Australia’s World Cup Qualifiers
Australia start their World Cup Qualifiers after an impressive Asian Cup. The Socceroos begin their World Cup qualifying campaign this week with a double header against Thailand and Saudi Arabia. The football action begins on Friday when Australia host Thailand at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Thailand's football federation have offered their players a bonus of $64,000 if they manage to beat Australia and $32,000 if they draw! After Thailand, the Aussies have a tough match against Saudi Arabia...
Australia vs Japan : AFC Asian Cup Final Preview...
Australia and Japan will renew footballing hostilities when the two highest-ranked Asian sides meet for what promises to be a thrilling climax to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, at the 50,000 capacity Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday morning (2am AEDT). The two nations have developed a fierce rivalry over the past five years, dating back to the group stages of the 2006 World Cup, when three late Socceroos goals - the first two to Japanese nemesis Tim Cahill - sank blue samurai hearts in the opening...
Australia vs Uzbekistan : 2011 AFC Asian Cup
The Socceroos are just one game away from an historic appearance in the Asian Cup final, but in order to get there they must first overcome the under-rated Uzbekistan at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Wednesday morning (3.25am AEDT). Holger Osieck's side were severely tested in their quarter-final against defending champions Iraq and only avoided the dreaded penalty shoot-out by virtue of a header to Harry Kewell deep into extra-time, which sealed a 1-0 win. Stalwart Brett Emerton will...
Australia vs Iraq : 2011 AFC Asian Cup
A place in the Asian Cup semi-finals awaits either Australia or Iraq, when the two sides do battle in their sudden-death quarter-final at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Sunday morning (12.25am AEDT). The Socceroos' 1-0 win over Bahrain in their final group match, proved to be enough to top group C - ahead of pre-tournament favourites Korea Republic - and book them a date with defending champions Iraq, who finished second behind neighbours Iran in group D. Holger Osieck's side put in a scrappy...
Australia vs Bahrain : 2011 AFC Asian Cup
The Socceroos will be out to top group C by beating Bahrain in their final group match at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Wednesday morning (12.15am AEDT). Holger Osieck's side are currently locked on four points with pre-tournament favourites Korea Republic - who they played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with last Saturday - but the 'roos are in first-place with a superior goal difference. With the Koreans likely to breeze past lowly India in their final group match (also to be played on Wednesday...
Three-time champs out of the Asian Cup
Saudi Arabia a three-time champion made a humiliating exit from the Asian Cup today after losing 0-1 to Jordan in their second Group B match. The Saudis fired their coach Jose Peseiro following their loss to Syria. However this failed to revive the team giving Jordan a win to remember. Saudi Arabia had its chances but failed to net the ball. The best opportunity came from substitute Nassir Alshamrani when he broke through only to run into the Jordanian goalkeeper. Joining the Saudis may be...
Australia vs Korea Republic : 2011 AFC Asian Cup...
Australia and Korea Republic meet for just the second time in almost a decade, when the two sides clash in their all-important group match at Al Gharafa Stadium in Doha early Saturday morning (12.15am AEDT). The giants of Asian football will lock horns as both bid to book their place in the second round - and almost certainly top Group C in doing so - by claiming all three points. The Socceroos were reasonably impressive in their comfortable 4-0 disposal of rank-outsiders India earlier in the...
Australia vs India : 2011 AFC Asian Cup
The Socceroos will begin their second-ever Asian Cup campaign against an Indian side ranked 116 places below them on the FIFA World Rankings table, when the two sides clash in the early hours of Tuesday morning (12.15am AEST) at Qatar's Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Nothing short of a comfortable win will please Australia coach Holger Osieck, as his team needs a good start if they hope to progress from a group that also contains Bahrain and Asian giants Korea Republic. Last week's dour display by...
2011 AFC Asian Cup Preview
The road to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar began in April of 2008, and over the next three-and-a-half weeks it will culminate with the top 16 AFC nations battling it out for the honour of being crowned champions of Asia. The 16 teams are split into four groups of four, with the top two sides in each group progressing to the knockout stages. The tournament is set to kick-off early Saturday morning on January 8 (AEDT) - as host nation Qatar takes on Uzbekistan - before coming to an eventual climax,...