Archive for the 'World Cup' Category
Tonight’s The Night.
Nothing to do with Rod Stewart, and everything to do with the Socceroos. 1 point from this match and we are off to South Africa, guaranteed.
It brings back memories of November 16, 2005 for me. Although I will not be in Doha tonight, I will be in my lounge room at 2am tomorrow morning (after a nanna nap) to cheer the boys on. And when it happens I will more than likely wake up my household and possibly my neighbors.
Pim Verbeek
There has been much written about Pim since he took the reigns. Most people had never heard of him at first then a great deal of the media and some fans have been highly critical of the way we have played during qualification.
Facts
- We are top of the group
- We have 4 wins and 1 draw, zero losses
- Zero goals against
- We need 1 point from the next 9 on offer to qualify
It beggars belief that people could be unhappy with this. Many managers and countries would be ecstatic at this position. 4 years ago we were looking to qualify for the first time in 32 years, and only the second time in our history. I for one am extremely happy at our position, and am extremely happy with Pim as our manager.
Players Frustrated
You could hear in the players voices this week, their frustration at the Australian Media who continue to snipe at Pim and his style. They are very defensive of Pim and of how they have played thus far. It is great to see the players back their manager to the hilt. I also like how Pim backs himself and is no puppet of the media. he tells it like it is and does not back down from his style.
Technical Ability
There is no doubt that our players are capable of playing a more technical style and perhaps scoring more goals. However, Pim’s brief is to “QUALIFY” our team for the World Cup. He is 1 point away from that.
We will qualify either tonight or on Wednesday night against Bahrain in Sydney, either way, Pim has done his job.
Stage 2
His next mission will be to prepare our team to play in South Africa and get to the next round or even the Quarter Finals. How ever he does this, he has my 100% backing.
Go You Socceroos
Tezza
June 06 2009 | Socceroos and World Cup | No Comments »
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 »
MY WORLD CUP TICKET APPLICATION IS SUCCESSFUL.
Just had e-mail confirmation that my ticket application is successful. It is still pending payment, but they just have to run my credit card details through. Gee I hope I gave them the right numbers.
I was so excited last night seeing the online status with a Green tick beside it. I do believe the rush I felt was better than sex.
It is now time to dive further into planning my trip. 391 days until it kicks off.
South Africa here we come.
Tezza
May 16 2009 | World Cup | No Comments »
Well it is official now, NO tickets for me in Phase 1.
Phase 2 is a first in first served round which is Monday May 4th. No details on what time yet. I imagine it will be a log into the Web Site and select tickets to the games you want etc. With so many people on the site it will be very slow.
If it is anything like 2005/06 then it will be an all nighter pressing the F5 key to keep trying to get the page.
Cheers
Tezza
April 26 2009 | 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 »
Australia v Japan
This match was played last week and the Aussies came away with a great point from Yokohama Stadium. We are still top of the group with 4 matches left and 3 of them at home.
Don’t count your Chickens
Although we are not there yet, I am confident we can get enough points in the next 4 matches to be in the top 2 teams, which automatically qualifies us for SA2010.
Tickets On Sale
4 years ago the tickets went on sale at this time of year for Germany. Being a WC novice and not all that confident that we would make it to Germany I decided not to pursue tickets until after November 16 2005 when I could be sure we were going to Germany.
What I did not know then, was the system. Basically Get in early.
You can purchase tickets to matches involving your team even though they are not officially in the tournament. If they do not make it you get your money back. I would have thought they would charge you after the team made it, but hey I don’t make the rules.
The cheapest seats available to Non South Africans will be US$80 each up to US$160 each for the group stage.
February 20 – Mark it in your Diary.
The first phase goes on sale this Friday, February 20th and runs until March 31st. Basically you register your interest in the tickets you want. I assume there will be a “Team Specific Ticket” where you can purchase tickets to ALL Australian matches until the Final, ie 7 Matches. This is what happened for Germany WC 2006.
Then on April 15th, there will be a random draw to see who was lucky enough to score a ticket. Remember there will only be a limited number of tickets available at this phase. There will be other phases over the next 12 months including a FFA phase to allocate their allocation after we qualify.
The Excitement Builds
My advice is to start early to give you the best chance of going. I was a nervous wreck over Christmas 2005 waiting for the FFA to send me the all important e-mail.
Germany 2006 was the best fun I have ever had. Just do it people and get your arse to South Africa in 2010.
Cheers
Tezza
February 17 2009 | World Cup | No 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 »
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