Socceroos and Australian Football

[Ausage]

I can understand people being skeptical given the A-League's track record on expansion and the apparent lack of a private backer. GC and the Fury were cynical attempts to get more dots on the map for the WC bid, this is not the same. With WS you're talking about the number 1 participation sport in one of the most populated regions of the country with hundreds of thousands of players from juniors to over 45s. Sure there's a challenge converting participation and goodwill into commercial success but that's a problem for the entire league. If they can't make a team work in this part of the country they might as well give it up and go back to the days of Marconi, Sydney United, Olympic and Parramatta Power.

They should play their home games alternately between Parra Stadium and Feral Park at Penrith IMO. Should stay clear of Homebush barring maybe home finals matches.

I love Penrith Park but it should be primarily Parra Stadium IMO. Maybe a game at Campbelltown and Penrith each. Parra Stadium ticks all the boxes from accessibility to size/shape. There's also the T-Way from Liverpool/Wetherill Park which is probably the sport's strongest region, and of course the train station which connects to nearly every major rail artery in the city. Even for finals matches 20k at Parra would be a better atmosphere than 30k at Homebush.

 

[Jono]

A soccer final being decided by someone going down without being touched? Well I never.

 

[Johnners]

Berisha

 

[howardj]

Just because Perth copped a tough call, doesn't mean they were going to win

Anyway...

Kind of appropriate that the denouement to the A-League this season was a farce...

Just needed Clive to pop out of the podium, jack-in-the-box like, and hijack proceedings

 

[Spark]

Scored that dive a 7.6 ftr. Berisha to push for an Olympic spot.

 

[howardj]

Clive's just another fat, rich arsehole who supports the Liberal party. QUOTE]

You say that like it's a bad thing

 

[ripper868]

Brisbane the rightful winners really - scoring 3 goals and all.

 

[Ausage]

**** calls and gamesmanship happen in all footy codes. It's just much more obvious in soccer because a penalty usually has a proportionally bigger effect on the result than in other sports.

 

[Johnners]

ITBT he didn't really dive (IMO at least), legitimately fell over due to a massive airswing. Still obvs half grabbed his leg and appealed for a penalty when he hit the ground despite there being no contact.

 

[Burgey]

Having a major trophy decided by questionable sportsmanship and a dodgy refereeing decision just means Australian soccer has grown up and joined the world!

Time to celebreate, I guess....

 

[Jono]

The worst thing he did was run around like a ****ing tool celebrating the penalty call even before he'd kicked the goal.

Would have been sweet sweet justice if he missed it. Wasn't to be unfortuntely.

 

[Nate]

It was soft, and 50/50, but giving it a penalty was a fair decision.

Penalty call was right: Shield | A-League | Fox Sports

 

[Spikey]

we're on a cricket forum. surely we should be full of praise for a player who has successfully tricked the ref?

 

[vic_orthdox]

New Zealand lost to New Caledonia 0-2.

Well, it's not the Socceroos, but it still needs a mention somewhere.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

New Zealand lost to New Caledonia 0-2.

Well, it's not the Socceroos, but it still needs a mention somewhere.

Hah if the OFC had kept the qualifying system from last time around, NZ would have been out

 

[Somerset]

Pretty average campaign for the All Whites, admittedly difficult conditions to play in but a draw against the Solomons and a loss today reflects a terrible tournament results wise.

 

[Spikey]

this ref

 

[Spikey]

ahahahhahahahahahaha such a perfect ending.

 

[Burgey]

That was a great game to watch. Teams contrasting styles but evenly matched, and very entertaining. End to end stuff. Can't think of a better international played in this country tbh.

Ref was a spud.

 

[Spikey]

almost certain he's a fun of absurdist humour