WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?
SERIOUSLY, WHAT HAPPENED? I MISSED IT
AUSTRALIA 3 JAPAN 1
The Lowdown: Ok, around 8am I went to get my suit tailored for my interview tomorrow. Got back by around 8:45 and settled in on the couch to watch this match, which I was really looking forward to. It was pretty even early on. Bresciano should have done much better with Viduka's lovely back pass, but Japan looked the more comfortable team and went up 1-0 on what was admittedly a pretty bad non-call as it looked like Aussie keeper Schwartzer was obstructed on the play. I left for the city around the 72nd minute with Japan still in front and Australia's attack bereft of ideas. On the train I heard a guy on a cell phone describe the game as "amazing," but I assumed he, in his American soccer ignorance, was surprised that Japan had beaten Australia. I later heard that Australia had won, which was ridiculous and I naturally assumed that the score was 2-1. Then I learned it was 3-1 and was left to wonder, "By the beard of Zeus, what happened in the last 20 minutes?"
Match Rating: Up to the 72nd minute, 2 out of 5. Based on what later transpired it's got to be a five.
Man of the Match: From what I saw it was Japan's goalkeeper Kawaguchi, who made some fine saves. I didn't see the rest of the game and don't have time to properly report the replay so it has to be Aussie coach Gus Hiddink, who brought on a trio of attackers in search of the equaliser. Apparently it worked, and then some.
Disappointment of the Match: That I didn't get to see the end. Also, Japan's first goal was pretty bootleg and probably should have been discounted. The ugliest incident has to be Hiddink shoving Japan's trainer, for which he should be punished.
Huh? Exactly.
The Fallout: One minute Australia looked doomed, losing 1-0 to Japan, never having scored a World Cup goal, and facing Brazil next on 0 points. Then the impossible happened. Japan have to be absolutely devastated. They controlled a good portion of this game and fell apart late. Sadly it looks like their World Cup is over, as they need a result against Brazil.
Extra: In my tournament team previews I predicted that Hiddink would be the difference in the battle for second in Group G. Today he showed why that is, not wasting any time by bringing in extra strikers around the 60th minute. He is a tactical genius and his confidence is contagious among the squad. It's doubtful Japan will recover from this meltdown, which is a shame because they played well for long stretches of this game.
posted by Journo Blog at 4:09 PM
4 Comments:
No mention of the witch-doctor's curse? Poor show by you. At least a cursory remark would have been appropriate.
Jeetan, what are you talking about?
Dan, you are right about this Cup so far. Unlike 2002 it looks like the big boys are advancing and it should make for a better overall tournament. I think it's been fairly awesome so far.
During the Japan-Australia game, the commentor mentioned how the Australian team thought it was cursed by a Maori witch-doctor. I don't know anything about the story, but I figured it must be prominent enough to mention on the blog, if even the ESPN commentors know about it.
Never played WE 9 but 8 was certainly great. FIFA is actually getting good again if reviews are anything to go by but they'll never get my business again because EA have no soul.
If that witch doctor business is true it's hilarious. I assume the "doctor" was a New Zealander. I wonder if Oceania still gets a playoff with fifth place South America, in which case New Zealand could grace the World Cup one of these days.
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