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English critics to obsessed with themselves to give Aussies credit
Paul Okon said it and it seems to be very true to life. The English are missing the vital point in why they lost to Australia last Wednesday night at Upton Park. They were simply outplayed by a better team on the night.
The English press have gone on a Sven slaying rampage, imposing his face on kangaroos, publishing lame stereotypes of Australia and more or less looking to pin the balme on someone for what they claimed to be a humiliating loss. If anything the English press aren't exactly helping the healing process a team like England obviously feel they need.
The match itself was very much dominated by the European based Socceroos. Harry Kewell weaving his magic around teh English defence many a time to push for goal. His first shot came from 20 meters out and English keeper David James pulled off a good save to push the ball around the upright. Continued pressure produced a goal when Stan Lazeridis took a free kick from the right flank, sending it across goal and finding defender Tony Popovic's head. Popovic stunning the home crowd early by giving Australia the lead.
Paul Scholes thought he had gotten the home side back in the game but was adjudged offside when he was part of a goalmouth scramble. Replays showing he was a little unlucky. Despite that Kewell's moutain of pressure continued to show and finally, on 40 minutes paid off. Kewell found space, bumped Rio Ferdinand off the ball, rounded James and tapped the ball in to give the visiting nation a 2-0 lead and leaving the English scratching heads. Half time and it was 2-0, Australia beating the English best side convincingly.
Eleven substitutions were cheered by the crowd as Sven-Goran Eriksson took the entire first squad off and replaced them with an under-26 side featuring Wayne Rooney, Englands youngest ever international (17 Years 111 days). While it proved to be a tougher match for Australia, England still couldn't get a second half win. Kewell continued to mount the preassure until he was subed off on 55 mins, an arragement obviously made prior to the match between Leeds and Socceroos coach Frank Farina. Australia's stinging attack died a little and this may have given the English youngsters some hope as they found their groove and started to attack themselves. And it paid off. Francis Jeffers deflecting a header past Mark Schwarzer after receiving a cross from Jenas. Australia 2-1 and a sense that the young Lions could pull off a comeback here.
However Brett Emerton put an end to those hopes, receiving a neat little touch from John Aloisi and threading the ball between the keepers legs six minutes from time to secure the win.
As mentioned, the loss brought out the critics in their numbers, downing England for the poor performance and not considering Australia might have actually played a good game of football. In actual fact England didn't play a poor game. And although they have played much better in the past they were simply beaten by the better side on the night. Nothing more nothing less. Although if you try telling the English that they'd just dismiss it and tell themselves it couldn't have been that. Afterall we've only beaten them at every sport this summer, they had to get one, right?
posted 16 February, 2003 |
