I'm concerned for Australia. The Japanese will be quick, if they can get an early goal, the the Aussies will be up against it. This Australian team has not played many games together, that could work against them tonight. The upside is that they will get better. I normally don't do predictions, but 2-1 to the Aussies. Viduka and Cahill.

Nervous anticipation for tonights game. Starts at 11pm Sydney time. The beers in the fridge. Hopefully the win by the Wallabies in the rugby is a sign of things to come.

That 2nd half was dire. An advert for international football it was not. Who was your commentator, ffb77?

Oz, they'll be taking a German feed. It was a complaint that the commentator doing the match for Australian TV mentioned.

Half time, 1-0 to England. What do people think? Joe Cole the stand out for me. Why does Crouch need to back into the defender? I feel that if England play the ball on the ground and work it up front they'll be more effective than lumping it high. They've got the skills, just do it.

The Dutch should have had this game in the bag in the first half hour, They were half a yard quicker than the Aussies, but allowed Australia to get back into the game in the last 10 minutes of the first half. Glad Schwartzer was back, looked much more confident than Kalac, and pulled off some top class saves.

The Dutch giving the Aussies a torrid time, showing them how to hang onto the ball. Late on in the 1st half the Aussies got back into the game and had a great chance from Viduka stopped by a great save from Van der Saar. The Dutch looking very impressive though.

American, you're talking about a game, played in one, two, maybe three countries around the world. We're talking about one game that's played in more countries than you can think of. There are more members of FIFA than there are of the UN. Got to go, I've a game to watch

Just watching the intro to the Holland v Aust game. Hiddink gave Wilkshire a bit of a wrap. Be interesting to see how he fares in this match. He's on for Skoko apparently

American, you want to compare the US code to Football? There would be more people watching Football, simply because there are more people playing the world game than the american version. Read what this guy says in his article. It reeks of envy that his "home" game is not at the top of the pile. edit: I would hazard a guess that there are more people watching cricket worldwide than watching American Football

So, on that basis, the best games in the football world are between Australia and Iraq; as those two teams hold the record for attendances at WC qualifiers. No, we are talking world wide figures, and there is no way a US college football game would outrate a WC match, no way.

American, don't be so insular. We, the rest of us, are talking "World Wide Audiences"

One wonders what his reaction will be when he finds out that "his" sport only attracts a world wide audience of .01 % of the worlds population. BRFC4EVA, it's more likely jealousy, I ask you, how many watch baseball, how many watch American Football? They (those that write this tripe) can't abide anything that is not created by their own hand. If Football were America's no 1 sport, then we'd never hear the last of it.

How would you feel if you were Tony Vidmar: "Obviously Viddie (Tony Vidmar) not being here has taken a tiny edge off the defensive competition, but, as for everyone, it's still very intense." I think Lucas is a good footballer, but lacks a bit in the "think before you speak" department

Exactly, Neekoy. A bad decision by the ref. He should have let play go on for the advantage and then booked one for a dangerous attempted tackle and the other for "attempted simulation". Players falling over at the slightest zephyr of a breeze from a passing opposition player are a blight on the game.

So, you're on your feet, in the penalty area, you've got or going for the ball, and someone attempts to foul you, but misses. Did it stop his momentum? That's not a foul, a crude miss perhaps, and maybe worthy of a card after the advantage has been given. And there was me, still playing and thinking football was a contact sport.

Eddie, you've convinced me. OK, there's really no need to take it further.

Used to frequent that place many many years ago. Lovely pub then. pg mentioned Coopers extra vintage stout, haven't tried that, but their Vintage ale is something to behold. Limited production, $90 a slab and powerful, one 330ml and you're just about over the limit.

I trust that your info on the Australians is not based on the match against Greece, philipl. If the Aussies play that way against any team in the WC, then they'll get hammered. They won't be able to cope with any team that has a player that can hold a ball "up front". The only thing that has me forgiving the Aussies, and that is that the main team hasn't played together for some months, and that they will get better. However, will the friendlies and the first round matches be enough? The other thing is, they don't have a "game breaker", there's no one that can turn a game.

Just seen "our" Sydney Rovers on SBS!!!!! Son, you look better in real life. Onya Vic

IHD, The Aussie were all over the park, they are a very fit side, they'll run all day. Bert did ok, but nothing special, though he made one monumental blunder in not having a shot, he passed to a player in an offside position. The Greeks never looked like getting through the defence. Got to agree about the Keeper, Kalac, frightening, if you're a defender

Neekoy, If they are the European Champions, it says a lot about those that came behind them. On that basis, Australia will breeze it into the WC semis I'm being kind when I say the Greeks played poorly; they were crap, no imagination, no shape, no willingness to go for it. They came for a holiday. Agree about the first three in you list, not class, but better than the rest, but Viduka looked like a lumbering fool. Yes he holds the ball up well, but couldn't be bothered (or hadn't the pace) to to go for a great ball that most forwards would have attempted to get to, just before he was subbed. Wilkshire looks promising Having said that, it was the Aussies first outing in ages, they'd been together for four days and had (apparently) four very inense training sessions that took a lot out of them. They can get better. If they are to make any impact in Germany, they will have to get better.

Finished up 1-0 to the Aussies. Very ordinary game, got a bit better towards the end as players tired. Lucas played well in the 2nd half, ened up at left back. One Greek forward was on the wrong end of a Lucas block, plenty of claret flowing from a split lip. The Aussie version of Dickov; Archie Thomson. MOM Skoko

Half time v Greece Aussie 1 Greece 0 Not the best of games so far. Some interesting moves from set pieces by the aussies, one of which led to the goal by Skoko. Lucas involved in the set up of the goal. Emerton has been involved, but not doing much, seems to be playing deeper than he does for the Rovers. Grella and Bresciano have played well, Viduka has caused the Greek defence problems with his ability to hold the ball. Kalac, despite him wearing the No 1, is not an international goalkeeper. On the firts half display, though, Australia will not worry too many teams in Germany, they will have to improve dramatically.

It would have to be one of the worst stadia to watch football in, though when everyone is singing the National Anthem, it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It was originally built for the 1956 Olympic games so that tells you the size of the place. Football is played in a rectangle in the middle of the surface and has metre high advertising around the pitch. The slope of the seats in the lower sections is too shallow, consequently you can't see the ball if it's closer than about 5 metres to the touchline. If you're up in the gods, you need bino's to see which player is which. It 's OK for the cricket and Aussie Rules though.