AUCKLAND - The Football Ferns will play their first home internationals in almost three years when they take on Australia over two matches in Auckland in February. The games against the world number 14 Matildas on February 17 and 20 in Auckland will be the first at home for the Ferns since being blanked in a two match series against Canada in June 2007. http://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=29375
Didn't even know this was on. Thanx, El Cap. On the ball as usual. Even if the article was in the last two paragraphs as a Mark Bresciano story
Today Australia 3 South Korea 1. Australia into the semi finals, probably against the Japanese or North Koreans. Am hoping that Sermanni rests a lot of players in the next game against China [which is now irrelevant], and keeps all the Matilda big guns fairly fresh for the semi's (especially Walsh returning from injury). The Socceroos really need someone with the relative pace of Lisa de Vanna. What a weapon!
And now de Vanna probably out, with what looked like a serious ankle injury against China. China 1 Australia 0.
Yeah, they've all been live on ABC2. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc2/201005/programs/SP0992V004D2010-05-27T180000.htm
Well done to the Matildas through to the final after a 1-0 win over Japan. Kate Gill the scorer in first half injury time.
It's a great effort by the girls. Stoked to see them settling into Asia and getting good results against strong opposition. I think it was a bit of a bumpy ride when we first entered Asia. I had to have a laugh when the news reported "and the Matildas made the Asian Cup final for the first time in their history" like it was about time they'd done it. I was thinking steady up we've only been in Asia for a few years
Whilst there aren't as many good teams for the women in Asia (compared to the men) as the ME nations pretty much don't compete, the top teams are of a higher quality compared to the rest of the world. There are 4-5 Asian Womens teams (inc Matildas) that deserve to be in or around top 10 in the world, compared to maybe 3 mens teams that deserve top 30. Reaching the final of the Asian cup is a massive achievement that shouldn't be underestimated.
Just found out that ABC2 is shown on Foxtel - Eastern Standard Time even in WA, so I get to watch the rest live. If only I had realised that when the tournament started 1-1 now going into extra time