Socceroos Fifa World Cup Adventure

[Bala]

Excellent start to the Roos! Good goal there by fatass Viduka!

 

[sachin]

Ahh,Viduka is hardly fat.But good start!

 

[MWaugh]

2ND HALF HIGHLIGHTS​

51 min - Zeljko Kalac makes a great save to deny Basinas after the greek striker drives the ball to "spiders" left. Kalac keeps his side in the lead as he palms the ball down and away from goal for a corner.

(Zeljko Kalac makes a great save)​

57 min - Guus makes his first change as Vince Grella comes off after a job well done in the defensive midfield role to give Jason Cullina a taste of the action.

67 min - Marco Bresciano is fantastically denied by Greek keeper Nikopolidis. Bresciano looks to shoot across his body to the top right hand corner by Nikopolidis makes a superb leap to his right to punch the ball away with both hands. The ever young keeper doing his best to keep his side in the contest.

(Marco Bresciano forces Nikopolidis into a great save)​

72 min - Australia make their second change, this time up front with Mark Viduka coming off after scoring what looks to be the winning goal. Still with 20 minutes left, Archie Thompson is given a chance to use his pace up front against a flat back 4.

76 min - Fanis Gekas makes a meal out of a great opportunity in the box. The forward heads over the bar after getting free infront of goal. Scott Chipperfield appeared to be the man to blame after letting Gekas get goal side in the contest. Kalac and Australia lucky that the ball cleared the crossbar.

(Gekas heads over the bar)​

85 min - Kalac makes a crucial save! Stelios Giannakopoulos gets into a perfect position for a diving header that is angled across goal but is denied by Kalac who stretches perfectly to his left. It appears to be the last chance for the visitors as the ball is cleared from the line by Chipperfield with only minutes left to play.

(Kalac ensures that Australia record a win on home soil)​

90 min - Its all over! Australia have won their first competitive match since the World Cup Qualifier against Uruguay in Sydney.

(Australian players salute the Melbourne crowd as their supporters wish them well in Germany)​

​

 

[m_vaughan]

Friendlies do not count as competitive games, as far as I know.

But good win nevertheless against the European Champions.

 

[Bala]

Rusty performance. I should say. But the result's what that counts.

 

[MWaugh]

Friendlies do not count as competitive games, as far as I know.

by competitive i mean a decent hit out against a team other than one of the island nations in the oceania region. however i thought josh kennedy got his first international cap in the friendly against Liechtenstein.

Team departure and dutch match will come tomorrow

 

[sid_19840]

Decent start by the Socceroos,although Id have had MS as keeper and TC in the midfield.Good presentation as usual.

 

[Left_Hander]

Decent win for the Socceroos. Presenation is nice with the match highlights. The game against Holland should be a good test to see where virtual Australia are on the footballing map .

 

[MWaugh]

Vidmar Makes Emotional Announcement​

Veteran Socceroos defender Tony Vidmar has withdrawn himself from being considered for the Australian squad for the World Cup due to medical reasons. The 35 year old centre back has been forced to withdraw himself from contention for the squad after he was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat.

An understandably devastated Vidmar had this too say to the media:

"It's something that has come as a real shock but due to the seriousness of the situation I had no other choice in the interests of my own health and the team that I withdraw from being considered for the World Cup squad," said Vidmar.

"Of course I would love to play in the World Cup, it's been a dream of mine and I have been in four campaigns but until I am fully aware of my health situation I can't risk playing."

The Australian squad will be named in Sydney tomorrow.

(Tony Vidmar during his emotional announcement in Melbourne)​

​

 

[MWaugh]

Australian Squad Named​

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer John O?Neill and Coach Guus Hiddink have named their 23 man squad to compete at the 2006 finals in Germany. The real suprise for the squad is relatively unknown striker Joshua Kennedy who will, standing at 192cm tall, give the Australians a height option up front in set pieces and crosses.

Australia
1 Mark Schwarzer (GK)
2 Lucas Neill (D)
3 Craig Moore (D)
4 Tim Cahill (M)
5 Jason Culina (M)
6 Tony Popovic (D)
7 Brett Emerton (M)
8 Josip Skoko (M)
9 Mark Viduka (S)
10 Harry Kewell (M)
11 Stan Lazaridis (D)
12 Ante Covic (GK)
13 Vince Grella (M)
14 Scott Chipperfield (M)
15 John Aloisi (S)
16 Michael Beauchamp (D)
17 Archie Thompson (S)
18 Zeljko Kalac (GK)
19 Joshua Kennedy (S)
20 Luke Wilkshire (M)
21 Mile Sterjovski (M)
22 Mark Milligan (D)
23 Marco Bresciano (M)

(Uncapped Joshua Kennedy is the real selection bolter for the Socceroos)​

 

[MWaugh]

Australia Arrive In Holland​

The Australian Socceroos have touched down in Schipol Airport in Amsterdam as their preperations continue for the FIFA World Cup in Germany. The squad appeared excited and eager during their arrival, Mark Viduka had this to say to the media.

"The boys are very excited about what is on the horizon at the moment. The dutch game is going to be extremely tough but it will give us a great idea of where we are ahead of the world cup. The Greece game got us in the mood of playing as a team again and hopefully we can train hard and get some very positive results"

(Mark Viduka talks to the media as he arrives in Holland)
(Image curtousy of Getty Images)​

​

 

[sid_19840]

Thread Moved on request.

 

[Cricket_60]

Go the Spider! :happy

 

[MWaugh]

Australia Prepare For Ruud And Company​

Guus Hiddink took his team into a closed training session on the eve of the friendly international against Holland at Rotterdam tomorrow. Hiddink did address the media after the session briefly as he touched on issues relating to his opponents and their threats.

"They are one of the best teams competiting at the finals so of course it is going to be a tough match. It looks like they will play a very wide based game and focus on Ruud van Nistlerooy up front. This gives us a great chance to dominate in the midfield. Hopefully Timmy Cahill can also get some minutes but he is still a little bit sore."

(Tim Cahill is racing to be fit for the world cup and is expected to play some role in the Holland clash)​

Harry Kewell has been ruled out of the match while Newcastle United defender Craig more returns from injury to replace Tony Vidmar. Australia will rely heavily on the experience of Moore against one of the strongest attacks in the world.

 

[MWaugh]

​

Craig Forster looks at Australia's upcoming clash against Holland.

"The midfield will be the key for Australia. It looks like Holland will play a 1-4-3-3 formation and attack Australia from out on the flanks. Robben and Kuyt will prove deadly if given too much posession and room. It will be crucial that Niel and Chipperfield shut them down early.

Viduka will again play up front but will have Marco Bresciano helping him in an attacking midfield role. The key to a good result for Australia will be the defence, and the likes of Moore and Popovic will have to combine well to control Ruud Van Nistlerooy up front"

(The Australian lineup and formation, focusing primarly on defence and attacking on the counter)





(The Netherlands lineup and formation, looking to come in from the flanks and utilise Robben and Kuyt to assist Van Nistlerooy. Cocu will be important in the midfield)​