Archive for the 'Socceroos' Category
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 »
Last week the draw for the 2011 Asian Cup Final Qualifiers was announced. Australia is in a group with Indonesia, Oman and Kuwait. The upshot of this is 14 matches between September this year and March 2010. There is talk of there being 2 squads of players to “cope” with this schedule.
What a load of crap. The FFA campaigned to join the AFC so we had more regular and higher competitive matches. I understand that the AFC does tend to have matches on NON FIFA dates which can be a problem, but surely we MUST pick our best team when available. I understood Pim letting the top players off last month against China and would be happy for that to happen again in the same situation. However, we MUST choose our best side for matches that we need the points
In any case it is an exciting time for us fans with a minimum of 7 away matches to plan for and whatever “Friendlies” that come along. The Aussie boys and Gals in England and Europe get to watch the Socceroos live in London and Eindhoven in August/September.
Here is the schedule for the next 18 months of Qualifiers. Bring it on.
- September 10, 2008: Away to Uzbekistan (World Cup qualifier)
- October 15, 2008: At home to Qatar (World Cup qualifier)
- November 19, 2008: Away to Bahrain (World Cup qualifier)
- January 14, 2009: At home to Kuwait (Asian Cup qualifier)
- January 28, 2009: Away to Indonesia (Asian Cup qualifier)
- February 11, 2009: Away to Japan (World Cup qualifier)
- April 1, 2009: At home to Uzbekistan (World Cup qualifier)
- June 6, 2009: Away to Qatar (World Cup qualifier)
- June 10, 2009: At home to Bahrain (World Cup qualifier)
- June 17, 2009: At home to Japan (World Cup qualifier)
- November 14, 2009: At home to Oman (Asian Cup qualifier)
- November 18, 2009: Away to Oman (Asian Cup qualifier)
- January 6, 2010: Away to Kuwait (Asian Cup qualifier)
- March 3, 2010: At home to Indonesia (Asian Cup qualifier)
July 09 2008 | Socceroos | No Comments »
Australia 0 – China 1
Last night in Sydney the Socceroos lost 1-0 to China in the final match of round 3. Although we lost it had no bearing on our progress to round 4 of WC qualifying.
Meeting up with the AOT and GGA boys and girls was the highlight for me. We met at the Homebush Bay Brewery adjacent to ANZ Stadium where many beers were consumed. A new song was created in honor of “Pim Verbeek” by some of the AOT boys on Saturday Night. Needless to say that “And we’ll all go marching on with Pim Verbeek” is still ringing in my head.
Thanks to all our friends for making it such a great night. We celebrated our passage to the 4th round with more beer after the match. It is obvious to me that we all missed the new binge drinking campaign. Sally Shippard showed up again after the match and she actually remembered me. Mat and Sally were again shooting stuff for their Final Whistle program.
Following the Socceroos around has been a great experience for me and Veronica over the past 2 years, and the friends we have met along the way have made it that much more special.
Well it has been a big weekend and I am tired, so good night boys and girls.
Terry
June 23 2008 | Socceroos and World Cup | 3 Comments »
I Love being an Australian Football Fan
It has been a big few weeks for Australian National Football Teams. I have focussed on the Socceroos and their route to round 4 of Asian Qualifying. There is a game this weekend against China in Sydney, and I will be there. Some of you may remember this as being my romantic weekend away for my wifes birthday. What a top bloke I am.
So we fly off Saturday and return on Monday. Can’t wait to catch up with my friends who have traveled to the middle east to support our team, top effort by the Aussies who went there.
We have also seen the Matildas, our National Womens team in action in the Womans Asian Cup finals where we finished a credible 4th place. The girls are now in South Korea at the Peace Queen Cup. They were narrowly defeated by the USA, 2-1 and last night beat Italy 3-0 with a brace to Heather Garriock. We now play Brazil on Thursday. Good Luck girls.
We also have our U23 team in Darwin for a camp and games against Chilie in preperation for the Olympic Games in August. Then our Joeys (U17) and Young Socceroos (U20) teams are in action. So much football.
Life is Good
June 18 2008 | Socceroos | No Comments »
Australia 3 – Qatar 1
Well, the Socceroos are through to the 4th round of Asian World Cup qualifying. A brace from Brett Emerton and a sealer form Harry has put us through to the next round. A changed formation from Pim certainly paid dividends. However I was still a little worried with our defense at times. Sebastian Quintana was able to penetrate too many times for my liking. He is a quality player and we will come up against more players like him in the next round.
After the ticket dramas of Dubai, the Qatari’s decided to give 800 free tickets away to the Aussies. A great gesture by the Qatari FA, even though tickets would have only been $3 to buy. I know it was much appreciated by the traveling fans. All reports have the locals being very friendly as they were in Dubai.
Next weeks match in Sydney against the Chinese is not important points wise for the Aussies but I would think that losing is not an option for the Aussies who will pull on the Green and Gold that night. A win would cement our position as No 1 in the group and give us confidence going into the next round.
The draw for the next round will take place on June 27 in Kuala Lumpur. We have to play another 4 home and 4 away matches between September 2008 and June 2009.
June 16 2008 | Socceroos and World Cup | No Comments »
We were beaten last night 1-0 and all credit to the Iraqi team for the win.
A gallant Socceroos fought hard in difficult conditions but were beaten by a fantastic goal. I hind sight I am sure Shwartz would agree he was out of position, but he was beaten by an alert Emad Mohammed and all credit to him.
I thought our defence and midfield played well, with Jade North in good form. Chris Coyne had a good debut for the Aussies as did Carl Valeri. My only criticism is that we lacked penetration up front. Harry was very quite because he simply did not receive the ball. The second half was much better for attacking although I thought Harry was getting better when he was replaced.
I personally think a draw would have been the fair result, but that is Football and fairness does not always come in to it.
Ticket Scandal
About 300 Aussies paid the extortionate price of US$100 for a ticket to the match last night. This is something that FIFA and The AFC need to look at and soon. It was obvious to the Aussie fans last night that they were not wanted at the ground, and a deliberate price hike for the fans was how the Iraqi FA wanted to tackle it.
This is the same Iraqi FA that myself and many other Aussies either blogged or posted about how unfair it was that they were banned by FIFA for something their government did. They then repaid our support by RIPPING OUR SUPPORTERS OFF when they had their turn. Don’t expect a fair go when you return to Australia one day IFA, because you DO NOT deserve it.
June 08 2008 | Socceroos and World Cup | No Comments »
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