Off to Round 2...

All Australia needed was a draw with Croatia to get through the second round of the World Cup and we did it!!!

Croatia's Darijo Srna kicked a goal two minutes in. Australia's Craig Moore kicked the equalizer goal around the 40 minutes mark. Come the 57th minute, goalkeeper Kalac misread Kovac's low drive from just outside the penalty area and gifted the Croats another goal. All hope was lost...

... until the man of the match, Harry Kewell, kicked the most important goal of his life in the 72nd minute, forcing a draw between the competitors.


Moore is joined by Harry Kewell as well as Cahill as dreams of a second round clash begin to blossom (Picture and caption from Herald Sun)


Before long Moore is mobbed by the rest of the Socceroos as the Stuttgart crowd goes wild. It set the tone for the rest of the game, with excitement rising every minute thereafter (Picture and caption from Herald Sun)


The man of the match, Harry Kewell, celebrates after the brilliant equalizer goal (Picture from Herald Sun)


Kewell enjoys the moment of victory with John Aloisi (l) and Tim Cahill (r) (Picture and caption from Herald Sun)

So we're on to the knockout phase of the competition. Our first game is against Italy. It'll be tough, but Australia's "Never Say Die" attitude can make mountains out of mole hills...

AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE!!!

OI! OI! OI!

*****

On a different note, who can forget Brazil's spectacular win against Japan? Ronaldo, amidst all the talk that he is not performing well in Brazil's last two matches, proved that he is still the fabulous footballer that he is. He kicked two out of the 4 goals that won them the match.

Who said he lost his magical touch? (Picture from FIFA World Cup official website)


The Brazilians celebrating their win (Picture from FIFA World Cup official website)

But personally, I have a soft spot for Brazil and it is because of one man...

RONALDINHO

Move over, Beckham... here's my new footballer crush!

He may not be as good looking as the English captain, but boy he can f**king play! Tagged as the new Maradona and the man whom the great Pele himself praised as the new face of Brazilian football... he even asked for his jersey!

Check out his amazing website here.

If Brazil ends up winning the Cup (very likely), I'll cheer loud and hard... because of this man. What a hunk!