The Cogs in Motion
By Michael O'Donnell
Would defeat have been easier for Australian fans to accept if their team had conceded the winning goal in the first minute, rather than the last?
The sight of Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo pointing to the spot to give Italy a penalty in the 93rd minute will no doubt send shivers down the spines of Socceroos fans for years to come, and as the ensuing penalty was put away with incredible ease - defying the enormous pressure of the situation - by Francesco Totti, so were Australia’s World Cup dreams.
The Australian team will rue the missed opportunity that was presented to them in the 50th minute, when Marco Materazzi was given a straight red card for a late challenge on Mark Bresciano just beyond the penalty box. Although the Australian’s were unable to convert, the match momentum swung Australia’s way with the extra man.
Lucas Neill, who most would agree was Australia's best performed player during the tournament, may also rue his decision to lay a slide tackle in the 93rd minute, however unjust the ensuing penalty may have been.
In truth, the Australians throughout the World Cup, especially against heavyweights such as Brazil and Italy, showed their inexperience at this level. While some may argue that the Australians were harshly done by in terms of refereeing decisions, the difference in reality was Australia’s inability to play for the foul, as the top few teams can do so well.
This is shown by the fact the eight seeded nations in this World Cup have received 110 more fouls against them compared to their opponents.
That said, however, this enormous disparity between the eight seeded nations and the 24 unseeded is too great, and it shows some imperfection in the way the game is officiated. Too much pressure is put on too few and something needs to be done.
Result aside, Australian football has taken an enormous step in the past six months under Guus Hiddink, and it is imperative that the Football Federation of Australia keeps this ball rolling.
The A-League is a vital cog in this. Mark Viduka has stated that after his career in England is finished, he intends to come back and play in the A-League, giving back to the people who have supported him. However romantic that may sound, the A-League must not make the mistake of becoming a league for retiring international players. Sure players like Viduka and current Sydney FC player Dwight Yorke will be drawing cards for the game, but the A –League needs to do more to develope the young Australian talent.
Luke Wilkshire is a prime example of the failings of the Australian Football system, playing for Bristol City in the third tier of the English league. It is vital that the FFA make the A-League more attractive to young Australian players than the low level international competitions. Australia needs to start supplying its own brand of footballer. Imagine if this were around in the time of Christian Vieri’s youth, growing up in Sydney. Perhaps one of Italy’s greatest ever strikers, whose idol is Australian cricket legend Allan Border, would have ended up in the Green and Gold.
The World Cup in 2006 has continued to prove itself as the greatest sporting event in the world. Germany has put on a great show for the world. However, the officiating has shown that soccer, one of the world’s most loved games, is hardly perfect. Already, with 12 more games to be played, the referee’s have broken the record for the amount of cards shown, with 23 red breaking the previous record of 22 at the 1998 World Cup in France.
And the bias refereeing towards the eight seeded teams has shown that FIFA needs to sit down with its officials and reassess where it wants to head in terms of world football. With countries like the United States and Australia really just starting the drum up the support it needs in terms of youth playing the game, FIFA needs to decide whether it wants to adopt them into the fold, or hold them at arms length.
One thing that is for certain is that questions need to be asked of a tournament where only a select few teams are able to win, not due to skill, but due to convention.
Would defeat have been easier for Australian fans to accept if their team had conceded the winning goal in the first minute, rather than the last?
The sight of Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo pointing to the spot to give Italy a penalty in the 93rd minute will no doubt send shivers down the spines of Socceroos fans for years to come, and as the ensuing penalty was put away with incredible ease - defying the enormous pressure of the situation - by Francesco Totti, so were Australia’s World Cup dreams.
The Australian team will rue the missed opportunity that was presented to them in the 50th minute, when Marco Materazzi was given a straight red card for a late challenge on Mark Bresciano just beyond the penalty box. Although the Australian’s were unable to convert, the match momentum swung Australia’s way with the extra man.
Lucas Neill, who most would agree was Australia's best performed player during the tournament, may also rue his decision to lay a slide tackle in the 93rd minute, however unjust the ensuing penalty may have been.
In truth, the Australians throughout the World Cup, especially against heavyweights such as Brazil and Italy, showed their inexperience at this level. While some may argue that the Australians were harshly done by in terms of refereeing decisions, the difference in reality was Australia’s inability to play for the foul, as the top few teams can do so well.
This is shown by the fact the eight seeded nations in this World Cup have received 110 more fouls against them compared to their opponents.
That said, however, this enormous disparity between the eight seeded nations and the 24 unseeded is too great, and it shows some imperfection in the way the game is officiated. Too much pressure is put on too few and something needs to be done.
Result aside, Australian football has taken an enormous step in the past six months under Guus Hiddink, and it is imperative that the Football Federation of Australia keeps this ball rolling.
The A-League is a vital cog in this. Mark Viduka has stated that after his career in England is finished, he intends to come back and play in the A-League, giving back to the people who have supported him. However romantic that may sound, the A-League must not make the mistake of becoming a league for retiring international players. Sure players like Viduka and current Sydney FC player Dwight Yorke will be drawing cards for the game, but the A –League needs to do more to develope the young Australian talent.
Luke Wilkshire is a prime example of the failings of the Australian Football system, playing for Bristol City in the third tier of the English league. It is vital that the FFA make the A-League more attractive to young Australian players than the low level international competitions. Australia needs to start supplying its own brand of footballer. Imagine if this were around in the time of Christian Vieri’s youth, growing up in Sydney. Perhaps one of Italy’s greatest ever strikers, whose idol is Australian cricket legend Allan Border, would have ended up in the Green and Gold.
The World Cup in 2006 has continued to prove itself as the greatest sporting event in the world. Germany has put on a great show for the world. However, the officiating has shown that soccer, one of the world’s most loved games, is hardly perfect. Already, with 12 more games to be played, the referee’s have broken the record for the amount of cards shown, with 23 red breaking the previous record of 22 at the 1998 World Cup in France.
And the bias refereeing towards the eight seeded teams has shown that FIFA needs to sit down with its officials and reassess where it wants to head in terms of world football. With countries like the United States and Australia really just starting the drum up the support it needs in terms of youth playing the game, FIFA needs to decide whether it wants to adopt them into the fold, or hold them at arms length.
One thing that is for certain is that questions need to be asked of a tournament where only a select few teams are able to win, not due to skill, but due to convention.
posted by ODDeS and Associates at 10:45 PM
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