Source: FOX SPORTS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\ufeff\u2018CERTAINLY A DIFFERENT VIBE\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n
From the pre-tournament training camp to the immediate aftermath of the draw with Croatia when he made them train the next day, Socceroos manager Guus Hiddink made sure his players never got complacent.<\/p>\n
After the nation had endured a painful World Cup drought for more than three decades, they would not be satisfied with simply making up the numbers in Germany.<\/p>\n
But Italy was always going to be a major test.<\/p>\n
The Azzurri were a powerhouse in 2006 – not the brunt of many jokes like they are now after failing to qualify for the last three World Cups.<\/p>\n
The then three-time champions, who would add a fourth star to their jersey weeks later in a gripping penalty shootout against France, had topped their group by defeating Ghana and Czechia, and drawing with the United States.<\/p>\n
Marcello Lippi\u2019s squad were the overwhelming favourites.<\/p>\n
Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who would be reinstated to the starting XI after being dumped from the Croatia game for Zeljko Kalac, recalled that within the Australian camp, they knew it too.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was certainly a different vibe, a different environment, a different feeling once you got out of the group stages,\u201d Schwarzer told foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a sense of the manager feeling like I\u2019ve done what I needed to do. Now, this is a bonus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was more of a relaxed kind of feel about \u2013 rightly or wrongly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t change anything in the way in which we played. It probably helped us because it was a big deal, but don\u2019t make too big of a deal out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Socceroos during team photo prior to Australia v Italy Round of 16 2006 World Cup match at Kaiserslautern World Cup Stadium in Germany, 26\/06\/06.<\/span>Source: News Corp Australia<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe more relaxed feeling did not mean the occasion was lost on the Australians.<\/p>\n
They had shown immense spirit throughout the group games – coming from 1-0 down to defeat Japan 3-1, fighting admirably against Brazil and twice equalising to secure the draw they needed against Croatia.<\/p>\n
It had fostered a belief within the group that they could do anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat we deserved to be where we were and this was a big opportunity playing against a very formidable opponent,\u201d Schwarzer recalled when asked what the feeling was like among the playing group.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that this is the World Cup, this is what it\u2019s about. It doesn\u2019t matter what rankings are, or who\u2019s perceived to be the favourite. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was about going out there and believing in what we do. Knowing what our strengths are, playing to our strengths and giving Italy the biggest possible game we could have.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Injured Socceroos player Harry Kewell on crutches on sideline during Australia v Italy Round of 16 2006 World Cup match at Fritz Walter Stadion.<\/span>Source: News Limited<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTHAT PENALTY<\/b><\/p>\n
The Australians had been dealt a cruel blow in the days leading into the game.<\/p>\n
Harry Kewell, who scored the decisive goal against Croatia, was sidelined with a toe infection.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s golden boy had hobbled into the stadium on crutches for the biggest game in Socceroos history.<\/p>\n
Like the Japan game, it was once again a scorching hot afternoon in Kaiserslautern.<\/p>\n
As a result the game was played at a slower pace with both teams eager to control the ball, but in the first half there was no shortage of opportunities to break the deadlock.<\/p>\n
In the opening minutes, Tim Cahill headed across the face goal, while Luca Toni almost put the Italians in front but his chance flew inches wide of the far post from an Alessandro Del Piero cross.<\/p>\n
Lucas Neill and Scott Chipperfield\u2019s desperation at the back quelled attacks from Del Piero and Simon Perrotta.<\/p>\n
Schwarzer also denied the Italians by tipping an Alberto Gilardino volley over the bar and stopping a Luca Toni shot with his legs.<\/p>\n
It was not all one-way traffic, however, as Viduka put a powerful header straight into Gianluigi Buffon\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n
The Italian shot stopper – who conceded two goals all tournament, one via an own goal and one from the penalty spot – soon after made an excellent save to deny Chipperfield.<\/p>\n
After half-time, the match flipped on its heads.<\/p>\n
Marco Materazzi was sent off in the 53rd minute for a two-footed tackle on Mark Bresciano as he charged through the Italian defence.<\/p>\n
Italy were down to ten men and, suddenly, Australia had the advantage.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>JUNE 26, 2006 : Referee Luis Medina Cantalejo shows the red card to Italy’s Marco Materazzi during the Australia v Italy Round of 16 World Cup soccer match<\/span>Source: AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBut they were unable to capitalise.<\/p>\n
Cahill\u2019s header from a Bresciano corner fired over the bar.<\/p>\n
Bresciano also sent a shot over the bar, while a free kick of his went agonisingly wide of the far post.<\/p>\n
Buffon mopped up a John Aloisi cross before Viduka could get his boot to ball.<\/p>\n
Then, in stoppage time, Socceroos hearts broke.<\/p>\n
Many Australians cannot watch it back.<\/p>\n
Others still pan over the replay to mount the argument that Fabio Grosso dived.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>: Italian defender Fabio Grosso falls after fighting for the ball with Australian defender Lucas Neill during the round of 16 World Cup football match.<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Italian left back wove his way into the box and Grosso fell over Neill, who went to ground to try stop his run.<\/p>\n
Spanish referee Luis Cantalejo pointed to the spot and after several minutes Fransesco Totti converted a 95th minute penalty to put his nation through to the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
Schwarzer came awfully close to being the hero as he was in the shootout against Uruguay a year earlier.<\/p>\n
Totti slammed a powerful kick into the top left corner of the goal, simply out of reach of Schwarzer\u2019s glove.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously you hope and you believe that you could save it, and I knew where Totti was going,\u201d Schwarzer recalled to foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew and I waited, I didn\u2019t want to go too early, and he hit hard enough and well enough that unfortunately I couldn\u2019t get to it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Australia’s goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, centre, fails to make a save against a penalty kick by Italy’s Francesco Totti.<\/span>Source: AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAs he said, there was nothing Schwarzer could do.<\/p>\n
There were no hard feeling towards Australia\u2019s No.1, but there certainly was towards the referee and the Italians.<\/p>\n
Everyone handles grief differently and Australians blew up over the decision.<\/p>\n
The referee was widely slammed and Grosso was labelled a diver.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Australian Lucas Neill pleads with referee Luis Medina Cantalejo after Italy was awarded a penalty as a result of Neill’s tackle on Fabio Grosso<\/span>Source: AAP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBut not everyone was outraged.<\/p>\n
Then football editor of The Daily Telegraph Tom Smithies was in the stands in Kaiserslautern as he spent that World Cup following the Socceroos.<\/p>\n
Smithies did not buy into the narrative that the referee got it wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still say it was a penalty,\u201d then football editor of The Daily Telegraph Tom Smithies told foxsports.com.au.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI think it\u2019s the most clever piece of manoeuvring of your body by Grosso. The way he flicks the ball back inside and just puts himself in a position.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe could see Lucas has launched into a sliding tackle and just waits for the contact.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoesn\u2019t dive. He gets nudged and falls over.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little soft but I still maintain it\u2019s a penalty.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019ve got friends who maintain it\u2019s not after all these years.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Australian soccer player Lucas Neill (2) reacts after he tackled Italian Fabio Grosso in the penalty box during the last minutes<\/span>Source: News Limited<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGUUS\u2019 BLUNDER?<\/b><\/p>\n
Less common in the aftermath of the cruel end to Australia\u2019s campaign was people pointing the finger at Hiddink.<\/p>\n
The Dutch manager became a national icon down under as he took the Socceroos to the World Cup and then out of the group.<\/p>\n
But Hiddink did make a few blunders along the way.<\/p>\n
The decision to ditch Schwarzer for Kalac backfired when the latter gifted Croatia their second goal with an absolute howler.<\/p>\n
He took another gamble in the Italy game that did not pay off.<\/p>\n
On a scorching hot day with Australia chasing a winner, Hiddink made just one substitution.<\/p>\n
John Aloisi replaced Mile Sterjovski in the 81st minute.<\/p>\n
Every other member of the starting XI stayed on the pitch until the final whistle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe manager made a call that he was banking on going to extra time,\u201d Schwarzer recalled to foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was going to save extra substitutions for extra time. It makes sense with the impact that can have.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it worked against us in some ways that we didn\u2019t get that player on sooner.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohnny (Aloisi) could have come on sooner because he was very impactful throughout the tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the manager is there to make those decisions, spur of the moment decisions. <\/p>\n
\u201cHindsight\u2019s always a wonderful thing. You can critique and say you would have done things differently.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Australia coach Guus Hiddink from the Netherlands comforts Jason Culina after the Australia vs Italy, Round of 16, World Cup soccer match<\/span>Source: AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHiddink\u2019s options were more limited with Kewell sidelined, but the likes of Josh Kennedy, who was used off the bench against Japan and Croatia, remained wearing their bibs.<\/p>\n
Archie Thompson, who did not get on the pitch in the tournament, thought he may get a chance to come on and make an impact.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were all sort of getting up and preparing for extra time,\u201d Thompson told foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the players on the bench, we\u2019re all kind of excited because it\u2019s like this is the time now.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all getting ready and warming up. We all thought we were going to go on but you never know where he\u2019s going to go.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we cop a penalty.\u201d<\/p>\n
The potential of going to extra time and another penalty shootout like Uruguay was a reality laid bare by Hiddink in his pre-match planning.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose the only thing you could say that was adjusted was the reality of penalties,\u201d third choice goalkeeper Ante Covic told foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cComing to the Round of 16, you knew that was a possibility, and at nil-all, ten men, there probably was a bit of that trying to hang on for extra time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was that talk of if the time comes, we\u2019ve been in that situation before.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was still that trying to win the game before it gets to that stage, but if there was a change in mentality \u2013 that was the only one that it could go down to that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Australian fans distraught after the final whistle.<\/span>Source: News Corp Australia<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGOLDEN OPPORTUNITY MISSED…<\/b><\/p>\n
There was a split among not just the Australian camp, but the entire country, in the aftermath.<\/p>\n
There were those like Thompson, who put the result down to Italy simply being the better team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Italy team was amazing,\u201d he told foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s how good they were. We couldn\u2019t break them down with a man extra.\u201d<\/p>\n
While there were others like Schwarzer, who rued missing a chance to stun the eventual champions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat for me was the disappointment was that we didn\u2019t take advantage of the opportunity we had in front of us,\u201d he told foxsports.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a lot of us, and certainly I did at the time, we all to this day see it as a missed opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a phenomenal opportunity to knock one of the biggest nations out of a World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t do enough in the game. We probably showed them too much respect in some ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s Italy and they defended incredibly well, down to ten men, and we just couldn\u2019t find that cutting edge.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they made the most of their opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is certainly still a huge sense of disappointment and frustration to this day on how we didn\u2019t quite take it.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking back on it, I still feel like we should have beaten them. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe should have knocked them out and the rest is history.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Australian Lucas Neill reflects after the round of 16 World Cup football match between Australia and Italy at the Fritz-Walter Stadium in Kaiserslautern, Germany<\/span>Source: AAP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThat night after the game, the Australians handled their mixed emotions by either drowning their sorrows or celebrating what they had achieved.<\/p>\n
The group returned to the former castle which served as their base in \u00d6hringen and nearly drank the place dry. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe town wasn\u2019t big. There wasn\u2019t much going on but we shook it up as much as we could,\u201d Thompson recalled.<\/p>\n
While Football Federation Australia were hit with a big bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cHiddink was apparently up all night in the hotel bar smoking cigars and drinking very expensive red wine at the FFA\u2019s expense,\u201d Smithies said with a chuckle.<\/p>\n
After such a gruelling campaign that began with the high of the Uruguay shootout, took in a monster farewell game against then European champions Greece at the MCG, before a brutal training camp in the Netherlands prior to the tournament proper in Germany, the Socceroos deserved to let their hair down.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were obviously gutted. It was a very sombre feeling in the change room,\u201d Thompson recalled.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we got all together at the compound where we were staying, and it wasn\u2019t just the World Cup. It was everything leading up to it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was like wow, okay. We took Italy right to the end. Super disappointed we didn\u2019t make it through, but we should be proud and we do what we always do best – party.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the fun part about the Socceroos. We worked hard but we always had fun.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe reflected on what we\u2019d done, and it was pretty incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Mark Viduka (9) & Tim Cahill (4), Australia v Italy Round of 16 2006 World Cup match at Kaiserslautern World Cup Stadium in Germany, 26\/06\/06.<\/span>Source: News Corp Australia<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSuch is the nature of football, however, that there was little more time to spend together as a group and reflect.<\/p>\n
The day after the Italy game, the entire group were headed to the airport.<\/p>\n
They were either headed home to Australia or to other parts of Europe to enjoy a week or two of rest and recovery before linking back up with their clubs for pre-season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember the next morning outside the hotel, the players shaking hands with Hiddink, each other and there were a few hangovers,\u201d Smithies recalled.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd there was an overwhelming sense of how close they\u2019d come.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they\u2019d gone through, they\u2019d play Ukraine, who weren\u2019t great. Suddenly if you beat Ukraine, you were in the semi-finals.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Mark Viduka consoled by Brett Emerton after full-time during the Italy v Australia World Cup football match at Kaiserslautern’s Fritz-Walter Stadium<\/span>Source: News Corp Australia<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFor Smithies the tournament was not done.<\/p>\n
He stayed on until Italy defeated France in the final.<\/p>\n
In the following weeks, he once again linked up with members of the global media who had been stunned by the Socceroos after the Japan victory.<\/p>\n
With the underdog story and so many of the players playing in Europe\u2019s top leagues, Australia quickly became everyone\u2019s second team that tournament.<\/p>\n
And there was a wave of disappointment that their wild rise could not have lasted longer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI bumped into a bunch of English journos when Italy beat Germany in the semi-final in Munich,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking back, they said they were amazed at how well Australia did and that they could have gone on.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a sense that they had that opportunity but were unable to take it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think one of them said you got \u2018Italyified\u2019. That\u2019s what Italy do. They win World Cups by playing terribly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey always have a lucky escape and then they come good at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Francesco Totti after scoring a penalty against Australia.<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThose words did not it any easier pill to swallow for Australians.<\/p>\n
But perhaps if Tony Popovic\u2019s current squad can become the first Socceroos team to win a World Cup knockout game, the wounds of June 26, 2006 may finally become scars.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For many Australians the wounds of June 26, 2006 have never healed. Ecstasy quickly turned to agony for the Socceroos in their first World Cup appearance in 32 years. \ufeffZayas v Ennis | Sunday June 28 from 8am AEST | New York City plays host to a scintillating matchup at super welterweight, as unified champion […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":249916,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6807],"tags":[156],"class_list":{"0":"post-249915","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leagues-cups","8":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249915"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249915\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/249916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}