FIFA rankings are a disgrace, without the likes of Kewell, Viduka, Moore and to a lesser extent Vidmar your lads played Scotland off the park, ranked 50th, thirty places behind the Jocks, no way.

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

Answers

Watched the game live (delayed tele-cast) over here Buff and have to agree with you. It was a fine performance especially the first half. Living in Oz on and off for the last 14 yrs I’ve seen the game develop from an ethnic code to an almost fully structured game. The young kids start at 5 yrs old on a small pitch with games lasting 20min each way. They train once a week after school at the local clubs grounds. It’s a fine sight to see hundreds of little uns with shorts down to there ankles and a ball almost as big as themselves running amok!!

As with most sports once the Aussies take it on there normally very very good at it. I’ll give it 10yrs before they are challenging the big boys. What we need is to qualify for the next world cup to give the game a higher profile and then watch it take off!!

The demise of the British game has to be linked to the fact that the kids don’t play as much as we did. Most of us (more mature) people on here will remember as kids playing every night, school breaks and weekends rain or shine (coats for goalposts etc, very Fast Showish ehh).

Having played the game in some form or other for 30yrs its nice to be involved in coaching and refereeing the kids of all ethnic backgrounds (Aussies included).

A game against England is planned for the future. It should be interesting!!!

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

Frank Farina is trying to organise a "Ashes" type event with England, Interestingly I was going to put in my posting your thoughts that in 10 years time, with their attitude to sport in general Australia will be a force to be reckoned with, not easy winning Oceanic Group then into play off with 5th in South American Group tho. The days of coats doon and kicking a ball aboot are over Hiro, our lot want and have, soccer 7`s goals, training bibs , cones, discs, training balls, size 4 , do not pay a penny to club although the mothers are a great help when fund raising. Brett Emerton is no mean player- Tre never mentioned him

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

You notice I do not mention the players over here either buff. I think I have a vested interest as I am one of the few ex pats on here who goes to nearly all the Perth Glory games.

As soon as one player is mentioned they are snapped up by some w@nkers like Leeds and are always injured for internationals.

Perth Glory and Oz nationals are my 3rd and 4th real teams (not including our reserves and juniors).

The ranking system is correct, just the calculations workrd out on number of games and what opposition. The Oz team does not play enough against quality teams to improve their ranking thats all.

-- Anonymous, November 18, 2000

Oh yes I did buff. Last season and this season. :)=

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000