Australian Football Nearpost Podcast 2010 Review

Nearpost Review Part One 2010 presented by Con Stamocostas and Eamonn Flanagan. Join the pair of likely lads as they talk and spin all things Aussie football in 2010.
How many football poddies only cover Aussie football?
Part one we review the Socceroos, Australia’s World Cup bid failure and more. Relive the highs and lows of 2010.

Part One

Nearpost Review Part Two 2010 Part Two we talk and spin all things Aussie A-League football in 2010.

Part two

Also Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Half Time Heroes World Cup Bid Failure Edition

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David Williams Half Time Heroes Interview

At 18 years of age, David Williams arrived on the scene in 2006 playing in a couple of substitute appearance for the Queensland Roar. Soon enough David made a dream move to Brondby where he played for the next three seasons. Unfortunately for David during his third season a new manager came in and he lost his place in the side. Eager to play regular football David came back to play with the North Queensland Fury last season and fans got to see an exciting quick and dangerous attacking player.


Playing alongside Robbie Fowler the Fury did not finish last as most pundits predicted. It seemed David’s decision to move back home worked as he was included in the Socceroos squad for the Asian Cup qualifier in March against Indonesia earlier this year.

Although the young Townsville side have impressed many this season, they have only recorded one victory back in round two.

Lead by eccentric coach Franz Straka  the Fury produced some excellent early season form.
They beat champions Sydney FC  and drew with  Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory by scoring late goals. However since they beat Sydney they have not won a game and are in second last.
 position

 Away from football David also does work with Indigenous Australians. He is involved in a programme where once a week he goes to the Cleveland Detention Centre in Townsville as part of a mentoring programme. He is always attending local Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander events/programmes and will be involved in the club’s partnership with Mission Australia (the club’s front shirt sposnor ) which aims to improve the lives of Indigenous people throughout Northern Australia through sport.

I was lucky to spend some time with David and one of the first questions I asked was about his time in Denmark.


Half Time Heroes: Before you signed with Fury you spent three seasons with Brondby in Denmark. That must have been an exciting time, what was the feeling going into a new country having to deal with a new culture and language?

David Williams: I loved it. It was a different experience. For me I went over and I was in the youth team for a while then I made the first team and I was consistently playing and unfortunate events happened over there and I just found myself not making the squad so I had to do what I can to play regularly.

HTH: Some reports said the club sent you out on trial to South African club Bidvest Wits after  you demanded a place in the starting line up; can you tell us what happened?

DW: I’m pretty happy that I did make the move back. There were problems there with not playing, I needed to cement a place. I was unfortunately a part of that but I have moved one and its all part of football.  I have become better for it I know that I can learn from past experiences.

HTH: What was it like living in Denmark?

DW: I loved it. I lived right in Copenhagen - it’s such a beautiful city and even in the winter and in the summer  there  are lots of things to do. I enjoyed every day I was there. I’d love to go back, but I just want to be somewhere where I can play football.

HTH: Looking back at last season were you happy with the form you showed in your first season with the Fury?

DW: Yeah definitely. I think for us we read a few of the claims about what was written about us before the season and even during the season.

We did go further than expected, from expectation being bottom of the table I think if anyone had seen those predictions we have done very well.  We always thought that we were a good football team that could play and thought we could knock off some big teams. We did what we can and worked very hard.

HTH: How was playing with Robbie Fowler it looked like he had a good rapport with all the players? 

DW: For us seeing where he has come from to where he is now is a great journey for him. I think he is very comfortable and loves every minute of living in Australia.

 

 HTH: Your new coach seems eccentric with loud jackets and exciting antics on the sidelines; did he turn up with the white suit when you first met him?

DW: He did have some white pants on. He was very European looking; he has got a good fashion sense.  For a European I think he fits right in.  He brings a bit of a different fashion sense here, he’s a character. He didn’t have to change completely to fit into a place like this. 

HTH: With young players like Isaka Cernak, Chris Grossman ,Osama Malik ,Chris Payne and yourself he has really embraced a youth philosophy?

DW: Some of these players didn’t get their chance at other clubs so they have come here and they are good footballers. I mean you don’t sign an A-League contract because you are a bad player.

We are professionals here and we get paid to do our thing and some of the players here are loving life and loving playing football regularly. So if you are happy and things are going well for you on the field you are going to be playing well. 

For me playing with Chris and Isaka up front, it’s very exciting for us. We never what’s going on, and we never if Chris Payne is going to pass it or not.

HTH: Well yeah, Chris has set up a few goals this season, he seems determined after his move from Sydney FC?

DW: Yeah it’s very impressive and same with Isaka as well. He’s got a bag full of tricks and someone very unpredictable, you don’t know whether he’s going to run down the left, run down the right or take you on , he’s always got something and even if you know what he’s going to do he can still fool a defender. 

It’s very very exciting to watch them , from my side of the field looking over sometimes it puts a smile on my face knowing they are doing all they can do. I am just happy to be a part of the attacking line up that we have up here in the new Fury.

 HTH: You have had a great start to the season, did the expectations change after such a good start and after having your first loss how have you handled that?

DW: It’s only one loss.  I mean you might be able to go 26 something games without a loss but eventually every team loses in this league.  It’s very tight. The coach explained to us that we have to carry on and lift ourselves up.  He never believed from the start that we should be on the bottom of the table. I don’t think anyone should. I don’t know what they are thinking if they think we should be on the bottom of the table

Our Coach puts a lot of confidence and belief into the players. If he puts belief into the players I think it goes into the whole squad believing we are a good football team. 

There is never an easy game in this league, for us it’s all about getting those three points it’s disappointing to have a loss at home and lose three points. We are kicking ourselves for it. I mean that’s football you accept it  and you try to see what went wrong and  look at your mistakes. We  have a video session and try and improve on that  and in training in the lead up to the game as well. 

HTH: Thoughts On Adelaide United?

DW:I think Adelaide did play some good football they capitalised on our mistakes. Flores goal was excellent he should be congratulated for that.

Adelaide is a good team and they should be congratulated as well. As I said before this league is very tight. You never know who is going to win games and lose games and it’s very exciting to be a part of. I just love the lead up to the games. The Thursday the Friday and the Saturday and getting  out on that pitch on the weekend is a great feeling.

HTH:You have got a couple of African players in the squad this year adding a different international flavour how are they adapting to life in Townsville?

DW:The experience of Eric Akoto and Eugene Supaya adds to the team no matter where they come from . If you see Eric in his game he is very calm 

and it’s excellent to have someone so calming and 

having a big strong presence at the back and leading the defensive line for us.

HTH: Do you feel like a bit of an unofficial leader with your experience at the club? 

DW: I do feel like I know a lot of the ropes, especially in Townsville. Knowing a few people is good just to help out the boys. I feel comfortable in that role because I have been here, you just know a bit more but once everyone fits in the team and finds their own feet then everyone is all equal.

 It’s not about who knows who or who knows the most people or anything like that. If we all work as a team I guess it doesn’t matter how long you have been at the club.  If w can get results on the field and play well together then that is what I want to be a part of.

HTH: Tell us about your Socceroo ambitions?

 

 DW: Hopefully if I can keep scoring a few more goals and playing as well as I can I’ll just scrape over the line and get into the national team and hopefully get a chance when I get into the squad to do what I can. 

Hopefully some of the other boys in our team an get over the line as well. 

Any national team honours is a privilege to play and wear that shirt for the county.

HTH: With Pim Verbeek gone and with new hope that the new coach will turn his eye towards some  A-League players, what do you think about reports that this year the A-League has taken a step up in standard? 

DW: It’s difficult to say maybe it has or maybe the teams are fairer now and it’s more exciting that is why it seems that the standard has raised. You got football analysts and coaches looking at the games differently. As a player bottom teams are competing against top teams. 

It’s exciting that people have labelled this the most exciting A-League season ever and to be a part of that is excellent and hopefully I can do my part and make that exciting and enjoyable for people to watch.

I know us at the Fury we want to play entertaining football so people can watch us. We want to draw a crowd especially at our home games, and have that extra sense of atmosphere. This A League season I do see a higher level in that we have a few more international players, obviously we lost a few. There are more South Americans which is cool, but hopefully in a few more years we get some younger kids like us in the Fury starting regularly whichwould be nice for the local community and the local fans to see some of what they can produce.

This sixth season of the A-League, I’m proud to be a part of it and play regularly for the Fury.

HTH: Tell us about being a role model for Aboriginal kids and do you think the talent identification system for young Aboriginal players can be improved for example how were you discovered?

DW: For me I don’t think I was discovered, I was just brought up in the right path way to make it to the right teams. The local clubs first, then Brisbane Roar, then Queensland, then Australia. So I was right in the midst of it. I wasn’t discovered because I was some talented Aboriginal, I was in the mix with all the other boys. 

As a role model I like having my name next to that. 

I love doing what I can with these kids, just hanging out and talking even if it’s just sitting there and talking and sitting at desks while they are at school.

I go to Cleveland Street Detention Centre every week  and that’s great, I love looking after a few boys there. It’s just a nice little group to be involved with.

This Interview was featureless in Half Time Heroes October 2010

Half Time Heroes OCTOBER 2010

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Half Time Heroes Q & A with Kofi Danning

In early 2009 a raw 18-year old called Kofi Danning came off the bench for Sydney FC and playing in his home debut scored the winning goal against the Wellington Phoenix . The A League season four was coming to an end and the goal and subsequent celebration in front of the Cove ensured that a cult following had began

The wider Australian football community now also knew who Kofi was. Not just for his skill and composure in scoring that goal but the big smile that he had on his face- he was not a sour faced footballer.

Kofi ended the year with another goal and was in the winning side as the Sydney FC youth team won the inaugural Youth League Grand Final. Kofi’s second season began where he finished it.

Creating more headlines.

Kofi impressed against the Fury as he set up one goal and scored the second, an undoubted screamer showing some deft dribbling skills and a powerful shot. Unfortunately, in late December 2009 playing a youth league match Kofi injured his right knee which ruled him out for the season. Now fully fit, and ready to play football again Kofi spoke to HTH in an exclusive interview.

Half Time Heroes: Hey Kofi, how are you feeling? Would you say you are back to full fitness?
Kofi Danning: Yeah I would say I’m back to full fitness. I feel good, I feel strong, I feel confident, all the positives are coming back , I’ve been doing a lot of rehab in the pre-season , it just made everything easier and the coach is right behind me.


HTH: You come from the second biggest city in Ghana, Kumasi which has a proud football history. It has produced its fair share of national greats like Tony Yeboah (ex Leeds, Hamburg), Tony Baffoe (ex Black Stars and many German clubs) and Samuel Osei Kuffour (ex Bayern). First off, what was it like growing up and playing football as a young kid in Kumasi?
KD: It was great growing up in Ghana, probably one of the most exciting times of my childhood. I had a very happy childhood. I remember everyday just playing football. I would come home from school; first thing I’d do was chuck my bag down, run and get my soccer ball and go kick it, play with the kids on the streets and do tricks. I just wanted to be like my heroes.

HTH: So did you miss a lot of school playing football. Were you a good kid?
KD:Yeah I was a good kid, cause I knew I’d get in trouble if I missed school, I knew I wouldn’t have my soccer ball around me anymore, I knew if I’d go home it would be somewhere hidden away.

HTH: I read somewhere that your grandmother would threaten you with a stick - it sounds like my upbringing!
KD: Yeah, my grandmother used to scare me a little, so I had to be good in order to do what I wanted.

HTH: Your mother came out to Australia first and you lived with your grandmother until you came to Australia aged seven? What was it like coming to Australia at such a young age with a new country and culture?
KD: It was a very different experience. I have never been to a place that was so multicultural - everything was so different compared to Ghana. People are just so different here, it was kind of a surprise,  it felt like I was in another world.

HTH: How long did it take for you to get comfortable in your surroundings?
KD: Probably about three years because when I first got here I couldn’t speak much English. All I knew was “thank you” and “hello” and that’s about it. When I was in Canberra I had to do ESL classes, because English was a second language. I did that for three years and all through schooling, and after five years I could speak English very well

HTH: What was your support network like - you said your mother was here with you?
KD: I had my uncle and his family was here, my mum basically came because my uncle was here. My uncle supported us until we got on to our feet. And also my stepdad was with my mum and they got married about four years ago, and he’s been really good for us as well. I had cousins here and everything was there from the beginning.

HTH: You played at the under 20 World Cup in Egypt after a long and drawn out case with FIFA. Australia lost all three games and in an interview with FIFA you said “ I just don’t think we’ve had that same attitude that ‘Yeah, we’re going to do whatever it takes to win this game’”. The question is, a winning mentality is usually one of Australia’s strengths, so  did the players find it hard to adapt to the Dutch mentality in that tournament, as there was lots of talk about a new playing system?
KD: I don’t think we found it hard at all, I just think we found it hard with each other. Knowing what each other was going to do, trusting each other, and that is the biggest thing in a team environment. If you don’t trust each other and if you don’t want to work for each other, it’s not going to work. No matter what the coach says, no matter what anyone says, critics whatever, if the team doesn’t form together and work as unit everthing is going to fall apart.

HTH: Why do you think the team didn’t gel in Egypt?
KD: I think maybe the preparation towards the World Cup, there was a structured team and in that team throughout the qualification there wasn’t that many changes. And when the squad for the World Cup was chosen there was such a big change, a lot of players didn’t expect to be chosen and other players wanted other players in the team.  When the squad was chosen it was a big shock. I think that maybe that might have been because of differences in the team, but I don’t know, that that is just how I felt.

HTH: You have already reached cult status with the Sydney FC supporters group ( The Cove) and a lot of people have predicated big things for you what expectations have you set for yourself and how do you cope with those expectations especially the outside influence of media, fans and coaches? And don’t say I take it a day a time....(hehehe)
KD: I just try and set myself goals.  I set myself goals when I first signed with Sydney FC youth. My goal was to make the under 20’s team and play in the World Cup and also score goals for Sydney FC and start games for Sydney. I did all that, I didn’t want to get injured, and it’s just something that happens - I achieved all those goals. I have set myself new goals to be in the Olyroos, hopefully get a cap for the Socceroos if I keep playing well. Hopefully go overseas to Europe. But that won’t happen if I don’t get match time and keep improving as a player and keep learning.

HTH: I remember the first interview after your debut senior game for Sydney FC where you scored.  You gave an interview similar to Jeff Fenech infamous “I love you’s all”. How good must it be to have that relationship with the fans? When you play at home hearing the fans chant your name and have the crowd on your side it must be a good feeling?
KD: It’s the best feeling in the world. I mean they come to watch us play, I know how they feel because when I watch the European players play I’m a fan, I just love what they do and you appreciate when someone comes up to you and says “you are my favourite player” or “I really like watching you play” because they go out of their way, and when we go out of our way to score goals and to clap them and stuff like that, they love it and I just like showing that appreciation back to them.


HTH: What is your favourite position to play and what skill do you work on the most? 
KD: My favourite position to play is striker. I think I probably work on my speed and dribbling skills the most because I like to take players on and create opportunities, for us to be dangerous in attacking third.

HTH:When you read about Maradona or Tim Cahill as a kid there is a common theme where they always had the ball with them? Did you sleep with the football as a young child?
KD: I always had the ball with me. I always dreamt about soccer things, Id have dreams where I would run the whole field and beat players and score and then I’d wake up and get my soccer ball and just go train and practise what happened in the dream.

HTH: Your junior coach Mal Barac took responsibility for driving you  from Canberra to Sydney and back for training with the Sydney youth team. How important is it for a young player to have that support?
KD: It’s very important. Mal was my junior coach in Canberra he helped me a lot to develop as a player. As a young kid, if you have someone to always help and push you along it makes a big difference because you can get side tracked. And it’s not good when you do so - he was there for me  and help me change the way as I grew up. I felt very confident having him around and I still do.

HTH: Who else has aided your football education? Another player or coach?
KD: The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) helped me a lot. When I was at the institute I learnt a lot of things, I became more confident, I think I grew as a player, coming through the youth league and training with the first grade boys like John Aloisi and Steve Corica I learnt a lot off them, they’ve taught me a lot of things, so I’m getting all this information and trying to put in myself and try and become a better player.

HTH: When was the moment you realised that you could do something with football - when did you think “I can make a career out of this”?
KD: I think when I started playing youth league for Sydney FC.  Because I knew I wasn’t that far away from being in the first squad, I came to training sessions where they all would be there (the first team) together in a group talking, and I had a chance to watch them, to be that close to them, you know you have a chance, and you know if you keep going you will get a chance. I got that chance, and I guess I took it and everything went on from there.

HTH: A lot of young African immigrants are showing up in the A-League and in Australia’s youth system. Tell us what is it like being an African Australian?
KD: I think it’s great, I love Australian culture; I think at the start it’s hard to accept it. I had trouble accepting it, I think once you accept it, you learn to love it because you feel a part of it and things just become different, if you don’t accept it its just going to become harder for you. I just love it now being an Aussie.


HTH: Got any advice for young kids who want to make it in the A-League and in football generally?
KD: I think kids shouldn’t put too much pressure on themselves to practise every day and do everything perfect like the professionals do. I think they should just have fun and not put too much pressure on themselves. Because if they do, their game changes and things like that. I found that it happened to me when I put too much pressure on myself - I wasn’t myself, I think for them to be themselves and have fun they will get the chance to get noticed, just keep doing what they are doing.

HTH: How do you relieve that pressure?
KD: By doing things that don’t even involve football, going out with your friends to the movies stuff like that, going somewhere that makes you humble and peaceful I think gets focus off what you want to do with football and when you come back you are a at stage where you go ohhh I missed it that much I want to play and you forget all about the pressures.

HTH: So one day you score a goal and your name is the papers, everyone is talking about you and and it’s back to training, your coach makes you run laps or whatever. So would you say it’s a learning experience juggling  all that?
KD: Definitely it’s a learning experience, it’s what you want the most out of yourself and I think, once you figure that out everything becomes a lot easier.


HTH:  Who is the hardest opponent you faced?
KD: The hardest opponent I have faced has probably been Danny Tiatto. I’ve heard he has retired now so it’s a bit easier for me to play. I’ve never played against a player who was so aggressive and so threatening.

HTH: You probably have never seen studs so close before?
KD: Yeah that’s right I have never seen studs so close. I think fear was in my mind when he was there. But I’ve got past that stage where I’m scared of people and just proving to them that I’m not scared. Now I want to make them scared of me.


HTH: A-League players that have caught your eye?
KD: I think the players we have got here are very talented; Terry Mcflynn is a very good player, Alex Brosque is the backbone of Sydney FC and Mark Bridge, Nicky Carle is brilliant on the ball. And when I think of our team, the champions of last year, I think I can learn off those players and be like them. Those boys I look up to.


Kofi’s Favourites:

Movie: Cool Running’s, because it’s so funny, just pointless.
Band/Music: I love Akon. I’m a Hip Hop man I also like Rock music too like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
Actor: I like Hugh Jackman
Actress: I would say Jessica Alba but she’s overrated now. But that’s a hard one too many.
Food: I love Italian food, and different types of ethnic food. I grew up with ethnic food and I love African food.
TV Programme: I watch a lot of TV, like Family Guy, I love the Simpsons, I love shows that make me laugh I have a very good sense of humour.
Your number one relaxation activity is?  Sleeping, I love sleeping, sleeping is amazing.

Half Time Heroes One Year Anniversary Edition

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Half Time Heroes World Cup Review

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World Cup: The Teams

Now the World Cup is upon us, it’s time to make fun of the cultural differences that exist on and off the football field. Here is part one of my politically incorrect assessment of all the World Cup teams.



Algeria
Who/what are ya famous for?
Famous philosopher Albert Camus played as goalkeeper for Racing Universitaire Algerois.
His famous football quote is worn as t-shirt by football hipsters or nerds (mostly nerds).
Prediction: They have England and USA in their group. Pundits say you’re out! Romantics and Algerians dream of causing an ‘absurd’ upset.

Argentina
Who/what are ya famous for?
Maradona has chosen a very weird squad. Omitting experienced players and
including unknowns from the Argentinean league.
After Argentina won their last two WCQ matches a demure Maradona gave it to the press:
“They can suck it and carry on sucking it,
This is for all Argentines, minus the journalists.”
Prediction: Will meet Brazil in the final and beat them.


Australia
Who/what are ya famous for?
Playing funny sports, an assortment of animals that will kill you, bogan (wannabe) gangsters and racist politicians.
Prediction: Football pundits in Australia and around the world give us no hope, the opposition don’t know who our players are and the conservative coach is scared to death of playing any attacking football. I reckon we will make the Quarters after beating England and lose to France by some dodgy way in the quarters.

Brazil
Who/what are ya famous for?
Being the most famous football team in the world and for their ex-players falling to earth with a thud! Garincha (the drink) Ronaldo (the lady boy) and mostly beating every other team at half pace.
Prediction: Will make the final of the World Cup where they will be beaten by Argentina.

Cameroon
Who/what are ya famous for?
Having a cool nickname, Roger Milla goal celebrations and sleeveless shirts.
Prediction: Will get knocked out by Italy in the round of 16.


Chile
Who/what are ya famous for?
Dodgy dictators and being overshadowed by Argentina and Brazil.
Prediction: Will be knocked out by Brazil in the round of 16.

Denmark
Who/what are ya famous for?
Drawing cartoons of famous religious figures and making me and the rest of the world go to sleep while their games are on.
Prediction: Will not make it out of the group stage. Some groups will fall asleep, others will want to blow them up.

England
Who/what are ya famous for?
After trying to colonise the world, what remains from the fallen Empire is the phrase “fuck off” and the game of football.
Prediction: Will be beaten by Australia in the round of 16.

France
Who/what are ya famous for?
Making the 2010 World Cup by cheating their way past the unlucky Irish.
Prediction: Will lose to Brazil in the semi final.

Germany
Who/what are ya famous for?
Upon hearing that their captain Michael Ballack was ruled out of the World Cup it made me wish that there was a German word that describes the joy you feel from somebody else’s misfortune. (Thanks Sid Lowe for that one).
Prediction: Will make the quarter finals where they will be knocked out by Argentina.

Ghana
Who/what are ya famous for?
Hopefully not knocking Australia out of the group stages.
Prediction: Will be knocked out in the group stages.

Greece
Who/what are ya famous for?
Let us see: modern civilization, democracy, music, art, theatre, maths, all that stuff. But then rested for a couple of thousand years, did not pay any tax during that time, sang the same song and danced the same dance and now is broke.
Prediction: My dad says Greeks are good for two things: dancing and drinking ouzo. With Argentina, Nigeria and Korea Republic in their group they will be lucky to score a goal ala USA 94.

Honduras
Who/what are ya famous for?
Fighting a football war with El Salvador in 1969!
Prediction: Will struggle to make the round of 16.

Italy
Who/what are ya famous for?
Will be fitted with the tightest shirts and shorts of any team in this Wold Cup. They are openly proud of being a bunch of mummies’ boys. They love late drama, cheating and cattenacio (10 defenders and a goal keeper).
Prediction: Will be beaten in the semi final by Argentina.

Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire)
(Orderves)
Who/what are ya famous for?
Didier Drogba and the only country besides Holland that has more than one name.
Prediction: Lose to Spain in round of 16.

Japan
Who/what are ya famous for?
The land of Hot. Hot ladies, hot food and their strikers always melt when in front of goal.
Prediction: Will be knocked out in the group stage.

Mexico
Who/what are ya famous for?
Gardening and illegal aliens with rights. Hosting two of the best world cups on record (1970 and 1986).
Prediction: Knocked out by Argentina in the round of 16.

Netherlands
Who/what are ya famous for?
Preferring to win and look good than winning and playing ugly. They are so arrogant, they wear orange and think it looks cool.
Prediction:
Q) What does a Dutch player do after they win the World Cup?
A) Turn off the Play Station.

New Zealand
Who/what are ya famous for?
Not laughing at sheep jokes. Hating Australians and being nice to everyone else.
Prediction: The Kiwi’s have nothing to lose except pride and being the butt of more sheep jokes.

Nigeria
Who/what are ya famous for?
Not being able to beat Argentina in three previous world cups.
Prediction: Will lose to France in the round of 16.

North Korea
Who/what are ya famous for?
Egomanic Dictators Wanting to start World War Three and bowl haircuts. Being able to dance in synch with large groups
Prediction: Will be knocked out in Group Stage

Paraguay
Who/what are ya famous for?
Being confused with Uruguay
Prediction: Knocked out by Holland in round of 16

Portugal
Who/what are ya famous for?
Pretty boy footballers who speak English in Castrol advertisements very badly.
Prediction: Will fail to reach the group stage.



Serbia
Who/what are ya famous for?
Getting confused with Croatia and hopefully being kicked out of the World Cup by Australia.
Prediction: Will be knocked out in the group stage.
.
Slovakia
Who/what are ya famous for?
Getting confused with Slovenia.
Prediction: Will be knocked out in the group stage.

Slovenia
Who/what are ya famous for?
Getting Confused with Slovakia.
Prediction: Will be knocked out in the group stage.

South Africa
Who/what are ya famous for?
The institution of apartheid.
The iconic Nelson Mandella (played badly by Morgan Freeman in the 2009 Movie Invictus) was arrested in 1962 and released in 1990. After that, apartheid was dismantled in a series of negotiations from 1990 to 1993, culminating in elections in 1994, the first in South Africa with universal suffrage. Mandela became president in 1994.

Have you heard that song I’ve never met a nice South African? Here are some lyrics:
No, he’s never met a nice South African
And that’s not bloody surprising, mun
‘Cos we’re a bunch of arrogant bastards
Who hate black people.

Prediction: Will be knocked out in the group stage, the only home team to suffer that fate in the history of the world cup.


South Korea
Who/what are ya famous for?
The South Koreans are the world’s best break dancers and made the semi-finals in 2002 with some of the dodgiest decisions ever seen in World Cup history.
Prediction: Will be knocked out in the group stage unless they get the same refs from 2002.

Spain
Who/what are ya famous for?
Having one the best leagues in the world of football and always failing at the big time events. Except two years ago, when they beat Germany to win Euro 2008.
Prediction: Injuries to key players will mean they will be knocked out by Italy in the quarter finals.

Switzerland
Who/what are ya famous for?
Being neutral. Which is ironic since the neutral fan hates Switzerland.
Prediction: Did Switzerland really play in this World Cup?


United States
Who/what are ya famous for?
Being the World Champions in sports where they are the only country that participates. Trying to bring democracy (steal oil from) to other countries.
Prediction: Will be knocked out by Germany in the Round of 16

Uruguay
Who/what are ya famous for?
The first winners against Argentina in 1930 and winning the World Cup against Brazil in their own back yard (1950) and then not much else really.
Prediction: Will be knocked out in the group stage.

Half Time Heroes World Cup Edition

Open publication - Free publishing - More world cup

Half Time Heroes June OUT SOON!

Half Time Heroes World Cup 
June edition out this Monday June 7 ! 

Not your average World Cup Review, 

Not your average Football Fanzine!

Half Time Heroes World Cup Anti Interview England

Half Time Heroes Anti -Interview with English Football Fan Dave From Bow in East London

No, I’M Jack the Ripper 
Who wants to beat England? I know I do! The World Cup draw means that a potential round of 16 clash between the Socceroos and England is a real possibility.

Also the World Cup bid for either 2018 or 2022 will be decided in December this year and this pits Australia directly against England. I spoke to a well known media personality in England about  Old Blighty’s chances at the World Cup in South Africa and for the World Cup bid.

Half Time Heroes: England’s World Cup group compared to some other teams was relatively easy with USA, Algeria and Slovenia. Will England win the World Cup? 
Dave from Bow in East London: One problem is we love the underdog to win in any team competition, so with our ‘team of life’ it’ll be hard not to support Slovenia and Algeria for at least part of each match. Will England win? Don’t you remember 1966?

HTH:Who do you think are your key players?
DFBIEL: Simon Cowell (pictured below) and the commentator from the 1966 match who uttered the immortal phrase “they think its all over...it is now” (a piece of commentary anyone living in England will hear about 25 times a day from the start of the tournament)

HTH: England’s main weakness is having to cope with the pressure from themselves and an expectant public what’s the hubris level like this time?
DFBIEL Hubris? after 1966? No chance.


HTH: As an Englishman would you have preferred an English manager as opposed to the current boss Italian Fabio Capello. 
DFBIEL: The Romans, ice cream, Isabella Rossellini...um...thats about the end of the list for interesting Italian exports. After all, We didn’t need an Italian in 1966.

HTH: The World Cup bid for 2018-2022 has England as the favourites for winning in 2018, Australia is not for behind in terms of the current odds but even as an English man you must admit that Australia should host in 2018 and England can have it in 2022. It would be much better in warm welcome country as apposed to cold and rude Old Blighty, wouldn’t you say?
DFBIEL: I had no idea we were even in the running, and I think you forget global warming in your calculations there, my son - England will be a warm and tropical climate by then. I’ve got an Aussie mate who thought everyone hated him for the first year of living here because everyone was so rude to him at work and down the pub.

Then he realised it was just our sense of humour he didn’t get and everyone had liked him all along. If, for the sake of argument I can say he represents all Australians, I’m not sure that a nation which is thin skinned, and is a bit slow on the uptake is an ideal host for a multi-cultural sporting event. And we have form hosting the World Cup, I think it was in 1966, by all accounts a very successful tournament.

HTH: What would you say if the Football Federation of Australia used this Bill Hicks joke to sell Australia as a better World Cup destination than England?

Bill Hicks On Convicts being sent to Australia:
“Let me get this straight... You keep the shitty food and the shitty weather and we get the Great Barrier Reef and lobsters the size of canoes? ...I’m Jack the Ripper! --No, I’M Jack the Ripper!”

DFBIEL: You don’t get the joke do you? It’s not about us, its about you

HTH: David Beckham and Posh Spice; 
 too much is not enough or leave me alone already? 
DFBIEL: Who’s asking?
(pictured left, Posh reckons that England is in pole position to win the World Cup in South Africa.Photo of Posh by Darkness Blackheart)

HTH: The English Wags (wives and girlfriends) get as much coverage as the players what do you think of this recent phenomenon in football?
DFBIEL: We’ve always liked a bit of glamour and a touch of class in our game (see 1966 final for instance), and if our team isn’t supplying it, then all power to the WAGs I say.

HTH :What would you say is the current vogue in hooliganism fashion? The  polo t-shirt, loafer wearing skinhead apparel, or the Chav, tight jeans and hoody over the head type look?
DFBIEL: Something with big pockets coz you have to dig deep to fork out enough readies to see the inside of a stadium these days.

Interview featured in Half Time Heroes January

Half Time Heroes Interview with World Football News Reporter Neil Cordy

Neil Cordy is an ex AFL player who currently works for Channel 10. His sporting career began when he debuted with the Footscray Football Club in 1979 . Neil went on to play 139 games for the Bulldogs and remained with the club until 1986 before he made the move to the Sydney Swans in 1987.  He played 96 games in total until 1993 then retired. Channel 10’s dedicated sports channel ONE will screen a magazine style football show in February where Neill will contribute some stories. Half Time Heroes had a chat about his football experiences the chances of the Socceroos @ the World Cup and the new football show that has fans of the world game in Australia buzzing!



Half Time Heroes: So I here you’re a football fan?
Neil Cordy: I’ve been a football fan virtually all my life. Since I was a teenager I started following the English First Division in the 70’s. I used to watch Match of the Day on the ABC at 6pm and I subscribed to shoot magazine. It was great publication. I read it religiously.


West Ham was the team I followed, I used to watch The Big Match also on the ABC and it was produced by London TV. So we got all the London teams.  West Ham was a very attractive team to watch. Trevor Brooking was an outstanding talent, they also had some great characters in the team like Frank Lampard Senior. They also had one of the first black players in the top flight there, a player called Clive Best. They were quite a charismatic team. But what’s happened over the last two decades is that I have tended to follow Australian players.

Socceroos Chances at the World Cup in South Africa 

HTH:You witnessed the World Cup in Germany 2006, how do you think the Socceroos will fare at the World Cup in South Africa this year?

Neill Cordy:  I hope we advance to the next stage, but I think it’s going to be a bigger challenge. I think we have a more difficult group this time than the one we had in Germany. The other thing is our playing group has barely changed from that time. 

Some of them are a little bit best past their prime.

HTH: So do you think the Socceroos are four years older rather than four more years experienced?

NC: The experience is good. The thing that concerns me more is that I would like to see more emerging talent coming through. There certainly isn’t very much emerging talent coming through the Socceroos. I think they are certainly capable of getting through to the next round but I would have liked to see more pressure on the incumbent guys to hold their spots. There really isn’t a lot of pressure on any of those key players.

HTH: With the current playing group being the same as last world cup in Germany 2006, do you think the players will use the frustration from the last moments of the Italy game when they take the field in South Africa? 

NC: I don’t think it will be a factor in the players’ minds. It’s not a good source of motivation that sort of thing. Feeling like you have been wronged by the refs.,well that’s football.

HTH: A lot of athletes always say that they don’t feel motivated by revenge but surely revenge is a factor in South Africa?

NC: Who are you going to get revenge against, the referee? Cause he was the one who made the call. It doesn’t pay to get angry at that stuff. You get some good calls you get some bad calls and you take it and get on with it. What they should take away from that is a belief that they belong there. 

Had they got to the second half of extra time in Kaiserslautern they could well have been playing the Ukraine in the quarter finals then who knows what could have happened.

Germany 2006

HTH: You were in Germany 2006. Tell us your favourite moments?

NC: The first one was the Japan game. The eight minutes where we came back from 1-0 down to win 3-1 was unforgettable and the second was In Stuttgart when Harry scored the equaliser and we got through to the next round.

I have another one that was brilliant for all the people who were there. After the final whistle against Croatia all the Australian fans stayed in the Stadium. The players went in for 15 minutes and then came back out again and did another lap while  all the Croatian fans were leaving. And the Socceroos came out to the ground gain while they  were playing ACDC.  I remember the songs. You shook me all night long and TNT. Possibly that moment was the best of the lot.

HTH:  Do you think  we are going to beat that moment, it was the first time we were at the world cup for 32 years?

NC: No well that’s the thing it’s unlikely that will ever be recreated again. I can’t see us being away from the World Cup finals for another 32 years again and having the heartache that we had over all those years. It’s hard to see it happening again. So it’s going to be very difficult to recreate that atmosphere that we had in Germany and also that night in Sydney when we qualified

The night of qualification for mine in Sydney was the best of the lot.  Atmosphere wise . That was the moment for me. It was brilliant in Germany but that moment when John Aloisi scored.......... in my sporting life, that was it, number one.

HTH: Did you ever think Australian football could provide you with such moments after those earlier disappointments?

NC: Yeah I did. I have been to most of Australia’s big World Cup qualifying matches, I didn’t go to the Scotland matches.  But I went to the qualifying game against Argentina in 93, I was in Melbourne for the Iran game (groan) in 1997, and I was at the Charlie Yankos match where we beat Argentina 4-1 at the Gold Cup. Particularly the Argentina match and the match against Iran. If you were there you understood what the game was capable of delivering  in terms of a sporting experience was at the home legs for the Uruguay matches and lucky enough to be in Montevideo in Uruguay in 2005.

HTH: That would have been incredible?

NC: It was. An amazing place Uruguay, it hosted the first World Cup in 1930 and looks like it hasn’t had a coat of paint since. It was an unforgettable match. 

I remember reading somewhere, afterwards that the last 20 minutes in Montevideo where Tony Popovic and Tony Vidmar where putting their bodies on the line and kept the away leg at 1-0 was the reason we got to the World Cup. That qualification process could have been two or three goals down and heading to Sydney but they held them out and they kept the game in reach. 

Once you experience a few of those games it didn’t surprise me because the thing that happened at the ANZ stadium that night. All those other matches were all part of it. The four legs against Uruguay (2001-2005) the two legs against Iran (1997) the two legs against Argentina (1993) they all contributed to what made it so special on that night.  Because it was everything. All those decades of frustration, they were relieved.

World Football News

HTH: All football fans are buzzing at the news Channel 10 is going to air a football variety show shown on the dedicated digital free- to- air sports station One; can you give us more information?

NC: Sure “World Football News” will be starting on February the 8th.  It will have a mixture of International and Australian content. With panelist discussing issues with stories and features. It will be a combination of all those things. We will have an English based reporter who will be catching up with a lot of our guys that are playing overseas.

HTH: A League highlights as well?

NC: Yes it will have A League highlights from the weekend’s matches.

HTH: That’s great. With German and Italian football and FA Cup now being shown on 10’s digital free to air channel One, does this mean that 10 will be looking to add more football content particularly  since the rapid increase in popularity of Football in Australia over the last five years or so?

NC: Yes, no doubt about it.

HTH: So with the advent of the A League, Socceroos qualifying for World Cups  the demand is rising for football and Channel 10 seems to be leading the way regarding getting it on to free to air?

NC: They are definitely interested in it. The current deal has a number of years to run  but 10 is interested in football in Australia.

HTH: Channel 7 has the Tennis and Channel 9 has the Cricket, could you see Football being on Channel 10 over the summer months?

NC: Why not?

HTH: Why not indeed! You mentioned before that when English football that was shown on the ABC  it was very popular in the 70’s and 80’s. Recently SBS has been the lone free to air station, basically speaking to the converted. This new show will no doubt spread the football message to new fans.

NC: Massively, it’s going to be fantastic for Football. It’s  a major free to air network, and more Australians will be able to watch Football full stop. Pay tv is in less than 25% of Australian homes,what free to air gives us is all of Australia, not just the converted.

AFL and World Cup Stadium Issue

HTH:  As an ex-AFL player what did you think about the FFA and the AFL arguing in public? And will affect Australia’s bid for the World Cup?

NC: I’ll say a couple of things about that. I think we are actually going to win the bid. I genuinely believe we will win it for 2022.  It just stacks up right. We are the right country at the right time. 

From Andrew Demetriou’s point of view I haven’t heard him ask any unreasonable questions. I think it’s not unreasonable to ask for some more detail and I don’t think he is necessarily trying to undermine the bid. But I think it is reasonable to ask what is required, so they can get their games in order. It’s a big thing that they going to have to work around and in co-operation with. So he obviously thinks they haven’t been given enough detail from the FFA. I haven’t heard him ask from anything that I have read in the media any unreasonable questions of the FFA.

HTH: Do you think the FFA and the AFL could have aired these questions and comments in private? And do you think the reason why Andrew Demetriou went public is because privately the communication with the FFA wasn’t working, he had no other choice?

NC:I think that is exactly right. Judging from what I read because this has been going on for over 12 months since the first announced the bid and they (THE AFL) have been asking for details and clearly they haven’t been getting them, not what they need anyway.

Another relevant question you can ask, if the bid process has been going on for 12 months why do we have you have a brand new dome facility in Melbourne which isn’t going to be appropriate for the World Cup?

HTH: That would have made the Etihad stadium dramas non -existent if they made it a bigger stadium.

NC: Exactly, All they needed was an extra ten thousand seats. The number one issue that you deal with is appropriate venues and if they hadn’t started to build, you would say hang on guys, how much is that capacity? And it if it’s not going to be suitable for a World Cup let’s get some plans where it is. What a waste of money!

HTH: It seems pretty stupid, thinking about it now,  the FFA planned for Etihad when they could have used the new dome stadium which was practically made for viewing football

NC: Yes exactly they would then have two venues.  The MCG and ANZ in Sydney would have been used to hold all of Australia’s matches as they would be sell outs.  If you got a 40,000 stadium in Melbourne you wouldn’t need Etihad and the AFL can run it’s competition using Etihad stadium.

HTH: So back to what you said about the World Cup bid I agree Europe gets it in 2018 and the Aussies hopefully get it in 2022.

NC: Let’s just hope we live that long mate.

HTH: Yes let’s hope we do. On that note thanks for talking with HTH.

NC: No problem Con, nice chatting with you.

Half Time Heroes World Cup Interviews Socceroos Group D Serbia

The Beli Orlovi (White Eagles) of Serbia are a new football country. Disbanding from Montengro the former Yugolsav republic makes it World Cup debut in South Africa. Serbian blogger for www.worldcupblog.org/ Nikola Burazer spoke to Half Time Heroes direct from Belgrade and gave some valuable insights and information about the Socceroos Group D final opponents.


I hope you are reading this Pim?



Half Time Heroes: After the World Cup draw was announced, some dubbed Group D containing the Socceroos, Germany, Serbia and Ghana has the third group of death. What was your first reaction when you saw the draw?
Nikola Burazer: To be honest, the first thing I felt was relief. In the 2006 World Cup we were placed in a group with Argentina, Netherlands and Ivory Coast, a “Group of Death” by all standards, to it was nice to be in a group not labelled as such. But, I have some real respect for all of our opponents in the forthcoming World Cup and I don’t think Serbia has an open road for qualification to the next round. 


Although both Ghana and Australia are weaker teams on paper, they are both capable of making a misery out of our World Cup dreams, I even dare to say that football style difference make our clashes against Ghana and Australia virtually unpredictable. That’s why I felt pretty uncomfortable, and to be totally honest, I still do.

HTH: What’s been the reaction by the management of your respective teams? Do they see the Socceroos as a threat?

NB: The management’s reaction was reasonably optimistic. Germany is of course, labelled as a main threat, with Ghana being our direct rival to qualify from the group. Australia isn’t mentioned as much, the focus was on our chances to battle it out with Germany for the top spot with qualification itself being a pretty achievable feat.  This might smell of arrogance to some, but this Serbian team currently has a great degree of self-belief and high hopes for this tournament, so any other reaction would’ve been false modesty from the management.

HTH: Who do you consider to be your key players and what are your teams main strengths?

NB: I think that we actually have two pairs of key players. The first is a defensive pairing of Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidić and Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanović, while the second are our regular wingers, Standard Liege’s Milan Jovanović and CSKA Moskva’s Miloš Krasić. The first two are the backbone of our defense, while our winger duo represents the source of our offensive power. Jovanović is a “Player of the year” in Belgium and has recently signed a pre-contract with Liverpool, while Krasić also represents a highly sought-after commodity. 

If I had to chose one key player, it would be him. Miloš Krasić is probably our best player on the pitch for the last few years, so yes, he could be considered to be THE key player for Serbia at the World Cup.

HTH: Any weaknesses that you care to quietly mention?  A dodgy keeper or a suspect defender perhaps?

NB: An excellent keeper with a tendency to make horrific mistakes. Vladimir Stojković has proven himself lots of times in the national team, but I doubt there are any Serbian fans out there not worrying about whether he will make a blunder or not. In a game that could’ve destroyed our World Cup dreams, his mistake gave France a goal in Belgrade. I don’t want to bash a player that has played so well for the team with some magnificent saves, but Stojković really is a goalkeeper that does make blunders from time to time, so he could be considered as a potential weak link in our team.

HTH: What do you know about Australian football and are there any players you think your team should keep an eye on?

NB: Regrettably, I don’t know much about Australian football except for their feats in the last World Cup, and of course, some of Australian key players currently playing in Europe. Players like Harry Kewell, Mark Bresciano and Tim Cahill ring a lot of bells, but I haven’t watched the Australian team play recently to be able to see where the main threat comes from. Australia has a team to be respected, that’s for sure.

HTH: How do you think your team will adapt to the conditions in South Africa where teams can expect  high altitude,  differing weather conditions and those ubiquitous vuvuzelas that will be blasting for the whole game? 

NB: As long as the pitch is in perfect shape, there are no excuses. There are some difficulties with the weather, 

altitude and those omni-present vuvuzelas, but all the teams have the same conditions to play in and I wouldn’t like to see any whining in the media by our team if things go wrong. 

Serbia will have their final preparations in the mountains of Austria, probably to adjust to similar weather conditions. Our team has already had the privilege to play in South Africa last August, defeating the hosts in a friendly and having their first taste of South African winter. I think it should be alright.

HTH: Australian fans have bought tickets in large numbers. What kind of support can your team expect in South Africa?

NB: I highly doubt there are going to be many fans travelling all the way from Serbia to South Africa in order to support our team, but we do expect quite a large number of our supporters to be there. South Africa is a home to many Serbians and people of Serbian descent who are delighted to have the chance to see our national team play over there. It may not be as if we are playing at home, but it will probably be close as it can get to this.

HTH: Are you happy with the coach and the way the team is playing leading in to the world cup and is there anything you would change?

NB: Radomir Antić has been a wonder-maker for Serbia since he took over the team at the start of the qualifiers, overly criticising both him and the team would be highly unfair. He created the team spirit we have desperately lacked, built a highly functional offensive unit with lots of goal-scoring capabilities and returned the cult of the National team to the entire nation. His results and achievements have been so impressive that, regardless of some bad decisions and tactics in some individual games, there isn’t anything I would change in his general approach and tactics that he tries to employ. 

But, if I needed to make one single remark on his management of the team, I would point out at the lack of concentration our defense seems to having from time to time, unacceptable when the quality of our defensive players is taken into account. Antić needs to solidify our defenses if he wants our team to compete with the best.

HTH: Tell us the  player in your team that annoys you the most and why?

NB: A tough question. Sincerely, there aren’t such players in the team, most of the players capable of making me really angry are also capable of doing some great things. I’m trying really hard, but I can’t name a single player that plays in the first team and annoys me on a regular basis. Marko Pantelić seems to get close, but he’s also one of my favourite players, so he doesn’t really deserve such a negative label. 

HTH: The player you like the most?

NB: This is an even tougher question. I guess it’s a three-horse race between Miloš Krasić, Milan Jovanović and Branislav Ivanović. I’ve already labelled those three as key players, and I can’t really decide between them. But if I had to chose one, I’d name the most underrated of the three, Milan Jovanović. The world is yet to see his capabilities when he starts playing for Liverpool after the World Cup, but I hope he will shine even more at the tournament proper.

HTH: Lastly please give me a prediction on how your team will progress and also who will be the winner and loser of the World Cup?

NB: Well, a part of me fears the worst, a repeat of Germany 2006, while the other part dreams of us fighting for the title. But let’s be realistic: I think we will qualify from the group as a second placed team and then bow out after clashing with England. I think we could go a step further if we manage to claim the top spot in the group, but we have too many issues with playing with the top sides for me to dare to predict anything more than that. 

An elimination from the first knockout round remains the outcome with the highest possibility. And if I had to predict the winner, I’d chose Brazil. There’s a tradition in the last few decades that says European teams don’t win World Cups outside Europe, so that leaves us with Brazil and Argentina as realistic candidates. But, as this is a special World Cup by all standards, I believe miracles can happen. Maybe the football world is getting near to some great surprises like the one when Greece won Euro 2004. To be honest, I have a feeling this is going to be a World Cup to remember. 

This interview appeared in Half Time Heroes February