Following a successful trip back to Australia with a scoreless draw against The Oranje and 3 points against Oman, the good times continued to roll for the Qantas Socceroos. Melbourne Airport yesterday was the site for the unveiling of the Qantas Socceroos Boeing 747 plane that will take the side and the hopes of a nation to the World Cup in South Africa.
The plane’s livery was painted with the support message, ‘Qantas Socceroos – We’re with you all the way’ and will showcase Australia’s support for their national team as the plane flies around the world and to South Africa in 2010.
The unveiling of the plane was another poignant reminder that the World Cup is only 7 months away and the excitement and anticipation is truly beginning to build.
To see the plane being painted with the Qantas Socceroos colours, click on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/qantas#p/a
The first whistle, first pass and first strike of the new A-League season is finally upon us and once again we get the opportunity to ride the wave of an exciting football season.
In what has been the most anticipated A-league season in it’s short history, season 5 has all the promise of a highly competitive and enthralling tussle. With the return to Australia of a group of current Qantas Socceroo’s the standard of the domestic competition is sure to be raised to a level never seen before in either the old NSL or current A-League competition. And if seeing the likes of Jason Culina, Jacob Burns or Mile Sterjovski wasn’t enough to wet the appetite, throw in Robbie Fowler (who many Liverpool fans simply refer to as ‘God’) and you have the recipe for a season filled with excitement and quality.
The addition of two new clubs, The North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United will not only bring with it a new level of ‘bling’ but will also introduce another local rivalry into the Hyundai A-League.
Melbourne Victory will no doubt be the team to beat as they aim to be the first side to go back to back but my tip is to keep an eye out for Sydney FC who will go under the radar in very ‘un-Sydney’ like fashion.
The offseason is always too long, bring on season 5!
Football Federation Australia has just released the Qantas Socceroos squad to take on Ireland in the upcoming friendly on the 12th August in Limerick, Ireland.
The squad is made up of all overseas players with Oliver Bozanic, Nikita Rukavytsy and Aaron Mooy receiving their first ever national call ups.
Football Federation Australia have announced the official preparation for the 2010 World Cup with fixtures scheduled both home and away.
The itinerary includes major friendlies against World Number 3 Holland at the SFS on October 10 and away games to Ireland and the Korea Republic.
The schedule also includes crucial Asian Cup qualifiers against Oman, Kuwait and Indonesia with a final friendly in Melbourne to farewell the team before they embark on their journey to the FIFA World Cup.
Tickets to the Qantas Socceroos v Netherland friendly will be made available to the Football Family via Ticketek from the 18th August for 2 days prior to going on sale to the wider public on the 25th August.
12 Aug: Republic of Ireland v Qantas Socceroos (Limerick)
5 Sept: Korea Republic v Qantas Socceroos (Seoul)
10 Oct: Qantas Socceroos v Netherlands (Sydney, SFS)
14 Oct: Qantas Socceroos v Oman (Melbourne, Asian Cup qualifier)
14 Nov: Oman v Qantas Socceroos (Muscat, Asian Cup Qualifier)
6 Jan: Kuwait v Qantas Socceroos (Kuwait, Asian Cup Qualifier)
3 Mar: Qantas Socceroos v Indonesia (Brisbane, Asian Cup Qualifier)
