GGArmy

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Qantas-Socceroos-to-play-at-AAMI-Park/42859

Qantas Socceroos to play at AAMI Park
Tuesday, 22 November 2011

The Qantas Socceroos will play at AAMI Park in Melbourne for the first time ever when they host Saudi Arabia in their final 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier Third Round match on Wednesday 29th February 2012.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) and the Victorian Government made the historic announcement today at AAMI Park with Qantas Socceroos Head Coach Holger Osieck and star Melbourne-based Qantas Socceroos Harry Kewell and Archie Thompson.

FFA CEO Ben Buckley said the Qantas Socceroos first appearance at AAMI Park would be a celebration for all members of the football family from the grassroots to the Hyundai A-League.

“This match will be a first for the Qantas Socceroos at a purpose-built stadium that captures a European-style football atmosphere,” Mr Buckley said.

“We are giving the Football Family across Australia and players registered with Football Federation Victoria in particular the privilege of an exclusive pre-sale window and a 10% discount as recognition of their passionate support for football and the Qantas Socceroos.

“These people are the heartbeat of the game and I’m sure that passion will translate into a fantastic atmosphere for the Qantas Socceroos’ first ever game at AAMI Park.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Victorian Government and the Victorian Major Events Company for their contribution and continued support of the Qantas Socceroos and football in Australia,” concluded Buckley.

Victoria’s Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher said this event was another opportunity for Australians to experience the world's best in sport, culture and entertainment in the nation’s events capital, Victoria.

"This Qantas Socceroos match is part of an exciting major events calendar in Melbourne in early 2012; including the Australian Open Tennis, the Ironman Asia Pacific Championships, the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, the Superbike World Championship and the L'Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival," Ms Asher said.

The Minister for Sport and Recreation, Hugh Delahunty, said the game would be a terrific opportunity for football fans to see the Socceroos in action, right in the heart of Melbourne.

"The Victorian Government is delighted to support the staging of this match, which gives football fans a chance to cheer on the Socceroos as they continue their campaign to qualify for the 2014 World Cup," Mr Delahunty said.

This will be the Qantas Socceroos first match in Melbourne as part of their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign and with the Saudis needing a win to guarantee progression to the fourth round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, it is sure to be an exciting match.

Saudi Arabia, are currently ranked 98th in the FIFA World Rankings and are in second position of Group D of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers – Third round.

The match will be the fourth meeting between the Qantas Socceroos and Saudi Arabia. The last time these two teams met was in September 2011 when the Qantas Socceroos defeated Saudi Arabia 3-1 in Dammam.

Tickets for the match will go on-sale to the Football Family from tomorrow (Wednesday 23 November 2011) and to the general public from Wednesday 7 December from www.ticketek.com.au

Those eligible for the Football Family pre-sale window will be notified by email tomorrow (Wednesday 23 November 2011)

The Qantas Socceroos versus Saudi Arabia match is proudly supported by the Victorian Government and the Victorian Major Events Company.

The match will be broadcast live and exclusive throughout Australia by FOX SPORTS.

Upcoming Match Details
2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Third Round Match Day 6
Qantas Socceroos vs. Saudi Arabia
Wednesday 29 February, 2011
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEDT
Gates Open: 6.00pm

Ticketing Details
Ticket Prices – (inclusive of GST and booking fees)
Category A - $90 all tickets
Category B - $60 Adult, $30 Concession, $150 Family
Category C - $30 Adult, $15 Concession, $75 Family
Australian Home End - $30 Adult, $15 Concession (No Family tickets)

Ticket Prices – 10% Discount – Football Family, Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Victory and MyFootball Club members.
Category A - $81 all tickets
Category B - $54 Adult, $27 Concession, $135 Family
Category C - $27 Adult, $13.50 Concession, $67.50 Family, $150 Group of 10
Australian Home End - $27 Adult, $13.50 Concession (No Family tickets)
Ticket Prices are inclusive of GST & Booking Fee. Credit card and Transaction charges may apply.
Concession (Pensioner, Student, Child)
Pensioner - Aged,TPI (valid ID cards) including seniors cards
Student - Full time tertiary and secondary school students (valid ID required)
Child - 4–16 years inclusive (children 3 years and under are free unless they are occupying a seat)
On Sale Dates
Wednesday 23 November, 2011 - Football Family, Melbourne Victory, Melbourne Heart and My Football Club Members. 10% price discount applies

Wednesday 7 December, 2011 – General Public

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Osieck-plays-full-hand-for-Saudis/42865

Osieck plays full hand for Saudis
Tuesday, 22 November 2011

Qantas Socceroos coach Holger Osieck has promised to select his strongest available squad for February's World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park, despite the match being a dead rubber for the Australians.

The Qantas Socceroos booked their spot in the next stage of qualifying with a win over Thailand in Bangkok last week, meaning the final group match only has meaning for the Saudis, who need to win to guarantee progress.

But Osieck is adamant that he needs to maintain the standard of football in the national team and that means he wants to ensure he has his best XI on the pitch, regardless of the location or circumstances of the match.

"I definitely don't approach this game as an experiment," he said. "We are in the process of getting the group together and there won't be too many changes."

"I'm pretty happy that I can count on experienced and well tested players and they will definitely be the core group of our team for the games."

"Of course I will always open the doors for talented boys but you always know it's a fine line and if they are labelled too fast as rising stars and compared to big names. I am handling that with care, because it's an educational process as well for those guys and if you push them forward too fast then it could be detrimental," he said.

While Osieck has been prepared to give untested players a go in his tenure, he believes he already has a core group which he is prepared to take all the way to Brazil 2014.

"There is definitely a core group who are experienced and tested players but there is also an opportunity for the younger guys," he said.

That leaves Archie Thompson, who was recently part of a training camp for fringe Socceroos, in an interesting spot, with the Melbourne fan favourite pressing for national selection again after an impressive run of form in the Hyundai A-League.

It appears the 33-year-old would appear to not fit the mould of an emerging player, but Osieck also said that he wasn't interested in birth certificates, only performances.

"I know that Archie brings a lot of quality to the team, and I always keep saying it's not a matter of age, it's a more a matter of maturity and experience and her brings everything that is needed to play at that level ," Osieck said.

Thompson, who has had several false dawns in recent years in terms of his national prospects, remains determined to be a part of the Qantas Socceroos as long as possible.

"I feel if I keep performing and doing well then hopefully and opportunity will come but I need to be scoring goals and need to playing well because there is hell of a lot of talent out there at the moment, especially young talent," he said.

"If opportunities come my way I need to take them because I am getting to an age where these opportunities won't come around very often."

His teammate Harry Kewell, who is a month older than Thompson, is also acutely aware of the need to make the most of his chances when selected for the Qantas Socceroos.

Kewell, who injured a hamstring when playing against Oman on November 15, said he wanted every chance possible to prove to Osieck who can play on until the 2014 World Cup.

"I think the important thing is playing well for your club," he said. "If you play well for your club then you get the privilege of playing for your country and you're performance on your club level need to carry to your national team."

"If you are not performing well, there's question marks about whether you are selected."

when is the squad being announced? only 10 days until the game? must be announced tomorrow surely?

 Today its announced.

Any new faces expected?

Great to see Bresh back as a possible starting attacking mid-fielder. 

I'll not forget that he kicked the winning goal against Uruguay.  (Many ony remember the penalty shoot-out afterwards; the Aloissi moment.

I'll be there.  I understand the 7:30 kick-off that became 9:30, is now 8:30.

Diss0 wrote:  

I'll not forget that he kicked the winning goal against Uruguay.  (Many ony remember the penalty shoot-out afterwards; the Aloissi moment.

Mark Bresciano
Alex Brosque
Nick Carle
David Carney
Brett Emerton
Harry Kewell
Michael Marrone
Mark Milligan
Lucas Neill
Jade North
Sasa Ognenovski
Erik Paartalu
Matthew Ryan
Adam Sarota
Mark Schwarzer
Matthew Spiranovic
Archie Thompson
Michael Thwaite
James Troisi
 

this is my first 11. who is in yours? ps, awesome that schwarzer is making the trip. fcuk, he's a legend!

GK: schwazrer

DEF: spiranovic, neill, ognenovski, carney

MID: emerton, paartalu, bresciano, troisi

FWD: brosque, kewell

Apologies for cross posting this important announcement:

The start time for Qantas Socceroos vs Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park, Melbourne on Wed 29 Feb has changed again.

The revised kick off time is 8.30pm and gates will open at 6.30pm.

This change was made by the FIFA World Cup Organising Committee to enable a simultaneous kick off with the Oman vs Thailand match to start at 1-30pm local time in Muscat.