The Official Thread: Australia vs Uruguay

[King Italy]

The Aussies will meet Uruguay for the last place in the World Cup. Uruguay drew 1-1 with the Argies but only just scraped through after Colombia walloped Paraguay 4-0. I am sure we are all relieved by this. Brazil also beat Venezuela 3-0 to finish third.

The first leg will be at the MCG on Tuesday and the second Sunday week in front of over 100,000 fans in Montevideo.

[Joey]

i'd say a pretty even match, but i will go for urgway for the win, becuase i think they have been playing way more matches as a whole team (through the SA qualfiying campaign), whereas the socceroos will be more rusty.. but when u got guys like recoba and, and kewel on these teams u never know.. but if austurlia can't win in australia then it will be difficult as hell in urgway in fron't of thousnads of ppl.. i hope it will be a good game.. may the best team win i guess...:rolleyes:

[FANTA]

australia has named the same 11 that played france.

i don't like our chances. uruguay have dario silva out but they still have recoba playing upfront. uruguay also had the best defence out of all the SA teams from their qualifying campaign. we might get a result at home but away i think they'll be too much.



SCHWARZER

MUSCAT MOORE MURPHY VIDMAR

EMERTON OKON SKOKO LAZARIDIS

VIDUKA KEWELL


that's how we'll look. i'd put uruguays team up but i only know 3 or 4 of them.

[Drulic]

WC-2002: Australia 1 Uruguay 0, playoff summary
MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov 20 (AFP)
Result of the first leg of the World Cup qualifier between Australia and Uruguay played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here Tuesday.
Australia 1 (Kevin Muscat 78 pen) Uruguay 0
(H.t: 0-0)
Australia: Mark Schwarzer, Kevin Muscat, Craig Moore, Shaun Murphy, Paul Okon (capt), Tony Vidmar, Brett Emerton, Josip Skoko, Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, Stan Lazaridis (Paul Agostino 45).
Yellow card - Muscat 87
Uruguay - Fabian Carini, Washington Tais, Paolo Montero, Dario Rodriguez, Alejandizo Lembo, Gianni Guigou, Pablo Garcia, Alvaro Recoba, Gonzalo de los Santos, Javier Chevanton (Mario Regueiro 77), Federico Magallanes (Guillermo Giacomazzi 72).
Yellow card - Rodriguez 34
Referee: Graziano Cesari (Ita)
Crowd: 84,646
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The type of result where you say it could go either way, although it's a good thing Australia didn't concede a goal.

Good luck in the second leg! ;)

[FANTA]

excellent result :thumbsup:

australia was the better team on the night and deserved the win. if it wasen't for recoba, aust. would've set up camp in uruguays half and maybe scored 2 or 3. he WAS uruguays offense. recoba for me was the best player out there.

the first half was evenly matched. recoba almost scored from the half way line in the 3rd minute. viduka played pretty poorly. i think he only touched the ball 2 or 3 times. kewell was alright but he is no good partnering viduka upfront. he is clearly more effective being on the wings. best aust. player was probably craig moore who almost scored from a corner, and was flawless in defense.

agostino was unlucky in the second half hitting the post. and he would've scored from that cross if he wasen't brought down. cesari made the right descision awarding the PK and muscat hit it beautifully - straight down the middle.

the pressure is definately on uruguay now. if they don't qualify, it will be a national disaster for them. i think aust. will advance, but that's what i thought 4 years ago and look what happened.

:thumbsup:

[King Italy]

Australia will carry a precious one-nil advantage to Montevideo courtesy of a Kevin Muscat penalty in the first of their World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Socceroos were made to work hard for the victory by the well-organised visitors and didn’t manage to break through until 12 minutes from time when substitute striker Paul Agostino was felled in the area by Dario Rodriguez.

Muscat sent ‘keeper Fabio Carini the wrong way, but immediately after the final whistle, the defender with the enforcer’s reputation was keen to keep the win in perspective.

“The job’s only half done. There’ll be no celebrating yet. We don’t go there sitting back, if we get the away goal it will make it very difficult for them,” Muscat said.

The Australians will have a brief rest before boarding a pre-dawn flight for Montevideo where the tie will be completed on Sunday.

The prize for the winner is the 32nd and final place in next year’s World Cup Finals.

The win was Australia's first at home in this final play-off stage.

Before 84,646 fans in a stadium splashed with green and gold, the contest was only two minutes through when Uruguay danger-man Alvaro Recoba conjured a speculative ‘look-away’ lob from all of 40 metres.

The effort was goal-bound for sure, forcing Mark Schwarzer to backtrack from his station on the edge of the area to gather right under the crossbar with barely an inch to spare.

It was useful wake-up call for the Australians and a keen reminder that danger lurked in the most innocuous of places.

The Australians recovered their momentum, using the flanks effectively as expected and forced a succession of corners at the Punt Road end – one of which almost earned an early goal for Craig Moore.

Endeavouring to repeat last Sunday’s effort against France, the Glasgow Rangers man met Stan Lazaridis’ cross from the left flush from ten yards, only for Carini to tip it over.

Uruguay enjoyed a bit more of the ball over the next 20 minutes, and this period of relative equilibrium culminated with blasts from Recoba and Gerardo Magallanes that prompted brief flutters in defence.

But it was the Australians who finished the half the stronger – just as they had nine days earlier against France.

Harry Kewell was the catalyst and proving a handful for his occasional marker Dario Rodriguez who earned the first yellow card of the tie for a cynical lunge from behind in the 32nd minute.

In a blink, Kewell, who had a roving commission in attack, had slipped his man and was charging towards goal from deep on the right when felled.

The Australians went on to earn themselves eight corners for the period to Uruguay’s none.

Despite a couple of near-things, however, most of Australia’s set-pieces were handled with assurance by Carini and his assistants in blue.

Farina sought to make better use of these opportunities in the second period by bringing on Paul Agostino for Lazaridis at half-time, moving Kewell across to the left where he operates so effectively for Leeds.

The hosts resumed brightly, forcing two more corners in as many minutes – but signs of impatience were beginning to emerge.

Emerton looked great when carrying the ball, but was failing fulfil his primary brief – to link, deliver and service his strikers.

The momentum swung back Uruguay’s way for a spell when De Los Santos headed fractionally wide from a wicked Recoba free, then Recoba himself set off on a scorching run down the left in the 62nd minute.

His blast from about 12 yards was blocked brilliantly by Schwarzer low at his near post.

Kewell was settling in nicely on the left and created opportunities for Murphy, Viduka and then Agostino to head Australia into the lead.

It was the powerful TSV 1860 Munich striker who came closest, rising to nod Kewell’s cross in the 69th minute onto Carini’s right upright from 15 yards.

Agostino was to play a more telling role, however, nine minutes on when, charging on to a low cross ball from Kewell, he went to ground under a challenge from Rodriguez.

Referee Graziano Cesari gestured immediately to the spot to lukewarm protests – by South American standards – from the men in light blue.

Muscat stepped up as though the moment was made for him, wiped his face and stroked the ball powerfully straight down the middle as Carini dived left.

It crashed into the back of the very net that Peter Hore brought crashing down four years ago. Never in doubt.

Muscat transformed back into his enforcer role in the closing minutes, earning himself a yellow card for a two-footed tackle in Gianni Guigou.

It was desperate, inspirational stuff - but Australia will need more of the same in buckets at the Centenario next Sunday.

[King Italy]

Socceroo manager Frank Farina believes that his team has the talent to snare a precious away goal in Montevideo on Monday morning to further cement Australia’s hopes of a breakthrough appearance in the World Cup finals.

"I am confident we can snatch a goal over there with the strikepower we have," said Farina.

"We will go into the match in a similar fashion, but they are the ones who have to score."

Farina and the Australians will head to Uruguay with only a few hours of sleep behind them.

The Uruguayans will be on the same plane as the Socceroos, however the advantage will then be with them with a government plane likely to be on standby to whisk them home about four hours before Australia arrives.

Australia steps on to the plane with few injury concerns and its most pressing concern being whether to continue with the wildly successful Paul Agostino in the starting line-up at the expense of Stan Lazaridis.

This was the move executed by Farina at half-time with an outstanding result.

Agostino combined beautifully with Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell and it was Kewell and Agostino who combined for the penalty that Kevin Muscat duly converted.

According to Farina, the most pleasing aspect of the night was keeping a clean sheet and he reserved praise for Craig Moore for holding the defence together and Kewell for his ``brilliance’’.

"But I couldn’t find a bad player, to be honest," he said.

As always, Farina cut a reserved figure and said the job was only half-complete.

"There are 90 minutes to go in an atmosphere that will be hostile. It’s a daunting place to play. But I said before the match I would settle for a 1-0 result so I am happy with that."

Uruguay manager Victor Pua said he hoped to return home with a better result.

"Soccer is like that; they got one chance and they took it. But there are 90 minutes left in Uruguay and I hope we can turn this around."

[King Italy]

The Socceroos continued to show their class despite a two-hour delay at Melbourne airport before their flight to Montevideo.

The Australians flew out of Melbourne at 9am, after they were originally scheduled for a 7am flight.

The Uruguayan contingent was also on board.

Following their fantastic 1-0 victory over Uruguay in their World Cup qualifying play-off first leg, the Australian stars showed they were a class act both on and off the field.

Australian soccer fans arrived at Tullamarine as early as 6am to cheer on their heroes who are just one match away from qualification for the 2002 finals.

Fans chanted, "We're the best team in the world" and screamed the names of each Socceroos player, but it was Kevin Muscat - who scored last night's winning goal – who got the biggest cheer.
The players happily mingled with the bleary-eyed but enthusiastic crowd and had no hesitation in signing autographs and posing for happy snaps.

Some supporters who were lucky enough to be on the same flight as the team took full advantage of their once in a lifetime opportunity to chat with their idols.

Chris Zaverdinos of Georges Hall in Sydney said,” They are all champions. There was no utterance of complaint when they were asked to sign autographs or take photos.”

The soccer nut chatted to defender Shaun Murphy about how difficult it was to keep tabs on Uruguayan star Alvaro Recoba and spoke freely with the likes of an incognito Tony Vidmar and Stan Lazaridis.

The Socceroos and Uruguay will meet on Sunday in the Uruguayan capital – 6.00am kick-off Monday (AEST) - with the winning side qualifying for the World Cup next year.

[King Italy]

There’s bound to be some finger pointing today over the two empty bays in the Great Southern Stand for last night’s Australia v Uruguay World Cup qualifying play-off.

The official crowd of ‘only’ 84,656 would surely have nudged the low to mid 90’s had those bays been filled, along with other significant vacant chunks of the Southern Stand.

Two entire bays! How did it happen? Were the seats sold? Was any effort made to fill them when it became clear they were vacant? Who at Soccer Australia, Ticketmaster7 or the Melbourne Cricket Club will stand up to take responsibility?

The bays left a nasty beige scar on an otherwise wonderful landscape of green and gold.

No surprise that the host broadcaster was not keen to cut to a wide shot when the ball was down the Jolimont end of the MCG.

*******

Speaking of the Channel Seven, the host of last night’s coverage, Sandy Roberts did himself and his network no favours with his pre-match comments on Melbourne radio.

The World Game crew almost choked on our gourmet sausage rolls when we heard Roberts interviewed on Southern Cross radio at precisely 6.10 pm.

Discussing the friendly against France, Roberts declared: “I was hosting the television coverage and after the first 40 minutes, I started to doze off. Then Australia got the goal and the melee started…”

A true aficionado of the round ball game! Doesn’t do much for yours or Seven’s street cred, Sandy.

Oh yes, and pressed to expound upon the various scenarios for the Socceroos against Uruguay, Roberts declared with authority: “A nil-all draw is fine.”

******

Uruguay forward Ernesto Chevanton attracted plenty of abuse and prompted a spontaneous 80,000-strong chorus of ‘bullshit... bullshit... bullshit’ for staying down and rolling around in agony every time he went to ground.

But by far the biggest round of booing for the night was reserved not for a Uruguayan – but an Australian – and not just any Aussie – but the country’s biggest sports fan, the Prime Minister, John Howard.

The hoots and rumbles started as he was introduced to the players of both teams before the match, and reached an ear-piercing crescendo when his beaming dial was flashed up on the main scoreboard while pressing the flesh.

The scoreboard director quickly cut to a wide shot, and the PM was not to appear again.

Better known as a Ra-Ra Wallaby and Test cricket fan, Mr Howard didn't take his red-hot reception personally.

"Melbourne crowds are wonderful sporting crowds," he told The World Game after the match, still with a smile fixed to his dial.

"And they gave our boys a tremendous boost. Let's hope they do well in Uruguay. It was a terrific match and its a great thing for Australian soccer."

And by the way, the booing was a good deal more tuneful than David Campbell's rendition of Advance Australia Fair.

What is it with those MCG acoustics?

[King Italy]

Uruguay's 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat at the hands of Australia in Melbourne got an angry reception back home with 20 people injured and 74 people arrested before and during the match.

Thirty thousand Uruguayan supporters gathered in the city centre to watch the match on television, but the atmosphere turned nasty even before the match got underway in the early hours of the morning.

Cars were burned, shops were wrecked and police officers attacked in the disturbances.

"Luckily there were no serious injuries," said assistant police commissioner Jose Pedro Delgado.

Police said that fighting began before the kick-off during a concert which was organised to keep the public awake and animated before the early morning match.

Delgado said that police reinforcements were called in to bring what was a pitched battle under control at 5am local time (1900 AEDT), an hour before the match began in Australia.

The outbreaks were sparked when a small truck plunged into the thousands of supporters, and angry fans dragged the driver from the vehicle setting it on fire.

The incident led to the oubreak of fighting among the crowd who had consumed a lot of alcohol with bottles broken, shops looted and cars destroyed.

"We have identified and brought to justice the perpretrators of the fires on the truck and motorbike," said Delgado.

Interior Minister Guillermo Stirling denounced the incidents.

"These things leave us with a feeling of sadness and great disappointment. It was violence for the sake of violence. That's our main concern," he added.

Australia won the match with a penalty goal 12 minutes from time. The two teams meet again here on Sunday in the second leg with the winning side qualifying for the World Cup finals next year in South Korea and Japan.

[King Italy]

Uruguay has called on two recruits for Sunday's World Cup play-off return against Australia in defender Gonalo Sorondo and striker Dario Silva.

Inter Milan's Sorondo will be back after three months away from the international side and Malaga's Silva has recovered from a shoulder injury, according to website Tenfieldigital, linked the firm which holds the television rights for the return match in Montevideo.

Australia leads 1-0 from Tuesday's first leg in Melbourne.

The winner will take the 32nd and final place in next summer's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.

[Garrincha]

I hope Uruguay can achieve the necessary result. I sympathize with Australia, but my support goes to La Celeste Olimpica.

Hey, King Italy, what's with the new avatar? I liked the old one, with the kangaroo.

[FANTA]

australia will advance. they only need a draw to go through, while uruguay seem to be the draw specialists ... i think it was 1-1 in their last 3 SA qualifying matches.

there's gonna be too much pressure on them to win. after 15 minutes if they haven't scored yet the crowd will be whistling and hurling missiles and whatever they do when they don't like what they see.

as much as i'd to see recoba in the WC ... it's our bloody turn - WE'VE WAITED 28 FREAKIN' YEARS AND GONE THROUGH ENOUGH TORMENT TO LAST US A LIFETIME !!!

[ZZ TOP]

I don't belive, you guys ( Australia ) have any chances. It's always hard to play in South America. A lot of teams eaven don't have such experience. But reading different articles, it's almost impossible to win downthere. If not, the 'small games' can breake the selfeconfidence of the team. And one has already been done.

[Mrs Stankovic]

It's all about having insuffient international experience :)

[Garrincha]

I'd like to throw in my two cents in this argument and say that IMO the problem is elsewhere, and you guys seem to be missing the point here. The problem isn't with Australia, it's with the playoff opponents Australia has to face. It's just not fair. Let me explain why.

South America has THREE countries that have won World Cups, and eight titles among us - 2 for Argentina, 2 for Uruguay, 4 for Brazil. And we have FOUR World Cup spots, with ONE playoff spot, right?

Africa has NO world-cup winning nations, NO WC titles, and FIVE (cinco, 5, count'em FIVE) World Cup spots, without playoffs! SENEGAL qualified without playoffs, fer cryin' out loud!!!!

I mean, if it wasn't Uruguay against Australia, it would've been Colombia, Chile - heck, BRAZIL was in danger of having to do the playoffs! In past playoffs, Australia had to face Argentina!! While Africa has nothing to worry about, they have more WC spots than South America - and South America has won EIGHT WORLD CUPS!!

So IMO the problem is that if anyone deserves five World Cup spots, it's South America, NOT Africa - with all due respect to our African friends. If Australia were to play an African nation in the playoffs, it would be more fair than having to play the likes of Argentina and Uruguay. The South American qualifiers are WAY tougher than anything the Australian NT faces, it's just not fair to the Socceroos IMO. But the Africans have a sweet 5 assured spots, no need for playoffs; and politics are the only reasonable explanation for this. :mad:

[FANTA]

:thumbsup:

[Mrs Stankovic]

Yeh but, the national team doesn't play as a national team often enough...It simply has no match practice againt decent teams...