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Sunday 23 March 2008

Worried about China? You bet!


Our golden generation got us to Germany. Who can get us past China?


We beat China last year 2-0, in China. Mark Viduka had a stunner of a game.

The Chinese attacked with great pace in the second half and we hung on...just, and it was only just.

I'm worried about Wednesday. Very worried. It's a World Cup Qualifier.


No Viduka, no speedy Brett Emerton, no Josh Kennedy, no goal-scoring machine Tim Cahill, no Mile Sterjovski and a heap of hope placed on our Harry Kewell.

This is the new Australia. Our golden generation got us to Germany. Who can get us past China?

And if we could win we'd be flying with 6 points, China 1, and even I wouldn't back against us then.

This is a crucial game. A weak Socceroos squad, if they can win on Wednesday we will have breathing space to rebuild before the Second Group stage later in the year.

But if we lose and I fear we will then it's going to be a nervous June. We have the last four games in June.

I love my Socceroos. But I realise the depth of our current squad, and I saw the Asian Cup.

Look at the team list of our best players. Blackburn, Everton, Torino, Palermo, Karslruhe. And most of them aren't coming!

It's not Real Madrid, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, AC Milan is it?

And for this reason we should never expect to win an away International with any ease with our current squad.

We might win on Wednesday but if we do it's going to be by one goal, and it will be tense.

Be prepared for a disaster.

Our squad is different now, an inexperienced or slow squad in key areas.

And no pace up front, or out wide. In international football you need pace to win. This squad has no exceptional international pace in it's front six, whoever we play.

God help Australia!

Do you disagree?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

in the warm afterglow of the WC campaign, i figured that an amazing youngster or two would come out of the woodwork and fight for a starting spot in the socceroos.

that was wishful thinking. what you see now is the group that will take us to the next WC (or not take us).

for me, dunno if worry is the right word. `respect` sounds right. we have to respect the chinese team. we have to respect the qualifying campaign. no more mailing it in with 20 - 0 against tonga.

clayton

Eamonn said...

Clayton,

no exceptional young player around, ie, no Viduka or Kewell at 19 or even 22.

We're gonna do this the hard way...starting Wednesday.

Home support is going to be crucial, and any away point will be fantastic.

hold on to your fingernails!

Still would prefer Asia to Oceania any day of the week.

I'd still be waiting three more years for our next meaningful game in Oceania!