It's pretty obvious Jerry hasn't had the rub of the green so far, but that notwithstanding given the difference in their performances is so marked I can't help but wonder if Oz really are just that horrible?
Not trolling, I hasten to add. Genuinely want(ed) to see them qualify.
Has a whole lot to do with morale, IMO. Obviously, it's less of an issue with better teams in knockout stages because their players have had theirs tested enough at the highest level for club and country, you'd think.
Tournaments like these have terribly mercurial performances, especially from relative minnows. Given that South Korea more or less humiliated Greece, who then proceeded to beat Nigeria (who, in turn, had performed more than creditably against the Argies), it's been less a test of technical skills/planning as just, well, variables and how itchy the ref's card-finger is. Not really a coincidence that sendings-off have without exception turned the tide of the game so far, much more than the simple logistics of just being a man down would.
Fully expected Australia to lose to Germany, but the dominant view before the game was that what we lacked in attacking flair we made up for in midfield doughtiness et cetera and that we'd move to damage control soon enough to stop the bleeding. When Podolski netted the first after less than ten minutes you could just see their heads drop, since (I think) it was Germany's first shot on goal as well. It was by far the worst Australian performance I've seen and personally I'd like to write it off as an aberration, specially in light of other teams
dropping the ball (
) unexpectedly. Frankly, I reckon it's in the spirit of the tournament thus far.
Although I will gladly recant if Australia turn in an equally piss-poor showing tomorrow night.