so the Australia-Greece game just finished. 1-0 to us

My thoughts:

- we looked pretty good. If nothing else, Hiddink has performed absolute wonders with the defence - we actually look organised these days. Greece only had a few real chances, the rest were long range shots nowhere near on target. We played out of defence really well too

- as would be expected with such a quality midfield, we looked good there and controlled possession. Lots of good movement from defence into attack and linking up of passes. Grella, Culina and Skoko were excellent

- we really should have put a few more goals in. Bresciano had a free kick that only just failed to curl in, Sterjovski had a good header that just went wide, and Wilkshire had forced a tough save. Viduka looked good without being spectacular. But we got a little bit cute with some of the passes around the box. That said, the movement was encouraging.

- we tired a bit in the last 20min, but this would have a lot to do with the 2 training sessions a day they've apparently been doing for the last 5 or so days since everyone got back from Europe

- Bresciano, while miscuing a couple of kicks, remains a champion. I don't care how much people (justifiably) rave about Kewell, our chances at the World Cup depend directly on how he performs. He was in the thick of a lot of our movement forward. I forsee him stamping his authority on the world stage

- Greece were very disappointing. Apart from the first 5min, did nothing in the first half. Were a bit better in the second, but too many of their attacking players were annonymous. No wonder they failed to qualify.

- bring on the Netherlands and the Cup, I say. With Aloisi back to training with the team, Cahill coming along nicely, and hopefully Kewell back, we will be formidable. I laugh at those Croat players who think they're going to sweep past us. Not bloody likely.

I am Big Kev excited

I love your optimism. Culina & Bresciano were impressive, first time that i had seen them in action, and your boys worked extremely hard. I don't think anybody will be quaking in there boots quite yet though. A good performance for sure, but, Greece were shocking. Look foward to the Holland game. The defence looked reasonably solid though. Be interesting to see how Kewell could fit into this team, with the awesome work ethic hiddink has installed, he's not much of a grafter. Who else have you got as an out and out striker. Archie Thompson & Josh Kennedy are listed in the squad, any good?

Yeah, the optimism will wear off a bit in the next few days, but it's just so refreshing to see us playing a good style of football and looking fairly assured in what we're doing after years of being mediocre and tactically inept (which is a sore point after the return leg of the 2001 qualifiers), and frankly shit at the back.

The Holland game will be a good indication of how we're going. As you say, Greece were rubbish, which is a bit of a shame both for the team's preparation and for all the Greek-Australian fans who were looking forward to seeing them play after the Euro win.

Kewell fits in to Hiddink's style well. He was still recovering from injury during the qualifiers so a bit rusty, but was fabulous in the second match against Uruguay. He did also work hard in defence. Most importantly, it seems like he's in a better headspace now, recent injury notwithstanding, having got a bit more love from Australian fans after a fairly tempestuous relationship with certain sections of the media and public who are dedicated football followers.

As for strikers, John Aloisi is recovering from injury, and with Viduka will be the starting strikers, depending on formation. Thompson has promise and is a great athlete, but has yet to step up at a true international level (ie not against the Soloman Islands). He spent the second half of the season with Hiddink at PSV. Didn't get much gametime which is a bit of a problem, but at least knows the style well. The other out and out striker, Kennedy, is a bit of an unknown and a bolter for the squad having never played for the senior team. Has been playing in Germany and apparently has a transfer to the top league for next season. Not sure how he'll go, but reports indicate that the reason Hiddink wanted him is that he is very good in the air so gives us more flexibility.

We also have several attacking midfielders - Cahill, Bresciano, Kewell etc who can play just behind Viduka if that's what the formation calls for, and Thompson can also drop back.

There are definitely things we need to work on - defensive set pieces being at the top of that list, but it's incredible to see the change in the team after only 6 games under Hiddink - even in his first game against Jamaica produced a massive improvement in style and play. The guy is an absolute legend.

Seriously, though, I have a good feeling about getting out of out group. Brazil are obviously the pick to win it, but Japan aren't outstanding, and the Croatia are beatable. That will be a game to watch seeing as 6 of our players have Croatian heritage and I think 3 of theirs were born and grew up in Australia, and it will determine who goes through. I honestly think we can rise to the occasion. BRING IT ON

us beat venezuela last night.

bruce arena revved them up with some good hard pep talking before the match, calling them out for how shitty they played agst morocco and saying that they can't throw games away in that fashion because of what they've built over the last 4 years.

while i don't quite have faith, i'm excited.

Trinidad & Tobago are gonna win the Cup. I'm not joking, Marvin Andrews is God's favourite person!

why do you say this darrin? i haven't kept up on the news.

Oh Marvin Andrews has played his entire career at Scottish clubs.

At Livingston he prayed to God and they won the League Cup, a big shock since they are a small team. Then Dundee Utd wanted to buy him and he prayed to God again and God said "No, don't go to Dundee Utd" and then a couple of months later Rangers, a much bigger and more successful club, came in for him where he won the League and Cup double. Then he got a career threating injury and he didn't want to get surgery so he prayed to God again and the injury miraculously cured!

Seriously, this guy is best pals with the Creator. He just has to ask and happens.

i don't think god hands out the world cup...no amount of praying will win this thing.

he does sound like quite a lucky chap though.

U.S. doesn't make it out of its group. Mexico surprizes everyone and makes it to the semi-finals. Brazil beats Germany in final.

I have Mexico going out to CIV in the second round...I might have them into semifinals. ENG v. CIV is quarterfinals will be so intense, although ENG v. MEX would be just as much. I think whichever team advances to the quarters there beats England.

Results update

Friday 26th

Saudi Arabia 0 - 2 Czech Republic
South Korea 2 - 0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

Saturday 27th

Denmark 1 - 1 Paraguay
France 1 - 0 Mexico
Germany 7 - 0 Luxembourg
Holland 1 - 0 Cameroon
Portugal 4 - 1 Cape Verde Islands
Serbia & Montenegro 1 - 1 Uruguay
Spain 0 - 0 Russia
Switzerland 1 - 1 Ivory Coast
Trinidad and Tobago 1 - 2 Wales
USA 2 - 0 Venezuela

Sunday 28th

Ukraine 4 - 0 Costa Rica
Croatia 2 - 2 Iran
FYR Macedonia 2 - 1 Ecuador
USA 1 - 0 Latvia

From Thursday..

England B 1 v Belarus 2

Well i watched a different game to the english press reports. Biggest plus point from this game goes to the FA for getting this classed as a 'B' international. I think i read that the team we put out had around 216 full caps.

Started off very bright, Lennon causing all kinds of problems, but the Belarus soon wised up to that and doubled teamed him. Crouch had a goal disallowed. Owen hit the the bar with a header and Jenas nodded in the rebound. Robert Green, the third string goalie, came on as a sub, 5 minutes later he collapsed as he was taking a goal kick, scuffed the kick straight to a Belarus striker who put the ball in the empty net. Crouch won a header. Then i missed the Belarus winner.

PLUS points..

Owen & Ashley Cole came through the game unscathed and got valuable game time.

Aaron Lennon ran the Belarus defence ragged for the first 30 minutes with his pace & trickery.

Ashley Cole linked up really well with Downing on the left and made great runs forward.

NEGATIVE points...

Owen looked a long way off his usual sharpness.

Sol Campbell's defending was shoddy.

Too much of a gap between midfield and the forwards. We rarely got behind the belarus defence and the strikers always had to come backwards to get the ball.

Carrick started brightly spraying some nice balls around but then went off the boil. He does not look strong enough to claim the holding player position with his defensive qualities.

Robert Green ruptured his groin and is out of the world cup.

Owen Hargreaves is NOT good enough to play for England.

Outside of the 11 established players that will almost certainly make up the starting line up in Germany, we are very average.

the Czechs will be the team to watch, mark my words

You may be right. I think i have them down to make the semi-finals when we did the world cup predictor. Very good team.

Belarus aren't a bad team at all. They put an end to our good run of results in the qualifiers and that 0-1 defeat at Hampden basically put us out.

In my opinion, perhaps Brazil excepted, there is very little between the top 70 or 80 nations. Anyone can beat anyone and if you take a look at the last 10 years and certainly the last 5 most of the 'top' nations have struggled to look convincing against supposedly lesser teams.

I'm certain that some big names will go out at the group stages at WC2006 - I'm particularily looking at Holland and Argentina here, but also England, Italy, France and Spain are potential fallers too.

They looked a very poor team. Hleb was rested and they had a few second string players in the team. Possesion wise we were in control for most of the game but struggled to breakdown a defence that lined up with a former stoke city reject in it.

It's certainly an open world cup with some suprises to come. Just watched Iran v Croatia and the iranians suprised me. I'm going for Holland & England as favorites for potential group stage chokers.

Results update

France looked in good shape, beating Denmark 2-0, goals by Henry & Wiltord.

Messi returned to the argie's side and looked very good. Goal by Sorin and Maxi Rodriguez.

England cruised to victory without hitting top gear. C'mon boys.

Tuesday 30th May

International Match
Argentina 2 - 0 Angola
Chile 1 - 1 Ivory Coast
Czech Republic 1 - 0 Costa Rica
ENGLAND 3 - 1 Hungary
Germany 2 - 2 Japan
Poland 1 - 2 Colombia
Tunisia 3 - 0 Belarus

Wednesday 31st May

France 2 - 0 Denmark
Iran 5 - 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Paraguay 1 - 0 Georgia
Saudi Arabia 0 - 1 Turkey
Slovenia 3 - 1 Trinidad and Tobago
Switzerland 1 - 1 Italy

A friendly I know, but whoa.

What's Rooney's status, Pete rock?

He has another scan next wednesday, so its all down to that. Then Eriksson has two days to decide whether to replace him or not.

IRAN IS FOR REAL....sorry about the caps didn't mean that. 5-2...shit.

and look at swiss drawing italy. the italians are not advancing past the first round.

My two world cup titbits for the day.

Klose for top scorer at finals 33-1! Worth a fiver of anyone's money, I'd say.

I see Ronaldo only needs three goals at the finals to over take Gerd Muller's long standing 14 goal record.

Sorry this is so boring.

How much ass did our goalie kick tonight against the Dutch?!

I can't believe we just tied with like the third ranked team in the world. Which means we won. 'Cause it was an away game.

DARK HORSE DARK HORSE DARK HORSE.

Thats not a bad bet. I quite fancy the huge Czech striker, forget his name, to top the the charts. Also want to find out what odds Crouch is at.

It was a good game. I hope Schwazer(sp) is in that form at the world cup, for your sake.

Bloody oath. For us to tie a game against the Dutch with us having half the posession time and half the attempts at goal, says something about our goalie.

Though it also says something about the rest of our team...