Can you still really play two sports at the elite level in Australia?
Ellyse Perry thinks so and with great support from Matildas Coach Tom Sermanni over the years she has done so.
But her recent decision to play cricket for Australia and miss the semi and final of the W-League season left me wondering where now for Ellyse?

Paddy Bordier, Nick Cumpston and Nick Amies talk Aussie football once again this week, in particular the A-league (just four days away!!!) the Socceroos' chances against Malaysia and Oman, the Matildas and Paddy's boxing career; it's all here on the Nearpost.
Nick jr. has been charged with uploading the podcast this week, so feel free to attribute any and all technical difficulties to him in your hate mail.

With the A-League teetering along last year football was heading back to the future.
Despite the move into Asia, a successful Asia Cup campaign, the rise of the Matildas and the increasing number of Young Guns pushing into the Socceroos and starring in the A-League moving to Europe and Asia, football still lacked any sense of security or money for our A-League clubs to survive, never mind to move ahead.

Brazil U20 vs Portugal Sub 20 Highlights Goals- U20 World Cup Final 2011 Video Oscar hat trick is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Brazil U20 vs Portugal Sub 20 Highlights Goals- U20 World Cup Final 2011 Video Oscar hat trick is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Brazil U20 vs Portugal U20 2011 ( Brazil Sub 20 vs Portugal Sub 20) Final score and result:- Brazil U20 vs Portugal U20 3-2 ( Oscar*3/ Alex, [.

I guess there is gold in them there hills - and flogging David Beckham one more time must make some match-fixer a happy man.
But aren't we over this?
With the Matildas, Olyroos, The World Cup campaign and the A-League about to kick-off do we really need a micky mouse show game again.

Now the dust has settled and the brief coverage of the Matildas in our national media has disappeared I thought someone should review the campaign.
While it was no doubt, with two wins, the best ever performance by a Matildas team, qualifying for the Quarter Finals and picking up the best Young Player in the World Cup in Caitlin Foord, one shouldn't be too harsh in review, perhaps!

Now the dust has settled and the brief coverage of the Matildas in our national media has disappeared I thought someone should review the campaign.
While it was no doubt, with two wins, the best ever performance by a Matildas team, qualifying for the Quarter Finals and picking up the best Young Player in the World Cup in Caitlin Foord, one shouldn't be too harsh in review, perhaps!

With the European sides playing in European Club Championships you can see the "professionalism" or cheating of the players beginning to rise. And of course their football nous, skills and fitness.
W-League is great - for ten games - but surely it's time for Japan, China, Korea to join with our top two W-League side in an East Asian Champions League.

Don't tell me the men and womens game is different.
I've watched the Aussies take on Guinea, Norway and Sweden.
The result is the same - hack De Vanna, hack anything that moves - and not a professional referee to stamp anything out.
The Women's game has sadly come of age!

It's always painful to see your team lose a crucial game, but it hurts more when you concede the game to the opposition rather than being simply outplayed.
Australia gave so many poor goals away in this tournament - they'll be remembered for that - but last nights final goal that smashed the World Cup dreams of us all was the worst yet.

It's always painful to see your team lose a crucial game, but it hurts more when you concede the game to the opposition rather than being simply outplayed.
Australia gave so many poor goals away in this tournament - they'll be remembered for that - but last nights final goal that smashed the World Cup dreams of us all was the worst yet.

Shocks continue to abound in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup with defending two-time winners Germany crashing out in their home tournament on Saturday whilst Brazil went out on penalties to the United States on Sunday.

Saturday saw Germany unexpectedly go out to Japan with Karina Maruyama's goal in the second half of extra-time sealing the fate of the tournament hosts who were hoping to win a third straight world crown following their wins in 2003 and 2007.

Brazil vs USA 2011 Highlights Score- Women's Soccer World Cup Penalties is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Brazil vs USA 2011 Highlights Score- Women's Soccer World Cup Penalties is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Brazil vs USA 2011 ( Women's Soccer) Final score:- Brazil vs USA 2-2 ( Marta*2/ Daiane own goal, Wambach) ( USA win 5-3 on penalties) FIFA World Cup quarterfinal- July 10, 2011- Dresden, [.

A whole lotta Schelin in this World Cup

After eliminating Norway in the group stage, the Matildas could not become Scandinavian giant killers falling to Sweden in the quarters. But they did stretch their opponents as Ellyse Perry scored to make inroads into Sweden's lead. Lisa De Vanna, Tameka Butt and Kyah Simon kept the back line busy and Collette McCallum was a constant threat with her set pieces.

Hat trick hero Sawa, will be leading Japan against host nation Germany in the second quarter final

Well we've come to the knock out stages of the Women's World Cup. 8 Teams left and 8 teams are either on their way home or drowning their sorrows in a Bavarian Beer Hall, getting ready to watch this weekend's exciting matches.

Hat trick hero Sawa, will be leading Japan against host nation Germany in the second quarter final

Well we've come to the knock out stages of the Women's World Cup. 8 Teams left and 8 teams are either on their way home or drowning their sorrows in a Bavarian Beer Hall, getting ready to watch this weekend's exciting matches.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=201807689870812
World Cup Quarter Final - How good is that! School hols and all the girls and boys can watch!

Based on our vast knowledge of football, and having watched many many W-League games, and all of the Matildas World Cup games me and my mates (they are known as the Canberra bootroom and shall remain anonymous at this point) have come up with the team to beat Sweden.
Let's not worry about the shape, too much, just get players who can defend and play through midfield, link up and make some runs in attacking areas.

szólj hozzá: Australia 2-1 Norway

Kyah Simon scored a brace as the Matildas shrugged off a sluggish first half performance to battle the more experienced Norwegians on even terms in the second half. It was the Norwegians, however, exploiting the soft Australian defense who went up first through Elise Thorsnes.

If we play like that we'll never beat USA conquerors Sweden.
Wily fox Tom Sermanni ditched Emily Van Egmond, left Sally Shipard on the bench and went for a three pronged attack against previous World Cup winners Norway this morning - a team we'd never beaten.
The results said it worked.

Advance, Australia Fair! The Matildas will be hoping their anthem proves prophetic. Norway's anthem is more stately, but is apparently harder to sing, as their players look like they're just mumbling along.
I wish Noway was listening to Adrian Healey and Kate Markgraf intone their obituary.

For most people the Matildas crashed onto the scene with "that nude calender" way back when; but for the football community it was 2007 when they really made their mark.
Reaching the second stage of the World Cup in China in 2007 on the back of some exhilarating displays made even those "football is a man's game" take a sideways glance.

For most people the Matildas crashed onto the scene with "that nude calender" way back when; but for the football community it was 2007 when they really made their mark.
Reaching the second stage of the World Cup in China in 2007 on the back of some exhilarating displays made even those "football is a man's game" take a sideways glance.

Japan vs Brazil Highlights 2011- U17 World Cup Highlights QF Video is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Japan vs Brazil Highlights 2011- U17 World Cup Highlights QF Video is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Japan vs Brazil 2011 Final score:- Japan v Brazil 2-3 ( Nakajima, Hayakawa/ Leo, Ademilson, Adryan) U17 World Cup- quarterfinal- Estadio La Corregodora- 3rd July, 2011 Brazil set up a semifinal meeting at [.

We did it!
We finally beat Brazil or at least an Equitorial Guinea side filled with FIVE Brazilians who played like the Brazil men's side of 1974.
If it moves - hack it!
And the Referee had to be one of the worst displays of reffing ever seen. The decision by the EQ Brazilian defender to hold the ball in both hands in the area for FOUR seconds has to be seen to be believed.

The Matildas overcame Gyoengyi Gall's bizzare non penalty call (sure to be a You Tube classic) and two horrendous pieces of defending by Servet Uzunlar whose first name maybe apt in the manner she gifted Genoveva Anonman a brace of goals. Leena Khamis and Emily Van Egmond reversed roles of provider and finisher in the first two goals and Lisa De Vanna off the bench scored the decisive third goal.

Another one of those viral sensations has hit the net after a bizarre handball incident in the FIFA Women's World Cup currently being held in Germany.

Australia were playing Equatorial Guinea today in their Group D game at the Ruhrstadion in Bochum when, in the 16th minute, defender Bruna quite clearly handled the ball and kept it in her hands before throwing it away in full view of the referee who left the incident unpunished.

It was a little difficult to watch, what with both the Matildas and Brazil seemingly deadset in their tactics. Brazil wanted to obviously push the wings until it got to the box and then tried to get it to the center of the pitch. Regardless, a lot of physical play and a beautiful goal despite excellent marking results in a Brazilian 1-0 win.

Rosana's 54th minute goal really should not have been. The Matildas were guilty of indulging the Brazilians entry into their box. They had at least three chances to clear or muscle them off the ball. Be that as it may, when the moment came Rosana niftily flicked the ball onto her left side creating a clear path to goal and her volley had both power and direction carrying it away from Melissa Barbieri.

Brazil vs Matildas Highlights Score Video- Women's World Cup 2011 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Brazil vs Matildas Highlights Score Video- Women's World Cup 2011 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Brazil vs Australia ( Matildas) 2011 Women's World Cup 2011- Group D- 29/6/2011 Final score:- Brazil vs Matildas 1-0 ( Rosana 54′) Brazil beat Australia 1-0 in Group D at the 2011 Women's FIFA [.

Tom Sermanni has shocked the Matildas and W-League football followers by leaving out of his starting eleven in tonights game against Brazil three of the stars from the last World and Asia Cup.
Lauren Colthorpe
Claire Polkinghorne
Sally Shipard
and Aussie cricketer and footballer Ellyse Perry who burst on to the scene after the last World Cup - looked a shoe-in for a starting birth - has been overtaken by a 16 year old Caitlin Foord.

Tom Sermanni has shocked the Matildas and W-League football followers by leaving out of his starting eleven in tonights game against Brazil three of the stars from the last World and Asia Cup.
Lauren Colthorpe
Claire Polkinghorne
Sally Shipard
and Aussie cricketer and footballer Ellyse Perry who burst on to the scene after the last World Cup - looked a shoe-in for a starting birth - has been overtaken by a 16 year old Caitlin Foord.

Paddy Bordier, Nick Cumpston, and Nick Amies talk Aussie Football
We've got Aussie football covered. Joeys, Matildas, Harry and Bernie and all the footy news and talk. How many football poddies only cover Aussie football?
We are clearly Australia's number one football poddie, apart from all the others, We discuss all the news from Australian football.

Paddy Bordier, Nick Cumpston, Nick Amies and Eamonn Flanagan talk Aussie Football
We've got Aussie football covered. Socceroos, Matildas, Harry and Bernie and all the footy news and talk. How many football poddies only cover Aussie football?
We are clearly Australia's number one football poddie, apart from all the others, We discuss all the news from Australian football.

It's the Matildas, Socceroos and Harry Kewell and a big welcome to guest Nearpost presenter Nick Amies.
We're streamed live 6.30 aest www.2xxfm.org or get the poddie on itunes or here on the blog.

We're playing Brazil TWICE live on SBS.
Daily highlights from the Women's World Cup and the best U17's take on the World.
Then it's the Under 20's in August.
Check out the kick-off times and schedules here
In a big month for Australian football, the Matildas and Joeys begin their FIFA World Cup campaigns, while the Young Socceroos prepare for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in July.

Paddy Bordier and Nick Cumpston talk Aussie Football
We've got Aussie football covered. Sydney FC - the new AGE team of the East? Matildas, FIFA and more. We've got all the news, and how many football poddies only cover Aussie football?
We are clearly Australia's number one football poddie, apart from all the others, We discuss all the news from Australian football.

Sally (Shipard) tweeted:

MATILDAS Internal GAME 2moro (saturday) 2:30pm AIS!Come have a squiz.All vying for WORLD CUP selection.Will be a competitive entertain

As usual it's all happening in Canberra:
The Olyroos were in town this week - the Young Socceroos and Mustafa Amini was spotted at the AIS swimming pool during the week.

What do the FFA think of Mrs Wensing? 80 years of age, she went out of her way to sign the A-League4Canberra supporters pledge in 2009. The FFA could not have cared less.

Fozzie has spoken.
At the recent inaugural fans forum in Sydney, a marvellous initiative btw, to look at and solve the problems facing football in Australia.

Rumour is the Matildas will have just two friendlies at this stage, in May prior to the World Cup.
Surely they'll have more?
And the new Matildas Assistant Coach - Spencer Prior, former Norwich City, recent Fox Sports and Australian arrival and recent completion of all his Coaching Badges.