Australian Soccer Thread
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:36 am
With the 2014 FIFA World Cup now over, the Socceroos look ahead to the Asian Football Championships, which will be hosted down under in early 2015. The 10 team domestic A-League kicks off before that, as the Brisbane Roar look to defend their title. And in August, several overseas based players will be kicking off their new season campaigns in earnest. The sport which was first introduced to these sunny shores by immigrants from the northern hemisphere has steadily grown in an environment dominated by Australian Rules Football, and to a lesser extent by the two rugby codes, would seem to have a bright future, although I don't see us winning the World Cup any time soon... sadly.
With four appearances at the World Cup finals, the Socceroos seem to be fairing much better, since having moved on from the Oceania confederation and into Asia. With the likes of Japan, South Korea, Iran, China, and Saudi Arabia to compete against, for one of four spots in the world's biggest sporting event, regular World Cup appearances would seem to be coming Australia's way now that we can avoid a play-off match against a South American team. It was quite an effort to roll over Uraguay to qualify in 2006. We didn't have a snow flakes' hope in hell in getting over a Diego Maradona-led Argentina years earlier.
The 2014 campaign was quite a challenge, being grouped with Chile, the Netherlands and Spain. With very much a young side, I thought our boys applied themselves very well, managing to score one goal more than England managed, including the goal of the tournament from the evergreen Tim Cahill. In the last 3 world cups, we've had to face Brazil, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands, and in the 2006 knock-out stage, came up against eventual champions Italy, who totally robbed us with the biggest dive in history in the penalty box.
The Asian Championships next year should be interesting. Japan will be looking to win their fourth Asian title, having beaten the Aussies in extra time in the last final. Australia will face stiff competition from group rivals; South Korea, Oman and Kuwait. I'm quite looking forward to attending the opener against Kuwait, which will be played at the soccer-friendly AAMI stadium, a stones' throw away from that mecca for sport, the MCG. Going forward, the rebuilding Aussies will be looking to qualify for Russia 2018, and the next Asian Cup in 2019, which will be hosted by one of; Iran, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, or the UAE.
Domestically, the Hyundai A-League gets under way in early October, with a new-look Melbourne franchise being re-branded as Melbourne City, following the purchase of the club by EPL giant Manchester City. As such, Spanish legend David Villa looks set for a short spell at the club, en-route to his next destination, New York City. The rumour mill also has Frank Lampard doing likewise, with former Chelsky striker Didier Drogba being linked to Sydney FC, who are looking for a replacement for Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero.
As for the legion of Aussies abroad, Socceroos and Crystal Palace skipper Mile Jedinak will be hoping he can keep his team in the top flight of English football. Tin Cahill will be continuing his up front partnership with some French fella at the New York Red Bulls, in spite of being linked with a move home to Sydney FC. Other top fight players include Robbie Kruse at Bayer Leverkusen, Brad Jones at Liverpool, Tom Rogic at Celtic, Josh Brillante at Fiorentina, James Holland at Austria Wien, Mitchell Langerak at Borussia Dortmund, and Matt Ryan at Club Brugges, who was reportedly linked to a move to Real Madrid.
In terms of the future for the green and gold, should the game continue to grow domestically, and some football great grace our stadiums for a year or two, and our players abroad continue to develop, I do think the Socceroos could develop into a team that could create headaches for bigger teams. We do boast friendly wins over Germany and England (had a massive hangover the day after the England win), and we did manage to give the Dutchies a hell of a scare in Brazil. In this sport, along with just about any other sporting contest, under estimate the Aussies at your peril!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer_in_Australia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-League
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_national_association_football_team
With four appearances at the World Cup finals, the Socceroos seem to be fairing much better, since having moved on from the Oceania confederation and into Asia. With the likes of Japan, South Korea, Iran, China, and Saudi Arabia to compete against, for one of four spots in the world's biggest sporting event, regular World Cup appearances would seem to be coming Australia's way now that we can avoid a play-off match against a South American team. It was quite an effort to roll over Uraguay to qualify in 2006. We didn't have a snow flakes' hope in hell in getting over a Diego Maradona-led Argentina years earlier.
The 2014 campaign was quite a challenge, being grouped with Chile, the Netherlands and Spain. With very much a young side, I thought our boys applied themselves very well, managing to score one goal more than England managed, including the goal of the tournament from the evergreen Tim Cahill. In the last 3 world cups, we've had to face Brazil, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands, and in the 2006 knock-out stage, came up against eventual champions Italy, who totally robbed us with the biggest dive in history in the penalty box.
The Asian Championships next year should be interesting. Japan will be looking to win their fourth Asian title, having beaten the Aussies in extra time in the last final. Australia will face stiff competition from group rivals; South Korea, Oman and Kuwait. I'm quite looking forward to attending the opener against Kuwait, which will be played at the soccer-friendly AAMI stadium, a stones' throw away from that mecca for sport, the MCG. Going forward, the rebuilding Aussies will be looking to qualify for Russia 2018, and the next Asian Cup in 2019, which will be hosted by one of; Iran, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, or the UAE.
Domestically, the Hyundai A-League gets under way in early October, with a new-look Melbourne franchise being re-branded as Melbourne City, following the purchase of the club by EPL giant Manchester City. As such, Spanish legend David Villa looks set for a short spell at the club, en-route to his next destination, New York City. The rumour mill also has Frank Lampard doing likewise, with former Chelsky striker Didier Drogba being linked to Sydney FC, who are looking for a replacement for Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero.
As for the legion of Aussies abroad, Socceroos and Crystal Palace skipper Mile Jedinak will be hoping he can keep his team in the top flight of English football. Tin Cahill will be continuing his up front partnership with some French fella at the New York Red Bulls, in spite of being linked with a move home to Sydney FC. Other top fight players include Robbie Kruse at Bayer Leverkusen, Brad Jones at Liverpool, Tom Rogic at Celtic, Josh Brillante at Fiorentina, James Holland at Austria Wien, Mitchell Langerak at Borussia Dortmund, and Matt Ryan at Club Brugges, who was reportedly linked to a move to Real Madrid.
In terms of the future for the green and gold, should the game continue to grow domestically, and some football great grace our stadiums for a year or two, and our players abroad continue to develop, I do think the Socceroos could develop into a team that could create headaches for bigger teams. We do boast friendly wins over Germany and England (had a massive hangover the day after the England win), and we did manage to give the Dutchies a hell of a scare in Brazil. In this sport, along with just about any other sporting contest, under estimate the Aussies at your peril!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer_in_Australia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-League
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_national_association_football_team