Are the Socceroos a better team than England ?

[Matteh]

Not it doesnt because the first half was played between the two starting XI and we went in at 2-0. Your 'second' side did better against us.

It was still a friendly which imediately lessens it's meaning, especially seeing how Eriksson clearly didn't give a toss about it by substituting his entire team and using it purely as a scouting exercise.

 

[Cloete]

This argument is somewhat hampered by the fact that Australia, until recently, had one of the world's best managers in charge, whereas England haven't had a top class manager in donkey's years.

It's fairly obvious that England have the better team on paper - if you named a first-choice England XI, at least 7 of them could reasonably be considered world-class by my reckoning (and by that I mean among the best in the world in their position), whereas Australia don't have anyone who comes into that category.

Considering how **** this thread is, both in the subject matter and a number of replies I think I'll change the topic. I think Harry Kewell would easily be in the top 5-10 midfielders in the world currently barring injuries. Sure, big call, but he had everything going for him. Injuries have totally screwed him over but he could easily beat players, pass well, cross superbly, score alot of goals and was such a creative player. When he bounces back I hope he's the same player he used to be, though it's unlikely because he's injured every 5 minutes. But yeah I think he'd be one of the world's best, at such a young age he was simply amazing for Leeds and just had everything going for him.

 

[Cloete]

Rooney, Owen, J Cole, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Ferdinand.

Easy.

I'd also seriously think about putting Hargreaves in there too.

I'd actually disagree. Though all aer obviously sensational players.

Only Rooney and Gerrard for mine.

Lampard can be, but to be world class in my eyes you need consistency. Lampard's been in absolutely **** form lately and has really only had 1, maybe 2, "world class" seasons for Chelsea and he's never really turned it on for England. Terry is close but not up there. Ferdinand is worse than Terry and a decent way off, while still being a good player obviously. Owen I dunno... he's clearly got it in him but I'm still not totally convinced he's even shown it outside of maybe 1998 WC. Joe Cole will be there fairly comfortably, atm though his final balls and basically his passing game let him down a bit. Won't be long though. Hargreaves certainly isn't, he's a good player and was vastly underrated by many (not by myself incidentally, I've always been a keen admirer of his... no seirously) but he's not in the world class DM bracket. I mean he can tackle and he can pass but he can't do it "that" well. Like I said though, all good/great players obviously.

Interestingly I'd rate Neill above Ferdinand at the current time and Cahill above Lampard. Though Lampard is streaks ahead of him in his passing game and long range shooting and will always be a better player, on current form I'd take Timmy anytime.

Robinson v Schwarzer's an interesting argument though. Not sure who I'd take, Robinson had done nothing but impress me up until this season for Totts. Not so sure now. Schwarzer's normally just a really solid keeper. Pretty even in my eyes.

 

[R_D]

Considering how **** this thread is, both in the subject matter and a number of replies I think I'll change the topic. I think Harry Kewell would easily be in the top 5-10 midfielders in the world currently barring injuries. Sure, big call, but he had everything going for him. Injuries have totally screwed him over but he could easily beat players, pass well, cross superbly, score alot of goals and was such a creative player. When he bounces back I hope he's the same player he used to be, though it's unlikely because he's injured every 5 minutes. But yeah I think he'd be one of the world's best, at such a young age he was simply amazing for Leeds and just had everything going for him.

Yeah agree he definaltely could've been oen top midfielders in the world but he won't even get to the level he reached with Leeds now,,, He's lost too much pace in last few years with all the injuries.

England's definately the better team but imho they are probaly the most overrated team in teh world. They are nothing special maybe just above average. They got some good individuals but even they are over-hyped.

 

[James]

If you want this thread to stay open I would suggest the following:

1) Cut out all the bad language. Just because the filter stars it out doesn't make it acceptable.
2) Cut out the personal abuse, am mainly looking in your direction Pedro Delgado

 

[Nate]

England are obviously better.
Australia are getting better.

Blaaah.

 

[bugssy]

your only as good as your last game lol

 

[marc71178]

No that's not my logic at all......France have consistently achieved better results than England

Would that be why France have struggled in recent qualifying Tournaments, whilst England only lost 1 game in qualifying for Euro 2004 and WC 2006?

 

[marc71178]

Mark Schwarzer >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Paul Robinson

Based on what exactly?

Performances aren't basiced on one game, if so Robinson will never play another international.

Robinson was our best player on Wednesday night - the own goal was a freak, and he more than made up for that with some of the saves he made.

 

[marc71178]

What about the results before him... 3-1 Australia v England, wins over France and Brazil...

Funny how you harp back to that game (a friendly) when you yourself had the "oh it was only a friendly" reaction to Australia's draw with Paraguay...

 

[marc71178]

your only as good as your last game lol

What a 1-1 draw with a Paraguay shorn of their top players?

 

[_TiGeR-ToWn_]

What a 1-1 draw with a Paraguay shorn of their top players?

2-0 win vs Bahrain. Top quality opposition there i know.

Regards to Matteh a win is a win full stop.

 

[Johnners]

Fact remains, that until the A-League quality players step up a notch or two Australia won't be a top 10-15 even top 20 team. That being said, with all of our Euro league players in the team, Australia has definetly shown that we are capable of mixing it with the best.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Robinson was our best player on Wednesday night - the own goal was a freak, and he more than made up for that with some of the saves he made.

He made some good saves, true, but he was hopelessly out of position for their first goal (admittedly he wasn't helped by some turd marking, but anticipation is at least 50% of the keeper's art) & he took his eye off the ball for the second, hence the big airswing. If he'd have been looking to take a touch (as he easily could've done) Gaz Neville's international goals tally would still be zero. Ends up in the debit column for mine.

As to the question in hand, I think it's fairly obvious England have the better players (how many Aussies would make a combined XI? Maybe Kewell fit & in form at a stretch), but we consistently punch below our weight & Australia lately are punching above theirs.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Considering how **** this thread is, both in the subject matter and a number of replies I think I'll change the topic. I think Harry Kewell would easily be in the top 5-10 midfielders in the world currently barring injuries. Sure, big call, but he had everything going for him. Injuries have totally screwed him over but he could easily beat players, pass well, cross superbly, score alot of goals and was such a creative player. When he bounces back I hope he's the same player he used to be, though it's unlikely because he's injured every 5 minutes. But yeah I think he'd be one of the world's best, at such a young age he was simply amazing for Leeds and just had everything going for him.

Kewell is undoubtedly a fantastically talented player, but I still have doubts about his mental approach tbf. I'm not sure he's 100% committed, and I think his confidence is pretty fragile - although that bit could be to do with all the injuries. When he was at Leeds there were times when he looked like the best player in the Premiership, he's got great ability.

 

[Craig]

Kewell is undoubtedly a fantastically talented player, but I still have doubts about his mental approach tbf. I'm not sure he's 100% committed, and I think his confidence is pretty fragile - although that bit could be to do with all the injuries. When he was at Leeds there were times when he looked like the best player in the Premiership, he's got great ability.

I still remember his goal for Leeds against Arsenal at Highbury on the in 2003 (02-03 season), that was something

David Seaman had better chances of saving Ronaldinho's goal against England in the 02 World Cup then saving that one.

To save making a new post, incidently didn't the win over Brazil come in the 2001 Confed Cup, albiet with some random selections and some players who I had never heard of (obviously I knew who Lucio, Ze Maria, Sonny Anderson and some of the high profile players were/are) and I'm not sure of the France won. IIRC it was in the same Confed Cup or it was against Japan. One of those two IIRC.

 

[Johnners]

Both the France & Brazil matches were at the Confed Cup, not some random friendly

 

[marc71178]

he took his eye off the ball for the second, hence the big airswing. If he'd have been looking to take a touch (as he easily could've done)

To be fair I thought that at first, but then thought that one the previous hundreds and thousands of times he's been in that time, he's cleared it first time, so to criticise him the one time would be a bit harsh.

 

[marc71178]

Both the France & Brazil matches were at the Confed Cup, not some random friendly

No, just a meaningless competition that Brazil use to pick mainly C stringers in.

 

[Cloete]

I still remember his goal for Leeds against Arsenal at Highbury on the in 2003 (02-03 season), that was something

David Seaman had better chances of saving Ronaldinho's goal against England in the 02 World Cup then saving that one.

To save making a new post, incidently didn't the win over Brazil come in the 2001 Confed Cup, albiet with some random selections and some players who I had never heard of (obviously I knew who Lucio, Ze Maria, Sonny Anderson and some of the high profile players were/are) and I'm not sure of the France won. IIRC it was in the same Confed Cup or it was against Japan. One of those two IIRC.

I don't see what point you're trying to make Craigos.

Kewell is undoubtedly a fantastically talented player, but I still have doubts about his mental approach tbf. I'm not sure he's 100% committed, and I think his confidence is pretty fragile - although that bit could be to do with all the injuries. When he was at Leeds there were times when he looked like the best player in the Premiership, he's got great ability.

Dunno, often his mental approach has been poor for Aus, but he always turns it on for big games like the Uruguay WC qualifier in Sydney or even the friendly against England (I mean the English team probably were taking it easy, but Kewell was out to prove a point and he did that IMO). Probably the same for Liverpool early on, but after his first injury and the stick he copped fom The Kop he came back and was raelly impressive near the end of last season. Then he got injured again. Confidence has never been a problem with him IMO, it's just whether he wanted to turn up and play and if he was 100%. Perhaps him turning up to play is associated with his injuries, before his groin operation he wasn't 100% but was still playing regularly which lead to below par performances and what looked like a lack of commitment on his part. I still feel he has it in him to bounce back and go to a mid-table club and set the Premier League alight. He won't ever be one of the world's best players now, though I believe he did have it in him, but he'll still be capable of turning it on IMO.

As for his goals, that one against Shef Wed stands out in my mind. His one against Arsenal was a brilliant touch and blistering finish, but the chip with the outside of his foot against Wednesday summed him up as a player IMO. Alot of skill coupled with flair and creativity. Hopefully Kaz Patafta is a better player and has better luck with injuries than Kewell though