After the Confederations Cup. . .

[Sydneyfan]

will Australia continue their good form in the Confederations Cup to go all the way to the World Cup next year, or will stumble against the Kiwis? or against South America's 5th best?

I'm more confident after the Confederations Cup that we can make the World Cup but it's going to be a huge obstacle to best the 5th best South American (if we don't lose to NZ that is!). I'm probably feeling 50-50 that we'll make the World Cup but I'm not going to get too confident, I remember 1997

 

[QT]

I voted "lose to the 5th ranked Sth American team" but i hope it doesnt happen!

We will prob play a team like Chile/Uruguay/Bolivia etc which will be hard (exspecially the away leg.)

But if we play at the top of our form, we are a chance against anybody!

 

[sbagman]

The whole qualification thing sucks. Far be it from me to suggest that Australia should qualify automatically from Oceania, but a "play off" isn't a fair way to decide qualification. As we have seen in the Confederations cup, anything can happen in soccer. Its not fair that South Americans, Europeans, etc etc who have group qualifications can recover from a loss by winning other games in their group. Yet for us, one bad game and its out.

Get us in Asia!

That said, I reckon we'll make it this time. But trying to pick the result of two games against an unknown opposition is impossible. And like I said, in soccer, ANYTHING can happen.

Cheers,
You know who.

 

[QT]

It is not fair on australia, but just say automatic qualification was made for oceania.

Countries in Europe have to play against opposition like Spain,Germany,Italy etc to qualify for the world cup. But australia, theyd have to play toughies like Solomon Islands, Samoa, New Zealand LOL

I agree Sbags, get us in Asia!!!!!

 

[sbagman]

Yeah QT, but think of it like this... say England suffer a shock loss to, I dunno, Cyprus. They can still qualify for the cup by winning other group matches. Australia don't have that luxury. One loss and we're out.

 

[Sydneyfan]

I heard about a good idea on Bigsoccer instead of introducing all of Oceania into the Asian confederation ( a huge group of countries) or including the 2 best Oceania teams in the final Asian qulaifier group (which is a pretty good idea), divide the Asian confederation into 2 geographical groups: the Middle East and South Asia, and the Asia-Pacific. Both groups having probably 2 spots with the 3th best teams in both of these confederations playing off for another spot. Australia, and the rest of Oceania would be paired with the likes of Japan, China, Korea, etc. which seems a pretty challenging and fair solution to the situation now where there's a full Confederation that is not even assured of one World Cup spot.

 

[sbagman]

Sydneyfan,

I think there should be only four confederations:
Europe, America (North, Central and South to combine), Africa and Asia (Oceania and Asia to combine).

I think the problem is that FIFA don't want an already huge Asian confederation swelled by another ten nations, and the other Oceania nations don't want to go into an even bigger pond where they'll be some distant backwater. Which they are now, but that's the theory. Sadly, too much self-interest will prevent this.

I like the latter idea though.

 

[Sydneyfan]

It's a shame how politics always plays such a big part in things. Each confederation is preoccupied with their self-interests and don't want to give the other confederations any concessions. Our Oceania confederation also has the problem of not being very liked at the moment after our head, Jack (i think that's his first name) Dempsey abstained from voting for the rights to the 2006 World Cup which ensured it went to Germany instead of South Africa, I'm not too sure of the whole situation though! Many countries were chessed off with that and unfortunately we in Oceania will probably pay the price for his decision.

 

[sbagman]

I think Aussie soccer's got bigger problems though... like the friggin NSL.

 

[Sydneyfan]

You're right there, Sbagman! They have the unbelievable ability to stuff up any good thing that happens to soccer in Australia.
Removing Brisbane Strikers and Canberra are a prime example, the two teams have a lean year so what will we do, axe them from the league! Forgetting the fact that only a couple of years ago the Strikers were in the Grand Final (and won) in front of a packed house.
I reckon I could do a better job of running of the NSL than Soccer Australia, which is laughable!

 

[sbagman]

Yeah well I've been following the Strikers since I arrived here in 1998, and gone to almost all their games. Problem is, Queenslanders love a winner, and if you ain't winning, they ain't interested. In front of 40,000 people, yet now we struggle to get more than 2,000. Not very passionate people up here. Not about their footy anyway. Threaten to make their backyards smaller, then you'll get a reaction....