Raconteur

It's implicit in your contemptuous patter - that the only reason the Germans look good is because they were playing drunken convicts. When in fact they were set up to lose by a Dutch coach terrified of them. Honestly, if Capello sent England out with Carrick at left wing, Lampard up front by himself, Stephen Warnock in the hole and called up Stuart Pearce to play at centre half, would you blame the coach or the players? Because that's the direct equivalent of what Verbeek did - and for mine that absolves the players to a very large extent.

Based on a game against 10 drunks, one of them Craig Moore? You must have seen none of the last WC. You need help, my friend. Your hatred of Australia is pathological. It's always drunks this and convicts that. I mean, I know you're a pathetic little wind up merchant, but get a grip. It's patently obvious you got your impression of the Germany-Australia match from a tabloid paper rather than by watching the match - or else you'd realise we lost because a Dutch cunt ran up the white flag before the match started and our best player was so frustrated he got sent off. It's hard to support Germany, but it's shite like yours and every other condescending, arrogant English wanker that makes it easier...

Probably from the fact they needed a pen to beat a very ordinary Serbia and couldn't beat an Australian side who had 10 men for over an hour. They were shite in both of those games...

It's over. I'm guessing you didn't see Germany v Serbia, because Podolski was shite in that game - a dozen chances that all went into orbit. Except the shite pen, of course... In the day's only important fixture, Australia battled to what turned out to be a meaningless victory over Serbia who were better technically but didn't show enough ruthlessness. They should have buried us in the first half. When we went 2-0 up there was hope we'd go through, because it only needed another goal from us and one more from Germany. In the end though one of the best keepers in Europe this season had a Robert Green moment and there was never any chance after that. Shattered - all I can think is "if only Pim hadn't bottled it against Germany" From what I've seen from the group matches: Germany to crush England, USA to coast past Ghana - I'd be surprised if the bookies even took bets on either game

That has to be the funniest post in the whole thread

Is what I said too... How does Cote d'Ivoire count as a "big" team? Because they have a few players in the EPL? Ghana are African Cup of Nations runners-up, and Cameroon is the highest FIFA-ranked (participating) African nation...

Another goalkeeping story - seems to be a few of them here! I was filling in for the seniors (being coach of the reserves) who were raping the league. It was a top of the table clash, and the boys took nearly the whole first half to score the opener. I charged out of my box to congratulate the scorer, not noticing the bad guys getting ready to kick off. The arrogant fuckers shot from the centre circle, and I'm backpedalling like mad, but I can only get a fingertip onto it - it went in off the crossbar... Needless to say the boys were not pleased. Good thing the boys scored another three in the second half! I can still see it in slow motion - the bastard could have tried it every day for the rest of his life and not repeated that shot.

Is this the best typo from World Cup coverage? From soccernet's coverage of the Australia v Ghana match: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/799067/ce/uk/?cc=3436&ver=global

All we (Australia) need to do now is beat a decent Serbia side, and hope an ordinary Ghana can beat a wounded Germany. So it really was a must win for us... That said, swap Kewell for Cahill and Moore for Beauchamp and we're improved already. Then if Pim can bear to drop his colossally shite golden boy (Holman) for Kennedy then we've got a chance of doing our part. What a frustrating match that was! I really didn't think Ghana offered much until the (110% correct) red card, and then we were up against it. There were some positives - Wilkshire was our best player again, and Bresciano was SO much better than Richard fucking Garcia was in the first game. Harry Goddamned Motherfucking Kewell

Exactly - it was a nailed on red card and pen. Fucking Harry Kewell. Fuck you very much, you primma donna cunt

That about says it for me too... One gets hurt more by those they care about. Owen I never liked, and never expected more than mercenary behaviour from. Given was a legend of our club, we all loved him (don't say "Not me!") - which made his jumping ship all the more painful

Don't think so - if so I certainly haven't heard it. Cahill's absence against Ghana seems to be a fait accompli... BTW Has anyone heard anything about Grella speaking out against Verbeek after the Germany debacle? I've heard whispers that don't make sense, and Google isn't helping!!!

There's an argument that when it's goal-bound then it doesn't matter if it's ball-to-hand or hand to ball. That said, I'd be filthy if it was given against us (which is, I guess, the real test for me) And yes, playing an offside trap relies on defenders who can outrun a snail...

The only positive for the ref was the two yellow cards he dished out for clear dives...

Have you told this to Pim? I didn't think he needed a memo - I'll just have to hope he reads my open letter in the WC thread

There's the flip side to this debate too: I'm remembering the 2006 World Cup when Australia played Croatia - who fielded three players born in Australia, raised in Australia and their skills honed with Australian taxpayer money through the Australian Institute of Sport. And I felt very strongly that Ante Seric, Josip Simunic and Joey Didiluca should have their Australian passports revoked and banned from re-entering the country... And if I was feeling fascist, maybe even charged with treason

You'll have to forgive me for wading into a geopolitical debate and an argument over pretty girls, but I'm hurting and need to have a rant. Sorry in advance... Open letter to Pim Verbeek Pim Verbeek, you're a fucking coward and a disgrace. 4-6-0 is not a good formation under any circumstances. Your team sheet may as well have been a white flag, and we Aussies don't like cowards. I mean, I can sort of understand starting Valeri, but Culina is a deep lying playmaker, not a left winger. Watch the replay of the first goal - Culina is one of our best players, but he simply didn't know where to be... Craig Moore and Scotty Chipperfield are way past it. Good servants both, but when they can only run at half pace, and only for an hour, then it's time to chop them. You have Carney and Beauchamp. Use them. Oh, and could you ask Lucas Neill to work a bit harder when tracking back with the opposing striker. Thanks dearie. Richard Garcia, Mile Jedinak and Brett Holman are not international quality players. Bresciano, Kewell and Kennedy are. Your starting line-up made Allardyce look like Wenger, and your substitutes made Souness look like Mourinho. Appeal the red card by all means, but if the appeal is rejected then cop it on the chin. It was harsh, but not unfair. Don't bleat about it. Take it like a man, and you might regain some lost respect. Don't tinker with Wilkshire-Emerton on the right. It was one of the few things you got correct. Similarly, Nikky R is a good impact sub - if he has some support. You know, like Bresciano, Kennedy or Kewell. Learn the national anthem. It's called "ADVANCE Australia Fair", not "Hide while the Germans attack us" You've got two games now Pim. Pick a team that will beat Ghana, and then pick one that will beat Serbia. It really shouldn't be too hard. Watch the DVD of their game earlier. There are flaws that you can exploit with the tools you have. Oh, and I've asked a mate in SA to punch you in the face if he sees you. So if a random Aussie smacks you silly, don't blame him, blame me. If you want to discuss this, my phone number +61 421 994 ...

Boo, Collingwood! Boooooooooooooooooo! EDIT: That said, the constant disappointment of supporting the Pies is excellent training to be a Toon fan Collingwood have alway's struck me as the Mackems of the AFL. It's a shithole and a second rate club with an inferiorty complex to go with it. Not to mention an obnoxious fuckwit as chairman and a loathsome coach/manager The parallels are scary!

So much for my wish of zero points and zero goals for the host nation

First impression: South Africa are unbelievably shite - hope the Mexicans can knock a dozen past them in the second half. Second impression: I can understand the complaints about the ball - almost every switch of play has sailed into the stands!

<----- This bloke, Josh Kennedy Will play up front alone for Australia and will take the physical battle right up to the German and Serbian centre halves. A target man who scores goals, unlike Marko Viduka...

Boo, Collingwood! Boooooooooooooooooo! EDIT: That said, the constant disappointment of supporting the Pies is excellent training to be a Toon fan

Oh good lord. I don't think it's 100% though, but he seemed to been caught by some neck problems during their game against USA. Have only participated in one training since then and have complained about neck pains. They are dropping like flies though, crazy really. Wouldn't be surprised if there is some South African housewife with voodoo dolls having fun tbh Just read an article saying he is a doubt for the opener against Germany which sucks, but it doesnt seem too serious. He is so crucial to us it isnt even funny. He'll start against Germany. Nailed on.

Australian third choice (and Middlesbrough) keeper Brad Jones may be out of the World Cup due to his son being diagnosed with leukemia (as mentioned on the previous page) Eugene Galakovic on standby http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/793222/ce/uk/?cc=3436&ver=global Apparently the squad was told just before being smashed by the Yanks on Saturday. Shocking news. Thinking of you, Brad...

http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/06/06/1961642/chelsea-to-bid-7m-for-andy-carroll-of-newcastle-united On more than one website as well.. Yeah, I posted that one in the transfer rumours thread. (from the caughtoffside website) All those direct quotes are simply convincing!