Archive for the 'Socceroos' Category
This time 4 years ago, we Aussies had already clinched the Oceania group and were eagerly watching the South American qualification group. Who would we play in November? Uruguay again? Paraguay or Columbia? It went down to the wire and history shows that we played Uruguay and showed Reccoba that his “Divine Right” was to put his head up his arse. A special night in Sydney on November 16 2005 polarised Australians like no other match in our sporting history.
Qatar, Guitar? Whatever
Next Sunday morning our time (2am), we take on Qatar in Doha. We need 1 point from this match to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa next year. That is a draw. And if we don’t get the point there we have 2 more matches in the following 10 days to gain that point, and both of them on home soil.
AFC has worked for us.
By moving out of Oceania and into the AFC, Australia now plays more games against more creditable opponents. OK, we won’t play against a top South American team for a playoff but we may find one at the World Cup.
Excitement
The excitement is building for me. I have tickets to the World Cup now so all I need is for the Socceroos to qualify. And I will watch that in the early hours of Sunday morning, June 7. I may not be at the ground this time, but you still may hear me from my lounge room when the final whistle blows.
Celebration
The following Wednesday I will be in Sydney for our match against Bahrain. It is here where I will catch up with my many Aussie mates, some of whom will be in Doha. I don’t know if it will be the same as 2005, but I intend to give it a real shot.
Oh What a Feeling
May 31 2009 | Socceroos and World Cup | No Comments »
With Australia playing Qatar on June 6 in Doha I have had some e-mails asking about tickets for the match.
Tickets to matches are the responsibility of the host nation. When we played in Qatar last year the tickets were not on sale until a few days before the match, and only available in Qatar. The FFA did not have anything to do with the ticketing and it sounds like something we will have to get used to as we travel through Asia and the Middle East.
A mate of mine who will be there again this year says that the tickets will go on sale in Doha and will copst approx. AU$10
For those of you traveling to Doha, follow this thread over at the Green and Gold Army forum for updates and tips about Flights, Accommodation and tickets for this match.
Cheers
Tezza
April 12 2009 | Socceroos and World Cup | No Comments »
2-0 to Australia
Well, the Aussie boys kept up their end of the bargain with a well earned victory over Uzbekistan last night. I had a great time meeting up with all the regulars I see at the games. I even managed to get in amongst some traveling Uzbeki fans. A great effort to get here to support their team.
Tezza and Uzbek Supporters
I was 1 of 8 that stayed awake in the Lobby of the Novotel to watch the Qatar v Bahrain match just in case we could celebrate WC qualification last night. Alas, Bahrain scored the only goal of the match.
We will now wait until June 6 for Aus v Qatar in Doha. A single point from a draw will see us qualify. There will be a group of Aussies traveling there to see this happen. Sadly I will not be amongst them. My celebration will have to wait 4 days until I see all my Aussie mates on June 10 in Sydney for our match against Bahrain.
Tezza
April 02 2009 | Socceroos and World Cup | No Comments »
Australia v Uzbekistan – 1 more Sleep
Yes I actually wrote that. I am very excited. I haven’t seen the Socceroos Live since they were here in Brisbane last year when we beat Bahrain 4-0.
Tomorrow nights match against Uzbekistan is going to be huge. A win puts us within range of securing a berth at SA2010, dependant on Qatar and Bahrain drawing later that night.
I am looking forward to catching up with all my Aussie mates to sing and drink for the Socceroos.
Itinerary
- Leave Gold Coast 10am
- Arrive Sydney 12:25pm – No Checked baggage
- Train to Central
- Walk across park to Paddy MacGuires pub to meet up with the Green and Gold Army
- Between 4 and 5 head to Homebush and check in to the Ibis opposite the stadium
- Meet up with everyone again at the Homebush Bay Brewery
- Sometime after 7 make our way to the stadium
- Start singing with GGA in home end to get the atmosphere going
- 8pm Kickoff
- 10pm, hopefully celebrating a win at the Brewery
- 1am finding a TV to watch Qatar v Bahrain and hope for a draw
- Celebrate Australia securing a spot at SA2010
- Maybe sleep
- 3pm Thursday fly home
I can’t wait.
Tezza
March 31 2009 | Socceroos and World Cup | 2 Comments »
Australia v Uzbekistan this Wednesday Night April 1st at Stadium Australia.
For those of you living under a rock, this Wednesday Night at Stadium Australia could see Australia Qualify for the World Cup in South Africa in June 2010.
Yes you read that correctly.
How many of you remember November 16, 2005?
Oh What a Feeling
With 4 games to go we could be reliving that night this Wednesday. Although we will not actually know until about 3am the following morning.
It goes like this.
The current table sees is like this
- Japan – 11pts
- Aust – 10pts
- Qatar – 4pts
- Bahrain – 4pts
- Uzbek – 4pts
Australia has 4 matches to play and the others have 3 to play.
Next Wednesday we play Uzbek and Qatar play Bahrain. If we win and Qatar and Bahrain have a draw later that night we will be on 13 pts and Qatar and Bahrain on 5 points with only a possible 6 points from their following 2 matches. Game Over we cannot miss out on a top 2 position.
So people, for those of you in Sydney at least, get of your arse and get down to Stadium Australia to Stand and Sing for the Socceroos.
Tezza
March 29 2009 | Socceroos and World Cup | 2 Comments »
Now there are fans and then there are fans. The second group are those who go to great lengths to support their team. You just have to watch any European or South American club match to see the extend some fans go to.
Now here in Australia we have some pretty die hard fans as well. A mate of mine, CB, is one of those in the second group. A Critical Care Paramedic by day, A Socceroo Nut by night and any other spare minute he gets.
After being inspired by the feats of The GGA’s Stocky and Keg from WC2006, CB has penned his own version of “World Cup Glory” for the Socceroos of SA 2010.
Now he just didn’t get the mic out and plug into his PC. He took his lovely wife Ant and 4 mates to a local recording studio and recorded this.
World Cup Glory SA 2010
And a also a tongue in cheek shot at those who will not make it to South Africa.
You\'re Not Going to Jo\'burgh
Cheers
Tezza
December 21 2008 | Socceroos and World Cup | No Comments »
Tickets
For those of you who need tickets to the up and coming Socceroos matches here are the latest details. Go to the FFA site for more detailed information.
Aus V Bahrain, Away, November 19 – These tickets will be available at the gate in Manama. Check out the GGA Forum thread about this. Pablo has done a great job helping to organise this in conjunction with the FFA and some local Aussies in Bahrain. There is a group of 1500 tickets set aside at the moment.
Aus V Japan, Away, February 11 – Tickets will be available from Ticketek soon. Again see the GGA Forum Thread about this. Some great information on tickets, flights accommodation etc.
Aus V Uzbekistan, Home, April 1st – Tickets have been on sale already. As this and the next match against Bahrain are in Sydney, there is a 2 match pass to both games. There is a saving on the ticket price. Closes on November 13. Single tickets to individual matches go on sale to MFF members November 14 and to the general public on November 18.
Aus V Bahrain, Home, June 10 – See above.
Aus V Japan, Home, June 17 – A pre sale for MFF members starts this Monday Nov 10 and Tuesday Nov 11. Sale to the public starts on Friday Nov 14
Aus V Qatar, Away, June 6 – No information is yet available. However we were well received there earlier this year after the Iraq debacle in Dubai. Will probably be the same as Bahrain and will be available at the gate for Aussie fans. I am also sure the boys over at the GGA will have some great info as we get closer.
Now unless you are already a MFF member it is too late to join for this round of ticketing.
Cheers
Tezza
November 08 2008 | Socceroos | No Comments »
Australia v Qatar
This Wednesday night will be the second of 8 matches for the Socceroos in round 4 of our World Cup Qualification. I have tickets along with my wife and many friends who have travelled to Brisbane to watch.
We will be without Harry, Bresc and Vinnie but I am confident that we have the stocks to put up a good showing at “Brisbane Stadium”. Tim Cahill is back after a long injury break and Craig Moore has come out of retirement.
Tim is one of the most exciting talents to leave our shores for a career in Europe and I am sure he will delight us on Wednesday night. I think he will be slotted in behind a Josh Kennedy and Scott McDonald strike partnership.
Being an old fullback from back in the day, I have always been a huge Moore fan. I am very excited to see him in the squad. I think Pim has a good headache to have. Chris Coyne has played better each time he has put the Gold Shirt on and I am very impressed. With Uruguayan Sebastian Quintana leading the charge for the Qataris I feel we need a solid central defence and Moores experience would certainly be a huge bonus. However the fitness and speed of Quintana might see the need for a Jade North or Mathew Spiranovic to partner Socceroo Captain Lucas Neil in the centre. I am glad it is Pims choice and not mine.
I can’t wait for Wednesday night. It has been nearly 4 months since our last Live match here in Australia. I think there are still some tickets left but hopefully it will be close to being full. Come on you Queenslanders show Australia how good a crowd we are at Supporting the premier International Football team in this country.
Cheers
Tezza
October 14 2008 | Socceroos and World Cup | 2 Comments »
Australia and Asian Football.
Since our acceptance as a Member of the Asian Football Conference and of course our successful sojourn to Germany in 2006, Australian Football both Internationally and Nationally has grown.
We now find ourselves in the 4th and final round of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. From a fans point of view I find this very exciting. I find myself planning my life around when and sometimes where the Socceroos are playing. I have just taken on a new position in a new company, which will take a lot of work and hours to get going. In my interview I pointed out that I would require 2-3 weeks off next June as I wanted to go to Qatar and back to Sydney and Melbourne to watch the final stages of our campaign. It was met with a wry smile, but he understood and I will be going.Maybe not the whole family, but definitely with my lovely wife
But between now and then there are 4 other opportunities for Aussies to follow our team. Starting with Tashkent this Wednesday where there is a good crew of Aussies going. Following Football is not only an opportunity to support a team, but to see some fantastic parts of the World. Since the draw was announced I have told many people (non football) about the Aussies playing in Tashkent, and they have no idea what I am talking about. This is one of the oldest cities in the World and is part of the Old Silk Road trading route between Asia and Europe. It also part of the old Soviet Union and is now an Independent country in Central Asia.
I am really looking forward to hearing the stories from these Asian trekkers when they return. Part of the crew is the biggest Australian Fan of them all. A 70 year old lady who has been travelling to follow the Socceroos since the 1974 World Cup in West Germany.
Our Football future is now in Asia and the trips to come for the fans will be fantastic. Like many fans, I will be planning my next 20 years worth of holidays around Socceroos matches, and there will be many of them.
Remember, for those of us not lucky enough to be in Tashkent.
- Aus East Coast – 1am Thursday Sept 11
- Aus Central – 12:30am Wednesday Sept 10
- Aus West Coast – 11pm Wednesday Sept 10
- London – 4pm Wednesday Sept 10
Cheers
Tezza
September 07 2008 | Socceroos and World Cup | 2 Comments »
Happy Fathers Day
What a present. Up at 4:45am to watch the Socceroos and they WIN. 2-1 to the boys in Green and Gold.
I thought it was a good all round performance by the starting 11 and will go a long way to boost their confidence on Wednesday in Tashkent.
As usual the GGA was there and with good numbers. Being so close to England the London Crew was there in force. I am sure that Lindsay, Longy and the crew are partying hard in Eindhoven right now. I believe there is a recovery session in Amsterdam tomorrow.
Perhaps they will all be looking up the “Liver Cleansing Diet” on Monday.
The next phase of World Cup Qualifying has now started and our first match is Wednesday in Tashkent. There are 50 GGA members heading to the old Silk Road city in Uzbekistan. I am sure it will be a trip that will be talked about for many years to come. Wish I was there.
And to all you Fathers out there, Happy Fathers Day
Tezza
September 07 2008 | Socceroos | No Comments »
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