Archive for the 'Football' Category

Footy fans, welcome back

Published at February 23, 2007 in Football. 1 Comment

Today is a sweet day for all AFL fans. The pre-season comp starts tonight. I know that for many purists, the pre-season is a big fat waste of time, with crazy new rule trials and teams that are choc-full of reserve players. I agree to an extent, but I’m just looking forward to seeing some form of the game on our nice new big TV. The cricket was fantastic on it, I’m sure the footy will be just as good.

We are having a tipping comp at work for the pre-season. Here are my tips for this week:

  • Adelaide to beat Port
  • Collingwood to beat North
  • St Kilda to beat Brisbane
  • Geelong to beat Richmond
  • Sydney to beat Western Bulldogs
  • Essendon to beat the Carlton
  • Melbourne to beat the Hawthorn
  • West Coast to beat Freo

Wish me luck.

So close… (1)

Published at July 15, 2006 in Football. 0 Comments

The poor Bombers. They were so close to having a win today against the Saints. They were in front for almost the entire game, only to be pipped at the post by 3 points. That makes 14 straight losses, equaling the longest ever losing streak in the club’s history. Playing Carlton next week gives us a chance to avoid setting a new record, but I’m not holding my breath.

Berlin pranksters play hard ball with soccer fans

Published at July 5, 2006 in Football, Humour and Media Watch. 0 Comments

World Cup pranksters in Berlin injured at least two soccer fans by inviting them to kick soccer balls that they had secretly filled with concrete, authorities said on Tuesday.

At least six concrete filled soccer balls were found chained to lampposts, trees and handrails across the city next to the spray-painted message “Can you kick it?”, Berlin police said.

“Two young men kicked the balls and suffered bad bruising on their feet,” a police spokeswoman said. “We still don’t have any leads in the case.”

Berlin is due to host the World Cup final on Sunday.

Source: Reuters UK

Socceroos vs the Azzurri

Published at June 30, 2006 in Football. 0 Comments

Caught on video: the dying moments of the match between Australia and Italy…

ausvitaly.gif

Chalk one up for the ref

Published at June 27, 2006 in Football. 2 Comments

So the Socceroos lost this morning in a match that was decided by an “iffy” call by the referee.

I think the fundamental problem with soccer is allowing a single man try and cover the entire pitch, while staying close enough to the play to call it fairly and correctly. The ball can move so fast from one end to the other, it is impossible for a (usually middle-aged) man to keep up. Why do you think there are 3 field umpires in the AFL? Even in basketball, where the playing area is 95% smaller than a soccer pitch, there are 3 referees to keep control of the game.

For an interesting analysis of the refereeing throughout the World Cup, read Referees rule the pitch by Mark Bechtel.

Anyway, I don’t want to sound like a sore loser, but it’s frustrating to come so far and have it all end in this way. All credit to the Italian defense though, it was standing firm even when they were a man down.

And finally: Well done Socceroos!

Round 2…bring it on!

Published at June 23, 2006 in Football. 0 Comments

What an extraordinary game of soccer. An early Croatian goal, a missed penalty for Viduka, a penalty goal followed, a monumental stuff-up by the Aussie keeper to let through a 2nd goal, then our mate Harry comes through with the equaliser.

Lets not forget the missed handball by Croatia in the square and the 2nd red card for Simic who then stayed on the pitch.

All that aside, it was a great draw (read win) for the Aussies who are in the 2nd round for the first time ever. Cool.

Where’s the theme song?

Published at June 22, 2006 in Football. 0 Comments

I don’t know how this can be called a real World Cup when there isn’t a Ricky Martin song blaring over the top of any footage even remotely connected to soccer.

On second thoughts, I’m very glad that there is no Ricky music this time around. Cup of Life was about as much any normal human could endure.

Happy birthday, Betty

Published at June 12, 2006 in Football and Work. 0 Comments

I would like to thank Queen Betty Windsor for living to see another birthday and thus, giving us a public holiday. You trivia buffs might be interested to know that today isn’t actually her birthday. It’s really 21 April 1926.

So, back to work tomorrow for another short week. Dont get too used to it though, because the next one isn’t until Melbourne Cup Day.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend.

PS: Good luck to the Socceroos tonight as they play Japan in their first World Cup finals match in 36 years. Any boss who doesn’t let you go into work late tomorrow, a result of staying up all night to cheer on the boys, is a nasty-pastie.

Essendon vs Port Adelaide

Published at May 27, 2006 in Football. 1 Comment

We are just about to head off to watch Essendon thrash the pants of Pt Adelaide (wishful thinking perhaps?) at the Telstra Dome. This will be my first live AFL match for 2006, hopfully the boys can do the right thing by me.

Australia vs Greece

Published at May 25, 2006 in Football. 1 Comment

Melbourne is buzzing with “world cup fever”. Tonight’s match between the Socceroos and the ______ (whatever the Greek team calls themselves) should be a corker. I know there are lots of Melbournians who hate football (soccer) but I think you should still get into the spirit.

Even at 4:30 when I was riding home from work, there were soccer jersey-clad fans all around East Melbourne and the MCG. Hopfully we will see a few flares and plenty of Oscar-winning injury fakes to add to the entertainment.

My prediction: Aus 2 – Greece 1 (only because of home ground advantage, which doesn’t make a lot of sense because the crowd will probably be mostly Greeks and the Socceroos don’t really play on the G very often, do they!?)

As for the World Cup propper, I don’t think the Aussies will progress very far, but there will still be plenty of good matches to watch.