Comments on: Ji-Sung Park Tames Socceroos

By: Balkanghost

Balkanghost — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:20:45 +0000

Don’t panic! More like the Australia 1A team, and chance to see how some of the Australasian based and other fringe players could perform against a very good team in South Korea, i.e. back four dropped in at the deep end…..

Several Australasian (& European) based players (who have been round the traps for sometime) may have helped Verbeek make a judgement as to whether they have chance to make WC squad, versus younger &/or better players with (higher league) European and UK clubs, who have time still.

These same European based players training under more intense and professional regimes (which Verbeek talks about vs Oz) could reserve places by performing at club level during season (i.e. not required to prove themselves in short term friendlies in Australasia), e.g. Ruskavaya, Carney, Holland in Dutch League, Valeri @ Grossetto/Serie B, Jedinak & Troisi in Turkey, Spiranovic, Vidosic & Cetevski Bundesliga etc. etc.

By: robby

robby — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:33:28 +0000

Korea did not have a chance to field their B or C players because the K-league blocked KFA. So Korea had to field their other players…..Aussies knew this and they thought they could get away with fielding poor players. Obviously the result was correct. Even if the Aussies fielded their full strength, I think they would have a hard time.

By: mintox

mintox — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:17:43 +0000

I’m an Aussie and I think that the defence and concentration levels shown by the Socceroos was poor in the first half, I don’t buy the excuse that we were playing our C-list team especially considering that players like Holman, Culina, Kennedy, McDonald, Bresciano and Schwarzer were playin.

South Korea showed us nothing that we didn’t know before, they are sharp, technically excellent and well drilled and finally in Ji Sung Park they have a superstar player.

The Socceroos seemed to have a complete lack of belief in their own game in the first half, giving the ball away cheaply and making the most basic of errors when not under any pressure. 2 of the goals were the result of poor passes when we were comfortably in posession.

There is no shame in winning if the Socceroos go on and learn from it and quite simply the lesson is that Shane Steffanuto and Patrick Kisnorbo should never turn out for the team ever again.

By: Cam

Cam — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:04:39 +0000

I’m an Aussie and I accept it, I will just say the result won’t be the same next time our FULL STRENGTH side plays. To “Simply John” It’s called a FRIENDLY for a reason! So you don’t have to use your best players and you can give the fringe players a chance to prove themselves! I remember the game where England fielded their strongest 11 in a friendly vs Australia and got punished in the first half 2-0. Second half all the youngsters came on and held the second half at 1-1. You have to remember that the depth of talent in comparison to the likes of England, Spain, Italy and even South Korea is pretty much non-existent and quite obviously no where near as good!
Fat Cat, you are a douche. Verbeek isn’t a bad manager for a team like Australia and has proved he can make football in Australia bigger. We have never been at number 14 in the world until now, which is a huge achievement in itself. Australia is only just starting to accept football at a national level and will take many more years to develop into a footballing nation. You sound like you have no idea about Football in Australia and your quote about how Verbeek is a clown makes no sense!!!

By: Fat Cat

Fat Cat — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:42:27 +0000

South Korea is a strong side. Australia fielded such a weak team and they were rightfully punished.

With this lost, the rest of the world will know what a clown Verbeek is.

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 09:09:22 +0000

Less complaints ppl. Its just a game. You win some, you lose some – thats sport so accept it. Tip your hat to the winner. At least it was an exciting match.

By: To John

To John — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 06:43:02 +0000

You seem to be on every forum/comment in the world commenting on how the Socceroos were understrength. Get over it! Accept Korea is a strong side.

By: Simply John

Simply John — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:53:39 +0000

Well, John, you are missing the point here.
What is the purpose to play C-stringer , at the first place? Bring out your A-list.
Are they the same team that will play in the World Cup?

Such excuses won’t make Oz the World Cup winner, will they?
A lose is a lose. Period. Don’t be a bitter loser.

By: John

John — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:23:42 +0000

Well considering Australia were missing 8/10 of our main Outfield players, i think we did ok. Instead we used C-stringers playing in very poor leagues. Korea had their full strength line-up that were playing together for years.

Imagine England’s line up with No, Rooney, Terry, Gerrard, Lampard, Ashley Cole, Defoe , Emile and Barry.