AUSTRALIA came within a whisker of having their World Cup confidence shattered on the eve of the big one after a lucky win over ‘shittest team in the tournament’ New Zealand.
The Socceroos were trailing 1-0 in Melbourne when they decided to follow the advice of Aussie saint Olivier Newton-John by ‘getting physical’ with the All Whites.
A Brett Holman goal in injury time gave them victory in the end but only after a studs-up horror show from the Roos, which led to Kiwi Leo Bertos being carried off injured.
First Blackburn hardman Grella caught him with a sickening studs-up challenge.
And Bertos had barely recovered when Everton star Cahill took him out.
Both escaped with bookings but Verbeek rapped: “In the World Cup that’s probably two reds cards. I can’t accept it.”
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