"The A-League keeps on going and the World Cup is coming” by Gerard Nus

Please note: This blog was written and published on December 9th (Spanish version)

We are taking advantage of this new blog to comment on how the Australian League is going and the interesting draw of the World Cup that by chance has joined Spain, Chile, Netherlands and the Aussies in the same group. 

The A-League keeps on going

We have already played 9 matches in the A-League and in the Melbourne Heart it is difficult to gain points three by three. However, the action and the occasions are not absent in each of the disputed games. We have just travelled to Sydney to play against Western Sydney; a team with a great following that reminds us to the fearsome fans of the South American teams. Without doubt we can mention the topic that the supporters are the twelfth player for the home team. The game finished 1-1 and allowed us to have moments of good football. The combinative football stood out with the appearance of the captain in our team, Harry Kewell, who played the last 20 minutes of the match after a few weeks out for injury.

Only a few weeks ago we drew against Adelaide United, a game with 6 goals, a lot of effort, a lot of emotion, and above all, entertaining for all the supporters; but, very stressful for the coaches. It was extremely hard to overturn a 0-2 against us, in the first half of the match.

For me it was special to greet a friend of mine from my region, Josep Gombau, Catalan coach who has been training Adelaide since the start of this season. It is one of this occasions that you don’t want to wish any luck to your friend, at least the end of the match.

“The World Cup is coming”

The draw of the world cup of Brazil 2014 has joined the Australian team in the same group of Spain, Chile and Netherlands. Reactions were not long in coming and the media began their work to know the strategies and players of every team present.

The Australian team is a big incognita for everyone. They have got a new manager (Ange Postecoglou) and they only have played a friendly match (Australia 1 – 0 Costa Rica). These facts show that it is difficult to make conclusions.

Some people says that the team will try to counter the style of the rival teams, others prefer that Australia has to keep possession and stand up to their opponents without thinking of their inferiority.

Independently of the instructions and the technical and tactical approach, I am sure that players like Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls, American Soccer League), Lucas Neill (Omiya Ardila, Japan League), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace, Premier League) or Mark Bresciano (Al-Gharafa, Qatari League), among many others; will show the fighting instinct and persistance that characterizes so proudly the Australian people.

Spain should remain vigilant.

A big hug from the land of Kangaroos.