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27 February, 2000
- (SEASON ONE/S1)
Soccer in Australia by
Cory Skilton (aka Mr CJS)
The last few years have really been
very big years for Australia soccer. In 1998, in front of 60,000+
fans at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Australian team looking
for World Cup glory looked to be going to France. However, they had
the tickets so rudely taken from them by the Iranian side, in the last 15
minutes of the game the Socceroos as they are known conceded two goals.
Last year, we hosted the Brazilians towards the end of the year. We
were outscored, but not outplayed in the first game, and in the second
game we really should have won. The Brazilians required the sublime
skills of Ronaldinho and Fabio Junior to equalise with two late, late
goals to tie it up at 2-2. We beat the World XI 3-2 in Sydney, which
was another great result. We hosted Manchester United, and never
really looked anywhere near our ability for the two games. South
Melbourne, among the best clubs in Australia and winners of the Ericsson
Cup (Australian League) the last two !
seasons running, visited Brazil, and played well without ever really
playing well enough.
It is a common known fact that most of the rest of the world regards the
Australian sides as 'dirty' players. That is just our passion, and
our well known Australian pride. If Australia were ever able to find
a reliable coach, who could mix our great overseas talent with our
promising local talent, then we would definitely be a feared side.
Mark Bosnich, Harry Kewell, Mark Schwarzer, Paul Okon, Tony Popovic, Mark
Viduka, John Aloisi, Ufuk Talay...all talented players who are never
guaranteed national places because of club quarrels.
Back to the World Cup... The region of Oceania, which is definitely the
weakest in the world, is usually easily won by Australia, where we have to
meet teams from either North America, Europe or Asia to get into the World
Cup. Where is this fair? We have our games, play well to beat
our opponents, then are drawn to face very good foreign sides just to
qualify. It is ludicrous, simply ludicrous. If Oceania had
automatic qualifying, Australia would be virtually guaranteed of a place
in every World Cup, our only real opposition coming from New Zealand.
Well thanks for listening. Hopefully this lets you appreciate the
Australian game just a little more. :-)
Cory Skilton, Queensland Australia. 26/2/00
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