Veteran journalist Mike Sheahan has slammed the first leg of the World Cup qualifier between Australia and Honduras, declaring it a boring match.
The scoreless draw has put the Socceroos in the box seat to advance to next year’s World Cup, as they need to defeat Honduras in Sydney on Wednesday night to make the world’s biggest stage. Despite the positive result, Sheahan says the spectacle was underwhelming.
“I thought Saturday’s event was rubbish,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“I couldn’t believe what [the game of world football] served up in Honduras. It was played on a cow’s paddock, no goals were kicked, and if there was a highlight I missed it. The best player, Tim Cahill, was sitting on the bench and not playing.
“If this code is as big as it is, and it’s hard to dispute that, the Hondurans are coming out in a cattle truck and the Australians came home in first class. The AFL wouldn’t do that. Why wouldn’t FIFA get involved?”
Even though many have lauded the nil-all result, with some saying it’s the best effort Australia has delivered in a long time, Sheahan doesn’t understand how a game with no goals can be enthralling.
“How do you have an event where your aim is to not win it?” he said.
“It’s just to hold them to a draw. It’s not about goals? You go across the world to not win a game of the sport.”
Ange Postecoglou’s men battle Honduras in the second leg on Wednesday night. Cahill is expected to play, while the return of Mark Milligan, Mathew Leckie and Robbie Kruse ensures the Aussies will have fresh legs across the pitch.