Written by Thomas Esamie, Greg Stock, Kieran James, Doug Butcher and Jean-Michel Cazal. Thanks to Kevin Christopher (Studs Up editor) for the use of his personal material and John Punshon for the cross referencing of material. For more details see credits.
| The second leg of the Olympic games pre-qualifying tie was played in Canberra. This was an Olympic Games Qualifying match. | ||||
| Played : February 26 1988 | Venue : Bruce Stadium, Canberra, Australia | |||
| Australia Jeff Olver, Wally Savor, Charlie Yankos, Gary McDowall, Alan Davidson, Mike Petersen, Oscar Crino, Paul Wade, Frank Farina, Graham Arnold, John Kosmina Goals : Arnold x2, Farina |
3 | - | 0 | Taiwan (Lineup unavailable) |
| Coach : Frank Arok (Australia) | ||||
| The second phase of Olympic Games qualifiers were played in a round robin format involving Taiwan, New Zealand, Israel and Australia. The games were spread between Australia and New Zealand with the winner qualifying direct for the finals in Seoul. And, yes, there were two Avi Cohen's on Israels side. This was an Olympic Games Qualifying match. | ||||
| Played : March 6 1988 | Venue : Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia | |||
| Australia Jeff Olver, Wally Savor, Charlie Yankos, Gary McDowall, Alan Davidson, Mike Petersen, Oscar Crino, Paul Wade, Frank Farina, Graham Arnold, John Kosmina Goals : Yankos 70pk, Farina 91 |
2 | - | 0 | Israel Boni Ginzburg, Avraham Cohen, Avraham Cohen, Nir Alon, Menashe Shimonov, Eli Cohen, Uri Malmilian (Mordechai Ivanir 65), Nir Klinger, Daniel Brailovski, Eliezer Driks, Roni Rosenthal |
| Referee : Hernan Silva Arci (Chile) Crowd : 9518 Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), Milenko Mihic (Israel) | ||||
| The first leg match against Taiwan was played in Adelaide. This was an Olympic Games Qualifying match. | ||||
| Played : March 9 1988 | Venue : Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia | |||
| Australia Mike Gibson, Alan Davidson, Andy Koczka, Alan Hunter, Mike Petersen (Paul Wade), Alex Tobin, Oscar Crino, Tom McCulloch, Scott Ollerenshaw (Frank Farina), Jimmy Patikas, John Kosmina Goals : Tobin, Crino, Patikas |
3 | - | 2 | Taiwan (Lineup unavailable) |
| Coach : Frank Arok (Australia) | ||||
| Australia then went onot play New Zealand and completed the first round of qualifiers unbeaten. This was an Olympic Games Qualifying match. | ||||
| Played : March 13 1988 | Venue : Sydney Football Stadium, Australia | |||
| Australia Jeff Olver, Wally Savor, Charlie Yankos, Gary McDowall, Alex Tobin (Graham Jennings), Paul Wade, Jimmy Patikas (Scott Ollerenshaw), Oscar Crino, Graham Arnold, Frank Farina, John Kosmina Goals : Patikas, Farina, Crino |
3 | - | 1 | New Zealand Clint Gosling, Richard Mulligan, Richard Herbert, Ceri Evans, Duncan Cole, Paul Halford, Daniel Halligan, Michael McGarry, Robert Ironside, Paul Nixon (Colin Walker), Declan Edge (Noel Barkley) Goal : McGarry |
| Referee : Hernan Silva (Chile) Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), Kevin Fallon (New Zealand) | ||||
| The second "away" leg against Israel was played in Christchurch, New Zealand. Again both Avi Cohen's showed up. McDowall's red card was a result of him stepping on the head of an injured Israeli player and he was subsequently banned until after the Olympics by the Soccer Federation. This was an Olympic Games Qualifying match. | ||||
| Played : March 20 1988 | Venue : Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand | |||
| Israel Boni Ginzburg, Avraham Cohen, Avraham Cohen (c), Nir Alon, Yaron Parselani (Nir Levin 66), Eli Cohen, Uri Malmilian, Nir Klinger, Avinoam Ovadia (sent off 62), Daniel Brailovski, Roni Rosenthal |
0 | - | 0 | Australia Jeff Olver, Charlie Yankos, Gary McDowall (sent off 60), Wally Savor, Graham Jennings, Paul Wade, Oscar Crino, Graham Arnold, Frank Farina (Mike Petersen 70), David Mitchell, John Kosmina (Jimmy Patikas 85) |
| Referee : Georges Sandoz (Switzerland) Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), Milenko Mihic (Israel) | ||||
| The return leg against New Zealand was played in Wellington and saw Australias unbeaten run continue. This was an Olympic Games Qualifying match. | ||||
| Played : March 23 1988 | Venue : Athletics Park, Wellington, New Zealand | |||
| New Zealand Clint Gosling, Grant Turner, Richard Herbert, Ceri Evans, Malcolm Dunford (Paul Nixon), Paul Halford, Daniel Halligan, Robert Ironside, Duncan Cole, Michael McGarry, Frederick de Jong Goal : McGarry |
1 | - | 1 | Australia Jeff Olver, Wally Savor, Charlie Yankos, Alan Hunter, Paul Wade, Graham Jennings, Oscar Crino, Graham Arnold (Jimmy Patikas), Mike Petersen, David Mitchell, John Kosmina (Frank Farina) Goal : Farina |
| Referee : Georges Sandoz (Switzerland) Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), Kevin Fallon (New Zealand) | ||||
| The final match was purely academic and Australia won 3-0 cementing a place at the Olympic Games Finals in Seoul in September 1988. This was an Olympic Games Qualifying match. | ||||
| Played : March 27 1988 | Venue : Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | |||
| Taiwan (Lineup unavailable) |
0 | - | 3 | Australia Jeff Olver, Wally Savor, Charlie Yankos, Alex Tobin, Graham Jennings, Paul Wade, Mike Petersen (Tom McCulloch), Frank Farina, Oscar Crino, Graham Arnold (Scott Ollerenshaw), John Kosmina Goals : Arnold, Farina, Wade |
| Coach : Frank Arok (Australia) | ||||
| To celebrate Australias Bicentennary, the Australian Soccer Federation organised a Gold Cup tournament. They invited two very experienced international sides in Brazil and Argentina and an up and coming side in Saudi Arabia. Played in a round robin format, the top two sides would play-off in the final at the end of the series. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : July 7 1988 | Venue : Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia | |||
| Australia Jeff Olver, Wally Savor, Charlie Yankos, Robbie Dunn, Graham Jennings, Paul Wade, Oscar Crino, Alan Davidson (Robbie Slater 73), Frank Farina, Graham Arnold, John Kosmina (Vlado Bozinoski 73) |
0 | - | 1 | Brazil Claudio Taffarel, Jorge Campos "Jorginho", Aloisio Alves, Ricardo Gomes, Nelsinho Kerchner, Geovani Silva, Ademir Kaefer (Milton De Souza 85), Valdo Candido, Hamilton De Souza "Careca" (Eduardo Santos "Edu" 62), Luis Da Costa "Muller", Romario Faria de Souza Goal : Romario 31 |
| Referee : Richard Lorenc (Australia) Crowd : 11214 Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), Carlos Alberto Silva (Brazil) | ||||
| Australias second match was against Saudi Arabia. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : July 9 1988 | Venue : Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |||
| Australia Jeff Olver, Charlie Yankos, Wally Savor, Robbie Dunn, Graham Jennings, Paul Wade, Alan Davidson, Oscar Crino, Frank Farina (Vlado Bozinoski 82), Graham Arnold (Robbie Slater 71), Scott Ollerenshaw Goals : Ollerenshaw 6, Farina 40, 82 |
3 | - | 0 | Saudi Arabia Abdullah Al Deayea, Ezzaki Al Saleh, Ahmed Jamil Madani, Saad Break, Mohammed Abdul Jawad, Fahd Al Bishi "Al Harifi", Al Mutlaq, Fahd Al Moseibeh (Omar Bakhaswein), Mohammed Al Suwayed, Majid Abdullah Mohammed, Muhaisen Al Dosari (Youssef Jazaa) |
| Referee : Bill Monteverde (Australia) Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), Carlos Alberto Parreira (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Australia's third cup game was against Argentina. The 4-1 win was something special against the high profile, World Champion Argentinians and is often considered one of the best wins by the Socceroos. With this "shock" win Australia qualified for the Gold Cup final against Brazil. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : July 14 1988 | Venue : Sydney Football Stadium, Australia | |||
| Australia Jeff Olver, Charlie Yankos, Robbie Dunn, Wally Savor, Graham Jennings, Alan Davidson, Paul Wade, Vlado Bozinoski, Frank Farina, Graham Arnold, Scott Ollerenshaw Goals : Wade 4, Yankos 43, 68pk, Bozinoski 80 |
4 | - | 1 | Argentina Luis Islas, Nestor Lorenzo, Mario Lucca, Oscar Ruggeri, Oscar Garre, Diego Simeone, Sergio Batista (Pedro Monzon 87), Claudio Cabrera (Oscar Dertycia 63), Hernan Diaz, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Toribio Aquino Goal : Ruggeri 31 |
| Referee : Gary Power (Australia) Crowd : 18985 Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), Carlos Bilardo (Argentina) | ||||
| Australia had qualified for the Bicentennial Gold Cup Final although they acquitted themselves well, they were no match for the flamboyant Brazilians. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : July 17 1988 | Venue : Sydney Football Stadium, Australia | |||
| Australia Jeff Olver, Charlie Yankos, Robbie Dunn, Wally Savor (Vlado Bozinoski 72), Graham Jennings, Alan Davidson, Paul Wade, Oscar Crino, Frank Farina (Robbie Slater 72), Graham Arnold, Scott Ollerenshaw |
0 | - | 2 | Brazil Claudio Taffarel, Jorge Campos "Jorginho" (sent off 62), Aloisio Alves, Ricardo Gomes, Nelsinho Kerchner, Geovani Silva, Jorge Andrade, Valdo Candido, Luis Da Costa "Muller", Edmar Santos (Luis Carlos Winck 65), Romario Faria de Souza Goals : Romario 56, Muller 67 |
| Referee : Donald Campbell (Australia) Crowd : 28161 Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), Carlos Alberto Silva (Brazil) | ||||
| Australia had qualified for the Olympics in South Korea and their initial match was against Yugoslavia. However since the European sides had restrictions placed on the players they could select that match is in the 'B' archive. Having won against Yugoslavia, Australia next played Brazil, who had beaten them 1-0 and 2-0 only two months earlier, so the arithmetic progression was maintained. This match was an Olympic Games Finals match. | ||||
| Played : September 20 1988 | Venue : Dongdaemon Stadium, Seoul, South Korea | |||
| Brazil Claudio Taffarel, Luis Carlos Winck, Aloisio Alves, Andre Cruz, Jorge Campos "Jorginho", Milton De Souza (Sergio Luiz "Joao Paulo" 81), Geovani Silva, Ademir Kaefer, Hamilton De Souza "Careca" (Jose De Oliveira "Bebeto" 75), Edmar Santos, Romario Faria de Souza Goals : Romario 20, 57, 61 |
3 | - | 0 | Australia Jeff Olver, Charlie Yankos, Robbie Dunn (Gary van Egmond 60), Alan Davidson, Graham Jennings, Paul Wade, Oscar Crino, Mike Petersen, Frank Farina (Robbie Slater 75), Graham Arnold, David Mitchell |
| Referee : Karl-Heinz Trischler (Germany) Crowd : 15000 Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), Carlos Alberto Silva (Brazil) | ||||
| Australias final group match was against Nigeria. An unknown quantity to the Socceroos, the Australians played well enough to win and qualify second in their group and advance to the Quarter-Finals to face the USSR. Again, being from UEFA, the USSR side was not the true 'A' team therefore that match is in the 'B' Archive. This match was an Olympic Games Finals match. | ||||
| Played : September 22 1988 | Venue : Dongdaemon Stadium, Seoul, South Korea | |||
| Nigeria Christian Obi, Augustine Eguavoen, Ademola Adeshina, Andrew Uwe, Sadi Dahiru - Dominic Jorfa (Wole Odegbami 52), Sylvanus Okpala, Samuel Okwaraji, Michael Okibu (Emeka Ezeogu 80), Samson Siasia, Rashidi Yekini |
0 | - | 1 | Australia Jeff Olver, Gary van Egmond, Graham Jennings, Charlie Yankos, Robbie Dunn (Andy Koczka 69), Paul Wade, Graham Arnold, John Kosmina (Scott Ollerenshaw 84), Oscar Crino, Alan Davidson, David Mitchell Goal : Kosmina 76 |
| Referee : Michal Listkiewicz (Poland) Crowd : 12835 Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), Manfred Honer (Nigeria) | ||||
| The Socceroos returned to Australia following their success in the Olympic Games to face a two legged Trans Tasman Trophy series with the "old foe" New Zealand. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : October 12 1988 | Venue : Caledonian Ground, Dunedin, New Zealand | |||
| New Zealand Clint Gosling, Anthony Ferris, Gary Lund, Richard Herbert, Malcolm Dunford, Christopher Riley, Daniel Halligan, Michael McGarry, Frederick de Jong (Robert Ironside 76), Darren McClennan, William Wright Goal : Ironside 77 |
1 | - | 2 | Australia Jeff Olver, Gary van Egmond, Gary McDowall, Andy Koczka, Graham Jennings, Paul Wade, Oscar Crino, Alan Davidson, Graham Arnold, Warren Spink (Angie Postecoglou 71), Scott Ollerenshaw Goals : Crino 60, Ollerenshaw 74 |
| Referee : Lennox Sharp Crowd : 3000 Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), Kevin Fallon (New Zealand) | ||||
| The Socceroos regained the Trans Tasman trophy with a 2-0 win over New Zealand in the unlikely venue of Bendigo in central Victoria. The first goal came from a Spink shot, some sources credit him with the goal. This match was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : October 16 1988 | Venue : Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo, Australia | |||
| Australia Jeff Olver, Gary van Egmond, Charlie Yankos, Gary McDowall, Angie Postecoglou (Graham Jennings 75), Paul Wade (Mike Petersen 86), Alan Davidson, Oscar Crino, Warren Spink, Graham Arnold, Scott Ollerenshaw Goals : Lung 49og, Spink 68 |
2 | - | 0 | New Zealand Clint Gosling, Richard Mulligan, Gary Lund, Robert Ironside, Malcolm Dunford, Christopher Riley, Daniel Halligan (Anthony Ferris 86), Michael McGarry, William Wright, Darren McClennan, Declan Edge (John Hanson 86) |
| Referee : Chris Bambridge (Australia) Crowd : 3000 Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), Kevin Fallon (New Zealand) | ||||
| The first round of World Cup qualifiers for Italia '90 commenced with a two legged series against Oceania neighbours Fiji. This match was a World Cup Qualifying match. | ||||
| Played : November 20 1988 | Venue : Prince Charles Park, Nadi, Fiji | |||
| Fiji Nasoni Buli, Abraham Watkins, Pita Dau (Shafiq Ali 71), Dan Lutumailagi, Lote Delai, Maretino Nemani, Meli Vuilabasa, Vimal Sami, Ivor Evans, Simon Peters, Jone Watisoni (Ravuama Madigi 46) Goal : Madigi 66 |
1 | - | 0 | Australia Jeff Olver, Gary van Egmond, Charlie Yankos, Gary McDowall, Graham Jennings, Alan Davidson, Mike Petersen (Steve Maxwell 66), Oscar Crino, Warren Spink (Joe Palatsides 66), Graham Arnold, Scott Ollerenshaw |
| Referee : Gary Fleet (New Zealand) Crowd : 6000 Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), William Sing (Fiji) | ||||
| Following Australias shock loss in the away leg, the pressure was on the home side to perform. They did, scoring five goals and advancing to the next round of qualifiers 5-2 on aggregate. This match was a World Cup Qualifying match. | ||||
| Played : December 3 1988 | Venue : Macquarie Field, Speers Point, Australia | |||
| Australia Jeff Olver, Gary van Egmond, Charlie Yankos, Gary McDowall, Graham Jennings, Alan Davidson, Jason Polak (Paul Trimboli 58), Oscar Crino, Warren Spink, Graham Arnold, Scott Ollerenshaw (Paul Haniotis 86) Goals : Yankos 9, 69pk, Spink 25, Arnold 84, Trimboli 87 |
5 | - | 1 | Fiji Nasoni Buli, Abraham Watkins, Pita Dau, Nernomi, Lutumaylani (Watosoni 78), Loten Dalai, Meli Vuilabasa, Vimal Sami, Ivor Evans, Simon Peters, Ravuame Madigi (Shafiq Ali 58) Goal : Dalai 89 |
| Referee : Kenneth Wallace (New Zealand) Crowd : 5220 Coach : Frank Arok (Australia), William Sing (Fiji) | ||||