BobbyMcMahon's Blog
by: BobbyMcMahon
Half way mark - perhaps - Australia vs. Italy
Jun 26, 2006 | 9:02AM | report this

Italy is having the better of this one although they are far from dominating.

Zambrotta is back in Italy's line-up at right back but we haven't not seen him push forward to often. Maybe he is playing himself into this one - more adventurous in the second half perhaps.

Cannavaro and "the Matrix" are handling Viduka who is badly in need of support.

Del Piero has been quite up to now and Italy has been dangerous with longer balls fed into Toni from midfield rather than from any link play.

It is always facinating to try and work out what system Guus Hiddink is playing. It looks like three at the back but sometimes four. Three in central midfield with a couple of wide midfielders but sometimes only three with the wide players droping back depending on the Italian attack. What is clear is Viduka is the lone striker. He needs to either hold the ball longer for support to arrive or to have someone up there to support him.

No doubt Hiddink will make adjustments as he always does. If Italy do not get a goal in the first 20 minutes of the second half I can see Hiddink pushing on and trying to win this one.

7 Comments | Add a comment   categories: Italy, Australia, Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi, Alessandro Del Piero, Luca Toni, Guus Hiddink, Mark Viduka
 
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richlancaster
Jun 26, 2006
9:10 AM
Come on you beauties!

40 minutes to go and the Aussies are still in it. The Italians should've had at least one, but Luca Toni is too desperate to score.

Viduka is overdue a strike, I'd still back the Aussies to win this 1-0.

Cheers Rich

riocharlie
Jun 26, 2006
9:27 AM
Good day my friend Rich!

Your post late last night about the portuguese v england brought a big smile -- Good on you!!

richlancaster
Jun 26, 2006
9:40 AM
G'day rio (in my best Aussie accent).

Yeah this is too much fun!

Looks like the Aussies will take the Azzuri to extra time. The Italians are out of subs and one man down, this is going to be a helluva finish.

Ned Kelly is watching from his grave and cheering on his countrymen!

Cheers Rich

PS. rio were you laughing at the Maradona comment? So many blogs, so little time!

riocharlie
Jun 26, 2006
9:42 AM
well given the azurris record after 90 mins u gotta luv the socerros chances

VV
Jun 26, 2006
3:10 PM
Ausies played inept. Zero opportunities while Toni had many. Cannot understand how he is the leading scorer in Italy. However the worst referee decision was their lack of a call aginst Toni...who was fouled hard(that should have been a red!) and should have obtained a penalty kick. Italies red card was an illegal one according to the rules.There was another defender right there...so no obstruction and little contact.
Playing with a man short and attacking at will against the Ausies,ridiculous. The US played way better against Italy and had the right strategy, foul the #### out of them to get them out of rythym.

VV
Jun 26, 2006
3:10 PM
Ausies played inept. Zero opportunities while Toni had many. Cannot understand how he is the leading scorer in Italy. However the worst referee decision was their lack of a call aginst Toni...who was fouled hard(that should have been a red!) and should have obtained a penalty kick. Italies red card was an illegal one according to the rules.There was another defender right there...so no obstruction and little contact.
Playing with a man short and attacking at will against the Ausies,ridiculous. The US played way better against Italy and had the right strategy, foul the #### out of them to get them out of rythym.

Odin
Jun 27, 2006
5:22 PM
W: I feel sorry for you, your Mom must have dropped you on your head when you were a baby
Screw you!

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ABOUT ME


BobbyMcMahon
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites. Thank you to all who take time to visit this blog and especially to those of you who post your comments and thoughts. PS - If you have questions please post them on the regular Monday blog. I am unable to answer e mails posted to the inbox on this site. And one more thing. If you have questions or complaints or compliments about programming please contact Fox Soccer Channel or Fox Sports World Canada directly. I have no control over what the stations televise.
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