italy on Monday"
Harry Kewell, by the way, is the Australian player who scored the equaliser, which saw Australia's dreams come true. It had been a crucial match; Australia needed at least a draw to get through to the second round, while Croatia needed a win, and the score went back and forth as each side fought intensely. But what was with Hiddink's decision of putting in Kalac as goalie? He made terrible blunders!
The 5 o'clock news was full of Australia's win, and the Kewell equalizer which saw their World Cup dreams revived. The Australians are obviously very, very proud and happy. On SBS, they were showing the replay of the Australia-Croatia match again.
Funny, there have been these ads on TV as well, by Nike, shown very often during halftime breaks, before matches, and after matches; basically the ad shows this old man laughing at the Socceroos' chances of winning in World Cup:
"Soccer-whos?"
And stuff like, "You'll never beat Brazil, etc. etc."
(Can't remember exact words)
But anyway, the advert ended with the players aiming the soccer ball towards the old cackling man, knocking him off the stands. Haha, it's just sadistic, but it is funny.
Basically, it pretty much summed up the general perception of the Australian team - "Soccerwho", but defies that by:
STUFF history.
So I guess in a way, history really has been stuffed, seeing that Australia has defied all odds. Whether lucky or not, they've done it, and made it to the second round.
Anyway, it's been rather amazing. I'm not really supporting Australia as yet (I'm not supporting any particular teams, for that matter!), but I have to admit, they have been playing rather well so far, with Guus Hiddink at the helm, guiding the team. (Guus Hiddink coached South Korea at the previous WC, bringing them from mere 'outsiders', all the way to the semifinals - can the magic work again this time? Heh.) Guess this victory would be silencing most of the critics and doomsayers who haven't been too optimistic or positive about Australia being in World Cup.
I have almost recovered now, save for this annoying cough. It'll take another few more days for it to clear; but in the meantime - it's back to World Cup for me!!
=D
3 comments:
how about this?
Guus do know Kalac have Croatian ties.
not suprising for multicultural Australia. *coughs*
who know what Guus was thinking..
but trying to spite Croatia was my guess.
lol.. but if he wasn't the goalkeeper.. we might WIN and not draw.
i swear.. everyone was like "EVEN I COULD SAVE THAT BALL!" lol =p
I used to go for Yugoslavia, but ever since it all split up and stuff I haven't really found a team to support LOL. Supported Serbia for a while then ....
As for Kalac (Never enough talk about him LOL) He had go in sooner or later. How bad would that be if they went through the whole WC and he never got a shot LOL
Gotta feel sorry for him though, unless he does something spectacular soon, he's only going to be remembered for his stuff ups. LOL
Aussie is going out in this round. i can SMELL it!!
muahhaaa!!!
damn~ the Koreans are out. wasted sia
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