Bresc tells it like it is: Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...-bresciano-20141015-1165t3.html#ixzz3GGFN7Slp
And Ange of course says it is all his fault: Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...qatar-loss-20141015-1169pe.html#ixzz3GGI2Vuxc
The 23-man Socceroos squad is: Name Club, Country A International Caps (Goals) Terry Antonis Sydney FC, Australia 3 (0) Aziz Behich Bursaspor, Turkey 6 (2) Mark Bresciano Al Gharafa, Qatar 80 (13) Joshua Brillante ACF Fiorentina, Italy 5 (0) Tim Cahill New York Red Bulls, USA 75 (35) Jason Davidson West Bromwich Albion F.C., England 13 (0) Ivan Franjic FK Torpedo Moskva, Russia 11 (0) Chris Herd Aston Villa, England 3 (0) James Holland FK Austria Vienna, Austria 15 (0) Mile Jedinak Crystal Palace FC, England 51 (6) Robbie Kruse TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Germany 31 (3) Mitchell Langerak (gk) B.V. Borussia 09 Dortmund, Germany 5 (0) Mathew Leckie FC Ingolstadt 04, Germany 15 (1) Massimo Luongo Swindon Town FC, England 4 (0) Matt McKay Brisbane Roar, Australia 49 (1) Mark Milligan Melbourne Victory FC, Australia 33 (2) Mitch Nichols Perth Glory, Australia 4 (0) Aaron Mooy Melbourne City, Australia 3 (3) Mat Ryan (gk) Club Brugge KV, Belgium 12 (0) Trent Sainsbury P.E.C. Zwolle, Netherlands 3 (0) Nikolai Topor-Stanley Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia 4 (0) James Troisi S.V. Zulte Waregem, Belgium 15 (1) Alex Wilkinson Jeonbuk Hyundai FC, Korea Republic 10 (0)
Be interesting to see how the team goes ... I think Ange probably needed a group of qualifying games prior to this tournament, as he hasn't been able to settle on a squad to get the "job" done. I think semi-final for this Asian Cup may be the best we can hope for this time around. Although they may surprise us ... we'll see against Japan (who are also suffering with some poor form and experimentation since the World Cup).
Full squad: Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege), Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Reds), Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka). Defenders: Masato Morishige (Tokyo), Kosuke Ota (Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Tsukasa Shiotani (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart), Gen Shoji (Kashima Antlers), Ken Matsubara (Albirex Niigata). Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka), Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund), Taishi Taguchi (Nagoya Grampus), Gaku Shibasaki (Kashima Antlers). Forwards: Yohei Toyoda (Sagan Tosu), Shinji Okazaki (Mainz), Keisuke Honda (AC Milan), Yu Kobayashi (Kawasaki Frontale), Takashi Inui (Eintracht Frankfurt), Yoshinori Muto (Tokyo).
Don't forget, this game is live on free to air tonight on ABC in the Eastern states and ABC2 in Perth, from 9pm Sydney time. http://www.yourtv.com.au/guide/tonight/
One good thing about living in WA (of course there are many others too) ... we share a very similar time zone with a lot of Asia Good to see ABC taking on the game ... doesn't really bother me as I have Foxtel, but hopefully it helps the Socceroo brand a bit better (who I believe are still without a major sponsor).
Well the first half was very positive. The second not so much, but we looked a lot better this time around, just still missing the end product, until Timmeh came on.
Think we had one shot on goal all game ... not good enough, especially considering we had roughly half the possession. No use having the ball if we aren't threatening the goal (this is lesson 101 in our National Curriculum). This was always my biggest problem with Brisbane Roar when Ange coached them, and they had a classy striker to boot (Cahill is a class act, but not an out-and-out striker). Unfortunately I missed the game, but by all reports we still lack penetration and our wingers still stay out to wide (leaving the lone striker too isolated). Again Ange did this with the Roar, and I thought it was their biggest weakness then (and ours now ... in attack anyway). Defensively we are still a major worry, from report Franjic was underdone (warming those cold benches in Moscow) and not up to scratch. Surely Wilkshire has to come in to the team now! Play Franjic up the pitch more, if Ange loves him so much, but he isn't Socceroo material at RB (ATM anyway).
So what are your thoughts on the latest Socceroos squad named to face Germany and Macedonia?? http://www.footballaustralia.com.au...y-and-fyr-macedonia/63bmvbf99tde18nebaee3lumu Hopefully with the friendly format Ange is able to use a fair few subs, or at least mix up the team from one game to the next.
I'm surprised with Tarek Elrich being in the squad, but with the two games being so close its good to not wear out the starting fullbacks.
And the two games coming up are: GERMANY v AUSTRALIA Thu 26 Mar 2015, 06:30AM (AEDT) Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern and MACEDONIA v AUSTRALIA Mon 30 Mar 2015, 06.00AM (AEDT) National Arena Philip II of Macedonia Stadium, Skopje Last two friendlies before the WC qualifiers start.
I'm looking forward to the game against Germany. It will be a good indicator as to where we are on the global stage.
Troisi pops up again- 1 all at the half. The best bit is- we haven't looked out of place either. Well played lads!
Its good that he can stick it up Holger too. I guess James wasn't in his late 30's so he didn't deserve a start! http://www.sportal.com.au/football/...-starting-xi-player/8nakqvwesuqd16khzfl1wyfbw
Good results so far, USA winning in Denmark, and Australia winning in Germany... but perhaps the German players have... "Georgia on their mind" .... well, that's who they are playing next....