Great game to watch (as a neutral) probably hell for the Aussies and Croats though.

It was inside the stadium and the amount of grey hairs I have has increased too. Also can someone explain to me why I can't support a team that wins games easily?

Don't know what the hell Kalac was doing out there, but at least this will tell Guus to leave him on the bench.

BTW, some quotes from clueless Aussie supporters;

Guy behind me, in the 80th minute: "Is that Mark Schwarzer out there?"

Overhead the day after the Croatia game at the Camp Ground where I'm staying: "I don't know why people are getting so excited, we only got a draw."

BTW, some pictures from our trip can be found here, including a dodgy shot of myself at 3am after shots of Shnapps and Jagamiester. - http://blogs.smh.com.au/worldcup/archives/...convoy_tak.html

Say a little pray for me as I try to get decently priced tickets to this game.

SR, saw you on the ABC news the other day, next to a guy being interviewed.

You are becoming a media slut, aren't you? :ph34r:

Yep, and I'm not ashamed to admit it, we're even in the newspaper too - http://www.smh.com.au/news/aussie-update/r...9964414786.html

Just had dinner at the Australian team hotel. Gus Hiddinck is very nice to talk to. And the food there is excellent. (the team were all having a card school or something similar after dinner I saw one very tall one that I couldn't identify- as it had short hair and the only outfield beanpole doesn't, my guess is one of the two reserve goalies and one very small and weedy one with a tattoo on his calf- who I think might be Luke Wilkshire)

Actually have a ticket to Australia v Brazil. Go Aussie go!

I offically hate you now

I was in sitting in a pub in K-Town for the game as the €200 price that touts (all with dodgy East London accents) were offering for tickets was way too steep for me.

Australia did dominate the game but were very wasteful with their passes especially Wilkshire who should never play in the first team again. The Japan goal was the worst decision of the cup so far and how any ref or assistant ref couldn't see that beggars believe.

Also, shame that the real football fans were outside the stadium while tennis/union/Aussie Rules fans were in the ground sitting on their arses and chanting "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi"

Heard the same here, some mates went up to Dortmund for the T&T v Sweden game and besides being patted down by police/security when they went into the fan zone or ground, no one checked the names on tickets.

Me too, I'm here in Ohrnberg with my Portugese jersey hoping to see a good game.

Got to agree with Oklahoma that the result will 2-1 to us, and I also predict that there will be a controversal decision in this game.

Well, in 16 hours and 30 minutes I and 15 other friends will be winging it to Germany. So Central Europe look out. So look for me, I'll be the one in green 'n gold

Also if you look here - http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/worldcup06/ in a couple of days you'll see a blog by some Australian fans who I'm travelling with.

Can someone tell Viduka not to take any more penalties?

Just seen "our" Sydney Rovers on SBS!!!!!

Son, you look better in real life.

Onya Vic

I'm available for autographs and will be releasing a DVD called; "Sydney Rovers: His 15 minutes of fame".

You heading down for the game Dave? I've got a 6am flight back on Friday morning as I've burnt all my annual leave on the World Cup!

I wish I was going down there but I'm already eating into next year's annual leave with my trip to Germany

Forgot to mention that I'm doing this trip without having any tickets or accommodation organised.

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As of yesterday I have a ticket to the Australia v Croatia game and it only cost me $AUS 580 (£250)

BTW, here's a story about Aussie fans making the trip to Germany - http://www.smh.com.au/news/world-cup-2006/...ge#contentSwap1

Who's the skipper usually, Moore?

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Usually it is, but during the Uruguay games Mark Viduka was captain and I don't think that Guus will change this as it seemed to lift Viduka's game.

First game is CRUCIAL for both side(Australia / Japan)!

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It is as a result will set up up the teams for thier crucial games against Croatia.

Here's the squad.

Goalkeepers: Ante Covic (Hammarby, Sweden), Zeljko Kalac (AC Milan, Italy), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England)

Defenders: Michael Beauchamp (Central Coast Mariners), Stan Lazaridis (uncontracted), Mark Milligan (Sydney FC), Craig Moore (Newcastle United, England), Lucas Neill (Blackburn Rovers, England), Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace, England)

Midfielders: Marco Bresciano (Parma, Italy), Tim Cahill (Everton, England), Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel, Switzerland), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers, England), Vince Grella (Parma, Italy), Harry Kewell (Liverpool, England), Josip Skoko (Stoke City, England), Mile Sterjovski (FC Basel, Switzerland), Luke Wilkshire (Bristol, England)

Forwards: John Aloisi (Alaves, Spain), Josh Kennedy (Dynamo Dresden, Germany), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory), Mark Viduka (Middlesbrough, England).

Some surprises there especially Mark Milligan who's probably only there becuase Tony Vidmar had to pull out of the squad.

I'm landing in Frankfurt on the 8th and meeting up 20 other mates on 4 different flights. We're then jumping into some rental cars and heading in a convoy for the Socceroos' training camp in Öhringen. Then we're following the Australian team around Germany (Kaiserslautern 12th, Munich 18th, Stuttgart 22nd), and what ever Australian games after that.

After Australia are knocked out of the tournament we'll be heading east towards the Czech Republic and then finally meet in Berlin for the final.

Seeing as there's some Rovers fans at some of Australia games maybe we should meet up there?

Forgot to mention that I'm doing this trip without having any tickets or accommodation organised.

From Portugal, Vitoria Setubal would be the easiest.

Plus, it's Mourinho's home town, the club where he played. So it would make it even better to beat them.

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Actually Oki, my dream Portuguese draw would be Nacional because if that happens I'll be on the first plane from Australia to Funchal.

Damn, myself and Aussie_Rover missed out

I'm waiting on the next FIFA ballot where I've asked for Australian group tickets, Portugal v Iran tickets and Finals' tickets. Hopefully I'll get something out of ballot and at least get to see a game in a stadium.

I find this thread most interesting. Not because of the subject matter, but because of the political leanings of those proposing and opposing the ID card.

In Britain, you have a Labour Government doing the proposing and the Tories opposing it.

We, in Australia, had a Labor Prime Minister (Bob Hawke) trying to bring in a similar card in the 90's and the then Liberal (read Tory) opposition  being vehemently against it. Now, the present Liberal government wants to introduce an ID card, I'm not sure where the Labor Party currently stands on the issue.

So, we have our Liberals doing a 180 degree turn on this issue, and guess what, it's going to cost us.

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[Political rant mode]The Liberal Party doing a 180 on an issue, that's never happened before *cough GST*

Also interesting to see that the reason for implementing card in Australia and the UK are very similar.

Yes. Although mine seems to carry a picture of Eminem, rather than me. What was i thinking 8 years ago with that bleach?

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What's surprising is that the photo hasn't been updated in that time Any idea when you have to renew your licence and get a new photo?

1215 is good. 

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It is, might be chance to see the game here in Australia.

Going over on the 8th, In Cologne for a couple of nights, Frankfurt for the Paraguay game, and flying back on the 14th.  Applied for a few tickets, hopefully will get the England v Paraguay game and Australia v Japan.

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Australia v Japan stay away SteB, I want that tickets

As for me, Aussie Rovers and myself have applied through the ballot for tickets to all the Australian groups matches, Portugal v Iran and the final. Considering I missed out on tickets through the Football Federation of Australia's crappy ticketing system, I'm hoping to at least get one ticket to any of these games. Anyway if I miss out on tickets I'll be there with 20 other mates in some square in some German town drinking wheat beer and having a good time.

I have Australia as the only non-traditional World Cup nation to survive the Group stage.

Croatia are very poor from what I've seen of them and I would guess that Japan and Australia are about the same level but the Aussies will make physical strength tell.

It is possible one of the other two will get lucky against Brasil and nick a point changing the second place qualification if its tight but the Aussies should be very disappointed with themselves if they don't make the last sixteen.

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I hope you're right as I'll be here in German soaking up the atmosphere outside the ground after the FFA stuffed up the allocating the tickets.

Tough draw here, but look forward to meet Emerton and Neill during their trainingssesions in Eindhoven. The Socceroos will also play a friendly against Holland, Robben probably getting injured after meeting Football Legend Neill.

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Do you know when this game is on?

Group F

Brazil

Croatia

Japan

Australia

They haven't made it easy for Australia have they?