Watch The Aussies Panic

You didn't actually read my post, did you?  I didn't say Australia were as good as England, I said they're "not too far behind" England.  So that means I don't put MacDonald, Culina etc up there with Beckham (over-rated) and Gerrard etc.

I do think England are better, but not by much.  England consistently fail, bare that in mind if you ever want to make a point about them.  They have numerous star players but don't too often play like a world-class side.  Infact they're not a world-class side, numerous other sides are a lot better than them and the fact they're ranked 7th really speaks for the FIFA ranking system.

As an aside, last time the two sides met Australia ran out 3-1 victors.

Please, nobody post up the line-ups, for the sake of my argument.
loyalgunner2009-11-16 00:07:52

Woteva.  We are 66.666666% of the footballing nation that Australia is.  2 WCs.  OZ 3.

In a broader sense, yes, Southern Hemisphere soccer just took on a new meaning with both teams in the Tournament Proper simultaneously. The rest of the world is wondering what's happening.

Surely they wouldve been wondering what wouldve been happening if a country of 700k in Bahrain had made it too?

That would be a spunky event though. The Euro Cup, plus Argentina and Brazil would be a show-stopper.

For the purists, that IS a fantasy!

not exactly a WORLD cup though is it.

I'd watch it mate, would be terrific for the purists!

Id probably not watch it on principle. The european championships with brazil and argentina added is not a world cup,and anyone who pushes for it to be that way really just cant see the bigger world picture (im not including you in this diegos son). Saying the WORLD cup should just be limited to europe and a couple of sth american countries is pretty arrogant and completely ignores the rest of the world as its own footballing force (im tired and didnt word that right,meh)

Its just a bit of a passionate peeve of mine is all. The whole "the game is europe,screw the rest of the world". Even british expats here have the same attitude,laughing off our footballing culture and ability.

I get your point, obviously the UEFA-run Euro Championships with Brazil and Argentina, from a pure footballing perspective would be mouth-watering.

The only way it would ever happen is if UEFA allowed either team an 'invited' entry to the Euro Champs (COMMEBOL has done it with the Copa America before).

But for the World Cup (run by FIFA) it would never happen.

I would not at all be suprised to see Aussie beat England, though. I would be shocked if we pulled it off. That is the difference. Aussie don't get smashed by anyone anymore - they beat Netherlands and Ireland at home reasonably convincingly..

I would kill for us to be at that level. We just don't have anyone like Kewell, Cahill or Bresciano - top level midfield players and creative players. I think that we probably compare in the striking stakes and Nelsen would make the Socceroos team as well but that is about it.

In saying that I would still fancy us against them because we would up our game just because it is Aussie
valeo2009-11-17 02:03:52

australian soccer is just a bunch of filthy croats

Cahill played for Samoa because he considers himself a Samoan. That is his identity. See a certain goal celebration recently with reference to the Sunami in his HOME land?