Don't worry girls, it is just a game...

I think for an explanation, read the comments in the post below, but this is one of the games I regret I didn't see.

Will these girls be Asian Champions?

The great tragedy of our Media diet means that these girls seem to not get the attention their efforts deserve.

There is mention of it on the SMH homepage, but you really, really have to go searching for it.

They have made the World Cup, and on Sunday have a chance to take out the first Asian Title within the football family.

To all those wondering if a move into Asia was the right thing for Football... just sit back and enjoy.

Equal But Different

I remember many times being told by my teachers in High School that Women's sport deserves more newstime and space.

So, purely in the interests of this sort of noble Goal, I will be highlighting two top-quality womens sporting events currently happening.

The First is the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2006. Japan and China have progressed through Group A. Group B is to be finalised this afternoon with Australia needing a draw against Thailand to make the semis, and South and North Korea playing for the other position.

Why does this tournament matter?
Apart from being Australia's first big global outing on the Asian Football Stage, it also serves as qualifiers for the Women's World Cup in China next year.

China has automatic qualification, but the top two teams will qualify, and the third placed one (ie. the lowest of the semi-finalists bar China) will end up in a play-off with a CONCACAF nation for the final position. Our Young Matildas (U20's) have already qualified through Asia for World Cup Glory, so it will be interesting to see how our Senior Team travels.

Go Australia!!!

Event Two is the Australia v New Zealand Netball Tests.

Although it is only a two-test series, it is between the best two teams in the world.
The Final Game is at the Acer Arena tomorrow night, and should be good. I think the kiwis probably have our number on this one though.

Asian Cup Countdown

A clever ploy to join the Football Family has led to me securing tickets for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in Sydney...

Australia v Kuwait is 24 Days away!

It is so exciting. Something about Sport has a calming effect, allowing a general mellowing of emotional temperatures. (That is unless we lose because of a poor decision of course)

Go Australia.

Tigers Injury Woes Continue

As pictured above, Brett Hodgson has injured his knee, and is out for the season.

Parra started the day with lots of Line-dropouts.


Imanuel and I had a good time catching up...


But unfortunately, we only saw this once...


Oh well, there is always next year.

ZIDANE a new way to solve problems.. make it like zidane

I guess the title is self explanatory. For your enjoyment.

FIFA Rankings Out Today

The joke may be on the Asian Confederation. Traditionally poor performers on the World Cup Stage, and losing all weightings from Japan/Korea 2002 looks to have combined to place Australia top of the heap.

AFC Rankings
33 Australia (+9)
47 Iran (-24)
49 Japan (-31)
50 Uzbekistan (+10)
56 Korea Republic (-37)
76 Qatar (+2)
81 Saudi Arabia (-47)
86 Oman (-4)
88 Iraq (-36)
89 China PR (-21)
90 UAE (-19)
91 Korea DPR (-3)
94 Bahrain (-40)
98 Jordan (-14)
100 Kuwait (-26)

Global Top 10
The Overall List has provided some surprises in reweighting, but none of real significance yet. (Except Nigeria gaining an incredible 400 points without playing in the World Cup)
1 Brazil
2 Italy (Up 11)
3 Argentina (Up 6)
4 France (Up 4)
5 England (Up 5)
6 Netherlands (Down 3)
7 Spain (Down 2)
8 Portugal (Down 1)
9 Germany (Up 10)
10 Czech Republic (Down 8)

So what changed?
FIFA has changed the weighting system so that losses don't get points, and home wins are no longer worth less than away wins. In simplifying the system, it looks as though it has been made less fair. Although since Australia's international schedule will be busier now in Asia, this should lead to an improvement in our rating based simply on the regularity of competition.
They have also made results only count over a four year period, not an eight year one as it was previously.

Hero to villan in one moment of madness

Which is such a shame, from such a fine player.

Quick Catch Up

Having Been away for almost a week, the blog has been neglected.

Here seems to be the top sporting stories at the moment.

I have Baghdatitis

Marcus Baghdatis has blitzed his way past Lleyton Hewitt and into the Wimbledon Semis.

Origin "Alive"
Queensland have saved the State of Origin Series (supposedly if they had lost nobody would care anymore), with a win on the back of two tries in the last 10 minutes.

Grosso's shameful act puts Italy into the World Cup Final
In a totally out of character move, Italy's Grosso in the box with 2 minutes of extra time remaining, took a shot on goal, and actually scored. "I couldn't believe it" astonished onlookers said. "After watching the Australia game, I thought he went down because he couldn't shoot. It isn't as if Lucas Neill was in his way that time either." In an unusual twist, the Italians actually took four decent shots in Extra Time, with two hitting the posts, and two scoring the necessary points.

ZinZi looks for final triumph
After showing much lower standards of skill than would normally be expected from a professional side, the French have moved into the World Cup Final after brushing aside Brazil and Portugal. Taking the unusual strategy of winning in normal time, the French may be a force to be reckoned with, as their win in the previous European World Cup (1998) indicates they should be. This will also be the last hurrah for the prince of French Football, Zinedine Zidane.