http://wwiii.sbs.com.au/home/index2.php3?id=29420
In his exclusive column for TheWorldGame, Socceroos skipper Paul Okon expressed his disappointment at the England team for refusing to partake in the friendly tradition of swapping shirts following Australia's emphatic 3-1 win at Upton Park.
Okon, who had an outstanding game at the heart of the Socceroos midfield, was full of praise for his teammates but was a little surprised at how humiliated the English were.
"There was no excuse for England," Okon said. "They have now been hammered by Australia at every sport - except maybe croquet - that they’re now too embarrassed to give us any credit."
"I was very disappointed that the England players didn’t want to swap shirts after the match. Each player received two shirts and it’s customary for players to swap, especially after an international. They just didn’t want to do it.
"A few of our guys began to swap with a couple of them but when it became an issue we didn’t pursue it. I guess that shows what the result really meant to England. They were very disappointed to lose to Australia. "
The former Middlesbrough, Watford, Fiorentina, Lazio and Club Brugge player who began his career with Marconi in the NSL, also called on Soccer Australia to make the most from the result and deliver on its promise to provide the Socceroos with regular matches ahead of an eventual tilt at qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.
"Not too many teams beat England convincingly. We have," he said.
"It’s now up to us to produce more results like that and, importantly, produce them consistently.
"One result doesn’t make us a great team but it increases expectation. Even from ourselves. This was a great result from the entire team, helped by the great spirit present in the squad. It was a great experience for everybody. "
"One step towards establishing that consistency is for Soccer Australia to keep to their word and deliver on its promise of providing the national team with a 12 month program."
"Rather than take each game month by month, we need to know exactly what’s going on and plan well in advance so we’re able to produce similar results at a World Cup."
Croquet!!! Love ya work, Paul.
In his exclusive column for TheWorldGame, Socceroos skipper Paul Okon expressed his disappointment at the England team for refusing to partake in the friendly tradition of swapping shirts following Australia's emphatic 3-1 win at Upton Park.
Okon, who had an outstanding game at the heart of the Socceroos midfield, was full of praise for his teammates but was a little surprised at how humiliated the English were.
"There was no excuse for England," Okon said. "They have now been hammered by Australia at every sport - except maybe croquet - that they’re now too embarrassed to give us any credit."
"I was very disappointed that the England players didn’t want to swap shirts after the match. Each player received two shirts and it’s customary for players to swap, especially after an international. They just didn’t want to do it.
"A few of our guys began to swap with a couple of them but when it became an issue we didn’t pursue it. I guess that shows what the result really meant to England. They were very disappointed to lose to Australia. "
The former Middlesbrough, Watford, Fiorentina, Lazio and Club Brugge player who began his career with Marconi in the NSL, also called on Soccer Australia to make the most from the result and deliver on its promise to provide the Socceroos with regular matches ahead of an eventual tilt at qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.
"Not too many teams beat England convincingly. We have," he said.
"It’s now up to us to produce more results like that and, importantly, produce them consistently.
"One result doesn’t make us a great team but it increases expectation. Even from ourselves. This was a great result from the entire team, helped by the great spirit present in the squad. It was a great experience for everybody. "
"One step towards establishing that consistency is for Soccer Australia to keep to their word and deliver on its promise of providing the national team with a 12 month program."
"Rather than take each game month by month, we need to know exactly what’s going on and plan well in advance so we’re able to produce similar results at a World Cup."
Croquet!!! Love ya work, Paul.
