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This has to be the year for Australian Football to make it to the biggest stage of them all, The FIFA World Cup in Germany next year.
In the last year in Australia everything has gone the right way for Football in this country. With the the new A-League started last August the league has gone better then what it has expected to gone, it has seen recored crowds. the move from Oceania to Asia Football Federation which will come in place from January 1st 2006, and the change of name from "Soccer" to "Football", and having the 2nd leg played in Sydney, Australia and now with the new coach Guus Hiddink things are going great for Australian Football, but there is one more hurdle and that is the biggest hurdle and that is making it to the FIFA World Cup in Germany next year, that would be the icing on the cake for Australian Football.
Australia hasn't made it to the World Cup since 1974 when it was held in the same place it will be held in next year, Germany. Australia over the last 8 months has'nt been going to well in the sports we should be going good at, with Australia loosing the Ashes in England a month ago, and with Australia finshing last in the Rugby Union tri-nations, but in my option I would rather us lose the Ashes and the Tri-Nations to make the FIFA World Cup.
But in our way to making it to the World Cup is the 5th place team in South America, the team who hurt us 4 years ago Uruguay. 4 years ago we got so close to making it to the biggest stage when we beat them 1-0 at the MCG in the first leg from a Kevin Muscat Penalty, we had one foot in the door to Japan/Korea 2002, but then 4 days later Uruguay run all over us and beat us 3-0 in the return leg in Montevideo .
But this time around I think we have a better team then what we did 4 years ago, we have great attack with a great Midfield and goals wer'nt hard to come by in the Confederations Cup 3 months ago, we scored 3 againts Germany and 2 againts Argentina with both teams having a full squad, but the main problem for us is our defence, coped 4 goals againts Germany and 3 againts Argentina, that is why I think we need to play Grella in defence with Moore injured, I think we have to attack in Uruguay with 3 of the Uruguay defenders out, we need to get at least a goal away from home in the first leg.
If we can get that 1 goal and then come back to Sydney in front of 90,000 Australians I'm sure we can beat Uruguay and put us in the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany next year. Just 14 more day's to the first leg in Montevideo I can't wait and I reckon this is the year.
COME ON THE SOCCEROOS!!!