http://www.worldcupblog.org/asia/ World Cup South Africa 2010 en-us World Cup Blog http://southkorea.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/cho-sacked.html http://southkorea.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/cho-sacked.html Jae Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:48:24 -0700 Word is out that Cho Kwang-Rae has officially been fired as head of the national team. Reports are that it happened Wednesday afternoon, and it was officially confirmed by Cho today. http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/one-way-to-kill-the-mood.html http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/one-way-to-kill-the-mood.html Jack Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:13:07 -0700 Let’s not mince words here. There was so much wrong with the Socceroos. Off and on the pitch there were far too many mistakes. It wasn’t good, we’ve taken a step backwards, but it is not crisis time. Far from it. Oman aren’t exactly Holland or Brazil, but they have a very capable manager in Paul Le Guen, who managed Lyon and PSG to 3 League titles and a French Cup respectively. He’s done something only a trio (him, Zaccheroni of Japan and Rijkaard of Saudi Arabia) of managers in Asia have done, and won trophies in Europe’s big leagues. Once http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/the-formal-friendlies-oman-thailand.html http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/the-formal-friendlies-oman-thailand.html Jack Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:44:57 -0700 The rather tediously predictable  first Round of World Cup qualifying reaches the exciting bit now, or the bit where we get a 'Q' by our names when the qualifying groups get shown on Fox or whatever.  3 Wins out of three gives us room for massive massive slip up and to still qualify for the next stage. I said last time these games are friendlies, i'm not going to lose any sleep over them to put it lightly, but Osieck actually runs the team and faces the media every week and doesn't just write an obscure blog, so he's gone http://southkorea.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/korea-fails-to-impress.html http://southkorea.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/korea-fails-to-impress.html Jae Sat, 29 Oct 2011 01:40:44 -0700 Recently, Korea played their third 2014 World Cup qualifying match. This time against the UAE in Suwon. Despite the relatively comfortable win over our Mid East opposition, the team failed to impress and looked disjointed and lacked a cutting edge. Nevertheless, the win leaves the team in a solid position in qualifying, top of the group, two points ahead of second place Kuwait. http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/oman-wrapping-it-up.html http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/oman-wrapping-it-up.html Jack Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:45:41 -0700 Malaysia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c9dZuU5bRs There. “Canberra curse” broken, Kennedy got goals, players got a run out. I’m not fussed, neither is anyone else so we’ll leave it at that: Oman: Let’s not mix words here: we’ve pretty much made it through this round of play offs. Not that it was unexpected. Nor will any fact make that opening statement look ridiculously arrogant. But, Osieck must now take a look at our fixtures, and ponder for what are they all really worth. Because really, they are simply just 3 friendlies. 3 friendlies, two of which in often uncomfortable conditions yes, but we have been playing in these conditions http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/the-a-league-and-the-utterly-utterly-pointless.html http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/the-a-league-and-the-utterly-utterly-pointless.html Jack Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:22:10 -0700 **I’m really sorry, I’ve had personal problems and I forgot there was even an international break in October. So here is what I’ve mustered of late because I’ve got flu, and regular updates will be back soon. So we have a friendly against Malaysia on the 7th of October. I didn’t know this until earlier today, so let me break down my reaction when I heard into two parts: Oh a friendly. Malaysia aren’t very good, but it could be worth the attention. Then: Isn’t October the 7th frighteningly close to the start of the new A-League season, a tv marketing fantasy, especially now http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/the-fine-margins.html http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/the-fine-margins.html Jack Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:29:06 -0700 (I didn’t realise this hadn’t gone up, and for that I apologize) The result was good,  not great, and more importantly, the performance was good, not great, and so very very nearly appalling. The Thailand syndrome of questionable decisions and sudden mind lapses was very much evident again for the first 20 minutes. The passing was lax, the runs uncreative, and Kennedy was the main target from the long punt forward, yet again. There was of course a step up after 2o minutes, but that was inevitable as we adjusted to the heat and the pitch and so on. But the team http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/liveblog-australia-vs-saudi-arabia.html http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/liveblog-australia-vs-saudi-arabia.html Jack Mon, 05 Sep 2011 22:15:57 -0700 Game. Set. SOCCEROOS. 90+2' Through ball to Cahill puts him one-on-one but he is incorrectly called offside. 89'  Kennedy off, Milligan on. The majority of the crowd are off too. 87' Retaining possession, Kennedy comes deep to defend, loses it, but comes to nothing. Decent performance tonight, after 40 minutes anyway. 85' Holman sacrificed for Cahill. Good effort from Brett an assist is not a bad evening's work. 83' Time ticking away. Ognenovski smoothly brings it out of defence. 82' Holman gets stamped on, the offender gets a booking. Rightly so. 80' OFF THE BAR, KSA freekick, headed quite brilliant;y onto the bar. Fine margins. 78' Blood pressure http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/could-be-better-could-be-worse.html http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/could-be-better-could-be-worse.html Jack Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:48:58 -0700 A lot better. And a whole lot worse. The performance was inexcusable. It's difficult to put my finger on the real problem. Mckay at left back is the glaring one, but that does not explain the baffling lack of tactical nous. Thailand's keeper and centre backs all had outstanding games, but players playing well against us should really be taken as the norm. It is very easy to dismiss the performance as 'just football'. Just bad luck, a part of sport. But what i cannot shift from the depths of my mind, is that the performance came from complacency. The dreaded C word. http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/liveblog-socceroos-vs-thailand.html http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/liveblog-socceroos-vs-thailand.html Jack Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:30:02 -0700 Socceroos 2 Thailand 1 (Kennedy 60, Brosque 87) Not ideal indeed, the the three points is what matters. Enjoy your evenings. Thailand bamboozle Neill ,corner given... ball in..cleared FULL TIME 92' 30 seconds to go... 91 (+3) Troisi on for Holman. 90' We attempt to hold on to a one goal lead against Thailand at home. not ideal but i'll take it with both hands. 88' Oh yeah, Brosque came on for Emerton. The goal came from a great Mckay cross as well. The ball hit Kennedy's hand before Brosque scored, but it was by his side and we deserve the luck from the earlier Cahill decision. 87' http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/competitive-football-and-head-patting-imminant.html http://australia.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/competitive-football-and-head-patting-imminant.html Jack Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:27:51 -0700 Football is back. If you follow more than one league in your life then you've probably heard that a billion times as of late. However, the Socceroos are back in competitive action and that is, i'm sure we can all agree, the pinnacle of sport. OK i am being dramatic, but there are World Cup qualifiers coming up, against Thailand on the 2nd at 20:00 in Brisbane, then against Saudi Arabia on the 6th. At the moment we can safely say this is "only" Thailand and "only" Saudi Arabia, but we must make good progress, slip ups can be unforgivable. The aim