rsgerry

heard on the news this morning that the oceania group winner will get an automatic spot in the world cup finals. on one hand, this is great. this will raise the profile of soccer in this country and also make the media take interest. it should also guarantee soccer australia a few $$$ every four years.

on the other hand, it doesnt address the real issue about the lack of competition in this region. there are only two teams who have any chance of making it, australia and new zealand. whilst NZ won last time around, it is usually australia who wins this group. otherwise, there is no significant competition in this region. what is the point of qualifying for the world cup and then getting knocked out early in the group stages? the place given to oceania will be taken from somewhere else. the fifth or sixth best south american team will put up a better show than the first oceania qualifier, so why dumb down what is supposed to be the hunt to find the best footballing nation in the world?

the real answer should have been for fifa to restructure the entire asia region, and create three groups. that way australia ans nz would at least get to play against some quality opposition, such as japan, s.korea etc. we would then have had some practice against quality, so if we qualify for the WC from there, we would have done so with credibility and also be in a position to take on the world.

and while i am ranting, the players that gain qualification for the world cup should be the ones who play in the world cup. what is the point of fielding a team made up of locally based players for the qualification, and then pissing them off when we get to the finals stages so that guys who cant be arsed playing for their country (kewell and viduka et al) can then jump in and try to grab some glory? if they want to play in the world cup finals, let them help out in the group stages.

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JG33PY

i do believe our over seas players are usually not released by their respective clubs to play for australia, so to blame the individual is a bit harsh. i think having the full position in the world cup is way better than the half position we've had for years. now the world game can be fully representative of the whole world. i don't think our national team is all that bad, after all i've never seen them get thrashed by high profile countries. be interesting to see how they go against the poms at upton park.

bafel

the problem with soccer in australia is that it only interest the mainstream of sports fans once every four years when the World Cup quals or on. Having said that it important thet they perform well, but the last two attempts have been very dissapointing. I think another problem is is that Aussies like winners and will support anything that is winning, but soccer australia aint so it doesn't get the support is needs. Australia virtually being given an automatic entry into the World Cup (bugger the Kiwis) will provide funds to clear debts and put back into the clubs and local leagues. This happening every four years should be able to build up a future local league that young people will want to play in.

rsgerry

i agree with most of what you have said, however, the above statement is flawed on one count...where does soccer australia spend its money at the moment? it certainly isnt going into local clubs. it isnt getting to where it should be going.

the sooner there is an overhaul of this most inefficient and self-centered of organisations, the better. then, maybe, we will see money going back into the game, rather than the current black hole that it is disappearing into....

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Mr Jucy

I was really happy to hear we are virtually getting pre-qualification but I do agree we need more games against quality oposition the 2 friendlies against England are a great start especially as they are overseas cause I think they need more practise infront of foreign crowds because they usually only get to play at home until the qualifiers. They really need a training camp in Europe too so the team can get together regularly but they need to get their finances in order first

eb_5litre

I've always found soccer to not be a very exciting sport to watch..... you watch 2 teams kick a ball around for over an hour and maybe just maybe one of them will score 1 point. Then you get to watch them completely over-react and make fools of themselves by kissing and cuddling one another.

It doesnt make good viewing for the general public I believe. I would also include golf in that category of boring sports.

I reckon Australia getting a virtually free spot in the world cup will cause some disrespect from other countries..... other countries that actually have to compete hard against other worthy teams for a spot.

I also dont like the idea of soccer in australia becoming more popular because it will inspire and motivate more ridiculous hooligans. Its a fact of life... soccer promotes hooligans... its not fair but its true. Its a low scoring and very emotional game.
However hooligans are not limited to soccer (eg rugby league).

Anyways.... thats just my opinion... from a self proclaimed "wogball" hater.

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Jamie XR6

I'm not a fan of soccer at all.

It seems that they have been given a foot up on the fact that if you bitch long enough, you'll eventually get what you want.

Interesting article in this mornings Daily Telegraph.

Now that NZ is basically the only country that stands in our way the Australian soccer board wants to eject the NZ team from our National comp.

Why? because they ask "Why should we be allowing the Kiwis to hone their skills in our competition"

Sounds very petty to me. IMO it's comments like this that won't win friends to a game that is failing in Australia.

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JG33PY

your entitled to your opinion of course but being a self proclaimed "wogball hater" has already described your mentality towards the game anyway. i guess the world cup is only the SECOND biggest event in the world so there must be a lot of bored people out there. i have never seen an advertisement where the game soccer actually invites you to a game to be a hooligan. i believe you watch too much channel 9 news, which has no interest in promoting THE WORLD GAME in this country.
but this is just my opinion.

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