Um before I post the game I think you should know (Statikk) that the Czech Republic unlike the Americans are a footballing nation with a proud history of it. They also have a very strong team this year and are ranked 2 behind Brazil (even though they are not favoured for the cup). 1990 Czech Republic actually beat you 5-1.
Now for those of you Australians that didn't watch the game (shame on you all), this is basically what happened.
1st HALF
Australia were dominant in the early stages of the game having a few good attempts on goal in the first 15 minutes. Yet none of them could score against the Japanese goal keeper, and Japan were still looking good in the counter attack. The Japanese had said before the game that the Australians used a lot of aggresive tactics and made a lot of bad tackles that wern't being picked up and that this was how they intimidated the opposition. Not sure if this had an affect on the referree but he was calling some VERY soft fouls going against Australia and by the end of the match we had 4 yellow cards for arguing against these soft free kicks. Even the British commentator said he was trying to remain neutral, but a lot of things were certainy going Japan's way.
Then unexpectedly Nakamora (spell?) struck outside the box. (This might sound biased) The Japanese went up and one of them infringed the Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwartzer and the ball went in. The Australians appealed but the goal was given much to the anger of the Australian crowd (i think i heard chants of 'You are a wanker'). The Japanese player didn't make very aggresive contact with the Australian goalkeeper, but he was in a very bad position and not very close to the ball.
This took the wind out of the Australian sails and they were not as good for the rest of the half.
Half time: Japan 1 - Australia 0
2nd HALF
In the next half, master Australian coach, Guus Hiddink played more aggresivley with the strikers by changing the formation. This was his plan if Australia were to be level or down at half time. Australia created many chances but didn't seem confident in front of goal. Guus put on Kennedy to add some height in the striker zone and Cahill and Aloisi came on aswell. Striker Bresciano came off with an ear infection problem.
By the 70th minute it looked to be all over and the Japanese crowd had begun celebrating while the Australians looked on in hope. But we still had a lot of the possession and created many chances, but to Japans credit the goal keeper stood very strong.
In the 84th minute Australia had a throw in. We made a long throw into the box and the Japanese goalkeeper came out in a very bad position and missed the ball completely. There was confusion but Australia kept composed and Cahill sweetly struck the ball into the net to kick Australia's first ever world cup goal.
The Australians all of a sudden played another level up and became very enthusiastic about their game. They knew a draw had saved a bad defeat but to qualify from this round they would need a win. In the 89th minute the Cahill again took the ball outside the box and pounded it into the right crossbar and it slammed in. 2-1 Australia.
All hopes were now on Australia not letting in an embarrassing goal to ruin their comeback. But this fear was soon extinguished when the Australians brought the ball down on the counter attack, John Aloisi one of the heroes from the Australian-Uruguay qualifying game took the ball, beat two defenders and finished the goal with great skill in injury time. With one more minute to be played it was all over and the Australians had won a great victory 3-1.
Now the Australians skills arn't all that great like Brazil's, but this has been a great step for Australian soccer. I don't care wether you like soccer or not, if you're Australian you could not watch that game and not be pumped by the end of it. I know i was
