I’m keeping the sporting theme for one more post, expect some music to come later in the week. I had to get this off my chest sooner rather than later.
Four years ago when Germany hosted The World Cup, whiteboydancefloor (as with every Aussie) was right behind them, even if it took the first win to convince a few people. From my perspective, for all the bad umpiring, goalkeeping blunders, red cards and demonic soccer balls nothing has changed in South Africa, 2010. After a rousing performance against Serbia, I have never loved the Socceroos more. I may not love some of the events and coaching decisions, but this isn’t club football that needs to be dissected and probed week to week, we need to move on and back our boys more than ever.
This brings me to my next point. All you Aussies who jumped on the Kiwi bandwagon when you have no cultural affiliation to New Zealand should be ashamed. You might as well go and back North Korea and throw on your Kim Jong Il glasses. You disgust me. Please tell me I’m not the only one who remembers they are the Aussies sporting enemy.
I understand Aussies love a battler and with a side comprising amateurs (who performed commendably) the Kiwis were certainly battlers. But let’s not forget that in football terms with our population and decades of the round ball game enjoying a 3rd, 4th or even 5th preference with the Australian public, we’ve got our own battles to fight without worrying about these hacks.
They had 3 draws against 3 painfully average sides. With a full compliment we beat a Serbian team that tore apart opposition in qualifying and while under achieving at the finals by their own high standards, they still beat Germany.
I understand that due to the Socceroos only making the finals at the past two cups that individuals have garnered a second team over the years and that’s is perfectly fine by me but you have no excuse to back New Zealand, from this cup performance they’re only going to grow and I don’t want any part of it.
Don’t forget you ‘Australians’ the Kiwis didn’t do a Ghana for Africa and fly the flag for the Anzac Spirit, they wanted to win and they wanted us to fail. When we failed, they took great joy in it. They seem to have sorted out things on a domestic level so let’s tell the Wellington Phoenix to rack off and let’s focus on building OUR A-League for OUR future world cup success.
Just quickly, my stand out performers so far.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Not really a surprise that he makes the list. What has impressed me is his ability to single handedly take on the expectations of a nation and thus far deliver with some commanding performances in a team that prior to the finals produced consistent mediocrity. With Di Maria quiet, Tevez taking the role of tirelessly chasing everything down and Higuain only just mastering the tap in goal, Messi has provided the spark and passing link across the front and middle thirds. What’s more I think Veron has proved the perfect foil for someone of Messi’s talents. Sergie Kun Aguero has also impressed as arguably the best super sub of the tournament so far.
Slovenia, New Zealand & Mexico – I love a team that throws the supposed guaranteed qualifiers into disarray. But I still hate New Zealand.
Mark Gonzalez (Chile) – My Mum drew Chile in a work sweep so I’ve watched them more closely. I could have just picked the entire Chile team as I love their approach to football but in Gonzalez I saw the player I’ve always wanted to be. Ferocious appetite for goals, perhaps selfish but always puts himself in the right positions to warrant taking a crack.
Michael Bradley (USA) – The English sides should take note of this chap. I’ve heard him compared to Chelsea’s Frank Lampard but I think he is far more dynamic and robust. His crucial game drawing goal against Slovenia just typified his will to fight. He’s box to box and for only 79kg he rarely allows himself to be out-muscled. We witnessed Bradley’s lack of movement in the final third during the game against Ghana and it’s resulted in the Yanks enjoying early showers.
Richard Kingson (Ghana) – I’m not a goal keeping expert but Ghana are yet to score from open play and if it weren’t for his impressive exploits in goal, the Michael Essien-less Ghana have been impotent and lacking the creativity to warrant scoring. They own their group-standing to some exceptionally lucky handball decisions. His performance in the USA match was outstanding.
So on a positive note, The Bon Scotts are a Melbourne five piece that I'm a big fan of and they have released a double A-side We Can Cause Such a Fuss / Sad Sad Songs which will be followed by the full length Oddernity in September. It's undeniable that they fall within the indie kid genre some people resent and at times I'm one of those people but on all their tracks I've heard to date, The Bon Scotts deliver twinkling, boppy arrangements. They tick all the "it" kid boxes with the shouty choruses and melodies that sound like the result of a 2 year old genius banging on a Xylophone, not intentionally meaning to sound coherent but succeeding with aplomb. I must confess I do love it.
Soundcloud: The Bon Scotts - We Can Cause Such A Fuss
Also as a little World Cup treat, we all know of the annoying sound and controversy surrounding the Vuvezealas at the world cup, I introduce to you a track that may be the early origins of Vuvezela Electro... MP3: Vuvuzela Beat by Ghost Dad
9 comments:
I am one of those people with whom you are disgusted by. But you also follow the Victory so i'm not offended. I jumped on the band wagon and dont regret it for a second. The way they made us look amateur in the warm up game made me take notice. I absolutely love that they play essentially a 3-4-3 formation. For a team who are completely outclassed on paper to take it to their much higher ranked opposition and not put 10 men behind the ball like most other countries would have (including Aus v Ger... Thanks Pim...), is testament to their all-or-nothing attitude. I applaud this and they were rewarded with 3 hard fought draws and were unlucky not to have beaten us in the (not-so)friendly. Sure they got lucky occasionally through their group matches and their opponents had off days but it's nothing less than they deserved.
As for our team, which i love more than ever, we we're desperately unlucky but i wont go on a rant now cuz i could go on for hours. You are right thoug, we need to move on and look to the Asian cup in January. I have complete faith that we can bring home a trophy to put in our cabinet!
I am clearly a proud Aussie and cherish my hatred for NZ in all our sporting rivalries but would like to point out that even though i bleed green and gold, i was still proudly cheering for the underdogs that are the NZ All Whites. Although my support is not likely to continue.
One last thing, i definitely agree with you that Wellington should not be in the Aleague. The AFC have told us to get rid of them as part of our progress in asia and it's obvious they need to go even though they were good value last season.
Have to agree with BK on this (except regarding the Phoenix, I think their inclusion is a welcome addition to the A-League)
Being in NZ for the past week and seeing and hearing the Kiwis reaction to their team reminded me of Ausralia in 2006 and made me quite envious of the NZ people,as it was such a great feeling to be Aussie in 2006,and it would have been great to be a Kiwi for the past 2 weeks. The All Blacks were not the main topic of sporting conversation: it was the All Whites. In a country where Rugby is king, it was a big deal. It was great to see.
Whilst over there, I heard mention of NZ pushing for inclusion in the Asian confederation. I would love to see it, and I would love to see our rivalry in soccer match our rivalry in Rugby.
Fuck the ultra nationalist, patriotic bullshit!
It shouldn't matter who you get on board with after "your" team gets knocked out. (Go Ghana!)As a self proclaimed wishy washy soccer supporter, it makes it more interesting to watch when you're backing someone.
"Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind." - Albert Einstein
Thanks for the comments guys!!! i love it.
B.K, i always respect your sporting opinions. I'm from western sydney who currently doesn't have an a-league team, so its much the same as following another nation prior to 2006 as we didn't have the Aussies to follow.
What's more im sure you can appreciate that making parallels to with national teams and the a-league is problematic. The a-league's relatively fledgling formation doesn't allow for the tribalism your trying to talk about, perhaps my kids will be sydney f.c fans when i live at mosman.
Supporting the kiwis because they play attractive football are the same reasons I'd follow Chile or Mexico. I'm talking about the people (and media) who ditched the Aussies before we were even knocked out.
Chris i love seeing football growing popularity in any country as well, it only benefits the world game. I'm certainly jealous of New Zealand. Perhaps we should do away with oceania then... even with N.Z it's a shame of a confederation.
and Nancy, my nationalism doesn't extend beyond the sporting field. I'm sure Einstein's quote was more directed at Nazis and countries at war, not a diehard socceroos fan. I'm not getting on to some southern cross tattoo ranting, kiss the flag or die... i just felt some people were too quick to ditch the Aussies and get on the next band wagon before the Aussie juggernaut was even finished.
The AFC have told the FFA that Australia is being halted in it's progress for expansion into asia (i.e. extra spots in the AFC champions league etc) because we have a team from Oceania in our national league. I do like the pheonix but they will have to leave the Aleague at some point. Not to mention that the Aleague has only 11 teams and no second tier. The wide brown land that i love is hindering our footballing growth unfortunately. We are progressing in the right direction finally now though. Exciting future ahead! Will i be young enough to play in the FFA cup when it finally gets brought in? Gotta love the opportunity for a local club to progress and play Aleague teams!
And you're right, it is time to ditch oceania. It's bound to happen eventually anyway. Put NZ in our region (sparking huge rivalry) and create another subsection of asia for the islands. Then have them play their own little tournament on par with the Challenge cup.
Are there any spots up for grabs on the AFC board? I have more ideas...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XImxsBMtWY
good points b.k!
and nancy hahaha classic!!!!
holland till i die. and if they lose to brazil, go deutschland! and if they lose to argentina, go argentina and maradona you mad old bastard.
but yes. GO HOLLAND.
the kiwis did well. it wasnt so much that we jumped the tasman, anyone in the world loves an underdog who arent afraid to mix it up with teams who should technically be kicking their asses. it was great entertainment, especially at a time when our greatest entertainment was getting routed by an efficient germany. we still got more points than they did. but they can be much more satisfied with their cup.
aaaah my sweet pix! I'm siding with you on this one. Its now time for another of my world famous analogies- NZ reminds me of my little sister, never admiring me for my great achievements but rather rolling in the mud of my failures and ever quick to remind me of her victories over me. As a big sister, whilst I might look proudly upon her from a distance when she attempts to match my prior achievements, I'll vehemently maintain the opinion that I was, am and always will be the golden child.
I happen to share my bed, culinary skills and fine Australian soil with one of these Kiwis you speak of and he relishes in any opportunity to rub his NZ "glory" in my face....hrmmm that last bit doesnt read so well. But what I mean to say is they would sooner tattoo their faces than jump ship to side with us if we prevailed. Fuck humouring them with support, give our little sister hell!
NB: Im aware this is a well delayed comment but some whiteboy reminded me I had some reading to catch up on :p
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