Why did Lucas Neill have to do this?
The outpouring of support for Lucas Neill has been overwhelming. We still love you, Lucas. In other less subjective parts of the world Neill is a ‘clogger’, ‘moron’, ‘dumb as a doorpost’ for doing what he did. In Italy, Lucas Neill is probably secretly deified.
Fabio Grosso insists its all clean, he did not ‘dive’, his legs got entangled in Neill’s. His choice of words are interesting “I had no option but to go down.” An option means that you have choices, a cognitive process. And Grosso chose to dive. As the video and the picture shows there was no entanglement, so Grosso pulled of a perfect bit of perfidy, and the referee bought it.
Guus Hiddink has made it very clear that he is not going to have his victory parade. A second round exit is not cause for celebration in his exacting world. But Hiddink has put the Socceroos on the map. Before this World Cup, they were unknown, much like the US was in 2002. And therein is a lesson for the Socceroos. What they do from now on to ensure that they don’t suffer the same fate as the US Soccer team. Well, the first thing is to get a coach. Not a Hiddink, but someone who can keep the momentum going. They have gone past the rebuliding stage. Coaching the Socceroos is now one of the most enticing jobs available. Gerard Houillier, Martin O’Neill, Sven Goran Erickson are names that are being mentioned. Jurgen Klinsmann, the US top choice is also being considered.
The A league in its first year has managed to create a buzz and excitement that the MLS has failed to do. That is because Oz has been able to successfully entice its immigrant population in their inner cities to become part of the league. Their players also have been more active, playing in leagues abroad, and getting more experience and savvy. Their model seems to be more in line with what Christian has proposed with the US soccer system.
The Socceroos came and captured our hearts. Even the hard to please English press took to the Socceroos. Past Ashes angst forgiven for the time being. The headlines and blurbs could not get more Murdochian.
“You beauts,” read the Sun’s headline. “Strewth – the Aussies nearly pulled off the impossible.”
Conservative broadsheet The Telegraph: “IWhat an escape for Italy and what utter, brutal heartbreak for Australia,”
The Guardian: “This was a battle between the sleek thoroughbreds of Serie A, whose changing tastes in hairstyles have been making headlines in the Italian papers this week, and the mongrels of (coach Guus) Hiddink’s squad, who ply their trade in a variety of leagues, some quite modest,” it said.
The Times: “Italy’s method is rooted in pessimism. Ask an Italian whether the glass is half-full or half-empty and he is liable to reply that it is poisoned. Ask an Australian and he will ask if it is a free bar.”
I have a feeling when the Socceroos start beating the Three Lions inevitably, this goodwill will dry up. For now the Aussies can berate the referee, the Italian “diving”, the Juventus scandal, the absence of Kewell, and John Aloisi coming on late. But please, no Pommie whingeing.
The SMH captures the day after