Australia vs Argentina @ MCG & Aus vs Uruguay @ Telstra Stadium!!!

[pydgey]

this has been speculated for quite some time and now it's official!!!

the Socceroos to face Argentina on Wednesday June 6th @ the MCG [lol @ sydney members: ajay, imran , nikk , Sataris, germinals & Mitch :D :p]:

Socceroos to play Argentina

The Socceroos will take on Argentina in an international friendly at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in June.

In a press release from the Premier of Victoria and Football Federation Australia, it was confirmed the game would take place on Wednesday June 6.

"The road to the Asian Cup starts in London next week when the Socceroos play Denmark and will culminate with this blockbuster match in Melbourne," FFA Chief Executive Officer Ben Buckley said.

"Argentina is ranked third in the world and will travel directly to Australia from another major game in Europe, so the Socceroos are expecting just the sort of serious test they need before they take on the best of Asia in July."

Melbourne will also host a preliminary round match for FIFA World Cup qualification in 2008 and a final round match for FIFA World Cup qualification in 2009, as part of a four-year package.

A press conference in Sydney on Friday afternoon will reveal another Socceroos opponent for a game scheduled on June 2 in the harbour city.Link (http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=10525)

oh well U sydney people will get a match too - dunno who opponent will be but i'd rather take Argentina anyways :cool:

Can't wait to book my tickets :D. Matt.Morris & lfcfreak I better see U guys there!!! :D

looking forward to Denmark next week too :)

[varun]

yaaaaaaaaaay gonna be the best match EVER :cool:

[pydgey]

Update: Holy crap U Sydney people get Uruguay re-match :eek: :o

Qantas Socceroos to play rematch against Uruguay

The Qantas Socceroos will play an historic international rematch against arch rival Uruguay at Telstra Stadium on Saturday 2 June.

The World Cup qualifying playoff on 16 November 2005 was a moment etched in the memory of every proud Australian and the South Americans will return looking to exact revenge....
FFA (http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=aus_news_feat_news_news_item&id=10527)

Wah... 2 crackers in 4 days :eek: :D

Tickets to the 6 June match at the MCG will go on sale to the public in early March, preceded by a priority offer for the Football Family. Start saving people!!!

p.s. Imran u can edit thread title if u wish lol :o

[Imran]

woah that's pretty epic news, i was there on the real night will probably head down there again to re-live those awesome memories! Cheers for informing pydgey, this i good news for football australia

[matt.morris]

Yeah, the rumor mill has been grinding away at this one for a while... i'm so excited that it's finally come to fruition.

You'd better bet your arse I'll be there. Where are you watching the Denmark game from Pydgey? I'll be down at the Charles Dickens Tavern before work.

[ajay]

Gay, I don't want to see us thrash Uraguay. Someone buy me a ticket to Melbourne and I'll rep you.

[Rhys]

Holy Shit 8===============D ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[Sataris]

WTF!

Uruguay? Sydney deserves better than that

*sigh* I guess I'll have to catch the next Flying Machine to Melbourne

[24hrs]

We got uruguay?
aww man.. :(

[savvas]

We got uruguay?
aww man.. :(
lol, badluck buddy!

[Vip]

Argentina's coach Basile will make a list of 25 local players in March. He will work with those players twice a week ... preparing the team of local players for the Copa America this summer.

The team going to Copa America will be a mixture of local and "foreigners" ... mostly local thou. The Argentine team travelling for this friendly will probably be the same that will play the Copa America at the end of June.


.

[Mitch23]

nice to get a mention lol

doesnt really bother me that uruguays in sydney i think itll be a awesome match and i'll probly make the trip down to melbourne as well :)

have to get in early for tickets to these ones i think

[chauchey]

looking forward to my favorite NT beating everyones 'other favorite NT' :D ;)

[Matski]

u-r-gay!!? but i've already seen the best game against them in my lifetime.... and i can't afford to go to melbourne to see the real game, what a farce!! u-r-gay! honestly if we lose that game it'll leave a little sour taste in our mouths... but hey, they have a devine right to be at the world cup remember?

[Mitch23]

just found out i probly will be going to both these games

cant wait! :D

for those who are members of the football family tickets go on sale on Tuesday the 27th Febuary.

[Mitch23]

who got tickets for these matches

and where abouts

[pydgey]

who got tickets for these matches

and where abouts
ticketmaster here (http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/13003E56C67FC8E0?artistid=1107333&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=11)

http://media.ticketmaster.com/en-au/tmimages/venue/maps/aus/18269s.jpg
football family members had priority bookings since thursday. green & gold army member bookings supposed to be from monday 9am and public purchases from tuesday 9am but i jus tried to book and it works so giv it a go :)

[varun]

I hope Cahill makes this game, he's out for the rest of the season but hopefully he can be back for this game :o

[Imran]

yeh what a shame! the boys been really unlucky with injuries this season hopefully he comes good for these friendlies, a real crowd favourite

[Kan]

Got 16 tickets with the Green and Gold army for this one. Wrapted... just like V Greece.

[ajay]

I got tickets to Uruguay game :D. Not cheap aswell :@

[Mitch23]

i only got cat 3 tickets for the match against Uruguay

40 bucks each

[pydgey]

i just got mine

very expensive ;_;

heck it's selling out so quickly!!

[varun]

i just got mine

very expensive ;_;

heck it's selling out so quickly!!
just 1 :( ......... so you'r not taking me along then :mad: :'(

[pydgey]

just 1 :( ......... so you'r not taking me along then :mad: :'(
did i say 1?! get a flight down here & i might spare u a ticket ;) :p

[Sataris]

I've resigned myself to watching television

this way I can still eat yogurt :)

[Rhys]

Just buy consession tickets, they never check.

[Consigliere]

Just buy consession tickets, they never check.

yeah i do that.

$25 to see this level of footy is amazing value

[Jude87]

got my tickets to the uruguay game, $40 concession :)

got an airhorn as well hahaha

[BarcaRulz]

I'm going all out for the Argentina game, got myself a Category One ticket. Cost me quite alot, but its perfectly placed.

Can't wait to see this game... I'll also propably be on TV, because i'll be the idiot who goes after Messi for his shirt.. :p

[pydgey]

Australia consider boycott
Some of Australia's top players are reportedly considering boycotting international friendlies against Argentina and Uruguay because they are unhappy at the timing of the matches.

Australia are due to play Uruguay in Sydney on June 2 and Argentina in Melbourne four days later as part of their preparations for the Asian Cup, to be staged in south-east Asia in July.

Several senior players, including captain Mark Viduka, wanted the matches played later so they could have a break after the end of their European club seasons...Eurosport (http://www.eurosport.com/football/int-friendlies/2006-2007/sport_sto1120566.shtml)

great... exactly what I needed to hear after shelling out 2 weeks' worth of wages to purchase Cat 1 tickets http://www21.sbs.com.au/wgforum/images/smiles/icon_redface.gif
understandable nevertheless. oh well as long as I get my money's worth in terms of football quality, I wldn't mind if we fielded an entire team of A-League players to take on the current world # 1s http://www21.sbs.com.au/wgforum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif

I'll also propably be on TV, because i'll be the idiot who goes after Messi for his shirt.. :plol looking forward to it :D :p

[SwingDancer]

I seriously do not believe that they would risk the bad publicity for the team and themselves by boycotting both friendlys. There was a time a few years ago when the socceroos did not have the international fan support that they have now and to many where considered a joke. Why would the Socceroos risk all of that over two friendlys?

Now was the FFA foolish for planning such big friendlys so close together a month before the Asian cup.... YES!!! But there is nothing that anyone can do about it now, except possibly move the date NOW.

I would think that since Viduka missed the Socceroos homecoming event in Australia for the Paraguay and Bahrain games, you would think that he would be excited to return to Australia and play in front of a home crowd. But I am guessing that he is tired and looks to retire at the end of the Asian Cup. If you were to examine quote in the Eurosport article, it makes no mention of an actual boycott of the games, but just Viduka asking the FFA to change the date of the friendlys.

[Vip]

The word in Argentina is that the friendly against Australia would be cancelled ... the trip being too long and having the Copa America around the corner. :o Four days prior to this friendly, Argentina has another friendly in Switzerland, which would stand.


.

[pydgey]

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/6219/ausvsarghl9.png (http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=10627)


great... now i won't have any excuse for failing my exams on that same week :( :( :o

not good - doesn't sound like days or weeks... will probably be months later :(

Thanx for the heads up Vip :o - @ least it wasn't so surprising when I heard the news

[roy4hire]

vip is 100% corect,
argentina and australia was cancelled 3 weeks ago, some one forgot to tell the aussies, they are still talking about and showing commercials.
i repeat the game was canceled, argentina is looking for another match on the 6th but in europe.

[Kan]

I decided that I'll get a refund if I could sir. I bought 16 tickets for christ sake.

[BarcaRulz]

DAMNNNN!

So, how does one go about getting this 'refund' you speak of? Tiketmaster won't be happy.. :D

[Kan]

Won't be fair if the reschedule on a day I can't go though. Plus I'm a little strap for cash.

[Mitch23]

so this game is going to be re-scheduled or is it cancelled

roy4hire seems to think its definitly cancelled

[roy4hire]

It Will Be On Later This Year. This Is Good For The Assie Fans, I Mean We All Want A Good Argentine Side To Come, And Now They Will, If The Mach Was Played On The 6th It Was Impossible For The Spanish Base Players To Come As Their League Ends Later Then Most Leagues.

[roy4hire]

the game in australia could be called off. it will be came out today in argentina by world11 who contracts argentinas friendlies. the news is that argentina will play australia on the 6th but in europe, if not argentina will play a european or african team on that date, no metter what it`s now a fact argentina will not come to australia because there is no date when to play the match, every free date from the fifa calender will be for the south american qualifiers which start in september, onether reason the european clubs won`t let players travel more then 5 hours which makes imposible to come here, even thow argentina wont care what european clubs want when the players are called thell come but unfortually to australia it look doubtfull.

[ajay]

Yay. So much gloating from my melbourne friends but now we Sydney-siders get to see a game :D

Got my tickets :D

[leomanya]

In case it's of any interest to you guys, Uruguay has named a squad of 21 players for the friendly on 2 June. List is as follows:


Fabián Carini (Internazionale de Italia), Sebastián Viera (Villarreal de España),
Andrés Scotti (Argentinos Juniors de Argentina), Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce de Turquía), Darío Rodríguez (Schalke 04 de Alemania), Mauricio Victorino (Veracruz de México), Carlos Diogo (Zaragoza de España) Jorge Fucile (Porto de Portugual), Gastón Filgueiras (Arsenal de Argentina), Pablo García (Celta de España), Diego Pérez (Monaco de Francia), Guillermo Giacomazzi (Lecce de Italia), Cristian Rodríguez (PSG de Francia), Fabián Canobbio (Celta de España), Alvaro Recoba (Internazionale de Italia), Nicolás Olivera (Atlas de México), Diego Forlán (Villarreal de España), Sebastián Abreu (San Luis de México), Fabián Estoyanoff (Deportivo La Coruña), Gonzalo Vargas (Monaco de Francia), Vicente Sánchez (Toluca de México).

[Rhys]

I can't wait to see Recoba get benched again for being shit :D

[leomanya]

I hope you're right. If it were up to the majority of Uruguayan's, he'd never get picked for the national side.

[west501]

I don't understand this
recoba is one of the most talented players of all time
he has worked miracles on the pitch the likes of which I have never seen before or after and he continues to do so every time he plays at any level
yet he has been a sub almost his whole career and has a lack of spirit and the attitude of a teenager
I still consider it a tragedy that he wasn't able to play in the world cup, but it was uruguay's own fault for never bringing their best players to the qualifiers

[leomanya]

Recoba doesn't have the "ticker" necessary to play for Uruguay (no tiene huevo!!!). I don't question his ability as a football player, I question his ability mentally and emotionally to play in high pressured matches and to perform when it really counts.

For a player who has been capped 65 times, he has scored only 10 goals, 6 of them in friendlies.

As for missing the last world cup, Uruguay had several chances to qualify and failed to take them all. Most of Uruguay's problems stem from extremely poor organisation which is probably a topic for a different thread entirely.

[Rhys]

Of my limited viewing of Recoba, he has the skill, just when things arn't served on a silver platter, he cracks the shits and goes missing.

[pydgey]

SOCCEROOS SQUAD (http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=10659) TO PLAY URUGUAY ON 2 JUNE AT TELSTRA STADIUM

Daniel Allsopp (Melbourne Victory, Australia), Michael Beauchamp (Nuremberg, Germany), Mark Bridge (Newcastle Jets, Australia), Nick Carle (Newcastle Jets, Australia), David Carney (Sydney FC, Australia), Simon Colosimo (Sivasspor, Turkey), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven, Holland), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers, England), Adam Federici (Reading, England), Ryan Griffiths (Liaoning, China), Brett Holman (NEC Nijmegen, Holland), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough, England), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester City, England), Scott McDonald (Motherwell, Scotland), Lucas Neill (West Ham, England), Jade North (Newcastle Jets, Australia), Matthew Spiranovic (Nuremberg, Germany), Shane Stefanutto (Lillestrom, Norway), Mile Sterjovski (Basel, Switzerland), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory, Australia), Michael Thwaite (Wisla Krakow, Poland), Carl Valeri (Grosseto, Italy), Luke Wilkshire (FC Twente, Holland)
... -_- ...

[AxelFoley]

I hope you're right. If it were up to the majority of Uruguayan's, he'd never get picked for the national side.

I'm sorry but I don't believe this for a second.
He doesn't always do a great game, but he often does for Uruguay. As for when it really counts, I have seen several games when he plays like never before when it really counts.

And the goals he's scored might not be many, but he has an enormous amount of assists and the keyplayer to a lot of goals.

[AxelFoley]

Of my limited viewing of Recoba, he has the skill, just when things arn't served on a silver platter, he cracks the shits and goes missing.

No sh*t? Clearly your viewing of Recoba is extremely limited. Recoba is not the kind of player that gets it served on a silver platter, when he scores he does most of the work himself with his technique and ability to shoot, he creates opportunities for himself and sets up lots of goals for his team mates as well.

An example of a player that gets his goal opportunites on a silver platter is Inzaghi, the kind of player who is right there at the right time.

[leomanya]

I can't speak much for his time at Inter, but for Uruguay he has been very disappointing. Not only has he failed to perform (I can think of only a few games where he has lived up to his ability), at times he has shown the petulance of a child, complaining during a game when his coach has called for him to be substituted.

With very few exceptions, I can't think of many games where Recoba has scored "important" goals, i.e. cup finals, derby matches, etc, for either club or country.

[AxelFoley]

I can't speak much for his time at Inter, but for Uruguay he has been very disappointing. Not only has he failed to perform (I can think of only a few games where he has lived up to his ability), at times he has shown the petulance of a child, complaining during a game when his coach has called for him to be substituted.

With very few exceptions, I can't think of many games where Recoba has scored "important" goals, i.e. cup finals, derby matches, etc, for either club or country.

He might not have scored that many important goals for his country, but IMO he has had some great games, but you're bound to be disappointed in him when he underperforms which he does at times, especially when you know whta he can do with a ball on a good day.

A great example of his importance is the 2002 Eliminatorias. He scored only 1 goal, but he assisted 7 goals and were the one who forced Cafú to kick him down in the penalty-area which resulted in a penalty-kick that Magallanes put home for us in our important victory over Brasil.
In the seleccion he's not a goalscorer, he is however, our keyplayer and has proven his importance IMO.

As for Inter, he may nog have scored any goals against rivals Milan, but he has against Roma, Lazio and other contenders, but those games are not the only important ones. You have to win against the smaller teams as well.

[No Use For A Name]

FFA announced new date for the Argentina game.


Football Federation Australia has confirmed that the international between the Socceroos and former world champion Argentina at the MCG has been re-scheduled for Tuesday 11 September 2007.

FFA had agreed to the Argentine Football Association’s request to re-schedule the international match, which had first been planned for the MCG on 6 June.

"We’d like to thank all the fans for their patience and understanding while we finalised a new date for the match," FFA CEO Ben Buckley said.

"We have worked hard with the Argentine Association, the Victorian Government and the MCG to set a date in stone which will enable Argentina to bring their best players to Australia. We are very grateful for the continued strong support of the government in Victoria through this whole process."

[choppo]

got tickets:D :D :D cept my brother is trying to give mine away to a friend and is telling me i gotta try to get another one for me:( :( :(
not cool!

[AxelFoley]

got tickets:D :D :D cept my brother is trying to give mine away to a friend and is telling me i gotta try to get another one for me:( :( :(
not cool!

If my brother did that to me I'd kick his ass.

[Mitch23]

well at least the match is still on. but isnt that a bad time for all the european based players being the start of the new season

anyway will my ticket still be valid or are they going to send out new tickets?

[choppo]

well at least the match is still on. but isnt that a bad time for all the european based players being the start of the new season

anyway will my ticket still be valid or are they going to send out new tickets?
yeh tickets are still valid, just keep the same one...

[Mitch23]

yeh tickets are still valid, just keep the same one...

ohk good. thanks mate!

[pydgey]

Argentina names superstars for Australia clash (http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=18994)
Tuesday, 28 August 2007

Argentina has named a squad full of international superstars for the blockbuster match against the Qantas Socceroos to be played at the MCG on 11 September.

Head Coach Alfio Basile has included some of the biggest names in world football including Carlos Tevez (Manchester United), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Hernan Crespo (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid), Javier Saviola (Real Madrid) and the player some experts rate as the most exciting on the planet, Lionel Messi (Barcelona).

Football Federation Australia CEO Mr. Ben Buckley said it was a unique opportunity to see such a quality team in action.

“Argentina are bringing down some of the greats of world football. It will truly be a once in a lifetime opportunity for Australian sports fans to see some of the world’s best in action against our own Qantas Socceroos. This reflects the intention of the original postponement and we thank AFA President Mr Julio Grondona for fulfilling his commitment to send a full strength team,” said Mr. Buckley.

“The clubs that these players are at are some of the biggest in the world including Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Barcelona.”

“The strength of their squad reflects how important the match is to them. Like our own Qantas Socceroos they are about to start the qualifying process for the 2010 World Cup and will be using this as vital preparation.”

In addition to current day superstars the Argentina team also includes Sergio Aguero who was the player of the tournament and leading scorer at the recent FIFA Under 20 World Championships which Argentina won.

The Qantas Socceroos squad will be announced on Thursday.

The match will be shown live and exclusive on FOX SPORTS and available on Radio 702 ABC nationally.

ARGENTINA SQUAD TO PLAY AUSTRALIA, MCG, 11 SEPTEMBER 2007:

Roberto Abbondanzieri (Getafe), Oscar Ustari (Getafe), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar); Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid), Daniel Diaz (Getafe), Gabriel Milito (Barcelona), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan); Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Jonas Gutierrez (Mallorca), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Federico Insua (America, Mexico), Cristian Ledesma (Olympiakos), Maxi Rodriguez (Athletico Madrid), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid); Javier Saviola (Real Madrid), Hernan Crespo (Inter Milan), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United), Lionel Messi (Barcelona).


That is an awesome squad! It'll be interesting to see which Socceroos will be shortlisted after the hassling by the FFA for a full strength Argies team.


3 weeks to go :D

[please Messi - don't get injured :o]

[No Use For A Name]

Saw that. No doubt a few will withdraw before then but shows the decision to postpone the fixture was a correct. Bet all those with tickets can't wait for it now. Wish I was going. Could be Arnolds last game as well potentially I guess.