Inside Issue 5 Cover Page: Wayne Snowden 3 About us Editorials/Opinions 4 Tony Wilson Interview 8 Ben Somerford: Gets ready to rumble with the Socceroos midfield. 10 Fiona Crawford: Wants Boonie back 12 Mike Salter: Thinks the Kiwi’s should be part of Asia 14 Sunil Awasthi: Counts down the best 10 Socceroos games
24 Bill Skinner and the decline of Adelaide United. 26 Buckle Up Ben wishes he had a new best man. 28 Ben O’Neill: gets handy with some German goalkeepers. 30 Shane Davis takes a close look at Australia’s group D opponents. 32 Glenn Seiver discusses the case of a young Australian footballer. 34 Kieran Pender: Interview Australian and Valencia youth Theo Markelis and runs the rule over the Spanish League, ole! 39 The Damned United: Movie Review
16 Con Stamocostas: comes out fighting in the code brawls.
40 Matt McGrath profiles Fury midfielder Royston Griffiths
18 Danny Cameron gets in on the World Cup Bid with his BMX
42 Chippy Brady: What’s on Chippy’s shoulder this month?
21 Sarah D goes inside the Cove
43 HTH Photo of the Month
22 Damien Keane thanks Thierry Henry.
44 Eamonn Flannagan: gears up for an exciting W League grand Final 46 The HTH Back Page: List of all independent Football media in Australia
could hold the key to winning the world cup bid for Australia Ben Somerford looks at the Socceroos midfield options. Fiona Crawford wants Boonie back but not the ex Australian cricketer. Mike Salter the football tragic reckons the Kiwi’s have it easy in Oceania Sunil Awashi counts down the top 10 Socceroos matches. Hello football fans and welcome to Half Time Heroes Issue number 5! It’s been another huge month in the world of football both here in Australia and abroad and just like a x-mas table cloth does, we got it covered! Australia’s World Cup opponents were confirmed and the bookmakers say that group D is the 3rd ranked group of death. As Wayne Snowed HTH’s resident cartoonist asks which one isn’t? Thanks to Australian media personality Tony Wilson for answering some of HTH’s tough questions. This month we also welcome Damien Keane who gives us an insight into an Irish fans response to the infamous Henry hand ball. Danny Cameron also joins HTH and he writes about an –ex BMX bandit who
Ben O’Neill discusses German keepers Shane Davis runs the rule of Australia’s group D opponents. Kieran Pender interviews a young Aussie starlet playing for Valencia in Spain’s La Liga. & also does a roundup of LA Liga. Sarah D goes behind the Cove. Chippy Brady is still chipping away at the issues. Buckle up Ben is upset his best man betrayed him. Eamonn Flanagan previews the W League grand Final Thanks to all the writers and readers, I hope you enjoy this month’s HTH! Merry Xmas, Peace and football Con Stamocostas
against Iran and into the 1998 world cup. So from the nadir of that moment to now two consecutive World Cups and again meeting another Con (I’m not a green grocer but it is a dream) did you ever think you would be in this position?
HTH Interview Tony Wilson
Australian media personality Tony Wilson (pictured above with Santo Cilauro) is the author of Australia United a book detailing his adventure in Germany 2006 (an excellent read!), he is also a Radio announcer on 2RRR in Melbourne and regular member of the ABC TV show the Einstein factor and last but not least he is a huge Socceroos fan. Half Time Heroes: In your book Australia United you say that you became a convert to the Socceroos cause on November 29,1997. When you fell into the arms of a 53 year old greengrocer called Con, seconds after Aurelio Vidmar had put us 2-0 up
Tony Wilson: I did think we would eventually qualify, and I vowed after the exhilaration and despair of November 29, 1997, that I would be there to witness it. It was crazy pledge to myself, and it took me to Uruguay in 2001 which was truly the trip of a lifetime, even if the result didn't quite go our way. Eventually of course I was there at Sydney's Olympic Stadium when Aloisi ploughed that thunderbolt into the back of the net. Given I initially fell for the game after a defeat, I can't tell you how addicted to qualifiers I feel after that amazing moment.
So the World Cup draw, tells us your thoughts can the Aussies make it out of the group? TW: It's a really difficult group, probably the second hardest after the Brazil /Ivory Coast/ Portugal group. Mind you, there aren't too many easy groups out there. We have beaten and can beat Ghana, even if the blazing potential in that London friendly has us all feeling a bit nervous. I actually saw Ghana lose to Brazil in Germany, and even then their young squad was very unlucky in that match. Names like Klose, Podolski,
Schweinsteger and of course Ballack mean we have to expect to lose to the Germans. Although hey, upsets can and do happen at these tournaments. And the Serbia match will be even tougher than its Croatian equivalent in 2006, although again, if we can win against Ghana and results have fallen our way, there is a spirit in this squad that has me hoping that we might get out of the group. Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't win a game! Either way, I love this team, and believe its qualifying performance has cemented its position as the greatest side we have ever had.
Are you planning on going to South Africa? What do you think the first ever World Cup in Africa will produce? TW: By some miracle, my ars*y father got his name pulled out in the FIFA ballot, so not only am I going, I've already got my tickets. Very, very happy about that. In Germany, I stayed right through to the final, and as the last chapter of Australia United attests, snared a ticket to the game at the very last minute. Missed the goals but was there for the headbutt! I've now got a 3 month old baby, so this time I might not make it through to the end. I think the tournament will be a beauty. Germany had organisation and infrastructure and almost a sense of international rebirth after World War II.
For Africa, this is the chance to truly put on the biggest show on Earth and to prove to everyone that its fun and safe and friendly. As a fan of Ladysmith Black Mamboso, I'm also tipping that the music /dancing side of things will put thigh slapping lederhosen acts to shame.
Tell me what you think about Pim Verbeek and the current Socceroo squad. Michael Cockerill posed this question in a recent article he penned for the SMH. Are the Socceroos four years better, or simply four years older? What do you say? TW: I love Pim because I was desperate for somebody to get us there, and he hardly put a foot wrong. I know that there's a sense that we're not as good, that the team is older and slower. When I think of how good we were against Brazil and Italy last time, it's hard to imagine an Australian team ever playing that well again.
love with her in 'Australia', surely the FIFA powerbrokers won't be able to resist her faux English, botox infused charms. I think this is a very rare opportunity to win the bid. We are extremely lucky that two bids are being sorted out at once.
I think we've definitely slipped a bit. I asked Fox Sports' Simon Hill and he thinks the loss of Mark Viduka is the biggest blow. That might turn out to be pretty right. We seem to be more defensive now than Guus had us playing, but having said that, some of our players have got better. Emerton is better. Wilkshire is better. Cahill is better. Incredibly, Mark Schwartzer seems to be playing even better than in 2006. Against that, stars like Kewell, Grella, Bresciano, Chipperfield and Culina might have just dropped off a notch.
The World Cup bid is starting to take shape, from what you have seen so far with the promo videos and online book has the FFA sold Australia well? Do you like that Nicole Kidman was used to spruik the bid? And do we have a chance to host it? TW:I don't mind that Nicole has got the job. If that nice Hugh Jackman can fall in
I think we're almost no chance for 2018 and that the tournament will return to Europe, but 2022 is a huge chance. Europe won't get it again. Africa won't get it. South America will have just had 2014. So by my reckoning it comes down to the USA, China and us. I'd choose us! I've actually just written a novel about a fictional footballer who is the face of our World Cup bid. He's an ex-Socceroo called Charlie Dekker, and he gets caught up in a tabloid feeding frenzy when he falls for a Tiger Woods like sex scandal. It will be out through Murdoch Books in July next year. Who is your A League team? TW: I'm a member of the Melbourne Victory and get to almost every home game. My two-year-old daughter Polly is a member too, and she has just started coming. She likes the half time food and dressing up in the colours. Last time we went, the noise following an Archie Thompson goal resulted in her bursting into tears. She'll have to improve on that. I've been there for our two Grand Final wins, which were both great in different ways. I think Henandez is playing so well this year that we have to be favourites to do it again.
for this World Cup. I would have loved for him to be there. All Melbourne fans love Archie, and forgive him all those offsides (or are they offside?). In terms of other ALeague clubs, I like the bruising style of Danny Tiatto (his cousin The Ox is a wrestler I know) and the distinguished grey of Steve Corica. He will retire a legend of local football.
Do you have an overseas team? TW: I used to say West Ham, because I love the theme song 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles'. As a kid, I also loved the fact that they had a processed meat in their name. But I have to be honest and admit that I watch very little Premier League football. Certainly, the Hammers have produced very little to inspire in 09-10. I don't have a great passion for any overseas club. I'd even confess that I'm thinking of switching over to Everton now that Lucas Neill has joined Tim Cahill there. I've certainly been playing a lot of FIFA 09 on the PS3 as Everton.
Your favourite A League player? TW: Carlos Henandez is a great favourite. My friend Sam Pang calls him 'The silver fox'. I think he's the most gifted player in the A-League, and that it's a tragedy Costa Rica didn't qualify
Who is your favourite overseas player? TW: I think the best to watch is Lionel Messi. I'm so glad that Argentina overcame the Diego insanity that seems to be prevailing there at the moment and got Messi into the tournament. His little mosquito legs are just freaky, and his centre of gravity must be about 5cm off the ground. I think he will win the Golden Ball in South Africa. I also have a big soft spot for Wayne Rooney. The story of Colleen throwing his 50,000 pound engagement ring into a wood, and rangers having to ask fossickers to respect the rights of the squirrels who may have found the ring, was my favourite tabloid story of the last few years. Colleen was angry with him for seeing hookers. Tony Wilson's website is www.tonywilson.com.au His second novel, Making News, will be released through Murdoch Books in July 2010, right in the middle of the World Cup.
Ben Somerford previews the battle royale that will take place over the Socceroos midfield
Battle Royale in Defensive Midfield As another weekend of European football action passes, in comes another whole list of questions regarding our Socceroos. And one of the areas of intrigue is amongst the Socceroos defensive midfield stocks, which seems a role perpetually crucial for Australian teams. Vince Grella and Jason Culina have occupied the two-pronged role for years and Pim Verbeek clearly sees the pair as his favoured partnership looking ahead to 2010. But Verbeek may be beginning to question his certainty on that point, with Culina’s uninspiring A-League form coupled by another Grella injury at Blackburn this weekend. Without doubt Grella is one of Australia ’s main stars and he has proven himself and while this problem is only minor, it is a warning for a player who’s had a
terrible run of injuries in the last 12 months. in the past, but we must focus on the present and his recent troubles are concerning. Grella has hardly endeared himself to the Blackburn faithful since his move to Ewood Park in August last year, with a mix inconsistent form and consistent injury problems. And his recent form at international level hasn’t been overly convincing either. But still Grella remains a key man and rightfully so as he is Australia ’s highest qualified player (so to speak) for that defensive midfield role. The worry, though, is the injuries and whether Grella’s groin and hamstrings can hold up, especially at a World Cup where Australia will play three (hopefully more) matches in a short period. Nevertheless, the news out of Blackburn this weekend is that Grella’s latest problem is only a minor groin injury which will see him miss one or maybe two matches.
It would be remiss of me to simply push forward Jedinak’s name based on a dozen or so goals, but he has proven himself a player on the improve with some mature displays for Antalyaspor. And a number of his strikes this term have come as headers from set-pieces, representing a goal threat which could be an important part of the Socceroos’ game plan at next year’s World Cup against some genuine heavyweights who could dominate us around the park. Returning to Valeri, who appeared to have resolved his contractual issues at Grosseto , he was curiously left out of their side for the weekend’s win against Piacenza . (Mile Jedinak to start against Germany?)(photo by cam w) Indeed, this presents the question of Australia’s depth and who are the next options in waiting. And this is the intriguing part which could see a real jostle amongst players for a seat on the plane to South Africa next year. Beyond Culina, Carl Valeri, who was dubbed ‘Mini Vinnie’, is obviously an heir to the throne but his recent issues at Italian Serie B club Grosseto have clouded his future. And with the rapid emergence of Mile Jedinak in Turkey ’s Super Lig with Antalyaspor, Valeri is no guarantee for South Africa . Just last weekend, Jedinak scored against Harry Kewell’s Galatasaray, to claim his seventh goal in all competitions this season.
But Verbeek is a conservative type who likes the tried-and-tested method, so you fancy the old guard. The quandary, though, is how many defensive midfielders can Australia take to South Africa and it seems only three should go. With defenders Luke Wilkshire and Rhys Williams employed as flexible squad options, Australia has ample cover. So it is likely one of Jedinak or Valeri will miss out and it’s turning into quite the race. But Culina will have to deal with finding a club when the A-League season ends and Grella will, of course, have to stay fit. It should be worth monitoring.
Fiona Crawford gets a male perspective on the W League
So how long has he been attending WLeague games?
Geof Wilson Interview For two full seasons you’ve been getting a woman’s (my) perspective on the women’s game (the W-League). This week I figured it was high time to hear what one of the male fans has to say. Geoff Wilson (‘Wally’ to his mates) is a man of many talents—CEO, musician, unicyclist—and is one of the biggest grassroots proponents of the W-League I’ve yet met. His cheers are I’m-used-to-projecting-myvoice-on-stage loud and witty, his knowledge of the game encyclopedic, and his support unrivalled. This is a man so dedicated he got himself a jersey made up during the off-season with Roar Women reserve goalkeeper Lara Boon’s name and number (albeit, much to her amusement, with the wrong number). He proudly wears it, along with the memento headband and keepers’ gloves she signed for him, to each game.
‘I've been going to see the Roar since the first season, although I only bought a season ticket this year,’ he says. ‘Friends we used to go with (sadly, not many of them have stuck around) started going to the W-league games from the start, and the first one I went to, I think I was the only bloke in a group of girls who play indoor together.’ Clearly, though, something kept him coming back after that initial game. ‘To start with I was just plain curious,’ he says. And, as for many guys, he admits, ‘The idea of watching attractive young athletes running around getting sweaty was a big draw card.’ ‘The second game we sat behind the Roar bench and started mimicking the girls sitting in front of us squealing 'Boonie' who, it turns out, were half of a junior team she was coaching.’ At that stage he didn’t know who Boonie was, but his interest in the W-League was definitely there. ‘The appeal was already growing: there were some hot bods; we could sit right on top of the action; the girls were great at connecting with the crowd
after the game; and—I was somewhat surprised to learn—they were actually bloody good.’ Indeed, Wilson’s reaction is that of most guys who catch a W-League match: ‘They play the beautiful game, quite literally. Although,’ he quips, ‘maybe I've just been watching the Roar men for too long.’ Basically, he says, ‘It's great to watch your team bring the ball up the pitch and then decisively put it into the back of the net— consistently. The standard of the competition was much higher than I'd expected to see, not just from Roar Women but from all the teams I've seen play.’ But supporting the W-League has had its ups and downs, not least arriving for the first game of season two to find out that crowd—and Wilson’s—favourite reserve goalkeeper Boon hadn’t been re-signed. ‘I don't know which of us felt worse finding out she'd been dropped,’ he says. ‘All I can say about that—with absolutely no disrespect to Casey Dumont, who is a spectacular keeper—is that hopefully I'll be able to peel off the 9* when Boonie gets the run-on gig at some point in the future. Just in case Jeff Hopkins is reading: Bring Back Boonie!’ He’s even started up a facebook group. So does he envisage more guys becoming W-League fans? ‘I am in the minority, gender-wise,’ he says. ‘There are lots of girls with their mums and dads, and occasionally their brothers and I guess boyfriends, but maybe the split is about 70-30.’
That potentially means there’s room for fanrecruiting improvement, then? ‘I don't know whether that means that fans like me who have drifted across from the men's game are the growth potential or not,’ he says. ‘I'd like to think more punters will be enticed to come and see more games as word spreads that the ladies actually play damn well, rather than sticking to the dumb-obvious 'sex sells' strategy [that the glamour-oriented Westfield W-League posters currently employ].’ ‘Maybe, as in my case, that strategy will get bums on seats the first time,’ he says, ‘but I really think the quality of the games is what will bring fans back for repeat performances.’ Speaking of repeat performances, he’s clearly hoping for a repeat championship win for Roar Women this coming weekend. That and that they bring back Boonie for season three. * A reference to the number mix up—his shirt reads 19 when Boon’s number is 20.
Mike Salter argues that the Kiwi’s should be absorbed into the Asian confederation Oceans apart
Strange but true: although Oceania is far, far and away the weakest confederation in FIFA, its representative in the cross-confederation playoff has qualified for the World Cup for the second time running. Bahrain may not have been as daunting an opponent as Uruguay, but New Zealand's achievement has to be saluted. Despite playing few competitive matches of any consequence over the last few years, they showed their mettle when it counted against a match-hardened side. Let us not forget, Bahrain comprehensively outplayed the Socceroos in Manama earlier this year, despite conceding that fateful late goal. So cue, once more, the utterly ridiculous calls for Oceania to be allotted a full place at the World Cup. The logic of this, especially now that Australia is no longer in the mix, is too fatuous even to discuss. But the mere fact that such calls
are being made shows just how anomalous the Oceania confederation has become. It is still permitted a full place at FIFA's minor events, with some embarrassing results. Tahiti qualified for the Under 20 World Cup, thanks to a qualifying series on home turf and a leg-up from the officials in their key game against New Zealand. But in Egypt they were annihilated, conceding 21 goals in three games and scoring none. Worthy participants? I'm sorry, but no. Ricki Herbert's team will not embarrass themselves quite that badly in South Africa. But their performances at the Confederations Cup in June gave every impression of a side that lacked the nous to hold their own against quality opposition. And that's where Australia comes in.
And so can New Zealand football, if the right thing happens...namely, for Oceania to be absorbed into Asia. It makes sense on all levels. The Pacific nations occasionally get to test themselves against opposition other than each other and one regional behemoth. The All Whites get to experience what the rigours of "qualification travel" are really like. And the Tahiti tokenism ceases to be an embarrassment for all concerned.
“In Egypt they were annihilated, conceding 21 goals in three games and scoring none. Worthy participants? I'm sorry, but no”
(Leo Bertos will be a key player for the Kiwi’s in South Africa, photo by Cam W) Although they have hardly thrilled the crowds on their way to South Africa 2010, the Socceroos have developed a shrewdness and resilience which comes from negotiating an arduous qualifying path. In the long term, Australian football can only benefit from this.
Sunil Awasthi ranks the top 10 Socceroos games ever
Since the first one in 1922, the Socceroos have played over 400 official internationals. And when you play that many games over that long a span, some are going to be more memorable than others. Many on this list are from the comparatively recent past. Take this not as ignorant, or a swipe at generations gone by, but as a yardstick for just how far the sport has come in this country. But just what makes a great game? Well, not only the result. Tension, drama, and historical significance all play big roles in making matches memorable. And with that in mind, here are the top 10 Socceroos showdowns ever: 10. Bashing Blighty Australia 3-1 England (Feb 12, 2003) International Friendly Upton Park, London, Yeah, it was just a friendly and Sven substituted the whole Three Lions team at half time. But hey, Australia could beat England in marbles and it’d still be cause for national celebration. The ‘Roos led a star-studded English side 2-0 at the break, and didn’t relinquish the advantage against the second stringers after it. Popovic, Kewell, and Emerton were the Aussie scorers on a memorable night in East London.
9. A+ in Asia Australia 3-0 Qatar (February 6 2008) World Cup Qualifier Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, Australia had been in the Asian Confederation for two years, but no one knew for sure what to expect when it played its all-important first World Cup Qualifier in the AFC against lowly, but cash-rich Qatar. Well, it didn’t take long to find out, and thankfully the news was good: a first half blitzkrieg saw goals from Kennedy, Cahill, and Bresciano, and Australia was away and running on the road to 2010. 8. Trans-Tasman Trauma Australia 0-1 New Zealand, (July 14, 2002) Oceania Nations Cup Final Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland Rock-bottom. A woefully under strength Socceroo side featuring just one European-based player (Scott Chipperfield) failed to get past the Kiwis and get to the lucrative 2003 Confederations Cup. The backlash was immediate, and earth-shattering. The administration that had for long failed to do the job was finally called to account. “The fish, gentlemen, stinks from the head. It is time you all faced it and did the noble thing “wrote the doyen of Australian football broadcasters, Les Murray.
Go they did, and the seeds for a longawaited new era were planted. 7. The grief Australia 0-1 Italy (June 26, 2006) World Cup, Round of 16 Fritz Walter Stadion, Kaiserslautern, The game that broke a million (well, probably more) hearts, and the moment that will live in the crystalline, frozen-inliquid-nitrogen, eternal memory that only immense joy or trauma in life seems to generate. Upon beating Mark Bresciano, Fabio Grosso goes down in the box in injury time in Kaiserslautern after a Lucas Neill challenge, and earns a prized place in the pantheon of Australian sporting villains. One Totti finish from the spot later, and the Socceroo World Cup dream is heartbreakingly over. With the tears though, comes a stark realisation that Australia is not yet totally amongst the best in the world, and perhaps wasted a one-man advantage for the preceding 45 minutes. But too comes thanksgiving for the wonderful journey the men in green and gold have taken the nation on in the weeks and months preceding. And also hope- a hope that, as far as Australian World Cup journeys are
concerned, this is not the end, but only the beginning. 6. Advance Australia Fair Australia 2-2 Croatia (June 22, 2006) World Cup, group stage Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart, A wilder ride over the course of ninety minutes, a nation has never known. Playing a country with close footballing ties to Australia with it all on the line, trying to advance to the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time, is a recipe for memorable drama of the first rate. And so it ensued, in storybook fashion. A free-kick Srna stunner that made us nervous early. Craig Moore replies from the penalty spot to settle the stomach. A howler from a controversially-selected goalkeeper that looked to cost a place in the Round of 16. Harry Kewell’s reply that made a nation jump for joy. A Pommy referee who couldn’t count struggled to send off an Aussie-born Croatian. And finally, that beautiful final whistle that signalled mission accomplished. Yeah, not a bad little game of footy, really. Next month, Part II sees Sunil count down the top five games in Socceroos history‌
Con Stamocostas puts up the gloves in the name of football! Of course the AFL has used the stadium issue for years to block football’s progress. The same local problem of crowded codes fighting over who gets to use the field first has now gone global.
Just because your paranoid doesn’t mean football is not after you That’s it! The gloves are coming off. I was planning on keeping my inner Soccer Zealot quiet but that was until the “Code Brawls” turned nasty. You have to applaud the passion that AFL folk have for their game. The territorial pissing by the AFL to discredit Australia World Cup bid again shows the AFL’s deep seeded historic paranoia that it has about football. But the AFL is right to be paranoid..
Could having too many codes be a factor when the 24 person FIFA executive committee decide on who will host the world cup in 2018-22? Read ahead about the dark history of AFL paranoia from the excellent Das Libero website. “ As early as 1951 buckets of glass were scattered on North Hobart Oval the night before a Tasmanian representative side took the field against a visiting English Professional XI” “Next season the VFL directed its operatives to secure all available public sporting space in Melbourne in order to stifle the burgeoning threat posed by soccer’s migrant-inspired growth”
Don’t mean they’re not after you”
“Melbourne’s reputation for paranoia was crowned in 1965 when youths daubed anti-soccer slogans over Middle Park, chopped down the goalposts and tried to set fire to the grandstand. (5960)”
The song funnily enough is called Territorial Pissings.
It’s just like the story in the 1993 Australian movie the Heartbreak Kid
I think a Nirvana lyric says it best: “Just because you’re paranoid
Alex Dimitriades plays Nick Polides the local football talent who wants to play soccer on the school field but gets bullied away by the AFL coach Southgate (William Mc Innes). Grahame Tuner in the book Nationalism and Australian popular culture says the film depicts Southgate’s Australianness as hostile to cultural differences, threatened by multiculturalism’s challenge to cultural purity. It’s only until the sexy teacher Christina Papadopoulos (played by Claudia Carvan) offers to coach the football team that Alex and his football dreams lives and he and teammates get to use the school field. Damn those saboteurs! It was only a week ago the very beautiful and glamorous Nicole Kidman was helping spruik the Aussies World Cup bid. It was some excellent PR. Local Aussie kids were hanging out with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Frank Lowy gave some African kids some Westfield vouchers and our Nicole (Kidman) fronted and narrated a five minute film that was shown to the Fifa excutive. It was a five minute tourism ad with heaps of juggling and action shots of islands and mountains and the outback- the World Cup movement was gaining momentum. FIFA Vice president Jack Warner said:"I was very impressed because the video is not just about football but highly educational as well".
I just don’t understand it fellow football fans. Australians love sport. Any type of sport and during the last World Cup in Germany the whole country discovered what many of us die- hards have known for years-the beauty and infinite joy that comes with following the beautiful game. I like the reading the obligatory “hosting the World Cup would be "wonderful" and then the big BUT! Ex Victorian premier Jeff Kenett says that a whole bunch of AFL fans will be depressed if the World Cup bid is successful. “if we don't have the opportunity to provide our public with a balance for a year forget the financial cost the emotional cost will also I think be a very heavy price to pay." But Mr Kennett the World Cup is the largest emotional event in the world. The untold emotional pain of listening to other codes rant about how they want the world cup but then cry about how it’s bad for Australia is affecting my own work /life balance. If my mental health depended on AFL I would be getting depressed as well. Even more reason to get behind the World Cup bid and the Socceroos at the World Cup in South Africa then!
Danny Cameron reckons a bad ass BMX bandit could win Australia the World Cup bid!
badass BMX. Of course, now we have Not since she raced through my lounge room twenty six years ago, chucking a wheelie before bunnyhopping up onto the coffee table and jumping out through the window have I been so overcome with a newly realised shared joy, passion and desire. Sure she might have been only slightly more animated than a cardboard cut out in the launch video for Australia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022, but you couldn’t deny that “our Nicole”, is the perfect soccer mum to launch our campaign.
outgrown our BMXs and most who remember the days are now parents. But that doesn’t stop us reliving our dreams. As the children of Australia see Nicole Kidman in the bid video and ask who she is, parents around the country will tell old folk stories of the queen banshee of the BMX Bandits, and will inflame the a new generation of bandits around the country. Soon the kids will be juggling soccer balls down the city streets and along the dusty country lanes around the country, taking on the baddies with well directed overhead scissor kicks and
During the eighties she captured the
power blasts. They will be juggling and
hearts and passions of Australia and
shooting with football on the mind, but
started the BMX revolution, where you
with bandits branded on their heart.
weren’t an Aussie kid unless you had a
So, when we hear the official catch cry for the Australia 2018-2022 World Cup hosting bid, when we hear Nicole Kidman say “Come Play”, we sneakily let out a wry smile, and the bandit in us grins large. In our very own lifetime, we will be presented the trophy (apparently to hold onto in the build up to the games), and we will take this trophy and in our moment realised, we will hold it aloft (Can our Nicole seduce the world and win Australia the world cup bid? HTH says hells yeah!)(photo by Rita
like the champion thieves we are. The World Cup will be ours! “Surely you jest,” I hear you cry.
Molnár) But it is evidently plain for all to see the We can reveal, here first to Halftime
underlying truth in Australia.
Heroes, that it is in this culture of bandits that Australia’s true intention
From our early white man settlement
lie. Sure, we might be seeking to host the
origins of stealing the land off the
“tournament”, but what truly happens
indigenous folk, continuing with our
during the lead up to the games?
early populous of convicts sent from old blimey for stealing, and on with our
Here, we reveal the cunning plan. All Australians know of the perfect getout clause to keep the golden trophy in our arms: “I’m not playing anymore, I’m taking my ball and going home.”
celebrated pride for the bushranging culture, and finally to the our World Cup representative, the BMX Bandit teachings of Nicole Kidman, we have learnt that if we are not good enough to
have what we want, then we have to
him: “Come Play� in Australia in 2018 or
just go out there and take it.
2022.
Even in the official opening of
Footnote: The other bidders include
proceedings of our bid, where a team of
England, Spain & Portugal, Netherlands
Australians travelled to Cape Town to
& Belgium, Russia, Japan, Korea,
present our new bid film in conjunction
Indonesia, Qatar and the USA. A decision
with the 2010 World Cup Draw, we
on the successful hosts for 2018 and
managed to hijack England bidding
2022 will be made by the 24 members
representative David Beckham in a
of the FIFA Executive Council on 2
perfect guerrilla marketing move.
December 2010.
Federal minister for sport Kate Ellis and
To help Australia win the right to host
eight children from around Australia
the greatest show on earth in Australia,
who represented Australia's football
the team has developed a website
playing youth, vitality and
www.australia2018-2022.com.au
multiculturalism, ambushed Beckham in
[hyperlink in report]. Log on and show
a perfect Ned Kelly moment and asked
your support.
Sarah D reports from inside the Cove the favour and send them back some Sydney FC merchandise.
I’m sure there are some very happy (but possibly unaware) employers in Sydney because the Sydney forums (SFCU) have been down. The temporary forums aren’t as great but they are keeping everyone in the loop a little and our forum creator is working on getting it all up and running again. We’ve also seen a new group emerge over the past few games, the Sydney FC Youth. They march from railway square up to the SFS and have been standing in the cove encouraging everyone to participate and bringing more energy to the games. They’ve been attending the W-league games and showing support for the ladies. A few months ago the cove had some visitors from DC United. After thoroughly enjoying the match he sent some of the boy’s merchandise, including a fence banner which debuted at the home game against Newcastle, as a thank you. They are going to return
Our biggest away game of the season is on the horizon – Sydney FC vs. Melbourne Victory. We’re slightly back on form as shown with a win against North Queensland and Wellington Phoenix it’s no wonder everyone is getting fired up. The last trip down south resulted in a delicious 3-nil win and as it’s almost the holiday season, a win would mean a very happy Christmas. I don’t know what banners are going to be used or what new ones have been in the making. Word is on facebook there may be something in the works. If the flag tifo from the Newcastle home game is anything to go by, I’m confident some people will have put a lot of effort into something epic. A lot of Sydney fans are looking forward to the trip. There will be plenty of drinking, maybe winning some money at Crowne casino and supporting Sydney. Hopefully we can get 2 goals or more to go top of the table again.
Damien Keane thanks Thierry Henry for making Ireland the 33rd team at next year’s World Cup
Ireland – Probably the Best Team in the World………. Now that the furore has finally died down I would like to express my delight as an Ireland fan to the decision that there will be no replay of the most disputed result in history. This means that no matter what team goes on to triumph in South Africa in 2010, Ireland fans can say ‘it could have been us if only we weren’t cheated out of it’ and the rest of the world will probably have at least some sympathy for the claim. Of course, the best possible outcome would be for the French to lift the Cup and then it would be even clearer to all, that if this is now officially ‘The Best Team in the World’® and Ireland are better than them, the ability of the Irish team would be unfathomable. Never before would any team have been so clearly better than the ‘The Best Team in the World’®. It doesn’t matter that Ireland never actually beat France and
may well have conceded an honest goal in extra time or gone out on penalties – Henry’s act has forever frozen in time the limitless possibilities of the possibly limited squad assembled by Giovanni Trapattoni. If a replay had been agreed, would it have been of the whole second leg, with Ireland starting in Paris at 0-1 on aggregate and having to match or better their best ever away result in 90 minutes twice in a couple of weeks just to get to the point of being level? Anything else (replaying extra-time, holding a one-off decider match, etc.) wouldn’t really be a replay would it? It would not be beyond the realms of possibility for France to be 2-0 up at half-time with the bewildered looking Irish players knowing that there were still 45 humiliating minutes to pass with the eyes of the world on them, before the World Cup dream was over. As it stands in the World of What-MightHave-Beens, Ireland still have a chance of being proved to be, arguably, ‘The Best Team in the World’® (incidentally this will be Ireland’s second World Cup victory in the ‘World of What-MightHave-Beens’, following on from the ‘if only Roy Keane had not walked out’ (probable) victory in Japan/South Korea in 2002, where a draw against eventual runners-up Germany in his absence proves that Ireland would have been
better than ‘The Second-Best Team in the World’® if he’d played and therefore ‘The Best Team in the World’® (alongside Brazil of course).
My heart can enjoy (another) stress free tournament this summer. So come on France! Show the World who the best team in it really is – Ireland!
There will now be no disappointing World Cup exit after failing to beat Honduras or Switzerland (teams that frighten us more than Brazil or Argentina).
Thanks Thierry for making us for all eternity the only team that could have won the World Cup in 2010 (apart from whoever actually does – a minor detail when viewed through history’s eyes from the distant future).
“This will be Ireland’s second World Cup victory in the ‘World of What-Might-Have-Beens’, following on from the ‘if only Roy Keane had not walked out’ (probable) victory in Japan/South Korea”
Bill Skinner finds it tough being an Adelaide United supporter this season. Off with their heads! I think we're now in a position where we can safely say that this year has not quite gone to plan for Adelaide United. Two thirds of the season has passed and we're sitting dead last, with misfiring strikers, a leaky defense and a coach whose motivational genius is exemplified by his suggestion that his players might benefit from having their heads severed from their bodies. Well, at the moment anything's worth a shot. I do feel for Vidmar, though. He's obviously a capable coach, and he's still got some brownie points up his sleeve after the feats of last season and the ACL. But the pressure is definitely on, and it's showing. Bad results piling up, unhappy players and behind-the-scenes issues at the club create a vortex that is very difficult to escape from. And the fans want blood. Football supporters aren't known for being the most rational creatures when things aren't going well. Once a scapegoat has been identified, the knives come out. Viddie is number one
with a bullet on the terrace hate-list at the moment, with a few of the players not far behind. Of course, by and large, we supporters don't know what the hell we're talking about. If decisions were made based on terrace opinion, Kristian Sarkies would have been sent packing last season. This year, he's been our best player. 'Two up front!' became a mantra earlier in the season for supporters sick of drab football - well now Viddie's tried it, and the team played worse than ever. Once things are going this badly, the vortex of negativity is so strong that it starts to override anything positive. Last home game, for example, there was a period of play where Adelaide actually kept possession for a little while. The team was holding the ball, patiently passing it around outside Newcastle's penalty box, probing for an opening. Fair enough it wasn't quite like watching Brazil circa 1970 but it was the right idea. Behind me, though, there was a bloke going absolutely off his nut: "Put the f*cking ball in the box you muppets! You are F*CKING USELESS!"
This was the same guy that made donkey noises whenever Cornthwaite or Hughes went near the ball, and gave Vidmar a massive spray every time a substitution was not made. Obviously, that guy was a moron. But for all his negative, irrational idiocy, one thing about his ranting struck me: at least he cared. It takes a lot of commitment to hate your own team so strongly. It's better than the antipathy of some of my mates, who have just gradually stopped coming to games because they can't be arsed any more. It would be nice if we could all go to every match happy, watch some great
“Vidmar.......a coach whose motivational genius is exemplified by his suggestion that his players might benefit from having their heads severed from their bodies� football and come away with a win every week, but reality doesn't work like that. Through the bad times, it's the discontent, injustice and endless disagreement that keeps us going as fans. It’s not pretty, but being a football supporter rarely is.
Buckle up Ben is upset his best man Andrew Demetriou is trying to scupper his World Cup plans
But Buckle-Up you were my best man!
AFL Chief The Big D (Andrew Demetriou) had heard the news from South Africa about the Australia’s bid to host the World Cup in 2018 and 2022. And it wasn’t good. “Those soccer idiots; as if they are ever going to win the rights to host the World Cup in Australia, in Melbourne. The Feds are supporting them and I haven’t heard pip from Union, and less from the Rugby League,” said The Big D. “Well what can Union say, that O’Neill bloke started all this. And Gee Gee’s probably knows his code can play in 10,000 stadiums, so it’s not like they can get any compo. What’s to be done Big D, it’s only soccer, it’s not that big is it? At least it’s not that
big in Melbourne. Like as it we’re gonna give em the G or the Dome,” said the
McMinion. “It’s Ettihad, not the Dome. How many times do I have to tell you? We’re in this for the money. Now get Buckle-Up down here...and quick.” Just Three hours later...after a dash from Sydney to Melbourne Buckle-Up wandered into the Bid D’s office. Big D: Remember when you were my best man at my wedding Buckle-Up? Buckle Up: Can’t forget that day Big D, nor the Stag weekend. Four AFL games and a dinner at the G. Awesome. Big D: Remember when I was your boss at AFL HQ? Buckle-up: Can’t forget those days Bid D. That TV deal we done, got squillions for ourselves as well as the Code. Big D: Mates?
Buckle-Up: Always mates Big D, maaaatte.
Big D: Ah I get it so like Essendon v Collingwood.
Big D: So tell me what the hell are you doing with this bid. It’s getting bigger and bigger. So now the gloves are off.
Buckle-Up: Yep only ten times the ticket prices!
You’re not having Ettihad; you’re not having the G. And why do you need both anyway. Know-nothing (Head of Ettihad) says we can play AFL and Soccer games at the Etihad anyway. It stuffs up the Victory games but they seem to go okay, so what’s the problem. And why the hell would soccer need the G. Have you seen these A-League crowds? Buckle-up: Look maate love to help but my hands are tied. The Feds want this thing more than I thought and it is pretty big people travel to games from everywhere. Big D: We get that in AFL all the time. When Sydney play in Melbourne you can see the Sydney colours in the crowd, I know they are mostly Melbournites from the old Bloods but it’s sort of like the away support. Buckle-Up: No I mean people will travel from overseas to watch games. Big D: So it would be like Norths v The Crows, 20,000 or so? Buckle-Up: No more like Germany Brazil, or Croatia England, 100,000.
Big D: Ten Times Essendon Collingwood. Buckle Up: Yep ten times. Big D: I’m starting to get it. Any chance you can find a job for me. Buckle-up: Get f##!d!
Ben O’Neill looks at which Germans keeper the Socceroos could face at the World Cup in South Africa.
Australian football fans would be well aware of these two great goalkeeping names from previous World Cups. KING Kahn. Jens
Lehmann. But with Oliver Kahn (pictured across page) fully retired and Lehmann having hung up his national team gloves, are devotees of the Socceroos even aware of who’ll stand in the last line between them, and Group D glory when our Durban date against the Deutsche rolls round on June 13? Sadly, I’d suggest many wouldn’t be able to give a reasonable answer to this question. A-League and EPL-minded folk will learn it, then spruik it, in the days leading up to the Socceroos opener, thanks to paper’s finally giving coverage of our group stage rivals when they really should be informing the masses now. So, for those of you who want to get ahead of the curve, here are the top four
contenders for the German number 1 jersey in South Africa*. Unlike Pim Verbeek, Deutsche boss Joachim Löw still has a decision to make on his starting stopper…and he’s certainly not short on quality. 1. René Adler (Bayer Leverkusen) Adler will be 25 by next June and is well positioned to have a seriously long tenure as Germany ‘keeper. He won the mantle for best stopper in the Bundesliga in 2008 and sat on the bench behind Lehmann and Robert Enke as Germany finished runner up at Euro 2008. Solid form in the New Year will help this young custodians cause. 2. Manuel Neuer (Shalke 04) At just 23, Manuel Neuer has already made over 100 appearances for his beloved Shalke 04. While his German national team appearances are more modest at two, in November he was the only German ‘keeper in a list of five to be nominated for UEFA team of the year. Alongside Adler, Neuer is a hot chance.
(Oliver Kahn retires, Photo by Tsutomu Takasu) 3. Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen) At 27, Wiese is a veteran compared to Adler and Neuer. But, having been involved in the most recent squad – a friendly against Ivory Coast – will consider himself unlucky if he doesn’t at least make the plane to Johannesburg. Champions League followers may well remember his serious gaffe against Juventus three years ago – he spilled a routine save to allow Emerson to score and the Old Lady to move through to the quarter finals at the expense of his side. He’s a volatile character too, so Löw would be chancing his arm if he went with Wiese. 4. Timo Hilderbrand (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim) Always the bridesmaid, never the bride this is the story of 30-year-old Timo
Hilderbrand. Having sat on the bench behind Kahn and Lehmann at Euro 2004, Confederations Cup 2005, and World Cup 2006, Hilderbrand’s torrid time at Valencia in 2007/08 means he hasn’t featured for Germany since . But, a move back to the Bundesliga a year ago has reignited the custodian, and there have been calls inside Germany recently that he deserves another chance. *Until his recent, tragic suicide, Robert Enke, formerly of Hannover 96, was favoured to claim the first-choice ‘keepers spot in South Africa.
Ben O’Neill has just launched a new blog dedicated to the Durban date – Australia’s clash with Germany on June 13, 2010. Visit www.durbandate.blogspot.com to explore.
Shane Davis takes a close look at Australia’s Group D opponents’ Group D Germany: Undefeated in a tough qualifying group. Three goals were last year conceded in a draw in Finland (three key men were absent) and a month later Die Mannschaft were somewhat lucky to hold on against Russia to win 2-1 in Dortmund. But only once did they concede in the seven remaining games and against Russia home and away, Germany showed the attacking capability and aggression so important to their renaissance in the last few years. In Dortmund last year, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski (pictured left) continued their fruitful partnership in attack while young goalkeeper René Adler did well at the other end. Those three were again good value in Moscow two months ago as Germany impressively began on the front foot, but also important was the young Mesut Özil, perhaps the type of creative schemer the Germans traditionally had but haven't for some time. Germany again hung on to win 1-0, this time in a manner hard to fathom when they were haemorrhaging goals four years ago. The goal they did concede in their last seven qualifiers was at home to Finland in the last game, but as in
Helsinki defender Per Mertsesacker was missing. More concerning, even with an experimental line-up, was the very laboured play going forward. "We always have trouble playing against teams that pack their defence," said frustrated full-back Philipp Lahm afterwards. Germany does have the attacking ability not to have such issues, but under the sometimes uninspiring, overly methodical Löw they have often struggled to play to their best against "minor" opponents or in noncritical situations. Hopefully they will take Australia lightly and their foot off the pedal in Durban, but they're likely to have too much firepower.
(Lukas Podolski photo by MKBN)
(Chelsea and Ghana star Michael Essien, photo by Magnus Manske) Ghana: The first African team to earn qualification although The Black Stars had their troubles getting out of the first group stage, towards the end of which current Serb coach Milovan Rajevac was appointed. From there things have generally been on the up. The likes of captain Stephen Appiah in midfield and leading qualifying goalscorer Matthew Amoah in attack played more in the second group stage and four wins from four were enough to seal their place in South Africa. Ghana weren't as free-scoring as the other qualified African teams but did concede the second least amount of goals in the second group stage, all two of which came in the final Appiah and Michael Essien (pictured above) provide further security in midfield and, along with Sulley Muntari, are also good value for Ghana going forward. Of Australia's three group opponents, the Africans may replicate most the quick, agile attacks that have often worried us in Asia but should also finish better.
Serbia: Their 2-1 loss in France last year came only weeks after Radomir Antić was appointed and before he changed the dynamics of a previously more negative-minded team significantly. By the time Serbia drew 11 with the French in Belgrade two months ago, only a point was really needed and last month's 2-1 loss in Lithuania came after qualification was secured. Aside from that the Beli Orlovi won seven out of seven. The highlights were going 3-0 up inside 25 minutes in Austria in a 3-1 win, scoring another three and showing good resolve to win 3-2 in Romania before wrapping up qualification with a 5-0 win over Romania at home. Milan Jovanović scored in all of those games and is a skilful operator on the left wing while on the other side is the highly promising Miloš Krasić. But Serbia's biggest strength though is their general attacking style and confidence. Unless they lose their heads or a possible lack of defensive ability in midfield gets exposed, they will be very tough opposition for Australia
(Serbian left winger Milan Jovanavic, photo by Steindy)
or UK accommodation. In fact they offered him a trial with no guarantees.
Glen Seiver looks at the case of young Australian Reece Caira Difficult & Thorny Issue - Reece Caira
FIFA in an attempt to stop the exploitation of young boys in Africa wrote a law into its governance of football that anyone under the age of 18 needed the clearance by their national association to sign a contract with an overseas club. Further it was believed in countries like Australia the best talent would stay longer and not go on at times to play for other nations. All good stuff. But laws need to be applied with common sense otherwise innocents get caught. Reece Caria is IMO one such case, Football Federation Australia have picked the right cause but the wrong example. He’s father is English and his mother Irish they migrated to Australia. Reece was not selected for a representative side or the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Reece was 15 when his father sent a video off overseas. Aston Villa (AV) replied, if you are ever in the UK come and trial. AV offered no money or help with air fares
Reece’s parents returned to the UK. Both his parents got full time jobs. Reece has his extended family around him and he is attending school. Then Reece trials with AV. AV have an academy with a requirement that all boys at the academy also get a high school education. Lawyers will tell you if you want to draw a line in the sand make sure it is a case you cannot loose. This case looks almost un-defendable especially if you consider how important it is in a player’s development at his age. Compare AV Training academy with specialised school teachers against a Central Coast park team and a local high school. FIFA have exemptions to this FIFA law but the exemptions are approved club by club. FIFA do not have a policy where they say if clubs meet this standard they can be quickly assessed and approved. Where are we today AV have Reece in their training academy where he attends school as well. Reece goes home each night to his parents home, I would assume also see his extended family. FFA say you cannot sign or play with AV as you are under 18, yet many other Australian players recently have signed and been under 18 with no protest from FFA. AV are now taking FIFA to the European courts, IMO there is almost no way they can lose given the facts as presented through the media. The sting in the tale
is if FIFA loose and the law is overturned. It is overturned for everybody even the kids in Africa. Those agents and third level clubs in Europe will be popping champagne corks. In heavens name! Can a boy who has never made a representative side or taken one dollar of taxpayer money, go back to England with his parents. Trial with a club and be knocked back to play park association football on the Central Coast by FFA?
“FFA say you cannot sign or play with Aston Villa as you are under 18, yet many other Australian players recently have signed and been under 18 with no protest from FFA.” I can see the frustration and anger in his parents because I and many Australians would react in a similar manner. It is distinctly Australian to question and debate to oppose decisions made by our governments and big business. That is part of who we are; sad will be the day when it does not occur.
In closing I think FFA chose the right cause, but the wrong kid.
(Reece Caira has a club but can’t play due to red tape, image from images.mirror.co.uk) It is a part of the history and culture of our nation. We voted against conscription twice in World War 1 despite the exhortation of the national government to support it, we voted against the banning of the communist party at the height of the Cold War despite the national government strident support, we ignore our national governments direction not to participate in the Moscow Olympics
Kieran Pender charts the incredible rise of 18 year old Theo Markelis, a young Australian playing for Valencia in Spain.
Living the dream: The Theo Markelis story It’s every young footballer’s dream. To be selected to travel to Europe, play against the best youth sides in the world and trial at famous Italian and Spanish clubs. Except for young Australian Theo Markelis it’s not a dream, it been the past few years as a young football star. Markelis recently signed a five year deal with Spanish superpower Valencia Club de Fútbol.
I was fourteen years old at the time, and I there were some clubs interested in me.”
He returned to Australia, but only six month later went back to Italy to trial with some clubs. “About six months later I went back to go trialling and I went to Genoa. I trialled, did well, and before they wanted to me sign a guy said to go to Valencia, to trial for Valencia. So I went to Valencia for a week, trialled for a week, played a tournament and finished top goal scorer, and after that they wanted to sign me for five years.” Unsurprisingly Markelis originally found it hard to adjust to Spain. “At the start I was very nervous, I didn’t know the language and I found it very nerve racking. I wasn’t with my family, so found it a bit hard. The first year that I was here (last year) was hard. I didn’t know anyone, so the first couple of months were difficult.”
Theo Markelis started his incredible journey from Green Gully under 15s to Valencia CF when he attended a football clinic in Melbourne. “I went to this clinic, this training academy, and started training, and then he (the guy who organised the clinic) formed a team to go to Italy to play some games. We went to Italy and played against youth teams from Juventus, Genoa, AS Roma. And I was the youngest there, (Theo asks for a translator)
“We had a tournament last season in Holland, and we won the tournament. Teams like Real Madrid’s youth side were in it, teams from all around Europe, and we won the tournament...”
(Theo and his Valencia youth team mates) But even though Markelis originally found it difficult adjusting to life in Valencia, living life away from his family and friends, he has now settled in well. “I’m still young, and I had to leave my family, but now I’ve gotten used to it. I’m happy here.” He can now also speak Spanish fluently. Although Markelis is still at school in Valencia, football is now the major part of his life. “School’s every day, but we train four days a week, then have a day off for a rest, and then play a Saturday or Sunday youth game.” And although he stresses that all the training is hard, he is still finding it enjoyable, “that’s what I like to do, I’ll be training four to five hours a day but it’s still fun. I’ve always wanted to do this. I made a sacrifice to leave home and come here to play, this is what I want to do.” While he says that his time at the Spanish football giant has been very enjoyable overall, Markelis believes his most enjoyable moment so far was winning a youth cup in Holland, against the likes of Real Madrid’s famed youth
academy. “We had a tournament last season in Holland, and we won the tournament. Teams like Real Madrid’s youth side were in it, teams from all around Europe, and we won the tournament, that’s basically been the best thing that’s happened.” Another highlight of his career so far has been the extensive travelling. “We’ve been to Holland, we’ve been to Japan, and we’ve been to Abu Dhabi to play tournaments, to Italy as well, so I’ve done a lot of travelling.” Another perk of playing for a major club is being able to meet the stars, in Markelis’ case his role model, David Villa. “I look up to David Villa (as my role model) and I’ve spoken to him before, I’ve met him. He knows who I am.” However Villa isn’t the only player he’s met. “I’ve met (David) Silva, I’ve met (Juan Manuel) Mata, I’ve met Joaquin, I’ve spoken to them before, but Villa’s my favourite player.” One experience that would not have been as positive for Markelis was the financial crisis that his club, Valencia, recently went through. The crisis culminated in Valencia not being able to pay some of their players, but Markelis stresses that it hasn’t affected his time at the club. “I was fine, I was just concentrating on training and playing.
(Theo at Valencia training, still waiting for a translator)
to play for Australia because that’s where I was born.”
Obviously they don’t pay us as much as the players in the first team, they’re the ones that had the problems, not us.”
Let’s just hope that one day Theo Markelis will be turning out for the green and gold of Australia, and not the blue and white of Greece.
However while Theo Markelis may be one of Australia’s brightest young stars, his international alliance is still at stake. Markelis still hasn’t been called up to any Young Socceroos squad, and he doesn’t even know “if they know I’m here.” Markelis has a strong Greek background, and the option to play for Greece is definitely open, “I have a Greek passport and it’s possible I could play for Greece, it just depends who gives me the call first.”
Markelis is currently playing well in Spain for Valencia U19, but he stresses the importance of not getting ahead of himself. “They’re (the coaches) are saying I’m doing well, so at the moment I’m going well, but everything here can change.” Markelis hopes to continue playing well at U19 level and then move up to Valencia Mestalla (Valencia’s reserve team) but once again he realises that nothing in the football world is certain. “I suppose I’ll move on Valencia Mestalla, but it all depends on what the directors think of me.”
However while it’s possible Markelis could become the next Australian to represent another country, he still professes his loyalty and desire to represent Australia. “I’d really like
While Markelis’ debut for the Socceroos is still a long way off, and in possible doubt, let’s hope that in a few years time he’ll be Australia’s next football superstar.
“The Damned United may not be the best movie about an English Football Manager ever made, but it’s in the top one!” The film cuts between periods of Clough coaching at Derby and at Leeds virtually ignoring his most successful period when he won the European Cup with Nottingham Forest.
The Damned United- HTH Movie Review By Con Stamocostas
The Damned United charts Brian Clough managerial career starting in Derby where the Northern English Club is on the bottom of the old Division Two. Michael Sheen plays Brian Clough and is fast becoming one of the best impersonators of some of Britain’s most famous people. He has carried on his fine work from other movies where he played Tony Blair in the Queen and David Frost in Nixon/ Frost. The beginning of the film begins when Brian Clough’s Derby faces Leeds in the FA Cup and those dirty buggers Leeds cheat their way to a 2-1 win with a dodgy penalty. The Leeds Manager Don Review played by Colm Menie disrespectfully ignores the Derby boss and from then on Clough uses that snub as motivation to one day beat him.
The Damned United is primarily a Bromance between Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor played by great English character actor Timothy Spall. It’s at Derby where the relationship between the two se them take Derby from the old Division Two to the top of Division One. Clough’s ego threatens all of Clough’s relationship particularly with the directors of the clubs he manages and it also becomes strained with Taylor as well. You get a sense of the megalomaniac of Clough why he was both loved and hated when the chairman of Leeds on his first day describes him as the best young manager in the country and Clough quips back with “I’m the best old one as well.” Sheen’s work is amazing in this film, He is almost in every scene and his portrayal of Clough was impressive. If you are a football fan you will love this film, the story is well told with strong performances from all the actors. The film is not cheesy at all which is what can happen with sport films. The mixture of old footage from the 70’s gives the film an authentic feel. I give it five HTH stars!!
Kieran Pender’s monthly roundup La Liga looks at the intriguing relegation battle.
La Happenings, The Drop
Last month I focused on the real battle in La Liga, the battle for the remaining Champions League places, but there is an even more intense battle taking place in La Liga, the fight for survival in the top flight. After round 14 of La Liga, the relegation battle looks very scary for many Spanish clubs. The threat of relegation realistically encompasses all from Xerez in 20th to Osasuna in 11th, but even Villarreal or Gijón (in 10th and 9th respectively) are only a few losses away from the pointy end of the table. While the battle for survival in Spain is always exciting, the form of two so called ‘big teams’ has added to the excitement. Take for example Espanyol.
while they may have been in the relegation mire this time last season, they are still a decent side that finished 10th at the end of the season, and would have been expected to perform better this time around. Instead, they find themselves in 17th, only one point from the drop. Another notable side in trouble is Atlético Madrid, or the ‘other’ team from Madrid. While the insanity of Atletico could fill many pages by itself, the basic story is that they are a shamble of a club, but with fairly good players, who go through managers faster than the NRL go through cases of drunken players acting badly. (Sorry, I really should have been having a dig at AFL instead of NRL after recent events) After finishing fourth last season, they currently find themselves in 14th, on equal points with Espanyol, and are already onto their second manager of the season.
RCD Mallorca on the other hand, is a team that, prior to the start of the season, was expected to be right in the
As notable La Liga expert Sid Lowe wrote in his Guardian blog, “Because, make no mistake, Mallorca are rubbish. Or, at least, they should be.” But, they’re not. They currently sit in 5th place with 27 points, only a point off the Champions League spots. So congratulations to Mallorca and their crazy battle against all odds. While in all likelihood it will be the likes of Xerez, Malaga and Real Zaragoza (the current teams sitting below the drop) that find themselves in the Segunda division next season, the excitement of Espanyol and Atlético Madrid being down the bottom certainly adds to the league.
(Spanish Primera División 2005/06 trophy at FC Barcelona museum)(photo by Electro07) drop zone. Even the staunchest Mallorca fan would have to admit that at the beginning of the season things looked bleak. They lost the players that had staved off relegation the previous season (Miguel Angel Moyá, Juan Arango and David Navarro to name a few) and spent the lowest amount on new signings in the entire first division. The club is a complete wreck financially and shifty financial dealings saw money move out of Mallorca, at a time when they are desperate for money.
Lastly, crazy accidents and disgruntled readers telling Con to get rid of me withstanding, I will be back next month for a complete run down of the big fight, the Barcelona v Real Madrid fight.
Matt McGrath profiles the young player of the Month fury midfielder/defender Rostyn Griffiths
Rostyn Griffiths - A Footballers Fate
Fury’s inaugural A-League campaign has provided many spills and thrills with arguably one of the brightest stories’s to have emerged being the rise of young footballer Rostyn Griffiths who at just 21 years of age has already endured an expansive and arduous football journey. This Journey begins in Western Australia where a talented youngster impressed for the Joondalup academy on a tour of the UK. The stuff dreams are made of followed when offered an opportunity to join established premier league club Blackburn Rovers. Excelling with Blackburn’s academy Rostyn’s dream was dealt a serious blow when breaking a leg playing for Australia’s U/17’s. He then made a strong return and continued progressing eventually signing his first professional contract. Fate would then take another future determining twist when Rovers top
flight side suffered a tumultuous period after manager Mark Hughes who initially signed Rostyn followed his ambitions to fellow Lancashire club Manchester City. Paul Ince took the Blackburn reigns loaning Rostyn out to gain some professional experience. Ince had a horrendous start to his Blackburn tenure and was subsequently sacked and replaced by renowned hard task master Sam Allardyce. Griffiths further impressed while on loan for almost the entire calendar year of 2008 with Gretna in the Scottish Premier League and Accrington Stanley in England’s league two before returning to Blackburn and being released by current boss Sam Allardyce. It’s a common trait with managers that a player valued by one manager is not always rated by another. Hughes signed the player; Ince saw potential, loaned out to gain experience then Allardyce let the player go. This trend was to follow after returning to Australia. Signed by Adelaide as a finals injury replacement then released Rostyn set off to attempt to trial his way to an A-League deal. First stop was the Mariners.
two clubs meet in a trial match played in Rockhampton. Rostyn turned out for the Mariners and limped out of the game with a minor injury after just twenty minutes or so. However Ian Ferguson saw something he liked and subsequently invited Griffiths to trial. Standing out over a series of trials Rostyn was offered a 1 year deal and first team opportunities arose after injury to key senior players. The rest as they say is history and at the time of publishing Griffiths had started 17 of Fury’s opening 18 A-League matches. Excelling in the centre of midfield and deputising with aplomb at centre half after injury and form saw Ferguson remould his team. Rostyn’s form and consistent performance was recently recognised with a young player of the year nomination, a just reward for a fine season to date.
(Royston Grifiths, I’m a midfielder, I’m a defender) (photo by Cam W)
Rostyn Griffiths is a young footballer whose career thus far has been determined largely by fate however one thing for sure is that Rostyn is indeed a fine young footballer with a very bright future ahead who has worked his way to a position where he may finally get to call the shots in regards to the future direction of his career.
After playing some pre-season trial matches Lawrie McKinna decided that Rostyn was not what the Mariners were seeking. Fate would once again determine his immediate future via Mckinna’s close links with former assistant Ian Ferguson now team boss at expansion club NQ Fury had seen the
“Excelling with Blackburn’s academy Rostyn’s dream was dealt a serious blow when breaking a leg playing for Australia’s U/17’s”
Chippy B still has a chip on his shoulder and this month it’s about the real W League premiers! side who you’d expect to be weaker.
Here’s why the Central Coast Mariners won the WLeague Sydney FC are premiers of the WLeague. Big deal. How come the team with the biggest talent pool in the country gets to play the easiest games during the (very short) season? Newcastle Jets lost Kate Gill, Cheryl Salisbury, Cheryl Salisbury (yes she’s worth two) Emily Van Egmond, to name a few and picked up no-one. Surprise surprise they were...inexperienced, conceding 6 on a number of occasions. Adelaide United was worse. Pretty poor last season, they lost Matildas stars Sharon Black and Emma Wirkus. They went backwards conceding 6 on many occasions. In a league with 8 clubs, teams get to play 10 whole games to complete their season. And the top four head to the semi’s. Clearly the team finishing first has an advantage as they play the fourth
Well Sydney won the Premiership but played four games out of ten against the Adelaide and Newcastle. The Roar just two points off the pace in third spot played Adelaide and Newcastle only once each. Blind Freddy and Chippy B both know that Sydney and Brisbane are the powerhouses of women’s football, but in a short season these teams were only set to play each other once unless they made the finals. They did. The game they played in the “normal” season (what’s normal about a season ten games long) ended in a 1-1 draw. If they had played twice, maybe the Central Coast Mariners would have been premiers and earned the easier SemiFinal against Canberra. As it was Sydney got Canberra and despite having ten players for 75 minutes they flogged them 3-0. Sydney might be the Premiers but the draw is a farce and when the FFA come back from Zurich, South Africa or wherever, they need to focus on the WLeague draw and for that matter the ALeague crowds as soon as possible!
Photo of the Month
Sydney FC lost to eventual WLeague Champions Brisbane Roar in last year’s semi-final after a penalty shootout. Despite missing Sarah Walsh and Heather Garriock for much of last season Sydney still managed to run the
Eamonn Flannagan gets excited about the W League Grand Final
all-star Roar team so very close. This year it’s different. Everyone expected these two to make the final and they have. But few thought the Central Coast Mariners, top of the league for so long, would split the two giants of the Women’s game. In the end The Mariners missed top spot after losing to Sydney FC in the very last game of the season and then went down 1-0 to Brisbane in the semi. Big players win big games and Sydney and Brisbane have bucket loads. Sydney played a player down for seventy five minutes against Canberra in
their semi, but no-one could tell. They controlled the game running out eventual winners 3-0 against a vastly inexperienced opponent. This is a different Sydney team to the one the Roar faced last year. Heather Garriock, and Sarah Walsh completed the season, Leena Khamis is a year older, Kyah Simon switched from the Central Coast Mariners, and Danish International imports Cathrine Paaske and Julie Rydahl have stood out. The Roar remains strong particularly defensively. Lauren Colthorpe (pictured next page) is getting back to her best. Claire Polkinghorne and Kate McShea in
front of the league’s best Aussie keeper Casey Dumont will be tested by the rampaging attacking Sydney line-up. Can Elise Kellond-Knight and Tameka Butt provide the spark to light the Roar or will the more experienced Danish internationals win the day? Jo Burgess v Heather Garriock!
Both sides are strong have a heap of internationals and are well organised. Brisbane keep the ball better than Sydney but Sydney break with more pace and flair. It will be a tightly contested game with plenty of passion and skill. It’s a brave person who picks the winner. Brisbane will find this final a much more difficult proposition that last year’s walk in the park over Canberra. Indeed Brisbane’s temperament may be exposed if things are a little too close for comfort. It will be a cracker of that there is no doubt. The Championship is on the line and you can be sure national Coach Tom Sermanni will be loving the pressure games. What better way to see who heads into the Matildas Camps in early January for the crucial World Cup Qualifiers in May 2010.
(Leena Khamis has the skills to pay the bills, photo by Cam W) Can the Roar defence stop Kyah Simon, Sarah Walsh and Leena Khamis? Will Heather Garriock be allowed to run free down the left or with central defender Alesha Clifford suspended will Coach Alen Stajic stifle Garriocks creativity and hold her back?
Will Dumont become Matildas number 1? Will Khamis force her way into the full squad? Is Servet Unzular, Tameka Butt or Elise Kellond Knight good enough to get us to the World Cup? I think Sydney by one goal but whatever the outcome it will be advert for football. Don’t miss it!
Shane Davis: http://hiraldo.wordpress.com/
Thanks to everyone who contributed. All who work on this fanzine do it as a labour of love with no payment. Web Designer/Logo Designer Peter Alexandrou Cartoonist/Logo Designer Wayne Snowden http://www.happinessforsale.org/ff/
Editors: Con Stamocostas, Send comments/feedback or if want to contribute in any way please e-mail Con Stamocostas @: cstamocostas@gmail.com
Matt McGrath: http://nqfuryfcthejournal.blogspot.com/ &
au.fourfourtwo.com Eamonn Fannagan: http://nearpost.blogspot.com/
More Football talk: Nearpost radio: www.2xxfm.org Streamed Tuesday 6.30pm Podcast at www.nearpost.blogspot.com and on itunes. Why not check out and support all the Aussie football fanzines: The Pissants can write as well:
We support recycling. We re-use the same screens every month. Distribution: Available at halftimeheroes.com.au Find more from our writers: Ben Somerford: www.theroar.com.au, www.euroo.blogspot.com, insidefutbol.com &au.fourfourtwo.com/ Fiona Crawford: http://www.footballfix.com.au/,au.fourfou rtwo.com/ & goal.com Con Stamocostas:au.fourfourtwo.com/, www.afootballstory.com, Mike Salter:www.thefootballtragic.blog spot.com Ben O’Neil: au.fourfourtwo.com & http://www.durbandate.blogspot.com/
Bill Skinner: http://www.pissanttown.com/ Kieran Pender: http://an-aussiesview.blogspot.com/ & au.fourfourtwo.com
http://www.pissanttown.com/?p=29
Independent Melbourne: http://ifm.mvfc.net/
Perth Glory: http://planetpurplefanzine.com/