At a packed Rajamangala National Stadium last night the traveling contingent of Aussies tried to make themselves heard over the tremendous din the Thai locals were creating… once they were all in that is. No one’s really sure whether it was the weather or the famous traffic congestion but there were people still filing in after 30 minutes…given they started filing out again after the third goal - that's an awful lot of effort for less than an hour’s football!
On to the game… Graham Arnold had promised changes and sure enough there were four from his last starting line with Beauchamp, Milligan, Aloisi and Carney all starting. The latter in the unusual position for him of left wing back.
Australia started pretty well with the defence looking somewhat more secure than in the opening two games… interesting both Milligan and Beauchamp won significant amounts of ball (in the air and on the ground) by stepping in front of the strikers to win the first ball as opposed to sitting off the strikers for fear of giving away soft free kicks… yes there were still some soft free kicks but by and large the Aussie defence largely held their shape, riding their luck at times and with Beauchamp’s opening goald hopefully exorcising his SunCorp demons for the own goal against Paraguay…he seemed to rise in confidence after the goal and if Australia are to progress further their defence will have to step another level against Nakamura and co on Saturday.
The score-line somewhat flattered the Socceroos but all credit to them for taking their chances and putting the game beyond doubt in the last ten minutes. The second goal was crucial in this game and for large period just prior and for the first period of the second half it looked like there was only going to be one team who scored it…Thailand. From our position high up in the corner we didn’t have the best of vies but it looked like more than one shot flashed past Schwarzer a little too close for comfort and Schwarzer had a few heart in mouth moment with the ball skidding viciously of the wet surface. Massive credit to skipper Viduka who stood up when it mattered to deliver two superbly taken goals in a four minute spell to kill the game off after struggling prior to that to have an impact. Both Milligan and Beauchamp did well at the heart of the defence and gives Graham Arnold a selection dilemma with the returning Lucas Neill. Bresciano had his best game of the tournament so far and Culina and Grella showed some aggression in the midfield. David Carney did a great job for the team as makeshift left back and showed maybe Harry Kewell's best suited as an impact player off the bench rather than starting...certainly both he and Cahill were instrumental in the three goal blitz that killed the game as legs all around them were tiring.
Aaaah…the wet surface! Bangkok for the second time in three games decided to give the traveling Aussies a good soaking and with no undercover areas it really was a case of just singing through it as there’s only so wet you can get! We did our best to make some noise for the lads but in truth I’d be surprised if you heard much of it on the TV as we were so far from the pitch. Not that it mattered much to us…we just glad to see a win and for those of us leaving today (myself included) it was a nice day to go out…and for me personally a great way to spend my birthday!
But let’s not carried away…the Thais were spirited opponents but they are not, by their own admission regional heavyweights. Their goal keeper for instance earns 9000 baht per week which is about $300…so I think whilst it was an improvement on the first two games…no doubt about that and credit to the team for that…they will have to lift significantly again to take on the reigning Champions of Asia Japan in Hanoi on Saturday. The more favourable night time kick off from last night reverts back to a 5.20pm kick off and from all accounts Hanoi is even more sticky and humid than Bangkok right now.
That certainly didn’t deter the Green & Gold Army who were booking flights to Hanoi and trying to source tickets within minutes of the final whistle last night…apparently the game is sold out already but that is believed to by locals who bought on the hope Vietnam may have beaten Japan last night….the Aussie are relying on this being the case and hoping to pick up tickets when they get there making a few locals a bit richer along the way.
One thing’s for certain the Aussies will face their strongest competition on the pitch and in the stands with 10,000 Blue Samurai followers expected to fly in for the clash. Certainly after the way things played out in Kaiserslautern last year the Japanese will be a very motivated opponent.
But it’s knockout stages now… and as we know all too well…anything can (and usually does) happen and Australia is now 3 games away from lifting the Asian Cup…I think now’s the time to really get behind the boys…there will be plenty of time for navel gazing afterwards…the game on Saturday is a huge game and would firmly re-install Australia as favourites if they could progress at the expense of Japan.
Unfortunately I’ll be watching from Star City at FourFourTwo Live as my time on tour is at an end but I’m sure the Green & Gold Army will do me proud in Hanoi!
On to the game… Graham Arnold had promised changes and sure enough there were four from his last starting line with Beauchamp, Milligan, Aloisi and Carney all starting. The latter in the unusual position for him of left wing back.
Australia started pretty well with the defence looking somewhat more secure than in the opening two games… interesting both Milligan and Beauchamp won significant amounts of ball (in the air and on the ground) by stepping in front of the strikers to win the first ball as opposed to sitting off the strikers for fear of giving away soft free kicks… yes there were still some soft free kicks but by and large the Aussie defence largely held their shape, riding their luck at times and with Beauchamp’s opening goald hopefully exorcising his SunCorp demons for the own goal against Paraguay…he seemed to rise in confidence after the goal and if Australia are to progress further their defence will have to step another level against Nakamura and co on Saturday.
The score-line somewhat flattered the Socceroos but all credit to them for taking their chances and putting the game beyond doubt in the last ten minutes. The second goal was crucial in this game and for large period just prior and for the first period of the second half it looked like there was only going to be one team who scored it…Thailand. From our position high up in the corner we didn’t have the best of vies but it looked like more than one shot flashed past Schwarzer a little too close for comfort and Schwarzer had a few heart in mouth moment with the ball skidding viciously of the wet surface. Massive credit to skipper Viduka who stood up when it mattered to deliver two superbly taken goals in a four minute spell to kill the game off after struggling prior to that to have an impact. Both Milligan and Beauchamp did well at the heart of the defence and gives Graham Arnold a selection dilemma with the returning Lucas Neill. Bresciano had his best game of the tournament so far and Culina and Grella showed some aggression in the midfield. David Carney did a great job for the team as makeshift left back and showed maybe Harry Kewell's best suited as an impact player off the bench rather than starting...certainly both he and Cahill were instrumental in the three goal blitz that killed the game as legs all around them were tiring.
Aaaah…the wet surface! Bangkok for the second time in three games decided to give the traveling Aussies a good soaking and with no undercover areas it really was a case of just singing through it as there’s only so wet you can get! We did our best to make some noise for the lads but in truth I’d be surprised if you heard much of it on the TV as we were so far from the pitch. Not that it mattered much to us…we just glad to see a win and for those of us leaving today (myself included) it was a nice day to go out…and for me personally a great way to spend my birthday!
But let’s not carried away…the Thais were spirited opponents but they are not, by their own admission regional heavyweights. Their goal keeper for instance earns 9000 baht per week which is about $300…so I think whilst it was an improvement on the first two games…no doubt about that and credit to the team for that…they will have to lift significantly again to take on the reigning Champions of Asia Japan in Hanoi on Saturday. The more favourable night time kick off from last night reverts back to a 5.20pm kick off and from all accounts Hanoi is even more sticky and humid than Bangkok right now.
That certainly didn’t deter the Green & Gold Army who were booking flights to Hanoi and trying to source tickets within minutes of the final whistle last night…apparently the game is sold out already but that is believed to by locals who bought on the hope Vietnam may have beaten Japan last night….the Aussie are relying on this being the case and hoping to pick up tickets when they get there making a few locals a bit richer along the way.
One thing’s for certain the Aussies will face their strongest competition on the pitch and in the stands with 10,000 Blue Samurai followers expected to fly in for the clash. Certainly after the way things played out in Kaiserslautern last year the Japanese will be a very motivated opponent.
But it’s knockout stages now… and as we know all too well…anything can (and usually does) happen and Australia is now 3 games away from lifting the Asian Cup…I think now’s the time to really get behind the boys…there will be plenty of time for navel gazing afterwards…the game on Saturday is a huge game and would firmly re-install Australia as favourites if they could progress at the expense of Japan.
Unfortunately I’ll be watching from Star City at FourFourTwo Live as my time on tour is at an end but I’m sure the Green & Gold Army will do me proud in Hanoi!
