Zeljko, Please Step Down

The warning signs were reported before the World Cup began, and as Paul Johnson explains, it almost cost Australia a place in the second round.

Zeljko Kalac - The moment Australia drew its breath in horror.

I wrote in a previous article, “The Socceroos’ coaching staff, must now choose Schwarzer, otherwise they not only risk a public outcry back home, but a potential disaster if Kalac were to slip up at the World Cup. Schwarzer is the correct option and he has proven that over time”.

Those words have never rung more true than they did at around 6:20 am this morning (AEST time).

As Australia watched in horror Zeljko Kalac, the man who whinged and complained about not receiving a fair go, and openly spruiked that he was the man to do the job for Australia in goals, had an “absolute howler”, when he failed to get down properly to a weakly struck shot by Croatian captain Niko Kovac, and fumbled it over the line, nearly causing Australia’s World Cup dream to unravel on the spot. Needless to say Schwarzer, one of the world’s best would not have made this mistake!

For the longest time it seemed that everyone in the stadium and around the world stood open mouthed in disbelief, for this was a graver mistake than David Seaman made in the previous World Cup when he was chipped by Ronaldinho.

Australia were of course rescued by a Harry Kewell strike in the 79th minute, but the realization of what could have been disaster would be fresh in the Socceroo’s minds.

Kalac was supposedly chosen by Guus Hiddink for his aerial ability, but even this was to be proved false, with Kalac struggling to hold anything or even clear the ball when he came of his line to collect a cross, and late in the first half he even managed to spill a corner a schoolboy would have taken almost over his line.

This should have been a warning shot for Hiddink to get the clumsy Kalac off the field and bring on Schwarzer, but the coach stuck with his choice.

The whole game he looked indecisive, and throughout he was hesitant on numerous occasions causing headaches for his defence, even right at the death he half came out and then back tracked giving the Croatian’s a free shot, which was luckily blocked on the line by Craig Moore.

Even Dario Srna’s free kick although spectacular, could have been stopped, but Kalac set a very strange wall for a free kick from right in front of his goal, leaving many to wonder what he was doing there in the first place.

If ever there was a look of bitterness on the face of a teammate it was that of Mark Schwarzer who cut a lonely and desolate figure on the Australian bench, he is yet to talk to anyone in the media, and it is easy to understand why. The roasting he would rightfully unleash on Hiddink would probably cost him his place in the team again.

No one person could blame Schwarzer though, he has been there from day one, and is singularly the main reason we are at this world cup, he was the man who saved the penalties against Uruguay and has been in stellar form the whole way through the lead up, even turning back the fancied Dutch team time after time.

Kalac owned up after the game saying “the goal was my fault”, and it was Zeljko, but it was also your fault you suckered in the coach who was stupid enough to believe that you were a better choice than Schwarzer.

Wake up Zeljko you are not even in the same league as the Middlesborough number one!

Hiddink for his part averted the issue in the post match press conference saying “My team showed they have hearts like lions. It was a great match from both teams, very competitive and dogged”.

Zeljko Kalac admitted the goal was his fault, now to truly redeem himself, he must admit he is no match for Schwarzer and step down from all future games of this World Cup. It would be the team thing to do.

Related Article:

Safe Schwarzer to Keep Out Kalac (Wed Jun 7)

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!