Australia's 2010 World Cup Qualifying Campaign (2 Viewers)

[shannonm]

our next 2 are against iraq, june 1 up in brissy then june 7 in dubai? (i think), or some other non-iraq city

after that we have an away against qatar and finish up with a home game against china in sydney in late june. (would rather have had this game earlier, as by this stage our fate would probably have been decided already as there is no advantage coming 1st or 2nd in our group)

assuming we make the top 2 in our group, we will be drawn randomly in a group with 4 others teams; the top 2 in this group will auto qualify and 3rd with playoff against 3rd in the second (randomly drawn) group, who then plays off against a team from OFC (highly likely NZ, if not then new caledonia)

unless we have an absolutely rotton draw for this round (i.e. japan, korea, saudia arabia, iran, or something like that - i never really rated china as a football playing nation), we should be pretty sweet to get through and qualify

 

[Dumsum]

Got tickets to Aus vs China. Anyone else going?

 

[Peartie]

I'm going australia vs Ghana

and possibly Australia China - depends if my soft cock friends who have exams the next day can miss a night of study to come

 

[blakegman]

Essien and Muntari won't be playing for ghana. Was only gonna go if Essien played.

 

[Peartie]

Socceroos name squad for Ghana clash

http://www.smh.com.au/news/football...for-ghana-clash/2008/05/13/1210444410727.html

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek today named three uncapped players in his squad to play Ghana in the international friendly match at Sydney Football Stadium on May 23.

Goalkeeper Adam Federici, who plays for relegated English club Reading, gained a first senior national squad call up along with defenders Rodrigo Vargas of Melbourne Victory and Matthew Spiranovic, who plays for German team Nuremburg.

Verbeek named nine A-League players in his 23-man squad to meet Ghana.

The squad also contained four Olyroos - Mark Bridge, James Holland, James Troisi and Nikolai Topor-Stanley.

Spiranovic, Federici, Mile Sterjovski, Michael Petkovic and Nick Carle were all named in their first camp since Verbeek took charge of the Socceroos.

However, Carle will miss out on the Ghana game if his English club Bristol City beats Crystal Palace to advance to the English Premier League promotion playoff.

The squad contained four goalkeepers, although Verbeek was adamant established custodian Mark Schwarzer would start the May 23 fixture.

With regular captain Lucas Neill missing the game to be his wife, who his due to give birth shortly, Verbeek said he had a number of options to lead the side against Ghana.

Among them was striker Harry Kewell, who Verbeek said did a good job as captain before and during the recent friendly game against Singapore.

Verbeek was confident Kewell would find a good club after being released by English Premier League giant Liverpool and had no qualms about the injury-prone star's current level of fitness.

The game against Ghana leaves into four World Cup qualification matches in June for the Socceroos, who currently lead their Asian pool.

Australia: Daniel Allsopp (Melbourne Victory), Michael Beauchamp (Nuremburg Germany), Mark Bridge (Sydney FC), Jacob Burns (Unirea Valahorum, Romania), Nick Carle (Bristol City, England), David Carney (Sheffield United, England), Ante Covic (Newcastle Jets), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands) Adam Federici (Reading, England), Adam Griffiths (Newcastle Jets), Joel Griffiths (Avispa Fukuoka, Japan), James Holland (Newcastle Jets), Mile Jedinak (Central Coast Mariners), Harry Kewell (Liverpool, England), Jade North (Newcastle Jets), Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor, Turkey), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England), Matthew Spiranovic (Nuremburg, Germany), Mile Sterjovski (Derby County, England), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), James Troisi (Newcastle United, England), Carl Valeri (Grosseto, Italy), Rodrigo Vargas (Melbourne Victory).

AAP

Kewell as captain? No thanks! Most overrated Australian player ever!

 

[blakegman]

Kewell as captain? No thanks! Most overrated Australian player ever!

Mark Viduka ?

Kewell is brilliant when he's healthy.

 

[el gwapo]

When was the last time Kewell played a full 90 in a competitive Australian match? Croatia?

Hopefully the Aussie public gets to see more of this Spiranovic hope. All I can say is that he was awesome when I played Football Manager 2008

 

[Peartie]

no - he wasnt on for the whole game against croatia either from memory....

on another note - possible 6 points coming our way after FIFA told Iraqs governemtn to reinstate the football association or be suspended for 12 months from Thursday midnight(?) our time.... could be an interesting few days...

 

[blakegman]

Being injured doesn't make you a bad player though.

Looks like Iraq are fucked.

 

[Peartie]

never said it was because hes injured that hes a bad player

he is just extraordinarily overrated and a bad player in general

 

[Captain Gh3y]

Kewell is brilliant when he's healthy.

He was pretty average for Liverpool when he played last season

he'll never get back to his old form

 

[blakegman]

He was pretty average for Liverpool when he played last season

he'll never get back to his old form

Can think of a few games where he set up some goals. He didnt get much of a run, hard to play 10 minutes a week and score hat tricks.

 

[blakegman]

never said it was because hes injured that hes a bad player

he is just extraordinarily overrated and a bad player in general

So bad liverool persisted with him until it was inevitable he was past it? Surely Liverpool would have a better eye for talent then yourself.

Maybe overrated, but to say harry kewell is a bad player says something about how much you understand football.

 

[Peartie]

dude, compared to some other people Kewell is a bad player.

Sure hes a good Australian export but for the last few seasons he has been mediocre at best. As has been said many times the only reason Kewell stayed at Liverpool so long is due to the managers belief in him - even that is gone now.

So yes - for Australia Kewell was (possibly still is as much as i had to admit it) up there but overall, in the grand schemes of thigns, he is a mediocre talent.

And dude - i know a hell of alot about football....Ive only been playing / refereeing / coaching it for the last 15 odd years....

 

[blakegman]

We'll have to agree to disagree. When he's in form i think hes a great talent. Sure compare him to Ronaldo and hes bad, but he is still could play in any league in the world in just about any team and not be a liability.

 

[Peartie]

ok agree to disagree!

im just putting forward my opinion after all and we are entitled to our own opinion....

Just one last thing about him being captain - when hes captain he should be able to remain on the field for 90 mins... its not often you see a captain taken off unless hes injured....to be honest with you i think a captain should be an experienced defender who can control defence...rather than an attacker....because defence needs to constantly be on guard and changing tactics whereas for strikers and midfielders it is easier to use game plans constantly......

 

[Captain Gh3y]

Australia vs Iraq
5.00pm tonite

Squad:
Experienced campaigners such as Mark Schwarzer, Harry Kewell, Mark Bresciano, Vince Grella and Jason Culina are all included with numerous Olyroos also travelling to Queensland with the likes of skipper Mark Milligan, James Holland and Ruben Zadkovich all featuring on the list.

A notable absentee though is skipper Neill who remains in England with his partner who is due to give birth shortly.

The players selected (and their current clubs) are:
Danny Allsopp (Melbourne Victory)
Michael Beauchamp (FC Nurnberg)
Mark Bresciano (Palermo)
Mark Bridge (Sydney FC)
Jacob Burns (FC Unirea Valahorum)
Nick Carle (Bristol City FC)
David Carney (Sheffield United)
Ante Covic (Newcastle United Jets)
Chris Coyne (Colchester United)
Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven)
Bruce Djite (Adelaide United)
Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers)
Adam Federici (Reading)
Vincenzo Grella (Torino)
Adam Griffiths (Newcastle United Jets)
Joel Griffiths (Newcastle United Jets)
James Holland (Newcastle United Jets)
Brett Holman (NEC Nijmegen)
Mile Jedinak (Central Coast Mariners)
Harry Kewell (Liverpool)
Scott McDonald (Celtic)
Mark Milligan (Uncontracted)
Jade North (Newcastle United Jets)
Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor)
Nikita Rukavytsya (Perth Glory)
Mark Schwarzer (Fulham)
Matthew Spiranovic (FC Nurnberg)
Mile Sterjovski (Derby County)
Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory)
James Troisi (Newcastle United)
Carl Valeri (US Grosseto)
Rodrigo Vargas (Melbourne Victory)
Luke Wilkshire (FC Twente)
Ruben Zadkovich (Derby County FC)

SOCCEROOS coach Pim Verbeek is urging his players to be patient and not fall for the sucker punch against Iraq in Brisbane.

Verbeek has forged a reputation for his honest appraisals of both his own side and opposition and while he is far from underestimating the Iraqis in Sunday's match, he does expect them to look to grab a point.

"They've come with one striker and they will defend and wait and wait until they get one or two chances and if they score one goal they will be very happy. So that's what we expect. They will defend and we will attack and it's our job to be alert and make sure we don't let them get us on the counter," he said.

Verbeek said it's important his players remain disciplined in their adherence to the game plan throughout and not get frustrated by Iraq's tactics.

"They are very dangerous with counters. That's the way they like to play. We all know how good their striker (Younes Mahmoud) is. We are prepared for that, and patience is the best word to describe what we will need. But we will have to attack as well."

Australia lost to Iraq in the group stages of the Asian Cup last year, a defeat which ultimately saw the Socceroos finish on the wrong side of the draw and bow out to Japan on penalties in the quarter finals.

But Verbeek said that while revenge is far from his players' minds in the build up to the match, his team had learned a lot from that 3-1 defeat in Bangkok.

"We know what we have to do. We have to win this game. Revenge, or not revenge, I think it's good maybe that we lost in the Asian Cup. They know they can never underestimate Iraq. We should not underestimate Iraq at all." he said.

"They are the Asian Cup winners and they deserved to win that game (against Australia). We are prepared, we know what to expect."

Australia currently leads Group 1 on four points and a win on Sunday would put it in a strong position to progress to the final group stage. Verbeek doesn't believe that the game is must win, but says a victory will set up his side well for a busy month which features four qualifiers in as many weeks.

"We need two wins and we still have four games to go. If we don't win this game, then we still have a chance to win the others. But it makes life easier if you win this one," he said.

Verbeek is confident that ten points should be enough to get Australia through to the final stage which will feature two groups of five with the top two from each earning a berth at South Africa 2010.

 

[blakegman]

Australia vs Iraq
5.00pm tonite


The players selected (and their current clubs) are:
Danny Allsopp (Melbourne Victory)
Nikita Rukavytsya (Perth Glory)
Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory)
Rodrigo Vargas (Melbourne Victory)
Ruben Zadkovich (Derby County FC)

How the fuck did those players make the squad selection. Allsopp is like a fucking lamp post on the field. just shit.

 

[Captain Gh3y]

Arnie's mates.

 

[Captain Gh3y]

LIKELY AUSSIE LINE-UP

Schwarzer - Emerton, North, Beauchamp, Carney - Culina, Grella, Wilkshire - Kewell, Bresciano - McDonald.

Also, don't edit my posts you faggot