This afternoon watched a full replay of this game on FIFA+.A real Messi masterclass and an unfortunate error by Ryan leading to the Argies' second goal.To be fair Ryan made some other good saves but his first touch from the back pass on that occasion was poor and disastrous.
Even though Argentina always looked the better side it was Messi's display which was the difference.He drove the Argentinian team and was roaming the field making it difficult for our boys to close him down.Having said that Baccus won a few duels with Lionel in one on one situations.Our defence was often stretched but someone always seemed to get back to defuse many dangerous situations
Our goal was put down as an own goal but Goodwin had really smacked it.A Messi like run by Behich was was amazing and he was only stopped by a desperate lunging tackle.At the end when the ball came to Garang and he turned away from the defender Martinez brought off a great save.It's a pity Kuol's careere has stalled because he showed real composure there.
Interesting for the first goal how McGree doesn't track Messi. Bit of slow mo too when it went in. Many goals come from those types of situations so it'S a bit of a butterfly effect but just kill the ball.
Ryan makes the error but you see in the build up. He gathers it far left, runs all the way across to go to Rowles, to Behich and then back. Behich had Mooy in a triangle or should've just gone long for safety. The perils of backpassing. A quick roll to Degenek and it would never have happened.
One other 2nd half scene was where Hrustic shot over when Karacic looked in a decent spot. I can't remember exactly but there was another moment in the box where you think if someone just hits it in it may deflect to Maclaren who invariably skies it from 1 metre.
Felt Arnie's subs were pretty much on point. Maybe Cummings for Maclaren instead. Devlin was touted to play a lot at the WC and didn't see a minute. Just maybe having him on for the final 30 and potential ET would've seen good legs. Asian Cup we stuffed our squad and subs that our team had no legs in ET. We had too few mids.
An emotional night that felt surreal, inevitable and a bit of a daze. That last Kuol chance really sent everything spinning.
Schweinsteiger was commentating for German TV and was full of compliments. With his acumen as a player he observed and said 'you can see the technical deficiencies but there is so much good shape and space management by Australia. You win games that way too.' It was a really likeable way he spoke of the team and just kept saying that from the low base, the team had done fantastically. I even recall a comment of something like 'these guys should be at better clubs.'
Kuol's chance was great but I would have gone bananas had Behich's goal gone in. Cannot believe that bloke blocked that shot. Still amazed he got there. I was 3 rows back on that side of the goal and it happened right in front of me.
Kuol's chance was great but I would have gone bananas had Behich's goal gone in. Cannot believe that bloke blocked that shot. Still amazed he got there. I was 3 rows back on that side of the goal and it happened right in front of me.
Kuol's chance was great but I would have gone bananas had Behich's goal gone in. Cannot believe that bloke blocked that shot. Still amazed he got there. I was 3 rows back on that side of the goal and it happened right in front of me.
I honestly don't think he expected to get that far. He was within his rights to shoot from there. Hrustic going bananas shit me a bit. Everything's easy in hindsight.
I honestly don't think he expected to get that far. He was within his rights to shoot from there. Hrustic going bananas shit me a bit. Everything's easy in hindsight.
Exactly, he was so overexteneded and surprise that you'd just keep going anyway. Behich is typical for cutbacks hence the surprise. Hrustic was a joke that night with his gesturing to his teammamtes. Had his greed seen a goal it would have been worth it but he was letting it out the wrong way.
I watched the broadcast and he went straight to Arnold at full time gesturing then walked to the bench, was grabbed by some coach and walked onto the itch for half a second. I counted 25, not 26 hanging around after the game. He must have gone down the tunnel.
So much in that last scene. Right decisons in the end as Maclaren ran through offside. Had he been on a flat through ball would've been interesting. Does Goodwin roll it to Souttar which backs into the defenders and can somehow lay it off to Hrustic? Hrusitic screaming at Kuol to pass back, very unlikely. Imagine though he does roll it back and Hrustic maybe curls it in. Most likely outcome is Kuol shot is miskicked across goal into Maclaren's path.
Just realised it was Hrustic deeper and Maclaren next to Behich during that run. Both annoyed but I would've have liked to have seen Behich's shot at least on target to see where it would've gone.
