What a difference four years make. Leading into Sydney's Olympics, the Olyroos were all the hype, especially with the impending sell-out match against Italy at the MCG, and this website even ran an Olympic Oydessy - following the drama and emotion of a manic fan. Hopes were for a medal but the team fell to pieces in defence with critical errors, losing all three games, and being the first team of any sport eliminated from the games - on the actual first day of full competition. This time, it's low key, there's minimal expectation, little impetus to get excited and the team's been given little hope of progressing past the group phase with what some media have described as the worst team ever sent to the games. A pity really, but that's the sad reflection of football in the Olympic Games when it's simply buried by all the other sports.
While Australia has a tough group against African champions Tunisia, South American champions Argentina, and Euro runner-up Serbia & Montengro, truth is the team could surprise. Lead-up matches have not been discouraging and feature a 1-0 over Japan in Japan, a 3-1 loss to Korea in Korea, and 2-1 win over Costa Rica in Greece. Coach Frank Farina has included the allowed three over-age players, with John Aloisi, Craig Moore and Tim Cahill play all matches. Preparation seems OK. On paper, the team actually doesn't look hopeless, with several players already featuring in the full national team, and certainly capable of taking the points from Tunisia and matching it with S&M. That first match, to be played in Heraklion, Crete, will be critical.
Goalkeepers: Eugene Galekovic; Bradley Jones.
Defenders: Shane Cansdell-Sherriff; Adrian Madaschi; Jonathan McKain; Craig Moore; Jade
North; David Tarka.
Midfielders: Tim Cahill; Anthony Danze; Spase Dilevski; Ahmad Elrich; Ryan Griffiths; Carl
Valeri; Luke Wilkshire.
Strikers: John Aloisi; Alex Brosque; Brett Holman.
The women's team, the Matildas, stand a better chance of progressing, with the match against Brazil proving critical. They kick-off on the same day, before playing novices Greece and then the powerhouse USA.
The team: Dianne Alagich, Melissa Barbieri, Rhian Davies, Lisa De Vanna, Gillian Foster, Heather Garriock, Tal Karp, Cassandra Kell, Selin Kuralay, Kylie Ledbrook, Joanne Peters, Karla Reuter, Cheryl Salisbury (c), Sally Shipard, Thea Slatyer, Danielle Small, Sacha Wainwright, Sarah Walsh.
As a dedicated Olympics fan (I'm even taking leave simply to watch it), the Socceroo Realm is letting it known that Australia should do very well. Ignore all the media hype about the great performances at Sydney 2000 - especially in the pool and whether that can be beaten in Athens - because the Sydney team fell well below expectations in winning just 5 golds. They won 9 silvers and 6 bronze too, with the inference that they lost gold bearing true. Eight should have been the optimum, 10 the most and 6 (yes SIX) the minimum. (Refer to the link in the Warrior's Realm front page.) In 2004, six again should be the minium simply by swimmers meeting near their best times (men's 200m, 400, 1500, 4*200 and women's 100m, 4*100m and 100m breast-stroke). That's actually seven chances to cater for the event of an upset. And if there are more, it still be able to be retrieved elsewhere with so many other medal chances about.
In other sports, the "failure" continued whereby Sydney returned 16 gold and 25 silver (and 17 bronze). In contrast to Spain's Olympics, Spain won 13 gold, 7 silver, 2 bronze. Australia probably won't meet the total record count from Sydney of 58, but it should not be a surprise to anyone if they reach 16 gold. There's probable golds in athletics (0-2), beach volleyball (1), kayaking (1-2), cycling (2-4), diving (0-1), equestrian (1-2), hockey (1), rowing (2-4), sailing (1-3), shooting (1-2), swimming (5-9), tennis (1), triathlon (1-2) and waterpolo (0-1). Adding that up, and you see even with minimal expectation, 15 golds is probable and 20 the optimum. If everything goes right for all athletes in gold-medal chance events, look for 30+ gold medals.
These minimum, optimum and maximum possibilities are actually in-line with Sydney's potential. But now, without the so-called home-ground advantage that actually burdened our athletes with so much pressure that many wilted and failed to produce their best, the team should be more focused to reach the optimum performance expected by those in the know. Even AOC officials are talking about 15 gold amongst 50 medals and top 5 overall - a number designed NOT to add further pressure on the athletes. Who knows what they really think? Well, now you do!
If you said before the game that Australia's Olympic team would concede a disappointing goal through a defensive error, you'd say "what's new". And that's exactly what happened. After a solid first half where the team controlled play, John Aloisi scored late in the half off an Elrich cross and it looked promising for a win. But Tunisia turned it around after some shrewd substitutions and equalised when goalkeeper Galekovic flapped at a cross but barely made contact. It fell nicely to a Tunisian making a run to the back post, and with Galekovic still on the ground and out of position, was helpless in preventing the short cross back in and the resultant goal at close range from Ali Zitouni. Tunisia pressured for the remainder of the match and had one good shot that went just shy of the post in injury time. Other than those few incidents, a drab match that produced barely a save for either goalkeeper and few shots.
While Australia didn't lose, more disconcerting was the weak performance, especially the second half. Sure Tunisia were chasing the game and Australia grew tired, but even in the first half, Australia was riddled with errors, especially with long passes, and seemed clueless how to break the Tunisian defence down. In the second half when opportunities for quick breaks were on, Australia again seemed lacking in imagination and proved frustrating in their lack of urgency going forward.
In the other group match, Argentina routed Serbia & Montengro 6-0, which gives Australia great hope of progressing. S&M seem clearly the weakest team in the group, and a win there and simply matching Tunisia's results for the remainder of the tournament should see them through. However, it's difficult to see the team progress much further. Argentina will be the test, especially for coach Frank Farina, who's been the subject of replacement talk for the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. He needs to really show something special in a major tournament or match to silence his critics. Even fans are losing some faith. So far his major scalps have been restricted to friendlies, and that's simply not enough.
Wed 11 August 2004, Pankritio Stadium, Heraklio: AUSTRALIA 1 (Aloisi 45’) TUNISIA (Zitouni 69’) 1
Team: Eugene Galekovic (gk, Jade North, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Craig Moore, Adrian Madaschi, Ahmad Elrich (Ryan Griffiths 82’), Luke Wilkshire, John Aloisi, Tim Cahill, Alex Brosque (Brett Holman 68’), Carl Valeri (Jon McKain 84’)
Cautions: Cahill, Moore, Valeri, Elrich, McKain
Australia put up a respectable performance against Brazil, but ultimately went down 1-0 after nerves got the better of them in the first half. They almost levelled soon after Brazil's goal when Walsh shot over the bar after doing everything right to open up the goal after receiving a lovely through ball. Sadly, it looks all over for them unless they can stop the USA or hope Brazil slips up. A win over Greece in their next game won't be enough.
Wed 11 August 2004, Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki: BRAZIL 1 (Marta 36') AUSTRALIA 0
Team: Cassandra Kell (GK), Sacha Wainwright, Cheryl Salisbury (c), Dianne Alagich, Rhian Davies, Heather Garriock, Joanne Peters, Sally Shipard (Kylie Ledbrook 83'), Danielle Small, Gillian Foster (Lisa De Vanna 58'), Sarah Walsh (Selin Kuralay 72').
Cautions: Foster
Amazing the 4-2 victory they scored over Portugal last night. The team also reached the quarter finals of the recent Asian Cup. With remaining matches against Costa Rica and Morocco, should reach the quarter finals of the Olympic Games. Most gratifying, of course, is that they can return safely to Iraq and not be tortured by Saddam Hussein's evil son, Uday, for not winning gold.
Australia is on target to reach the quarter finals when Serbia and Montenegro collapsed to them 5-1 in the second match last night. Tim Cahill scored first, unmarked from a corner kick in just the 11th minute before John Aloisi and Ahmad Elrich scored twice to round out the victory. In response, Serbia and Montenegro's goal came from substitute Srdan Radonjic with the score at 4-0, after goal-keeper Eugene Galekovic again misjudged a deep cross to leave an open goal. SAM's other main response came via a dubious penalty decision awarded against Craig Moore, but Galekovic's dive to left managed to save the kick. Just before the break, John Aloisi doubled Australia's score, rounding off nice, quick counter-attack. The ball was played out to Elrich and with three defenders converging on him his placed his pass perfectly for an open Aloisi, who chipped over the advancing keeper. From that point on, it was all Australia and the score could have been anything.
A corner kick saw Australia's third goal when Adrian Madaschi's header from a Luke Wilkshire cross was well saved by the keeper, but Aloisi was quick to pounce on the rebound. Two minutes later, Elrich made it four after a goal-mouth scramble and rebound allowed him to slot nicely to the far post from the edge of the box. He added another after Brett Holman passed through and forced the ball between the keeper's legs for it to just dribble over the line.
The game really opened up with with the SAM goalie constantly busy and fortunate that Australia's shooting was off. Twice open shots went straight to the goalie, whilst other shots were blazed high. SAM also had chances of their own with Australia's defence also losing concentration.
The 5-1 score was the biggest Olympic victory for Australia, surpassing the 3-0 win over Denmark in 1992. And the win was Australia's first at the Games since defeating Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, 1996. The only negative was John McKain's yellow card that will see him suspended for the next match.
In other Group C game, favourites Argentina defeated Tunisia 2-0 in Patras, meaning Australia only needs a draw to guarantee advancement to the next round. Even a loss will do provided it's not too heavy or Tunisia defeats SAM by a small margin. Currently Australia has a 6-goal lead in goal difference over Tunisia. With the likelihood Argentina already qualified for the next round and may rest players or take it easy for that final match, it further enhances Australia's prospects.
However, while things look rosy with a quarter final beckoning, it must be tempered with the knowledge that SAM were a weak and experienced team - apparently with seven first choice players out from the their European runner-up team, and the only nation of the tournament with no over-age players selected. They were easily out-bustled on the ball and penetrated in defence. For coach Frank Farina, under increasing pressure about his future, a semi-final spot must be the minimum requirement to silence his critics.
Sat 14 August 2004, Pankritio Stadium, Heraklio: AUSTRALIA 5 (Cahill 11’, Aloisi 46+’/57’, Elrich 60’/86’), SERBIA & MONTENEGRO 1 (Radonjic 72’)
Team: Eugene Galekovic (gk), Jade North, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Craig Moore, Adrian Madaschi, Ahmad Elrich, Luke Wilkshire, John Aloisi (Brett Holman 74’), Tim Cahill (Anthony Danze 64’), Alex Brosque (Ryan Griffiths 64’), Jon McKain
Yellows: McKain, North
The women's team also excelled against weak competition, easing past host nation Greece 1-0 in the early match at Crete's Pankritio Stadium. This is the first win ever at World Cup or Olympic Games tournament for the women's team. The win virtually guarantees them journey to the quarter finals because, unbeknownst this website until today, Australia's group - the only one with four teams - see the top three progress to the next phase. Greece will need to beat Brazil - an unlikely proposition - to upset the applecart. Australia plays the mighty USA next and would hope to at least show something meritorious to vindicate the easy passage to the next phase.
It seems the format for the women's tournament was designed largely to help the inexperienced hosts progress as much as possible. It seems the referees were also under instruction to help out with two further Australian goals ruled erroneously offside, with one not even close after it rebounded off the goalie's glove. Substitute striker Lisa De Vanna suffered both these calls in the second half. In the first half, a defensive error in the 27th minute by Greece's Konstantina Katsaiti allowed Sarah Walsh to latch on to a ball on the right side of the 18-yard box. Her threaded cross was perfectly met my Heather Garriock to smash into the net. While Greece created some minor chances of their own, the Matildas dominated for the most.
USA defeated Brazil 2-0 in the other group game.
Sat 14 August 2004, Pankritio Stadium, Heraklio: AUSTRALIA 1 (Heather Garriock 27'), GREECE 0
Team: 1-Cassandra Kell (GK), 3-Sacha Wainwright, 5-Cheryl Salisbury (c), 4-Dianne Alagich, 2-Rhian Davies (9-Lisa De Vanna 46'), 8-Heather Garriock, 10-Joanne Peters, 6-Sally Shipard, 17-Danielle Small, 14-Gillian Foster (12-Karla Reuter 75'), 7-Sarah Walsh (16-Selin Kuralay 58').
Yellows: Alagich 43'.
Australia needed to show something in both these games, and nice to see that happened. After conceding an early goal against a full-strength Argentina, the Olyroos matched it with the gold medal favourites for the rest of the match with both teams creating many chances. The goal scored by Andres D’Alessandro’s in the 9th minute also should have been avoided. Unfortunately the team gave to much midfield space in the early stages of the game - portended when John Aloisi said pre-game that the team would attack. Naive? Well, considering the team only needed to avoid a heavy loss, it might have been better keeping it tight for the first half and then taking on the Argentines in the second half after it was learned Tunisia were not romping away against Serbia and Montenegro in the other group game.
Still, it was an admirable effort to curtail the fluid yet dirty Argentines for the remainder of the game. “The biggest compliment our team received was the fact the Argies changed their style of play and system”, said Farina, after the match. “That just doesn’t happen. He added: “The first 10 minutes were a little bit tough, as they were getting more players in midfield, which caused us problems. But we adjusted and I thought we had the better of the game. The boys did really well".
Since they'd already qualified for the second phase, Argentina could have rested some players but fielded rising star Carlos Tevez along with overage players Kily Gonzalez, Gabriel Heinze and Roberto Ayala, as well as D’Alessandro and Mario Rosales in attack. Probably wanted to be sure of not losing and making for an easier path in the quarters.
The one major disappointment of the game was the three yellow cards incurred up by captain Craig Moore and midfielders Tim Cahill and Ahmad Elrich. All will miss the next round because of Fifa's moronic yellow card suspension rule. I've said before that yellow cards should result in an immediate 15 minute ban from the current game (like a sin bin) so that the team is punished instantly and the team infringed against is also rewarded. But under this current system, the team that's rewarded is Australia's next opponents. It might also make the players take cautions seriously, because under the present system, clearly they don't.
Anyway, that next opponent could be Iraq - if it can draw against Morocco. Otherwise, it will be Portugal, and that will be tough without three of your best players. Farina said: “It has decimated our team to lose those three. It’s a very big (loss) and we now only have the bare minimum 15 players for the quarter final against Iraq or Portugal.”
In the other game, Serbia and Montenegro helped Australia by keeping Tunisia to a narrow 3-2 win. Australia went through thanks to a +4 to 0 goal difference courtesy of its 5-1 win over S&M. Australia and Tunisia finished level on four points.
D’Alessandro’s match winner was the highlight of an engaging first half.
The VFL Wolfsburg attacker was quick to react when Shane Cansdell-Sherriff’s tackle on Rosales fell to him on the edge of the box. His shot, hit with the outside of his foot, skimmed past the despairing dive of Eugene Galekovic and inside the far post.
Although evidently the dominant side, Argentina was by no means the sole dictator of play in the first stanza.
The Olyroos came close to levelling the score on a number of occasions, the most notable from Jade North in the 17th minute.
Following a rare and impressive trek up field, defender North tried his hand from considerable distance only to see his speculative effort inch past the right post and the Argentine keeper beaten.
Attacking trio John Aloisi, Ahmad Elrich and Alex Brosque were able to penetrate the three man Albiceleste defensive line with some regularity, with Aloisi and Brosque combining well midway through the half to force a desperate clearance from Argentine skipper Roberto Ayala.
Overall, Farina would have been rather pleased with his sides showing, having lived up to the promise of taking the game to there much fancied opponents.
The second half featured much of the same, with Australia pressuring Argentina at every opportunity and providing a stubborn counter to the Albiceleste’s attacking nous.
In particular, Australia looked dangerous at set pieces with both Moore and Cahill having headed chances to score from corner kicks.
Farina will look kindly upon the performance of Excelsior striker Brett Holman, who provided notable menace to the Argentine back line in his fleeting appearance off the substitutes bench.
It was Holman who came closest to levelling the scores with a late left footed strike that forced Argentina ‘keeper German Lux into a fine low save.
Tues 17 August 2004, Karaiskakai Stadium, Athens: AUSTRALIA 0, ARGENTINA 1 (D’Alessandro 9’)
Team: Eugene Galekovic (gk), Jade North, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Craig Moore, Adrian Madaschi, Ahmad Elrich, Luke Wilkshire, John Aloisi, Tim Cahill, Alex Brosque (Brett Holman 72’), Carl Valeri (Anthony Danze 73’)
Cautions: Wilkshire, Moore, Cahill, Elrich
The Australian women's team upset world number two USA with a 1-1 draw in the last of their group matches played in Thessaloniki last night. It assured Australia's third placing in the group and therefore a spot in the quarter finals. They face Sweden, who finished second in their group, on Friday. In fact, all three teams from that group of three qualified for the final eight. The only team eliminated from the Games other than Greece (who lost their final encounter ignominiously 7-0 to Brazil) was former powerhouse China. In their group of three, they had a worse record - caused predominantly by the 8-0 humiliation to World Champions Germany in the their first group game - than the third placed team in Sweden's group. Seems an utter waste of time having the group phase if so few teams are eliminated.
Anyway, Sweden are World Cup runner-up, so Australia will have to reproduce the effort they did against the USA to succeed. Surprisingly, Australia looked rarely out of its depth as the US were consigned to more optimistic shots and Australia's speedy Sarah Walsh proving very troublesome up front. It's a pity she found herself so isolated and then out-numbered whenever she had the ball, because so many opportunities were created.
It was the first time in 16 attempts within the 17 years of Australia-USA matches that Australia avoided a loss. That's on top of the win over Greece being their first ever at a World Cup or Olympic Games, likewise this is the first time Australia progresses to the knockout stage of such tournaments.
It was indeed a memorable stage for captain Cheryl Salisbury to today celebrate her 100th A-international. The 30-year-old defender is only the second Australian female to reach the century, reward from a glorious decade-long career.
The US didn't enjoy the best of starts in this match, but once they took the lead in the 19th minute, settled as the stronger team for the first half, although didn't create many more chances against a determined, though at times a little shaky, Australian defence. Australia, adding a second striker for the second half, then took the game to a relatively subdued US in the second term, and were rewarded with the equaliser late in the game through Joanne Peters.
Australia were expected to go through to the quarter finals even if they had not won today, but were fired up to get a result against the mighty Americans in any case. The Australians lined up with Thea Slatyer making her Olympic debut, the only change from the previous two matches in place of Gill Foster.
Australia were fairly positive in their intentions and relying on the speed of Sarah Walsh up front. She managed to keep her opponents on their toes, but as the lone striker, was hard up finding a way through to goal against two or three solid defenders. Both sides were guilty of stray passing to start off the match in what turned out to be rather an uneventful first 45 minutes apart from the US goal.
Australian goalkeeper Cassandra Kell was quick off her line to cut out a through-ball and later to get in a crucial tackle against Mia Hamm who had chased down an Australian back pass. Missing main striker Abby Wambach through suspension, it wasn't until the 19th minute that the US managed their first shot of the game, Cindy Parlow's drive blocked on its way toward goal.
But in the very same minute, with the ball not cleared, the US made their next chance count to take the 1-0 lead. From the edge of the 18-yard box, captain Julie Foudy struck a sweet chipped ball forward past the left post. Fellow veteran Kristine Lilly timed her run up the blind side perfectly ahead of her marker, to volley the ball first time into the roof of the net from 6 metres.
Undeterred by the goal, Australia remained positive. A corner kick saw shots from both Dianne Alagich and Sally Shipard blocked, and on the half-hour, Peters went well wide with a shot on the turn. The Americans' other good chance came five minutes before the break, Hamm threading the ball to Parlow, only to see defender Salisbury just get back in time to get a foot in to block the shot.
After the break, the US pushed forward but were lacking their trademark fluency and clinical punch, and several moves broke down with the final pass not finding its target. Ten minutes in, Foudy had their best chance, a header from a Lilly cross going just wide.
Meanwhile, Peters was set up with a good chance with a fantastic ball from deep on the left, but the midfielder's first-time half-volley flew straight at the keeper.
As has been the case in the previous two matches, Lisa De Vanna then joined Walsh in attack and it sparked a bright display from the Australians, pushing forward at every opportunity against a surprisingly lacklustre US team. Five minutes later, Foster replaced Danielle Small, and surprisingly the US took off key players Hamm and Shannon Boxx.
Though none provided a killer punch, a long range chance to Shipard, a through-ball for Walsh, and shots to De Vanna and Foster, all within a four-minute period, provided the further boost of confidence that the underdogs were making inroads. The Americans lacked urgency and resorted to trying their luck from long range, without success.
Then in the 82nd minute, came the historic equaliser for Australia, delighting the small band of Aussie supporters in the stands. An inviting ball forward from Heather Garriock on the right saw Peters climb well and connect with a looping header from 15 metres in front. Veteran goalkeeper Briana Scurry hardly moved, only to see the ball fly into the top right corner of goal.
Australia then defended with renewed vigour to protect their point at all costs and had to endure an added three minutes of stoppage time. Parlow sent a Lindsay Tarpley cross skywards, before a high ball at goal required the full concentration of Australian keeper Kell before the welcome final whistle signalled excited celebrations.
Australian Coach Adrian Santrac was naturally delighted with the day's events, whilst also sending the message that the job was not over.
"The result was good and our second half performance was outstanding," said Santrac. "Obviously the team has created history in this tournament - following our first ever win in a major tournament and now finally we've broken the losing streak after sixteen games to the US.
“It's a return for all the hard work the players have been putting in. But it's not over - in three days we have the quarter finals, and now we're all focused on what we've got to do there."
"Our belief and confidence is building, and we know if we perform at the level we're capable of, just about any country we'll give a real run for their money."
Santrac wasn't pleased with the Australians' entire performance today, but praised the team for their will to come back in the second half and get the result.
"(In the first half), we defended reasonably well but struggled and couldn't get our passes together. At half-time, the players were disappointed in their performance and just wanted to get out there for the second half, and all credit to them that they did. We changed a few things too, but the girls responded so well and overran the Americans."
"The quarter final against Sweden will be a different game altogether, a one-off match as opposed to a group game. This will be the first ever time walking into a quarter final, and we'll be concentrating in our preparation on what's important to us in our game."
"We were happy to play anybody," said Santrac when asked if he had a preference for a quarter finals opponent. "There's a game there to be played. We'll get as much info as possible on Sweden and be prepared. We'll do what we have to do and hopefully get through to the semi finals."
Tue 17 August 2004, Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki: USA 1 (Kristine Lilly 19'), AUSTRALIA 1 (Joanne Peters 82')
Team: 1-Cassandra Kell (GK), 3-Sacha Wainwright, 5-Cheryl Salisbury (c), 4-Dianne Alagich (11-Lisa De Vanna 62'), 2-Rhian Davies, 8-Heather Garriock, 10-Joanne Peters, 6-Sally Shipard, 17-Danielle Small (6-Gillian Foster 67'), 13-Thea Slatyer (12-Karla Reuter 43'), 7-Sarah Walsh.
It just gets rosier and rosier for the Olyroos. The once touted "worst Olympic team to leave our shores ever" had a barely troublesome run to the quarter finals from the group stage and now has been provided with a great chance to reach the final of the Olympic Games tournament. Their quarter final opponent will be surprise team Iraq, whilst the semi final will see either Paraguay or Korea. While there's no suggestion these games will be easy, they certainly fall into the realm of "definately winnable". For Australia's coach Frank Farina - under pressure to retain his Socceroos job - even without the three key players of Moore, Elrich and Cahill suspended for the match, beating Iraq must now be the minimum requirement. While Iraq beat Portugal and Costa Rica in their group games, they did lose to Morocco in their final game, and Australia beat Costa Rica in a lead-up game. So the formline certainly looks good for Australia. The match is 1am Sunday morning.
While the Matildas have it a little tougher, it's certainly the easier path of the draw to the final. They play World Cup runner-ups Sweden in the quarters, then Brazil in the semis. As a second-tier team at world level, Sweden also had some trouble in their group games. Australia should be competitive there. In playing Brazil in the group phase, they were competitive there also, especially in the second half. It's certainly much preferable to the other side of the draw where World Cup winners and form team Germany lie, as well as the USA. Match is 4am tonight/Saturday morning.
It's just not acceptable. A golden opportunity is presented to Australia to reach the late stages of a major tournament, and yet again we are out against weaker opposition in a tepid and frustrating display of impotent football. For all Iraq's achievements in beating Portugal and Costa Rica along the way to winning their group, they were little more than enthusiastic triers against an Australian team that showed so much potential in earlier games, especially Argentina, and had Iraq under control quite early on. Indeed, after barely 20 minutes of the quarter final match, Iraq had largely given up trying to penetrate the defence and resorted to long range shooting and opportunism from midfield. And while Australia had the better of the match, created the better chances, and indeed had a perfectly good goal disallowed, the bottom line is that the team never gave any confidence that a victory would come and predicably lost. Even when it's presented on a platter like this. Australia simply has no idea how to put away weaker opposition. It's the most disappointing Australian loss that I've ever experienced. The Iran game in 1997 was more about sadness and tragedy, than disappointment. Uruguay in 2001 was galling.
Now we move on to the Matildas, who were never expected to go far at the Olympics anyway. However, the team did show potential, and had large portions of the game against powerhouses Brazil and USA in the group games. Pity that was when the team was behind. And the game against Sweden proved to mirror that circumstance. Only when Australia was 2-0 down could they really bother the Swedes. Lisa De Vanna came on as 36th minute substitute to support the lone Sarah Walsh up front. As in earlier matches, Australia then came alive. Quite why the two never started together given the trend of the team's performance throughout the tournament defies belief. De Vanna scored late, but it was to no avail. The damage had been done.
Why are Australian teams' performances so erratic? It's fine being beaten when you're out-classed, but not when you've failed to produce your best. It's a weakness that's become endemic right throughout the national team set-up. Whether it's a lack of experience and/or poor coaching, something must be done. Sacking coaches may help, but won't be the ultimate solution. They are afflicted with the same problem the actual players have: little experience in crunch games and tournaments. There really needs a global solution like leaving or disbanding Oceania, or Australia must resort to a future of hiring overseas coaches that have gained experience with previous national team set-ups. This tournament has made that reality oh so obvious.
As for the match whereby Australia lost 1-0, the turning point was definitely that disallowed goal. Alex Brosque burst through the defence on the end of a short lob, then chipped the goalie. However, he ran back and knocked it back out just before it crossed the line. Anthony Danze then scored off a blocked shot from the resulting scrimmage. However, it was disallowed (incorrectly, not like some media have suggested) for offside ruled at the time when the shot came in. But Danze and another Australian were not interfering with play (remember that offside decisions are made when the ball is played), and were clearly onside when the next play was made - that off the goalie. Not long later, Iraq scored from a scrappy corner, which proved enough.
An inspired piece of finishing from Emad Mohammed has ended Australia’s Athens 2004 campaign, with Iraq defeating the Australia 1-0 in Heraklio overnight. The Al-Itihad strikers 64th minute strike proved the only difference in the end, as the luckless Australians bowed out of the Olympic Games with a spirited but ultimately fruitless performance. Australia dominated the best part of the game, particularly the second half, only to surrender their ascendency to a superb second half goal. However, coach Frank Farina could not have asked any more of his depleted side, who without regulars Craig Moore, Tim Cahill and Ahmad Elrich searched admirably for an equaliser, but to no avail.
The turning point of the match arrived just minutes after the restart when Anthony Danze had a goal disallowed following some great lead up from Carl Valeri. Valeri placed a delicate ball over the Iraqi defence and into the path of Alex Brosque, whose poke at goal was desperately clawed away by Iraq custodian Nour Sabri. From the ensuing goalmouth scrap, Danze turned the ball in at the far post, only to have his effort correctly disallowed for offside. The no-goal was just one string to the decorated bow that was Australia’s opening in the second half, a half that will leave Farina and his team wondering just what had to be done to force a goal.
An absorbing first half ended goalless, with neither team enjoying the best of what was a dire and frustrating opening period. Australia’s best chances came from a dominating five-minute period midway through the half, where Farina’s men asserted their aerial dominance with a series of goal searching headers. Cahill’s replacement Danze came closest with a far post header from a Shane Cansdell-Sherriff cross that forced a crucial low save from Sabri. John Aloisi and Cansdell-Sherriff himself both came close in the proceeding minutes from headers that caused great concern to the Iraqi defence.
Iraq’s best avenue for a goal seemed to come from a progression of free kicks won outside the penalty area, due in some part to some consistently exasperating play-acting from chief striker Younis Mahmoud. Despite a seemingly countless stream of efforts from Salih Sadir and Hawar Mulla Mohammed from dangerously placed free kicks, Eugene Galekovic was seldom threatened in the Australian goal.
The second half was a much more free-flowing and spirited affair, with both sides breaking free from their stringent defensive discipline to create many more chances. Aside from Danze’s disallowed goal, Australia came close from Brosque and Aloisi in the early stages of a second stanza that was shaping ominously as one the Under 23’s would dominate.
For all their apparent control though, Australia fell a goal behind when Mohammed netted one of the goals of the tournament, ironically from a set piece.
Following on from a probing Iraqi corner, Australia cleared the ball only as far as the edge of the penalty area, where Madhi Karim headed back into the middle of the area. Mohammed was on hand to acrobatically send his overhead kick past Galekovic and into the unguarded Australian goal. Within minutes, Australia responded, this time through stand-in skipper Luke Wilkshire, whose 30 metre snap at goal rattled the crossbar with Sabri well beaten. Ultimately though, Adnan Hamed’s side were able to hold on for a precious victory that has continued the Iraqi juggernaut in Athens.
Australia 0, Iraq 1 (E Mohammed 64’)
Team: Eugene Galekovic (gk), Jade North, Jon McKain, Adrian Madaschi, Shane Cansdell-Sheriff, Carl Valeri, Luke Wilkshire (c), Anthony Danze (Spase Dilevski 77’), Brett Holman (Ryan Griffiths 60’), John Aloisi, Alex Brosque.
Yellows: Madaschi, McKain
Other matches: Paraguay 3, Korean Republic 2; Argentina 4, Costa Rica 0; Italy 1 (et), Mali 0.
Semi finals: Iraq vs Paraguay; Argentina vs Italy.
Coach Frank Farina believes his side 'played better than Iraq', but an inability to put the ball in the net proved costly.
"I appreciate that for the longest time in the match, we have played better than Iraq," Farina said at the post match press conference. ''We had the most chances, but if the ball doesn't enter the net, then there is no goal and no win."
"If this had been a boxing game, during the beginning of the second half the match would have been stopped. We are definitely very disappointed, we lost the game and we have to say goodbye to the Olympic Games."
On the Anthony Danze goal ruled out: "It doesn't matter. There is no point to try and blame others. It has been disallowed by the referee and we have to accept it."
Without the game suspended trio Craig Moore, Ahmad Elrich and Tim Cahill, Australia managed to compensate: "Although these three players were absent from this match, we managed to play well even without them. Even so, we really deserved to win this match."
Iraq's coach Adnan Hamad Majeed was pleased with his team's effort in trying circumstances.
"It has been a tough game. Nevertheless we managed to succeed and I am very happy."
The performance so far has captured the imagination of the nation: "For the people of Iraq, who have gone through such situations of conquering and made so many sacrifices, this victory gives great happiness and softens the pain a great deal. Our families are sad, my family is surrounded at this very moment and the least we can do is offer them some happiness. We have spoken to our families and they told us that people cheer in the streets."
Down two goals in the first half to the experienced Sweden, Australia put in a valiant fight back with the introduction of striker Lisa De Vanna off the bench ten minutes before half-time, and continued to take the game to their more illustrious opponents throughout the second half. Reducing the deficit by one through a De Vanna strike eleven minutes from full-time then set up a thrilling finish to the contest, but the 16th-ranked Australia was unable to break through again to send the game into extra-time.
It was all one-way traffic for the opening half-hour of today's do-or-die encounter, Sweden clearly dominating the possession, but although they pushed forward in attack, for much of the time, the passes within the danger area were not effective, and the Australian defence held firm.
However, the Swedes were to prove at their most dangerous on set pieces, and in the 15th minute, were unlucky not to score. A Therese Sjoegran corner kick was punched out by the Australian goalkeeper only as far as striker Victoria Svensson, who from an acute angle on the right, unleashed a first-time volley which thumped against the crossbar.
The only chance to Australia in this period came in the 23rd minute, Rhian Davies switching the ball to Heather Garriock lurking to the left of goal. The midfielder then squared the ball inside to Danielle Small but her first-time attempt skewed off her boot well wide of the mark.
The Swedes then found their feet and burst through with two goals within five minutes by the half-hour mark.
Australia's midfield was stripped of the ball deep into its own half, and Hanna Ljungberg cut a swathe toward goal. With two defenders backing off her, the star striker saw the opportunity to let fly from 16 metres on the left, placing a clinical low shot past the keeper and inside the far post in the 25th minute.
A long ball toward goal was then to cause problems in the Australian defence, and from the ensuing corner came goal number two. From the right, the corner kick was floated deep past the far post from where Svensson headed the ball back in, picking out the unmarked Sara Larsson 8 metres in front of goal who looped her header straight over the goalkeeper.
In the 35th minute, Joanne Peters won the ball off Sweden and ran at goal but her drive from the left edge of the 18-yard box flew wide.
Australian Coach Adrian Santrac decided to deal his usual attacking card in the pacy De Vanna a little earlier than usual, the Western Australian brought into the fray in the 36th minute. As has become the usual pattern, her presence ignited a spark into the Australian attack immediately. Twisting and turning, De Vanna shrugged off two defenders before meeting a wall of three opponents on the edge of the 18-yard, but the ball fell loose to Garriock whose first time effort flew over.
Another couple of half-chances to Australia before the half-time whistle served notice to Sweden of what to expect in the following 45 minutes.
No surprise that Australia were fired up to get themselves back in the contest upon resumption of play, pushing forward from the off. Sarah Walsh and De Vanna both caused headaches for the Swedish defence who in turn were also determined to keep a clean sheet. Meanwhile, Sweden was not about to sit back and defend their lead, and also looked to score another to seal the win.
A Ljungberg header was not far from the target, before captain Malin Mostroem almost caught out the Australians with a cross cum shot from near the right sideline, over the goalkeeper and hitting the top of the crossbar.
Australia then hit back again with a flurry of attack. In the 56th minute, a through-ball up the centre saw De Vanna with defender Hanna Marklund locked in battle for the loose ball, but De Vanna lost the ball behind her after Marklund fell to the floor, allowing the goalkeeper in to pounce on the ball. Soon after, a Gill Foster corner was met by the head of captain Cheryl Salisbury, but was deflected over, and Garriock's shot from the ensuing corner was saved by keeper Caroline Joensson.
Sweden's Ljungberg got in behind the Australian defence in the 65th minute but her outstretched attempt flew well wide of the target. Four minutes later, a neat flowing Australian move up the middle saw the ball laid to Walsh but desperate Swedish defence twice closed down the striker. Australia's twin strikers continued the pressure with Sweden happy to use any means whatsoever to get the ball away.
A shot by Sweden's Anna Sjoestroem went wide in the 79th minute, and the resultant goal kick was to help set up Australia's goal. The long high ball was challenged by a crowded centre circle, with an Australian getting the all-important strong header toward goal. The ball was chased down by De Vanna, whose speed left Sweden's last defender in her wake, and with Joensson slow to come off her line, the teenager made no mistake, slotting it low past the keeper.
Rewarded for their persistence, the goal set the Australians alight, now on a new mission to get the equaliser and keep their campaign alive. Immediately the Australians had another two opportunities which were eventually scrambled away by the Swedish backline.
A Sacha Wainwright ball up the left to De Vanna was cut back deep to the unmarked Kuralay, but her long-range strike was shut down. The loose ball found its way to Garriock, but again from distance, Australia were unable to break through.
An 87th minute free kick wide on the right saw Garriock feed Walsh at the near post, her header going wide. Throughout the three minutes of added time, Australia kept up the pressure, but their final pass couldn't get through past the wall of Swedish defence.
Fri 20 August 2004, Panthessaliko Stadium, Volos: SWEDEN 2 (Hanna Ljungberg 25', Sara Larsson 30'), AUSTRALIA 1 (Lisa De Vanna 79')
Team: 1-Cassandra Kell (GK), 3-Sacha Wainwright, 5-Cheryl Salisbury (c), 4-Dianne Alagich, 2-Rhian Davies, 8-Heather Garriock, 10-Joanne Peters, 6-Sally Shipard, 17-Danielle Small (11-Lisa De Vanna 36'), 14-Gillian Foster (16-Selin Kuralay 61'), 7-Sarah Walsh.
Other games: Brazil 5, Mexico 0; Germany 2, Nigeria 1 and USA 2, Japan 1.
Semi finals: Brazil vs Sweden; Germany vs USA.
Well, hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. The amazing 17 gold medals was no surprise to any that read this page. In fact, it could have been higher if the rowers/kayakers, triathletes and sailors performed to expectation, and even some swimmers. Three golds went missing in the pool: the 4*200 where the team foolish left their fastest swimmer - Thorpe - swimming last (idea is to swim them first so the team always has clear water); Leisal Jones blowing the 100m breaststroke; and, Petria Thomas electing not to swim the 200m freestyle only to see her adjusted relay time was over a second faster than the eventual solo event gold medallists. The cyclists compensated slightly for these misses, but even there Anna Meares really should have won the sprint. There was a string of silver the last few days that easier could have been 3-4 more golds. I said the optimum was 20 gold and the team, so the team simply produced right to the level of their capabilities. That's all you can ask. Remember, Athens 2004 only looks so good because Sydney 2000 was so bad. Sixteen gold out of 58 medals was a debacle considering we were at home.