The Word on the Street

26 Jun 2006

Australians tearful but proud as fairytale ends

Shellshocked Australian football fans watched in disbelief Tuesday as Italy ended the Socceroos' World Cup dream in cruel fashion with a penalty goal in stoppage time.

"I'm shattered, absolutely shattered," Sydney man Michael Rhys-Jones told AFP after watching Australia's second-round clash against the three-time champions in the city's Little Italy district of Norton Street.

"We outplayed them, we had such a good game. For it to end like that is devastating."

With the unfancied Socceroos' exploits capturing the public imagination in Australia, tens of thousands of people were undeterred by the game's 1:00 am kick off, local time, and turned out to cheer the Socceroos at big screen venues around the country.

Some Australians among the 20,000 packed into Norton Street were in tears after the last-minute defeat, while Italian fans hugged each other in relief and lit flares following a nail-biting match for both sets of supporters.

Bookies expecting England betting bonanza

One of Britain's leading bookmakers is expecting up to 10 million pounds to be gambled on England's World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.

Patriotic sentiment has meant Ladbrokes have England at 11/10 to win through to the last four despite their lacklustre and unconvincing 1-0 victory against unfancied Ecuador on Sunday.

But in a bid to lure in fresh punters, Ladbrokes have made England 11/1 to exit the tournament on penalties following their spot-kick shoot-out exit against Portugal in the last eight of Euro 2004.

Another bad omen for England fans is that Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, who turned down the chance to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England coach, will be gunning for his third win over the Swede's men.

Scolari the 12th man

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari explained his animated touchline behaviour during their 1-0 win over Holland as solidarity with his players that gave them an extra edge.

"Sometimes they look over and they see me on the side and think that the whole bench is playing," he said.

"Sometimes that gives them the extra yard that can win a game."

Coaches chasing place in the Aussie sun

Top-line coaches have inquired about becoming the next coach of Australia with the job soon to be vacated by Guus Hiddink, Football Federation Australia said on Monday.

"I've had some expressions of interest since I've been here from some fairly big names," said Australian football Federation boss John O'Neill.

"We need another Guus Hiddink. What a difference he's made and the further we go in this tournament, quite reputable coaches are approaching us."

Among those speculated for the Aussie job have been Frenchman Gerard Houllier and Carlos Bilardo of Argentina.

The FFA require their coach to spend six months of the year in Australia, work on an incentive-based contract, and revamp the country's entire coaching system.

Lippi not fooled by "cunning" Aussies

Italy coach Marcello Lippi said on Sunday the modesty shown by their World Cup second round opponents Australia is false and exaggerated.

"It's false modesty," Lippi said.

"They're cunning. Their humility seems a bit exaggerated to me."

Hiddink knows what it takes to beat Italy having masterminded South Korea's shock 2-1 victory over the Azzurri in the second round of the 2002 World Cup.

"I have great respect for him, he's an excellent tactician, he's well prepared and very crafty," Lippi said.

"He's meticulous in his preparation for every game, tactically, technically and psychologically."

Not my fault says Zico

Coach Zico bade farewell to Japan on Monday with a warning that the Asian champions, who were humiliated in the World Cup, face an uphill battle making up for their physical shortcomings.

"No matter who their coaches are, it is up to the players. Unless they try to catch up with top teams in the world mentally and physically, it will be very difficult in the future as well," said Zico.

Zico said that Asians, and particularly the Japanese, would always be hurt by their small stature compared with other nationalities.

"Even in the future Asian qualifying rounds for the World Cup, Japan will face a lot of long crosses from behind whenever they play a team which has a height advantage," Zico said.

Pitch for England v Portugal partly replaced

New turf has been laid in the goalmouths at the Gelsenkirchen stadium where England will face Portugal in a quarter-final on Saturday, the organisers said on Monday.

But the area around the penalty spots did not require attention, Organising Committee spokesman Gerd Graus said.

"The turf has been changed where the goalkeeper stands and only partly in those areas," Graus said.

The Gelsenkirchen stadium, known as the AufSchalke Arena, has been a cause for concern because yellow patches have devloped on the turf.

The organisers blamed the design of the stadium for preventing enough light reaching the grass. The ultra-modern ground has a sliding roof, but it has been open for the four games it has hosted so far.

Portuguese press hails heroes of Nuremberg

Portuguese papers on Monday hailed the national side as heroes after a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Netherlands that took them into the quarter-finals.

"An epic victory!" and "What a Heart!" titled sports daily Record while rival A Bola went with "Heroes of the Resistance" and bragged "The sky is the limit for a team with such a spirit."

"Why not go right through to the final," the paper concluded.

A Bola said that Portugal had won a "battle of nerves" against the Dutch old foes in what turned into one of the roughest games in World Cup history with four red cards being brandished for the first time.

Publico laid much of the credit for the victory at the feet of coach Luiz Scolari "who has succeeded in gathering around him a band of warriors who are willing to die for him."

Blatter shows ref a yellow card

FIFA President Sepp Blatter criticised the refereeing of Russian Valentin Ivanov in the blaze of cards Portugal against Holland match as worthy of a yellow card itself.

Ivanov flashed 16 yellow and four red cards on the night.

"The referee's actions harmed what could have been an excellent football match," said Blatter.

"We saw a very intense match between two teams which like to attack but they were not helped by the referee.

"I think the refereeing itself deserves a yellow card."

FIFA said they had no further comment to make on Ivanov.

Get a kick out of Zizou's "souvenir" door

The stadium door at Leipzig which French star Zinedine Zidane kicked in anger after being substituted during the 1-1 group draw with South Korea is to be kepty in its damaged state as a "souvenir" of his visit, the stadium director of football says.

"I initially was going to ask FIFA to reimburse us for this damaged door," said Winfried Lonzen.

"But on reflection we are going to preserved this door deformed by a kick from one of the greatest ever footballers."

Zidane is to retire after the World Cup but after France beat Togo in his absence he now is set to come back to face Spain in the last 16.

Kahn frustration understandable says Klinsmann

Germany's back-up goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has every right to be frustrated by his substitute role at the World Cup, German manager Jurgen Klinsmann said on Monday.

"I can understand Oliver Kahn. He still feels he is the number one and should play at this World Cup," Klinsmann said Monday after Kahn complaints had appeared in the press at the weekend.

"I have no problem with that. It is difficult for him to accept his current role so I understand his comments."

Kahn was Germany's first choice 'keeper for eight years before Klinsmann stripped him of the captain's armband in August 2004 and replaced him in goal with Arsenal custodian Jens Lehmann just ahead of the World Cup

Germans see Argentina as main threat

Whoever beats Argentina will win the World Cup, one of Germany's top football brains has said.

Urs Siegenthaler, a key advisor to German coach Jurgen Klinsmann on future opponents, said he had made the prediction before the tournament started and he stood by it ahead of Friday's quarter-final between the two countries in Berlin.

"Those who say that Germany will go into this match as favourites are wrong," he said. "We should have no fear of course, but Argentina are incredibly strong.

"Whoever beats Argentina will be world champions and I have been saying that since the tournament started and I say it again."

Klinsmann not headed for US job: Bierhoff

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann, feted in his homeland after taking Germany to a World Cup quarter-final meeting with Argentina, is not about to take up a post with the United States, assistant Oliver Bierhoff said Sunday.

"With all respect to the Americans, you can't compare the US Federation to the German job. We've not spoken once about his future. he is totally focused on success in this competition. We are concentrating on Argentina," Bierhoff told reporters in Berlin.

Asked if Klinsmann, criticised before the tournament as he spends much of his time at his family home in California, might not jump ship after the World Cup, Bierhoff said: "You need to ask him. I hope not. I hope he carries on."

US coach Bruce Arena hinted he might quit after Ghana eliminated the Americans with a 2-1 triumph last week.

'I'd rather be playing': Van Basten

Despite his impressive results as a coach, Marco van Basten admitted he'd rather be playing when his Netherlands team take on Portugal late on Sunday.

Van Basten's brilliant playing career was cut short by injury.

"Yeah, of course I'd like to play," he said ahead of the second-round clash.

"I'd like to be, let's say, 27 years old. But that stage is far behind me."

The former AC Milan goal machine was among the most prodigious talents the world has seen until an ankle injury curtailed his career in 1995.

By then, the three-time European Player of the Year had amassed three European club titles and a hatful of domestic honours, scoring 90 goals in 147 Serie A matches.

Klose has the look of Gerd: Beckenbauer

Germany striker Miroslav Klose reminds Franz Beckenbauer of Gerd Muller, the legendary West Germany forward who is the joint all-time World Cup scorer with 14 goals.

"The way he swivelled to score the first goal against Ecuador and the way he moves in the opposition's penalty area remind me of Gerd Muller," Beckenbauer said.

Klose scored five goals in Germany's surprise advance to the 2002 final, but has looked a more complete player here, notching four goals already.

Beckenbauer, the chief organiser of the tournament, and Muller were teammates when West Germany won the 1974 World Cup on home soil.

Kahn hits out at Klinsmann

Germany's former first-choice goalkeeper Oliver Kahn says coach Jurgen Klinsmann still owes him an explanation for dropping him before the World Cup and going with Jens Lehmann.

"I have told him (Klinsmann) clearly that I will never comprehend why I am no longer number one," said Kahn.

"I would have expected a full explanation. But as there has not been one yet, there probably never will be."

Kahn said: "I am sorry, but do you change the man who has been first choice for years and who is playing consistently just because of a 'tick'?

"That is not reason enough for me. I have been playing at the very highest level for the past two years, I've done well in Champions League games, won the German league and cup twice and have enormous tournament experience.

"There was really no reason to change the goalkeeper."