Austria's U20s Squad: WC in Canada - [R]

Discussion in 'Austria & Switzerland' started by MetroChile, Jun 20, 2007.

  1. BronzeArt

    BronzeArt Member

    Jun 8, 2006
    Rocky Top
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Congratulations on your Semi-final berth. I hope you will capitalize on the opportunity and make it all the way to the final! Great game today. Your guys put in a lot of hard work in the midfield, winning balls for the offense and breaking up our plays. It was a well-earned, hard-fought win, and you deserved it.

    Good luck in the semis!
     
  2. urubelga

    urubelga New Member

    Sep 2, 2005
    Montevideo
    Why was Hoffer on the bench vs USA?
    He came to the WC with the "star player" label on your team and he has delivered some key goals. I don't understand why he wasn't on the pitch from the start.

    I disagree that Adu was the best player on the game. Okotie was a force and key to Austria win. He has impressive technique and skills to play with his back to the goal. Mighty good potential there.

    Good luck nex round against the Czech. Just try to avoid the penalties!
     
  3. lonelycowboy

    lonelycowboy Member

    Mar 28, 2006
    Austria
    First of all there are no "star players" in any Austrian teams. It was long time ago that we had any "stars".
    Hoffer not starting was definitely because of tactical reasons - I can only guess but I think coach Gludovatz thought Hoffer could do better when he plays against defenders which are already a bit tired by the play of Junuzovic, Kavlak and Okotie. Hoffer and Harnik are both very fast, "explosive" players but at the expense of their stamina - they can only maintain their high speed for a maximum of one half (because of their age they are physically not yet at their limit).

    Knowing that IMO it was a mistake of USA to start with Adu AND Altidore - it meant an early lead but in the end both were tired and no other "threat" for the offense was there... :rolleyes:
     
  4. urubelga

    urubelga New Member

    Sep 2, 2005
    Montevideo
    Yes, see the " " at the sides of star player? That's what they meant.

    Good luck against Czech. I think you have more than a sporting chance of go to the finals. Then the pressure would probably be on the other team (particularly if is Argentina) and you can make history.

    Rooting for you all the way from Montevideo!
     
  5. Dave141

    Dave141 Member

    Jun 9, 2003
    Washington, NJ
    The great run for the U-20s ends with an 0-2 semifinal defeat by the Czechs. Austria conceded an early goal (inside 5 minutes), and it really took the steam out of them. They were also playing with only 1 regular defender in his normal position, due to suspensions and a training injury to regular left back Panny.

    The Czechs added a second goal at the 15 minute mark, and after that, it was hard to see the Austrians getting back to win the game. I know it wouldn't have affected the outcome, but in my opinion, the scorer of the 2nd goal for the Czechs was offsdie. He was in an offside position in the center when the ball was played down the wing, and he stayed offside until the ball was pulled back to him across goal and he tapped it in from the 6-yard box. I don't know how linesman interpret that as "not being involved in the play," since by being in the middle of the penalty box, he is certainly in the minds of both the defense and the keeper. Like I said, the Czechs deserved to advance and were the better squad, but I hate that interpretation. Those who say the offside rule should be tilted to encourage goals I think have it wrong. For example, in this match, after the 2nd goal, the game became unwatchable. If it stays at 1-0, at least the Czechs would have had to try to push for a goal, as well as the Austrians, who needed the equalizer.

    Still, a fantastic performance by the U-20s. Hopefully, it can translate to improvements at the senior level soon.
     
  6. lonelycowboy

    lonelycowboy Member

    Mar 28, 2006
    Austria
    Especially in the beginning you could see that the defense was completely reconverted and the Czechs took advantage of that. So in fact the match was decided after 15 minutes. I also think that it was a mistake to start with Hoffer, Okotie as a starter would be the better choice against the czech defense and then bring in Hoffer as a sub like the matches before.

    However, it was great fun to watch the boys play and I hope some of them make it to the senior team as well in the near future. :)
     
  7. IASocFan

    IASocFan Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 13, 2000
    IOWA
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Absolutelyl agree. Good job!

    Offside status is reset by every touch by the offensive team. At the one early point, he was offside, but not involved in the play. When his teammate took the ball past him on the right wing, he was put back onside. Therefore, the goal was properly counted. You're thinking one big play, not lots of little plays.
     
  8. Dave141

    Dave141 Member

    Jun 9, 2003
    Washington, NJ
    I disagree with the contention that he was not involved in the play. To me, if you are running hard down the center of the field into the 6-yard box you are "involved in the play," even if you don't touch the ball until a few seconds later. It's not like he was 20-30 yards up the pitch, he was at the edge of the area.

    He's close enough to the keeper that I think the play should be blown down as soon the initial pass happens. The fact that he doesn't touch the ball until subsequently doesn't matter to me. If you're offside, you're offside, and the only time "passive offside" makes sense is if you are off to one side or the other away from the ball and you don't make an attempt to play the ball. If you can be offside but not have it called if the winger advances far enough to pull it back to you, then late in the game why not play the striker in the penalty area full time?

    I realize I probably have a narrow interpretation of the offside rule. I don't see why the most popular sport in the world has to constantly look to liberalize this rule to encourage scoring. Stop tweaking the rule and just leave it the way it was. If you're past the last defender, you're offside. Then maybe we'll see better play by attackers down the field rather than just having the strikers hang off the shoulder of the last defender.
     
  9. JoeTerp

    JoeTerp Member

    Jul 9, 2007
    USA
    Anybody know why Besian Idrizaj was not included in the Austrian U-20 World Cup team. He won Austrian Young player of the year before signing for Liverpool, and even had a hatrick in LFC's first pre-season game, IN 23 MINUTES!
     
  10. DR.KJGS

    DR.KJGS New Member

    Jul 1, 2007
    According to Gludowatz he's no "teamplayer"...
     

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