Lionheart wrote:The one factor we are overlooking in terms of Australia's progress beyond the group stage is the manager. Guus Hiddink has reputation of taking teams further than we believed possible.
Hiddink will not select a player on reputation, hence Kewell warmed the bench for the the return elimination leg against Uruguay. Hiddink demands, and gets, a top shelf attitude and effort from all his selected players...otherwise they just aren't selected. That's why we don't see the likes of Zelic or Colosimo, but we have seen the rise of Culina. Someone who is commited to the cause and will give 100% everytime. Hiddink relies on it and stakes his reputation on it. Don't underestimate the likes of Beauchamp or Milligan.
Australia won't be walkovers and if anyone thinks they will be (such as the arrogant Croatians...that'll get AB!!for example), will do so at their peril.
I dont know Lionheart, you maybe asking a bit much from Hiddink. Your right in saying he got the likes of S.Korea through to the knock out stages but dont nessacerily expect that to happen again.
The only reason Kewell warmed the bench was because he wasnt fully fit, and if I'm right Benitez also asked Hiddink to take it easy with Kewell.
I do agree with everything else you said about Hiddink you've pretty much summed him up, he knows how to get the best out of what he's got and has worked wonders.
I wouldnt right off the Aussie's chance's and I'd like to see them go a bit further at the expense of Croatia.( Not just cause I live in Oz
).All the Aussie's I know go on about there passion and the teams physical grunt
. That's how the Aussie's will play but I have said before if they think they can go around in the tackles with high feet or another Aussie favourite lead with the elbow they'll be on the plane back home before they know it.(Probably before there postcards arrive back ). That game against Uruguay, the Aussies were pretty dirty they wont get away with that in the WC, so if they behave, and up the playing side of there game they will have as good a chance as any.Just to add a bit of banter, the POMS would caine you anyway thank your lucky stars your not in our group
in the wind contests have started early.