The criticism the Socceroos get is over the top in my opinion. This is only our 3rd finals appearance ever, we are not a Brazil, Italy or Germany. It is still a novelty for us to be at the World Cup. Whatever the Socceroos do in South Africa will be compared to 4 years ago and let's be honest that will be extremly hard to top considering the group we are in. So I don't understand why people are saying we have a problem here or this should be done this or that way, we are not a club team we have the players who hold an Australian passport. Sometimes you have to make do with what you have. Johnny Warren said, we have to stop talking about when are we going to qualify for the World Cup but ask when are we going to win the World Cup and I totally agree with that attitude but we also have to be realisic and patient. We won one game in Germany 06, and suddenly the expectations are that if we don't do better than 4 years ago it's a total fail. Fans are entitled to their opinion all they want but I believe that we should be happy we are there and just enjoy it.
What do you think, should we expect the world from our team or are you still just happy to be apart of it and hope we go as far as we can?

I agree with a good deal of what you are saying. Yes, we should indeed be striving to win the World Cup but patience is indeed very important for Australian football fans. Very important.

The FFA are really building the game here from the ground up and they are doing a reasonable job of it. And at the moment, I repeat, at the moment, it is still a great achievement for our nation to qualify for the World Cup. Maybe in 12 to 16 years we can have realistic expectations to play high class dominating football at a World Cup and be in with a realistic chance of winning it, but only after having qualified each and every time from now until then and having had the opportunity to incrementally increase our playing capabilities across the board, from grassroots to national team level.

Edited by Riv of Canberra: 20/5/2010 09:20:30 PM

Criticism is essential to innovation and improvement.

no because you have to beleive in natural progression

if you dont want to or even beleive you can or will get better, then you will forever be tied down to mediocrity.

no one here is deluded enough to think we will walk into SA and dominate every single team we play, im pretty sure everyone here will acknowledge that its going to be extremely difficult to get out of the group, but that doesnt mean you should want to go there to make up the numbers and be pessimistic all the time.

being a fan is all about supporting the team:idea: :idea: :idea:

Can also be a pain in the a.se if over the top as well.

Generally of course I'm happy about Australia (and Italy) being at 2010 World Cup.

Great time of someone's life is the World Cup! Enjoy it.

Edited by diego's son: 21/5/2010 03:01:09 AM

Well the current criticism has come because supporters of Australia think we are now a 'footballing nation' and therefore able to play the higher quality, possession-based, passing games.
Essentially, we now think we can play real football.
This then leads to a higher belief in our roos which in turn becomes expectation.

I don't think the whole campaign would be considered a total fail if we don't improve on 4 years ago, but there is now a belief that our players can actually achieve something in the World Cup; whether that be making it to the knockout stages or just pulling off a good result against a tough opponent.

I'm very happy to be at the World Cup, i'm just worried that many of our players are underprepared for it and won't function, and we'll be exposed and slaughterd. I may be a little apprehensive, and may be looking at a worst case scenario here, but i'd hate for it too happen and have to say - I told you so.

I think we can beat anybody in our group. It's just we have a very tough group with some of the worlds best players in our group.

Deep down I'm just happy to be their but that's a loser mentality for **** countries. Most of the East Asian countries had that attitude that they weren't good enough for the World Cup and were just happy to be their. It wasn't until they got that rocket of hosting at home and the fact it would be considered embarrasing not to progress that they woke up to themselves.

I will save the pats on the backs until after we are knocked out.

Oh yeah, I'm absolutely devastated that the socceroos are there.

Still happy to qualify to be honest, only Brazil, France, Italy and the Germans expect to win. Spain , England Holland and Argentina hoping to win, everyone else is dreaming for a great ride and hoping of not screwing up and being embarrassing! Takes a long time to get into those first couple of groups but thats not to say we cant get there in the next 20 years.

id still rather be in Oceania qualifying :roll: :roll: :roll:

If people can't complain what can they do?

Uh... enjoy life? Be positive? Support the team? Offer solutions rather than pointing out the wrong things with the team.

Just a thought. :-k

Edited by socceroossupporter: 22/5/2010 03:19:05 PM