Socceroos / Matildas / World Cup / Asian Cup

[Gordon Bennett]

Yes, that's a good draw.

[mightytiges]

The high humidity and heat are going to be the Socceroos main worries. Provided Kewell and Cahill are fit by next year there's no country there that is better than the Aussies. We're a good show to win it.

[mightytiges]

The latest FIFA rankings are out and Australia is down 10 spots to 43 and now ranked below Northern Ireland  ???.

You'll be happy X, Italia is 1st.

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/index/0,2548,All-Apr-2007,00.html

[one-eyed]

Australian squad:

Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer, Brad Jones, Michael Petkovic.

Defenders: Lucas Neill, Brett Emerton, Michael Beauchamp, Michael Thwaite, Mark Milligan, Patrick Kisnorbo.

Midfielders: Mark Bresciano, Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Vince Grella, Mile Sterjovski, Luke Wilkshire, Jason Culina, Carl Valeri, Nick Carle, David Carney.

Forwards: Mark Viduka, John Aloisi, Archie Thompson, Brett Holman.

[mightytiges]

The Aussie centre backs are probably the weakness in the team. The rest of the squad looks strong.

                    Schwarzer

Neill    Beauchamp   Thwaite    Emerton

Culina    Bresciano     Cahill      Kewell

             Viduka       Aloisi

Grella could also start in midfield with Cahill forward and Aloisi on the bench.

[one-eyed]

The Socceroos have fallen to 3rd in Asia and dropped 6 places in the latest FIFA rankings:

40 Japan              703 +4   
47 Iran                623  -6 
48 Australia          618 -6 
51 Korea Republic 597   0 
58 Uzbekistan       534   0   
62 Saudi Arabia    484  +1 

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html#confederation=25998&rank=158

[one-eyed]

Viduka quits Socceroos until Arnold saves the day
Peter Kogoy
The Australian
June 15, 2007

SOCCEROOS striker Mark Viduka quit international football only to be talked into changing his mind by national coach Graham Arnold last night.
Viduka had officially informed senior Football Federation Australia officials on Wednesday night that his 38-cap international career was over.

The FFA yesterday arranged a nationwide teleconference with Viduka for 6am this morning to announce his resignation and had Melbourne Victory striker Daniel Allsopp on standby to replace the English-based sharpshooter.

However, Arnold managed last night to convince Viduka to reverse his decision and declare himself available to play in the Asian Nations Championship next month.

Several sources contacted by The Australian last night confirmed the hard work by Arnold and FFA high performance director John Boultbee prompted the new Newcastle United striker's change of heart.

Rest of article at: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21907536-2722,00.html

[bluey_21]

did a mal michael 

[one-eyed]

The Socceroos start their Asian Cup campaign tonight against long-shots Oman in Group A.

The other two teams in Group A, Thailand and Iraq, played a 1-all draw last night. The ground was soaked due to a tropical storm so the Aussies will need to adapt to the shocking conditions of the drenched pitch.

BANGKOK, July 7 (Reuters) - Striker Younes Khalef scored the equaliser to earn Iraq a 1-1 draw with Group A hosts Thailand in the opening match of the Asian Cup on Saturday.

The expansive Rajamangala stadium was less than half full after the city was drenched by a tropical storm that caused flash flooding in the surrounding suburbs and kept thousands of potential spectators away.

The pitch had been badly soaked, preventing both teams from developing any fluency and they resorted to long-range shots on goal to try and break the deadlock in the second half.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=221240&cc=3436

[mjs]

What happened? We were one goal down last time I heard.

[mightytiges]

Timmy Cahill got the equalizer with just a few minutes to go. It finished one-all. I didn't see the game but the reports in the media say we were ordinary and clearly underdone. All 4 teams in Group A are on 1 point. We play Iraq next on Friday.

[Hellenic Tiger]

Yeah was a pretty lame effort.
Fell behind in the 32nd minute and Supersub Tim Cahill equalised in the 89th.
Need to thank keeper Mark Schwarzer made a few point blank saves from a header and a shot and stopped a clear one on one. Oman could easily have scored 3 or 4. We lacked polish and penetration and a marked improvement is required on Friday against Iraq. Thankfully all 4 teams on 1 point after everyone has played 1 game.

[mightytiges]

The shock results continued last night. Vietnam won 2-0 against UAE  .

[mightytiges]

Thailand defeated Oman 2-0 so the Socceroos can't afford a slip up against Iraq tonight or it's basically bye bye.

Group A table

                P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS
Thailand    2   1  1  -  3  1    4
Australia    1   -  1  -  1  1    1
Iraq           1   -  1  -  1  1    1
Oman        2   -  1  1  1  3    1 

[mightytiges]

The Socceroos lost. 1-3 to Iraq. Played just crap. More turnovers than Richmond and a leaky defence . We need to get a real coach again.

We now need to beat host Thailand by at least 2 goals to stay in the Asian Cup. The way we're going I can't see that happening.

                P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS
Iraq          2   1  1  -  4  2    4
Thailand    2   1  1  -  3  1    4
Australia    2   -  1  1  2  4    1
Oman        2   -  1  1  1  3    1