Honduras v. Australia

[Con M]

So, Honduras it is then for the next phase. Another great unknown for Australia to get over.

In ye olde days Honduras was the mob who fought a brief (real) war against El Salvador, purportedly triggered by a riot after their World Cup Qualifier. 6,000 daeaths, 12,000 injured & 50,000 homeless.

They won't be a pushover for whoever is coaching Australia in November.

[Grosso]

Its one of the most hostile and dangerous places in the world
Good luck shockeroos

[predrag]

This is going to be interesting.

[Old Master]

Those who think qualifying is a given for Australia in Asia really need to think again.

Most Asian countries have improved markedly since we entered the Asian group and we have pretty well stagnated in comparison.

This is due mainly to the massive amounts of money available to their Football associations, unlike here where we have three or four other major sports who command most of the money and the media.

They also have leagues much stronger than ours, again due to the money available and can afford the best coaches available for their youth and senior ranks.

Despite all this we are on the cusp of qualifying, unlike some major Footballing nations, such as Holland, Costa Rica and the USA.

Even Argentina only made it at the last gasp, as have France and Portugal.

[Brian the Postman]

Those who think qualifying is a given for Australia in Asia really need to think again.

Most Asian countries have improved markedly since we entered the Asian group and we have pretty well stagnated in comparison.

This is due mainly to the massive amounts of money available to their Football associations, unlike here where we have three or four other major sports who command most of the money and the media.

They also have leagues much stronger than ours, again due to the money available and can afford the best coaches available for their youth and senior ranks.

Despite all this we are on the cusp of qualifying, unlike some major Footballing nations, such as Holland, Costa Rica and the USA.

Even Argentina only made it at the last gasp, as have France and Portugal.

Since when has Costa Rica been considered a major footballing nation?

[Grosso]

Those who think qualifying is a given for Australia in Asia really need to think again.

Most Asian countries have improved markedly since we entered the Asian group and we have pretty well stagnated in comparison.

This is due mainly to the massive amounts of money available to their Football associations, unlike here where we have three or four other major sports who command most of the money and the media.

They also have leagues much stronger than ours, again due to the money available and can afford the best coaches available for their youth and senior ranks.

Despite all this we are on the cusp of qualifying, unlike some major Footballing nations, such as Holland, Costa Rica and the USA.

Even Argentina only made it at the last gasp, as have France and Portugal.

Where is your evidence for this?
AFC didnt win a single game at the last world cup.

[Pie and Bovril]

Those who think qualifying is a given for Australia in Asia really need to think again.

Most Asian countries have improved markedly since we entered the Asian group and we have pretty well stagnated in comparison.

This is due mainly to the massive amounts of money available to their Football associations, unlike here where we have three or four other major sports who command most of the money and the media.

They also have leagues much stronger than ours, again due to the money available and can afford the best coaches available for their youth and senior ranks.

Despite all this we are on the cusp of qualifying, unlike some major Footballing nations, such as Holland, Costa Rica and the USA.

Even Argentina only made it at the last gasp, as have France and Portugal.

you are talking out of your ar$e, the quality in Asia is atrocious.

[God is an Englishman]

Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Syria - Some football powerhouses right there.

[ozzie owl]

The WC is not geared about getting the best 32 sides to the tournament its about getting sides from all confederations.

We all know Asia is one of the weaker confederations , however qualifying is tough in relative terms. To compare across confederations is a pointless excercise. I'm sure some the South American sides would have a similar a view on how easy England's WC qualifying group was compared to theirs.

[God is an Englishman]

The WC is not geared about getting the best 32 sides to the tournament its about getting sides from all confederations.

We all know Asia is one of the weaker confederations , however qualifying is tough in relative terms. To compare across confederations is a pointless excercise. I'm sure some the South American sides would have a similar a view on how easy England's WC qualifying group was compared to theirs.

Asia has 4.5 spots, that's too many. The World Cup should be about the best teams in the world.

If it's about getting sides from all confederations, why does the group australia should actually be in only get 0.5 of a team?

[God is an Englishman]

UEFA qualification, finish 2nd and you might not get in. South America finish 4th and you're in.

If we use the rankings as a "guide". Netherlands ranked 29 haven't made it.

and the winner of 74th v 50th will get in.

Who would you rather see in the world cup, (if you weren't australian) australia, honduras or the Netherlands?

[Grosso]

UEFA qualification, finish 2nd and you might not get in. South America finish 4th and you're in.

If we use the rankings as a "guide". Netherlands ranked 29 haven't made it.

and the winner of 74th v 50th will get in.

Who would you rather see in the world cup, (if you weren't australian) australia, honduras or the Netherlands?

look at all the UEFA first round groups and the teams that finished 3rd and 4th in those groups. How many of them do you think the Shockeroos would defeat?
Grosso says probably 1 or none.

[Con M]

I'm no betting man, but those dastardly money men (the bookies) worryingly say:

Honduras $2.10
Draw $3.15
Australia $3.40

K.O. is 7.30am (Adelaide time) Tuesday 7th November. Bit early for some forumites who might be more interested in the Melbourne Cup later that day.

[The Bourne Legacy]

Neither interest me.

[Grosso]

I'm no betting man, but those dastardly money men (the bookies) worryingly say:

Honduras $2.10
Draw $3.15
Australia $3.40

K.O. is 7.30am (Adelaide time) Tuesday 7th November. Bit early for some forumites who might be more interested in the Melbourne Cup later that day.

online odds are determined by the punters, where they put their money

[FoundIt]

I'm no betting man, but those dastardly money men (the bookies) worryingly say:

Honduras $2.10
Draw $3.15
Australia $3.40

K.O. is 7.30am (Adelaide time) Tuesday 7th November. Bit early for some forumites who might be more interested in the Melbourne Cup later that day.

online odds are determined by the punters, where they put their money

that is not correct. Initially the bookmaker frames the market, then the punters have their say as to what their influence is, if any.
the above market quote is the initial market framed by the bookmaker
mug punters are greatly influenced by the initial market offering by the bookmaker

[Cornuto]

3-0

[Con M]

Revised k.o. time/date will now be 8.30am Saturday 11 November Adelaide time.

It will be telecast on Channel 9’s secondary station (9GO!, Ch 93.99) and Lord Murdoch’s Fox. This was not advertised today on page 76 and I am astounded so few workmates, relatives & friends knew about that time/date - given that the big majority of Australians don’t have Pay TV.

The horrible bookies still have it as Honduras $2.00, Draw $3.00 and Australia $4.10

[ozzie owl]

Revised k.o. time/date will now be 8.30am Saturday 11 November Adelaide time.

It will be telecast on Channel 9’s secondary station (9GO!, Ch 93.99) and Lord Murdoch’s Fox. This was not advertised today on page 76 and I am astounded so few workmates, relatives & friends knew about that time/date - given that the big majority of Australians don’t have Pay TV.

The horrible bookies still have it as Honduras $2.00, Draw $3.00 and Australia $4.10

No doubt Grosso will be watching the match in his brand new Honduras top.

[Old Master]

My friends in Europe and South America cannot understand why Football gets such a poor coverage here and those that have visited, or lived here for a time, think it is just an example of the 'Americanisation' of this country. In my opinion it is purely and simply the 'little willy syndrome' that affects both countries, always trying to prove they have the biggest and best of everything, when reality shows they have very little to be proud about. OM


Simon Hill: Cultural misunderstanding in Australia about how big the WC play-offs really are

Simon Hill, November 10, 2017 11:01am,

Source: FOX SPORTS


“IT’S up to football people to educate the rest of the country in all this. Not many other sports have to deal with these types of situations in Australia. If we get football people writing this stuff too, then others feed into it. There is nothing here to worry us, nothing different from the norm.”

Those were the words of Ange Postecoglou when asked about the overused headlines in Australia of San Pedro Sula being the “murder capital of the world” – further fuelled by a rather tasteless joke by comedian Peter Helliar on “The Project.”

Helliar’s throwaway line (which I’m not going to repeat here), was intended to be a light-hearted dig, but it’s easy to see why the Hondurans - who have been warm and generous hosts - failed to see the funny side. It’s a timely reminder that humour doesn’t always travel well.

Postecoglou wasn’t about to get involved in the specifics of the row, but he is right on the money in his assessment of the bigger picture.

There is still a cultural misunderstanding among certain elements in Australia, as to just how important these big qualifiers really are. Particularly for countries who showcase themselves through football – a sport which, in this part of the world, comes second only to Catholicism as the national religion.

There remains too, a wilful, almost belligerent ignorance to the opportunities that games such as these present for the promotion of positive Australian values abroad, and how unique football is in providing the extraordinary type of atmosphere you’ll witness through your TV screens on Saturday morning.

Sadly, that’s because the national narrative remains stuck in a parochial loop when it comes to the conversation around sport in general. Into the vacuum comes prejudice, intentional or not, dressed up as humour.

If you’re looking for serious analysis, then the mainstream media finds it far easier to talk about the Ashes, discuss the latest AFL scandal, or examine (with faux earnestness), the made up entities that masquerade as nations at the Rugby League World Cup. These are things “we” can process and understand. The world on our terms.

LATEST SOCCEROOS NEWS:

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In-depth Socceroos v Honduras preview: foxsports.com.au’s David Weiner is joined by match commentators Simon Hill and Andy Harper, Socceroos goalkeeper Danny Vukovic and Diego Paz, Chief Editor of local media outlet Diez.

But qualification for the most loved, most watched (and most lucrative) sporting tournament in the world? Largely an afterthought. Squeezed into side bars in newspapers, relegated into the lower spots in the sports bulletins. A place for merriment at funny-sounding names from faraway places.

Proper discussion? Nah. In the “too hard” basket. We’re no good at the game anyway see, so why bother? Just take the piss, and leave the serious stuff for the real sport. Hey, it’s only bloody “soccer”.

Remember the fabled story of the late Johnny Warren, who was once told by a radio station to keep his report on the World Cup Final short because “it’s been a big day in sport”? Unfortunately, that mindset continues in many places. Yet still, the line that Australia is the world’s greatest sporting nation is peddled with alarming regularity.

In what? Rugby League? AFL? If the competition is the world’s tallest pygmy, then yep, we’re smashing it.

The little public discussion that does take place regarding the national team remains inward looking. Tim Cahill’s ankle, Ange Postecoglou’s future – and while both issues are certainly of interest and importance, there is nothing in Australia to rival the scrutiny the Hondurans have put the Socceroos under.

For example, the local papers here – “Diez” and “El Pais” among many others – have kept a watching brief on the ‘Roos training, their every movement in and out of the hotel, their views on Honduras and yes, even Cahill’s ankle. They pay Australia the courtesy of intense interest. That’s proper respect from a sporting nation.

Yet try to write an article on Australia’s opposition back home (as I, and others, do before every international), and the response is a deafening silence. Few in the media bother to turn up to the opposition press conferences. People simply have zero interest.

Then, if and when the Socceroos struggle, the slant becomes all about national team failings, and/or (inevitably and predictably), the flaws of the sport as a whole - rather than any genuine attempt at understanding how, or why, the opposition might have stolen a march on us. It’s the same with the Olympics.

This introspective thinking was put into even sharper focus by Sam Kerr’s recent elevation into the public consciousness.

After her exploits at the Tournament of Nations, Kerr (and her Matilda’s teammates) became the hot ticket item for a period of time – yet the conversation soon reverted to type. She was continuously referenced as the “sister of Daniel Kerr”, and more than one reporter suggested her next logical move was into the AFLW.

Er, no. It isn’t actually. Why on earth would Kerr give up shots at the Asian Cup, the Women’s World Cup, and the Olympics (all in the space of the next three years), to take part in a six-week hit and giggle-fest on the suburban fields of Melbourne? Or the international acclaim and money she earns playing professionally in the USA?

International football is not, and should never be, a stepping stone to the AFLW.

Yet this is the landscape which we inhabit.

It is a landscape that, as Postecoglou rightly points out, we must try to change. Otherwise, the cheap stereotyping (and cheap shots) will continue, and we will spend our days on these tours answering questions about quips from comedians back home.

[Bomber]

Frig me, I'll have a few bob on a Hondue win, but I'll double up on an Oz win and qualification in the return leg.

[haywood djablowme]

Clear pen and Juric missed a sitter.. could be 2 up at ht

[GaylyColouredStumps]

Australia finally playing like an Australian NT team should, not trying to channel the spirit of Barcelona

[eagleboy]

Australia finally playing like an Australian NT team should, not trying to channel the spirit of Barcelona

Australia were dominant but oh to have a striker that could put 1 away. Juric should have played his shot when 1 on 1 with his natural right foot where it would have curled in.

[theorakle]

the bottom line is. can not SCORE can not WIN. this does not change.EVER.

[OldGold]

Not a bad result for Australia but they were clearly the dominant team and should have won.

Still after all these years and world cup campaigns Timmy still looks the most likely to get a goal, which im sure he will in the return game.

[MegaBonus]

Waiting on Hawksey to comment on the refs decision to reverse the penalty....

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.....

[God is an Englishman]

Waiting on Hawksey to comment on the refs decision to reverse the penalty....

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.....

Ref did well, it was never a penalty.

[MegaBonus]

^^^^^^^^^^
How is it different to the one awarded to Melb City?

[Con M]

Australia finally playing like an Australian NT team should, not trying to channel the spirit of Barcelona

Australia were dominant but oh to have a striker that could put 1 away. Juric should have played his shot when 1 on 1 with his natural right foot where it would have curled in.

Eh, eagleboy? I thought Juric was a natural left-footer. He favours that foot when controlling the ball & holding up play.

He certainly pulled that shot and coming from his left foot it was always likely to curve out to the wrong side of the post. He probably hasn’t got that Brazilian skill, but a better option would have been to curve it back inside the far post by striking it with the outside of his left foot. Score that and Australia would have been home and hosed.