Second Round - Italy vs Australia

[aussie1st]

Italy vs Australia @ Kaiserslautern, 26 June 2006, 17:00

Great seeing the mighty Aussies into the 2nd round of the big sporting event.
Italy haven't been all that great but they look like they are slowly coming to their best. Aus will need to alot better in the set pieces than they did in the 1st half. When Marco came on our set pieces were working a lot better and the crosses were much better including one leading to Kewell's goal.

 

[evertonfan]

Yeah come on Australia, you can easily beat Italy, they have no backbone.

 

[F4rrukh]

If Aussies try hard they actually can beat Italy.. because Italy is not a very very good team.. But still they play quiet well!

 

[evertonfan]

If Aussies try hard they actually can beat Italy.. because Italy is not a very very good team.. But still they play quiet well!

I would go so far as to say the Aussies are favourites. Of course the bookies and the pundits won't agree with me here, but Italy just fail to rise to the occasion too often.

 

[aussie1st]

It's all a matter of our attack. We just can't finish off a good move. Ususally it's well wide or softly tapped into the keeper. You can't win the WC doing that.

 

[wolf]

Come on you Italy. I want to shut some Aussies up on Cricket Manager.

Seriously, this will be a good game but I think Italy will just have to much for the Aus.

 

[Ritwik]

Italy all the way! Chuck the Aussie's and their "physical" and unsporting play from the WC

 

[BigCrickNan]

I think if Kewell and Viduka are on form Australia can win this. Kewell was awesome last night and looks like he can beat anyone on his day. Cmon aussies!

 

[IloveGilly]

I think if Kewell and Viduka are on form Australia can win this. Kewell was awesome last night and looks like he can beat anyone on his day. Cmon aussies!

Although I support the Aussies, the Italians in form are devasting. IMO they've got one of the best keepers in the world and Gilardino and Pirlo which can do some amazing stuff.

Not to mention Kewell won't be at his full form and we miss out on another key defender because of injury. They also seem to be getting really cocky at times and over-confident which always equals downfall.

 

[Hariz]

The Aussies have done really well to come this far but the Italians are slowly finding their form again. Totti was very good yesterday against the Czech Republic as were Pirlo and Gattuso. With Toni upfront again they will be a big challenge for the Socceroos, but who knows..............

 

[ZexyZahid]

Italy beat number 2, Czech Republic, number 3, the Netherlands, and number 19, Germany so far in the progess to this round.

I think they can reach very far if they keep playing like this. But they can improve very much, since I've seen them play way better then they've shown in the World Cup.

Something interesting: Italy will meet Hiddink again, like four years against South Korea. We know what happened then.

 

[cric_craze]

u guys are just too confident in the socceroos now.... Croatia isnt a great team. They haven't performed in a long time. Italy will knock out the socceroos like the way Brazil won against them.

 

[BigCrickNan]

Not to mention Kewell won't be at his full form

You what? Kewells been in amazing form for the past 6 months!

 

[aussie1st]

u guys are just too confident in the socceroos now.... Croatia isnt a great team. They haven't performed in a long time. Italy will knock out the socceroos like the way Brazil won against them.

Just like they drew with the USA :
Beating the Czech Republic no big deal even Ghana did it!

 

[m_vaughan]

u guys are just too confident in the socceroos now.... Croatia isnt a great team. They haven't performed in a long time. Italy will knock out the socceroos like the way Brazil won against them.

Croatia are a quality side who did very well to get to the World Cup. But they screwed it up when they failed to pick up maximum points against Japan. Full credit to the Aussies for getting the required result against the Croatians, and have full faith that they are capable of causing an upset against Italy.

Italy are clear favourites though. Man to man, the Aussies are no match.