Football World Cup

OK OK breaking my embargo!!
For many years now I have dined out on the fun of hassling my friends who were soccer fans about the futility of their sport and the inherent beauty of rugby union 'the game they play in heaven'... just with no referees...

Many have become frustrated and indignant at my jibes.... only delivered because they hit the target and create a great deal of amusement watching these lads squirm!!

Little did most of them know that until about 8 years ago I used to stay up and watch the FA Cup Final live [ocassionally hosting up to thirty friends for a party, used to enjoy the Saturday replay with hot dogs made on toast before heading off to my sport of choice and followed West Ham 'the hammers' since just before their early 70s FA Cup success... with the then 21 year old Mervyn Day in goals... Lampard, Bonds, Curbishley and frightful ribbing of my mate Martin who was 'dyed in the wool' Liverpool all the way!! Then in 1982 when I was obsessed with rugby and cricket I pretty much failed legal studies by instead watching the '82 World Cup in the Uni Coffee Lounge...

So all that having been said... what a brilliant performance by the Socceroos!! Finally being able to show their collective talent thats on parade in comps right across the UK and Europe and because of which many previous campaigns have suffered.

It was a cruel match today... everything soccer offers you...
Yes the penalty was WRONG
But also we had half an hour one man up to score
We did well to repel lots of shots on goal but didn't put ours away
Aloisi perhaps came on ten minutes late!!
0-0 after 90 minutes
BUT that leaves you open to a 93rd minute penalty where if Bresciano had stopped the man he would not have had opportunity to fall at the feet of Lucas Neill who had previously been a brilliant brick wall against raids on goal...

Like The Wallabies World Cup loss to England by a drop goal in extra time, the long term satisfaction of having had a go will be paramount!! England were the best team for 18 months to 2 years ahead of that Cup... Australia had played poorly, defeated New Zealand in a cracker with the perfect game plan, repelled the previously swarming England defence and in conditions unsuitable proceeded to say "if you want this damn cup you'll have to pry it out of our grasp as we take our last breath and you'll need to show you're good enough to do that!" and then of course they did... the fact they've been lucky to win a raffle since just makes it all the more deflating... trust me supporters will cheer again...

When the pain of defeat fades and the agony of the penalty wanes we can all retreat back to more normal stories of the Newcastle Jets having more money than sense! Serbs and Croats flare bombing each other in suburban battlegrounds at local stadiums and endless speculation of whether Harry's groin will be right for this or that Asia Cup or Confederations Cup campaign... will Aloisi be home for the friendly against Tonga etc!!

OK normal transmission can now resume!! Go the Wallabies!!