Sport is eeeeeeeeeeeeeeevil.
The game between Australia and Croatia was an absolute heart-stopper. As an Australian, I would have to say that yesterday’s match was one of the most important sporting events in Australia’s sporting history. I can’t believe that the man who played a big part in getting us to the World Cup, Guus Hiddink, almost cost us the opportunity to advance. Starting the reserve goalkeeper, Zeljko Kalac, instead of Mark Schwarzer was a decision that looked like it would cost Australia dearly. While it’s debatable if Schwarzer would have been able to prevent Croatia’s first goal (I personally believe he would have), there is no way that Schwarzer would have allowed their second goal. After the ball bounced over Kalac and in to the back of the net, I was shocked. I get pretty emotional over sport, but this was without a doubt the most emotional I have ever been, and the biggest disappointment, sporting-wise, I can remember. Kalac’s display was the worst by a goalie in the entire World Cup. The goalie in the local Under 6’s team could have stopped it.
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Disgraceful
If Kalac starts against Italy, Australia will have absolutely no chance of victory. For Hiddink to say that Schwarzer was dropped because of ‘past performances’ is a bloody disgrace. If you want to get down to the nitty-gritty of the situation, Schwarzer has really only allowed one goal in the whole tournament, and that came in the 90th minute against Brazil. He was clearly fouled when Japan scored in game 1, and the goal should not have stood. Ronaldo was offside before he received the ball and passed it on to Adriano, for Brazil’s first goal in game 2. Not to mention the one legitimate goal that Brazil did in the 90th minute after the ball deflected off the goalpost, leaving an open net for Fred to score. I hope Hiddink has learned his lesson and puts Schwarzer back between the posts - where he belongs. Australia needs him to have any chance of further advancement in the tournament.
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