AUSSIES GO UNDER - BUT NOT DOWN

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Group F Initial Results

Brazil ran out worthy winners over Australia last night in their Group F opener, but the Poperoos had their share of chances and goals in a thrilling encounter. Brazil played dazzling football and never looked like losing, but thanks to some excellent team play in the Australian midfield, they never truly dominated. Both camps seemed optimistic last night - pundits are already comparing thenipper's side with PWC 1970's Tropicalia heroes, and every neutral must be looking forward to their clash with Japan. As for the Australians, they refused to be downhearted in defeat. "If we play like that against Croatia and Japan, we'll qualify", said a source close to the team.

In the other group F game, two late goals gave Japan victory over a dogged and well-drilled Croatia side. The win was a fair reflection of Japan's greater skill and attacking play, though for most of the match they couldn't find a way through a maze of Croatian bodies. Commentators have wondered if the weight of expectations is affecting Japan's play, though with an ultimately comfortable win under their belt the team and management will have no such complaints.

(Vote here to affect the course of Group F.)

Comments

[thebopkids.livejournal.com]

The marvellous Brazilian entry reminds me as much of the so-called "Tom Tom Club" team of the 1982 finals as it does of their illustrious predecessors 12 years before.

I am surprised the Japanese team is apparently not seeing the results I expected. It's a side which seems to me strong in all departments, full of running and energy, with the potential for lots of goals.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Maybe my PWC write-up was unclear - they got the result expected, but ran up against a surprisingly strong Croatian defense which stopped them turning their superiority into goals for much of the game.