... From the foot of Mount Betzenberg to its peak - 300 meters. So far this is the highest mountain on which Australian football climbed. What did the Australians do in the group stage? They defeated the Japanese, snatched a draw from the Croats. Two steps. But there were others before that - you still need to get to the foot. Via Uruguay, for example. And it would hardly have been possible to overcome this path without the guide Guus Hiddink, because he had already led groups on alpine and even Himalayan routes more than once.
Australia played their 1/8 final match in Kaiserslautern, on the home arena of the Red Devils, one of the most unpredictable Bundesliga teams. Often, the Fritz Walter Stadion is called "fiendish hell." He was him in the literal and figurative sense, since the thermometer reads off scale for 35, and passions in the field boiled to match weather conditions.
The first half turned out to be absolutely equal. Maybe the Italian moments were sharper, however, the Italians also lacked something, although Marcello Lippi put up an attacking version of the composition. He sent forth the duet Tony - Gilardino with the support of Del Pierrot. Tony went ahead, Gilardino did not fall from a favorable position, and very soon the Australians realized that they could do equal to play with three-time world champions.
The Italians, due to injury, did not enter the field leading central defender Nesta. Materazzi took his place in the squad, and, surprisingly, it was he, along with his partner in the role of Cannavaro, who were the most noticeable figures on the field.
But at the beginning of the second half there was a sharp turn: Italy remained in the minority. It was Materazzi who was removed for the jump into the opponent with two legs. At that moment, Australia already had 57% of possession. But, as it turned out, she was not ready for the role of the favorite.
Of course, Hiddink's wards created assists. But it was evident that they were playing with an eye on their gates. If the ball flew on target, then directly to Buffon. We must pay tribute to Lippi, he ventured to release Totti on the field - a player whose role in Italy is called a "fantasy man". Until now, this high rank of Totti has not been confirmed at the mundial. But it was he who was destined to score the winning goal from the penalty spot in the last seconds.
The 11-meter was almost invented by the Spanish referee Medina Cantalejo. Craig Moore was already lying on the lawn and did not try to obstruct the movement of Fabio Grosso. But to say that the 11-meter was illogical, it is impossible, because Grosso broke into the penalty area almost on his knees, gnawing the devil's lawn with his teeth.
This was the last match of Guus Hiddink as the head coach of the Australian national team. And with her, and with the Korean team, he achieved the highest successes in the history of football in these countries. The next stage of his career will begin in a month in Russia.
Mikhail Melnikov, NTV + commentator, Gazeta observer / KAISERSLAUTERN