Can Australia beat the 5th place Sth american side and qualify for Germany 2006

Zviggy · Nov 17, 2005

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17281843-23215,00.html

AUSTRALIA's football stars last night revealed how Uruguay's campaign of brutal intimidation before and during the titanic Telstra Stadium tussle drove them to the World Cup.

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, midfielder Vince Grella, striker John Aloisi and defender Lucas Neill revealed how pre-match tunnel tensions had exploded with Uruguay players aiming a stream of abuse at them - one even kicking out at an Australian player.

It didn't get any better on the pitch, where tempers soared as Uruguay goaded the Australians with expletives in Spanish and English.

It led Grella to hit back.

"They picked on the wrong man - and the wrong country," he said.

"It was like pouring petrol into a fire as far I was concerned. There's an old saying about the dog that barks loudest never bites. They did a lot of barking but we bit them pretty hard.

"Our mentality is to get on the pitch and just do the business. Uruguay's attitude just showed how scared they were of us - it was their last resort."

After a match bristling with ill will - and nine bookings - Schwarzer said: "There was jeering and verbal assaults in the tunnel and there was even a case of one of their players lashing out with his foot.

"It was totally uncalled for, but that's the level South Americans stoop to - they're renowned for it the world over.

"We were taken aback - that's possibly why we didn't start that well.
"But we tried to ignore it. They tried to put us off our game but we kept our cool."

Grella added: "They kept saying things like, Aussie you've s--t yourselves. It wasn't in English - but the message was clear and it didn't go down well with us.

"But for me, it wasn't about giving us extra motivation to beat them because we didn't need that.

"They thought by swearing at us it would make them stronger. It didn't work. It just made us stronger and more focused."

Neill revealed: "It was gamesmanship. There was some argy bargy in the tunnel. But you can be as strong as you want in the tunnel - it's what happens on the pitch that matters."

Aloisi said: "It showed how nervy they were and how unsure they really felt about what the result might be. They were rattled and it was their way of trying to undermine us."

A close friend of Los Celestes striker Richard Morales and midfielder Pablo Garcia - once both clubmates at La Liga's Osasuna - Spain-based Aloisi added: "I talked to Morales afterwards. He's a good guy and he was crying.

"I felt a bit sorry for him but not too sorry because four years ago we were the ones crying. This is now our time."
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Argentine Futbol · Nov 17, 2005

Melbourne Croatia said:

Uragay Fans!

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Is this supposed to be funny? have some class!

Zviggy · Nov 17, 2005

What the picture or the uragay comment.

The uragay comments are annoying me now. Not funny anymore but go have a look at uruguayan newspapers and you will see similar photos on the front page.

Whats the difference?

balla · Nov 17, 2005

This is a lay...

balla · Nov 17, 2005

This is a lay...

balla · Nov 17, 2005

This is a lay..

balla · Nov 17, 2005

Delete this please

Zviggy · Nov 17, 2005

Montevideo's La Republica newspaper also pointed the finger at Australia's over-exuberant football fans for making excessive noise outside the Uruguayan's hotel on match day.

"This group had no better idea than to gather at dawn on the day of the game outside our hotel to make noise and sound horns, so that our football players did not get a good rest," the report said.
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Remember 2001 now? Karma?

Although crestfallen, the Spanish-language Observa praised Australian striker John Aloisi, who scored the winning penalty, for his sportsmanship in crossing the field to console Uruguay striker and former Spanish Osasuna teammate Richard Morales after the game.

The Nacional player was reportedly devastated after missing a goal opportunity in the dying minutes of extra time.

"John Aloisi not only transformed the penalty that helped Australia qualify for Germany in 2006 and eliminate Uruguay, but he was the protagonist of a beautiful gesture of friendship and camaraderie by interrupting his celebration to comfort his friend Richard Morales," the Observa said.
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Well done Aloisi. I think the two guys where roommates while playing in Spain.

SSS-Loaded · Nov 17, 2005

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Socceroos-tell-of-intimidation-battle/2005/11/17/1132016928464.html

Uruguay's failed dirty tricks campaign continued ahead of Wednesday night's World Cup playoff, with the Socceroos telling of a pre-match physical altercation, intimidation tactics and insults and threats in the players' tunnel.

Several Socceroos confirmed Uruguayan striker Richard Morales and Australian centre-back Tony Popovic had each other by the throat in the Telstra Stadium players' tunnel before the match.

"They grabbed each other by the throat and were ready to fight," penalty shootout hero John Aloisi said.

Uruguay staff and players were shouting abuse and making noise in the echo chamber-like atmosphere to try to intimidate the Australians ahead of the game.

But the Uruguayans went to water once on the playing field, thanks in large part to the hostile reception they received from the 83,000 crowd, which became the first Australian sporting crowd in memory to boo and jeer an opponent's national anthem.

"I think they (the Uruguayans) got scared when their national anthem was being played," said veteran defender Tony Vidmar.

Anyone feeling the slightest bit of remorse about the anthem incident would rest a little easier after listening to the Socceroos on Thursday, telling of throat-slitting gestures and insults in Spanish being levelled at the Australians prior to walking onto the pitch.

"They tried to intimidate us from the off," midfielder Tim Cahill said.

"They were making a lot of noise in the tunnel, their staff were making a lot of noise and trying to intimidate us.

"We weren't fazed. I thought if we roughed them up a bit, they wouldn't like it, especially in our own place.

"It's give and take. We took a few, and gave a few out. We mixed it with them.

"They deserved to take a few hits and wear a couple because there was no way we were showing them any respect on our home turf."

Four years after similar intimidatory tactics made them melt in Montevideo, the 2005 Socceroos answered their aggressors where it mattered.

"You let your talking happen on the field," defender Lucas Neill said.

"Last night there was a little argy-bargy in the tunnel.

"You can be as strong as you like in the tunnel.

"But once you get on the field, then you've got to do the job."
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Melbourne Croatia · Nov 17, 2005

SSS-Loaded said:

But the Uruguayans went to water once on the playing field, thanks in large part to the hostile reception they received from the 83,000 crowd, which became the first Australian sporting crowd in memory to boo and jeer an opponent's national anthem.
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Well they deserved it. In australia its all about sportsmanship and fair play, but when you cross the line, its all over!

Madison midfielder38 · Nov 17, 2005

congrats to you Aussies I didnt think you could pull it off... but you did.
Well desvered.

Auxodium · Nov 17, 2005

yes 2 friendlies between Holland and Croatia is great. Plus if ANYONE could remember, the FFA and the FFF had signed an agreement to play a friendly in Paris in 2006 IF Australia QUALIFIED. Well we did and i hope we can play them too!

vilafria · Dec 8, 2005

Team portrait before the game vs Uruguay.

Andy TAUS · Dec 8, 2005

vilafria said:

Team portrait before the game vs Uruguay.
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First leg of the playoffs in Uruguay (see all the blue in the crowd, this wasn't Sydney)