Soccer retrospective: il buono, il brutto, il cattivo
The setting: night-time in a packed stadium in Stuttgart. Filled with tens of thousands of screaming fans from both factions, the atmosphere is electric. Both teams know what they have to do. Both expect to progress.
The characters: the national soccer squads from Australia and Croatia, and the referees.
The plot: as complicated as a soap opera, full of twists and drama (plus plenty of poor acting). Two minutes into the game, the Croats take the lead thanks to a fantastic Srna free kick into the top corner of the Australian goal. The Aussies are shocked; the Croats are jubilant. Australia works hard and earns a penalty late in the first half. Moore converts. Australia is level, to the vast relief of their supporters, but the story does not end here.
Kalac's first game in the Australian goal this tournament is a tense affair. He drops a corner kick directed straight at him, not towards the outfield, but towards his own goal. Hearts stop. Early in the second half he drops to the ground too early. The weak shot from Kovac is offered little resistance from the keeper, and it easily rolls over Kalac and into the Australian goal. Now the Aussies are crestfallen, the Croats ecstatic. Australia's World Cup chances have literally slipped through the keeper's large hands. The Ugly.
Minutes after the first goal Viduka is dragged to the ground by a Croatian defender. Any more contact between the two and the match wouldn't have been fit for family viewing. The referees play blind, as they will for much more of the match. No penalty given. To come in the match is the first ever case of a player having three yellow cards by the end of a match (two yellow cards equals a sending off). The Bad.
The situation is dire. Australia is on the verge of elimination after working so hard to achieve a respectable position. In one last throw of the dice, Australian coach Guus Hiddink fields all of his attacking players hoping they can force their way to goal. Kewell tries hard, first his powerful point blank shot on goal is reflexively blocked by the enemy's keeper. Then his flick towards goal stopped brilliantly by the Croatian keeper amidst a flurry of Australian feet trying to tap the ball across the line. Finally he succeeds, when the delivery from Bresciano skitters across Aloisi's head into his path. One cool head, one glimpse at the keeper's position, one strike to put the ball past the keeper. Australia is level and the crowd roars in approval. Cue the celebrations. Australia is going to the round of 16. The Good.
The end? We shall see.
The characters: the national soccer squads from Australia and Croatia, and the referees.
The plot: as complicated as a soap opera, full of twists and drama (plus plenty of poor acting). Two minutes into the game, the Croats take the lead thanks to a fantastic Srna free kick into the top corner of the Australian goal. The Aussies are shocked; the Croats are jubilant. Australia works hard and earns a penalty late in the first half. Moore converts. Australia is level, to the vast relief of their supporters, but the story does not end here.
Kalac's first game in the Australian goal this tournament is a tense affair. He drops a corner kick directed straight at him, not towards the outfield, but towards his own goal. Hearts stop. Early in the second half he drops to the ground too early. The weak shot from Kovac is offered little resistance from the keeper, and it easily rolls over Kalac and into the Australian goal. Now the Aussies are crestfallen, the Croats ecstatic. Australia's World Cup chances have literally slipped through the keeper's large hands. The Ugly.
Minutes after the first goal Viduka is dragged to the ground by a Croatian defender. Any more contact between the two and the match wouldn't have been fit for family viewing. The referees play blind, as they will for much more of the match. No penalty given. To come in the match is the first ever case of a player having three yellow cards by the end of a match (two yellow cards equals a sending off). The Bad.
The situation is dire. Australia is on the verge of elimination after working so hard to achieve a respectable position. In one last throw of the dice, Australian coach Guus Hiddink fields all of his attacking players hoping they can force their way to goal. Kewell tries hard, first his powerful point blank shot on goal is reflexively blocked by the enemy's keeper. Then his flick towards goal stopped brilliantly by the Croatian keeper amidst a flurry of Australian feet trying to tap the ball across the line. Finally he succeeds, when the delivery from Bresciano skitters across Aloisi's head into his path. One cool head, one glimpse at the keeper's position, one strike to put the ball past the keeper. Australia is level and the crowd roars in approval. Cue the celebrations. Australia is going to the round of 16. The Good.
The end? We shall see.
ranted by Wayland at
6/25/2006 03:35:00 pm
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