Blatter Knows How Deep Is the Oceania
The headline in the Sydney Morning Herald dripped with fear, loathing, paranoia and dread -- everything you would expect over a story dealing with Sepp Blatter and FIFA politics:
“Now it’s official: the soccer gods hate Australians”
Really now. If the “soccer gods” in question are Blatter and his henchmen, let’s get a few things straight.
Blatter’s boys don’t hate Australians -- they barely recognize they exist. Except during FIFA election years, such as 2002, when Blatter’s insidious grip on the sports’ governing body seemed to be slackening, and Sepp needed all the friends and votes he could buy.
Oceania’s soccer federation held 11 important votes. Blatter wanted them, so into the backroom they all went. Blatter emerged with Oceania’s support, and four more years, and Oceania came away thinking it would finally be granted automatic entry into the World Cup tournament.
Somewhat surprisingly, Blatter appeared to live up to his end of the bargain last year, announcing that Oceania was in. Previously, the champion of the Oceania region had to play off against runners-up from other continents -- South America and Asia, most recently. Usually, this resulted in Australia bitterly and agonizingly falling short against Uruguay or Iran or Argentina or Israel.
Not so surprisingly, Blatter reneged on the deal last week, caving to pressure from South America, which would have dropped from 4.5 World Cup berths to four had Oceania kept its automatic spot.
“We have corrected an implicit injustice,” Blatter grandly declared in December. “It is right and just that Oceania has a direct place.”
At least until South America does the math and Blatter can’t wriggle his way out of this mess by convincing his boys to sign off on expanding an already-bloated World Cup field from 32 teams to 36.
When that happens, you can safely predict Blatter’s next response.
Never mind.
Oceania, back to half a berth, was then asked to accept Blatter’s most insincere apology and bank on his next flimsy promise to do his best to “restore Oceania to the FIFA family.”
It didn’t happen.
Les Avory, president of the Australian soccer federation, told The Age, “Anyone who knows anything about international football know what happened here is international politics of the worst kind. The IOC pales in comparison to FIFA.”
Avory’s predecessor, Nick Greiner, told reporters in Sydney, “You’d have to say it’s an act of bastardry of great proportions. I’ve seen a lot of political double-crosses in my time. This is right at the top of the tree.”
Australian media reaction to Blatter’s flip-flop ranged from the bridge-burning suggestion that Oceania secede from FIFA -- thereby assuring Australia never again competes in the World Cup -- to a more reasonable proposal that the Oceania federation be absorbed by Asia, whose federation holds more political clout within FIFA.
Are They Worthy?
In soccer terms, Oceania consists essentially of Australia and New Zealand knocking the stuffing out of Western Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti and a few other tiny island nations. Is that enough to warrant automatic entry into the World Cup at the expense of the fifth-ranked team in South America, the continent that has produced nine World Cup champions, more than any other?
It’s a tough argument to buy and a promise Blatter never should have made.
New Zealand fared poorly in the recent Confederations Cup, and the Australian soccer federation has serious organizational and financial problems. According to the Morning Herald, members of “Soccer Australia’s old guard” wrote letters to FIFA requesting Australia’s suspension from the world body -- letters that apparently helped scuttle the Oceania bid.
Only twice has Oceania qualified teams for the World Cup. In 1974, Australia went three games and out, failing to score. Eight years later, New Zealand also went 0-3, scoring two goals while conceding 12.
Had Oceania retained its automatic bid, South America would have been left with four berths -- fewer than Africa (five) and Asia (4.5) and only one-half more than CONCACAF (3.5). Considering that Africa, Asia and CONCACAF have combined to place one team -- South Korea, 2002 -- beyond the World Cup quarterfinals, South America had justifiable reason to balk.
Australia and New Zealand prefer to point to recent on-the-field results. In the last two years, Australia has defeated Brazil, England, France and Mexico -- all rated in FIFA’s top 10 at the time. New Zealand’s case is less convincing: a draw against Scotland and a one-goal loss to the United States.
A merger with the Asian federation is Oceania’s best solution. Two Asian teams, China and Saudi Arabia, were arguably the worst at last year’s World Cup. Throw Australia and New Zealand into that mix, with 4.5 berths at stake, and you’d have to say Oceania’s chances of returning to the World Cup should improve.
Cienfuegos Tribute
Today’s Mexico-El Salvador friendly at the Home Depot Center, intended to serve as a tribute to the Galaxy’s retiring midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos, is expected to have an added twist: Cienfuegos in El Salvador’s starting lineup.
Cienfuegos last played for El Salvador’s national team in 2000, when he quit after a dispute with the country’s soccer federation. Cienfuegos, who will retire as a player at the end of the 2003 Major League Soccer season, met with El Salvador team officials this week and is expected to start and play most of the first half. Today’s match starts at 2 p.m.
The game will also serve as a Gold Cup tuneup for Mexico and El Salvador. The Gold Cup, featuring 10 teams from CONCACAF plus Brazil and Colombia, will be held July 12-27 at three venues: Foxboro, Mass.; Miami and Mexico City, site of the final.
Mexico can use the work. The team has won only once in six matches under Coach Ricardo Lavolpe, going 1-2-4 with three scoreless draws.
El Salvador played Paraguay Wednesday night at Candlestick Park, losing, 1-0.
