England v Australia

[Yorick]

Here we go
Here we go
Here we here we
Here we go

[Yorick]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/Sport/story_3229.asp

Australia stunned England in one of the biggest upsets in soccer history with a 3-1 win at Upton Park.

The victory was Australia's first win over England and was set up in the first half against a near World Cup strength home team.

Tony Popovic silenced the Upton Park crowd when he flew above the pack to put Australia 1-0 up with a 17 minute header and a Harry Kewell solo special took the Socceroos 2-0 clear four minutes before halftime.

The team of novices which came on for England in the second half pulled a goal back when Francis Jeffers headed in a Jermaine Jenas cross in the 69th minute.

But Brett Emerton sealed the win with eight minutes left.

The supposed best team England could put on the park was booed off the ground at halftime.

But the Australians, in their first international in 14 months, deserved a standing ovation after outbustling their more fancied opponents.

The busy Stan Lazaridis set Popovic up with a floating cross from a free kick to the far end of the box where the in-form Crystal Palace defender flew high to nod in a powerful header directly in front of the 3,000 Australian supporters among the capacity 34,590 house.

They had more to cheer half an hour later when Kewell easily bumped Rio Ferdinand off the ball to leave himself clear in the penalty area where he walked around keeper David James to slide the ball home and put Australia 2-0 ahead.

Kewell defied Leeds United by playing despite a hamstring injury which kept him out of his club's last two games and dominated the first half.

He was named as a striker but was directing traffic in the attacking half, setting up teammates with deft passes and beating the defence with clever footwork.

The Australians grew with confidence as the first half went on and had many more shots at goal than England with an outstretched James tipping a Mark Viduka header over the bar in the 29th minute.

Lazaridis and Scott Chipperfield also came close while England was denied its best chance when James Beattie fouled the Australian defence before Paul Scholes stabbed the ball in from close range.

The crowd let out a huge cheer when the ground announcer told them England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was going ahead with his second half plan to replace all 11 players with an under 26 team.

The youngsters were much more lively than the established stars and posed many more dangers as the Socceroos slowed down in the second half.

But as England threatened, replacement striker John Aloisi set Emerton up with a perfect through ball and the Feyenoord midfielder, desperate for a move to an English club, steered the winner past James.

[Davros]

Originally posted by Aelia Jusa: Perhaps England should have approached the game as if they were already 4 nil down in a series

Mwahahahahaha - you mean like a dead rubber as in cricket and tennis? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[GokuZool]

Ah my prediction failed! Oh well [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I thought it was a great game! Australia had many chances and should have made it at least 3-0 before half-time. Kewell had a great game (when he was on) and his goal was classy

Originally posted by Barry the Sprout: Oh bloody hell, Beattie's playing. One of my housemates is a Soton supporter, we'll never hear the end of it if he scores...

LOL, Beattie had a very poor half, only having one oppputunity on goal!

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Even though Australia won, friendlies are friendlies. (although Australia did kick England's ass pretty hard We have now beat them in Football, Rugby, Cricket....the list is endless )

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlin...257893&cc=3436

China drew with Brazil and Italy beat Portugal! Portugal are far better than Italy!

[ 02-13-2003, 04:10 AM: Message edited by: GokuZool ]

[arion windrider]

glad that australia won [img]smile.gif[/img]

[GokuZool]

Originally posted by arion windrider: glad that australia won [img]smile.gif[/img]

Thank you for your support! [img]smile.gif[/img]

You should be happy too. The USA beat Jamaica 2-1!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlin...257903&cc=3436

[arion windrider]

goku, i dont keep track on soccer but seeing all u,aussies in here its kinda hard not to get involved... be kinda cool if we can handle crisis' in the world on a field instead of the world... im just happy australia won.. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Davros]

I spy with my little eye ......... [img]smile.gif[/img]

By the pricking of my thumbs
Something Wood-en this way comes

Hi there

[Donut]

Mmmm. let me put this into perspective for you. It's hard for anyone to get excited about a football match against Australia. That includes the players.

Next saturday there is a very important game. Mancs v Arsenal in the FA cup. Most of the England players in the first half will be more concerned about that game.

I watched the France v Czech game - far more interesting.

[Davros]

Is your hair dry yet?