Australia vs New Zealand
Tonight, Australia played New Zealand in their final match on home soil before heading off to South Africa. The venue was the MCG in Melbourne, and some 55,000 people braved ridiculous ticket prices as well as crummy weather on a Monday night to go and farewell the boys. Australia and New Zealand have a long history of being fierce rivals in any sport they face each other in, and so this was hyped up to be a massive grudge match. Unfortunately, a lot of Socceroos fans were expecting a European opponent, to better help us prepare for our matches against Germany and Serbia, so that may have had an impact on the crowd figure. By comparison, 95,000 turned up to watch Australia play Greece in their farewell match before the World Cup in 2006, and 70,000 went to the friendly against Argentina in 2007...
As it turned out, it was an entertaining game at times and at other times, reminded me that Australia really has a lot of work ahead of us if we are to make it out of our Group. The final score was 2-1 in our favour, but we didn't score the winner until the 90th minute - it could have very easily been a draw. The result really flattered us.
Anyway, here are some pics! Photos are from Getty/lame captions are all mine.
Out on the pitch beforehand. All those white specks up in the sky are seagulls :/
Oooh epic entrance is epic
Awkward team photos are one of my favourite things in football
LUCAS NEILL CAPTAIN OF MY HEART
Adam Federici was in goals for the first half after Mark Schwarzer failed to recover from a finger injury in time
The first goal
Lol awkward
Chris Killen celebrates with Shane Smeltz after opening the scoring
Kiwis celebrating
The NZ support was amazing. I got chills when they were all singing the national anthem!
Every time I would see a flash of white in the air, I would think it was the ball but no, just one of the MCG's many seagulls.
Scott McDonald missing yet another chance to finally score for his country :|
Um, action shot of Lucas spitting? Sure why not.
Um WUT
Leo Bertos, Mark Bresciano and David Carney
Bertos being stretchered off after a fairly aggressive tackle
Vince Grella picks up a yellow card, remains hot while doing so
Tummy!
Dario Vidosic celebrates levelling the scores
<3
Mile Jedinak laughs in the face of gravity
Celebrating the second goal
Aussie fans
Bonus besties Lucas Neill and Tim Cahill wearing 3D glasses, whilst watching their training session in 3D on Saturday.
And Creeper!Lucas fyt as well :D
17 DAYS TO GO YOU GUYS!!!
As it turned out, it was an entertaining game at times and at other times, reminded me that Australia really has a lot of work ahead of us if we are to make it out of our Group. The final score was 2-1 in our favour, but we didn't score the winner until the 90th minute - it could have very easily been a draw. The result really flattered us.
Anyway, here are some pics! Photos are from Getty/lame captions are all mine.
Out on the pitch beforehand. All those white specks up in the sky are seagulls :/
Oooh epic entrance is epic
Awkward team photos are one of my favourite things in football
LUCAS NEILL CAPTAIN OF MY HEART
Adam Federici was in goals for the first half after Mark Schwarzer failed to recover from a finger injury in time
The first goal
Lol awkward
Chris Killen celebrates with Shane Smeltz after opening the scoring
Kiwis celebrating
The NZ support was amazing. I got chills when they were all singing the national anthem!
Every time I would see a flash of white in the air, I would think it was the ball but no, just one of the MCG's many seagulls.
Scott McDonald missing yet another chance to finally score for his country :|
Um, action shot of Lucas spitting? Sure why not.
Um WUT
Leo Bertos, Mark Bresciano and David Carney
Bertos being stretchered off after a fairly aggressive tackle
Vince Grella picks up a yellow card, remains hot while doing so
Tummy!
Dario Vidosic celebrates levelling the scores
<3
Mile Jedinak laughs in the face of gravity
Celebrating the second goal
Aussie fans
Bonus besties Lucas Neill and Tim Cahill wearing 3D glasses, whilst watching their training session in 3D on Saturday.
And Creeper!Lucas fyt as well :D
17 DAYS TO GO YOU GUYS!!!