Written by Thomas Esamie, Greg Stock, Jean-Michel Cazal and Frank Scicluna. For more details see credits.
| The Japanese national team toured Australia and played two games against the Socceroos. The first of these games was held in Wollongong. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : February 10 1996 | Venue : Brandon Park, Wollongong, Australia | |||
| Australia Frank Juric, Matthew Bingley, Robbie Hooker, Milan Ivanovic (Jason Polak 70), Tony Popovic, Alex Tobin, Paul Wade (c), Milan Blagojevic (sent off 47), Damian Mori, John Markovski (Francis Awaritefe 46), Paul Trimboli (Goran Lozanovski 70) Goal : Awaritefe 87 |
1 | - | 4 | Japan Kazuya Maekawa, Hiroshige Yanagimoto (Tadashi Nakamura 46 (Kentaro Sawada 70)), Norio Omura, Masami Ihara, Naoki Soma, Tsuyoshi Kitazawa, Motohiro Yamaguchi (Yasuto Honda 46), Hajime Moriasu, Hiroshi Nanami (Hiroaki Morishima 81), Masayuki Okano, Takuya Takagi Goals : Yamaguchi 35, Tagaki 60, 85, Moriasu 89 |
| Referee : Brett Hugo (Australia) Attendance : 8,396 Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia), Shu Kamu (Japan) | ||||
| The second match was played at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : February 14 1996 | Venue : Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | |||
| Australia Jason Petkovic, Goran Lozanovski, Robbie Hooker (Dominic Longo 88), Milan Ivanovic, Tony Popovic, Alex Tobin, Paul Wade (c) (Matthew Bingley 67), Jason Polak, Damian Mori (Kevin Muscat 73), Joe Spiteri, Warren Spink (Paul Trimboli 29) Goals : Mori 15, Spiteri 70, Bingley 74 |
3 | - | 0 | Japan Maekawa, Masami Ihara, Omura, Suzuki (Soma 46), Sawada (Hiroshige Yamagimoto 46), Motohito Yamaguchi, Hajime Moriasu (Honda 65), Tsuyoshi Kitazawa, Nanami (Okana 74), Takaya Takagi, Kazuyoshi Miura |
| Attendance : 4,397 Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia) | ||||
| The Swedish national side toured Australia and played two matches against the Socceroos, the first being in Brisbane. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : February 25 1996 | Venue : Lang Park, Brisbane, Australia | |||
| Australia Zeljko Kalac, Goran Lozanovski (Kevin Muscat 71), Robbie Hooker, Milan Ivanovic, Tony Popovic, Alex Tobin, Paul Wade (c) (Jason Polak 57), Milan Blagojevic, Damian Mori, Joe Spiteri, Graham Arnold |
0 | - | 2 | Sweden Bengt Anderson, Roland Nilsson, Teddy Lucic, Christian Karlsson, Sebastian Henriksson (Peter Wibran 55), Hakan Mild, Niclas Alexandersson, Mikael Nilsson, Magnus Erlingmark, Andreas Andersson, Magnus Svensson (Stefan Landberg 70) Goals : Andersson 86, 87 |
| Referee : Eugene Brazzale (Australia) Linesman : Rob Eedy, Glen Gibbs (Australia) Coaches : Eddie Thomson (Australia), Tommy Svensson (Sweden) | ||||
| The second match was played at the Sydney Football Stadium. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : February 28 1995 | Venue : Sydney Football Stadium, Australia | |||
| Australia Zeljko Kalac, Kevin Muscat (Goran Lozanovski 46), Danny Tiatto (Paul Trimboli 74), Milan Ivanovic, Tony Popovic, Alex Tobin (c), Jason Polak, Milan Blagojevic (Paul Wade 55), Robbie Slater (Damian Mori 46), Joe Spiteri, Graham Arnold |
0 | - | 0 | Sweden Thomas Ravelli, Roland Nilsson, Teddy Lucic, Andreas Jacobsson, Stefan Landberg, Niclas Alexandersson, Mikael Nilsson, Magnus Erlingmark, Peter Wibran, Hakan Mild (Anders Andersson), Andreas Andersson (Mattias Jonsson) |
| Referee : Eddie Lennie (Australia) Linesman : John Bowdler, Stewart Lockrey (Australia) Attendance : 13,905 CoachEddie Thomson (Australia), Tommy Svensson (Sweden) | ||||
| Australian played a one off international against the Scottish national side in Glasgow. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : March 27 1996 | Venue : Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland | |||
| Scotland Jim Leighton, O'Neill (Kevin Gallacher 46), Colin Hendry, Craig Burley, John Collins, Paul McStay (Andy Booth 46), Gary McAllister, Billy McKinlay (Jackson 74), Boyd, Ally McCoist (Nevi 79), John Spencer Goal : McCoist 53 |
1 | - | 0 | Australia Mark Bosnich, Jason van Blerk, Tony Vidmar, Steve Horvat, Tony Popovic, Alex Tobin (c), Aurelio Vidmar, Steve Corica, Robbie Slater, Carl Veart (Danny Tiatto 69), Graham Arnold |
| Attendance : 20,608 Coaches : Craig Brown (Scotland), Eddie Thomson (Australia) | ||||
| Match Report by Roy Hay | ||||
| Australia played another one off international game against Chile in Antofagasta. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : April 24 1996 | Venue : Antofagasta, Chile | |||
| Chile Nelson Tapia, Gabriel Mendoza, Ronald Fuentes, Miguel Ramirez, Javier Margas, Nelson Parraguez (Pablo Galdamez 46), Luis Musrri (Esteban Valencia 46), Fabian Estay, Marcelo Vega (Marcelo Salas 63), Ivan Zamorano (C Nunez 85), Sebastian Rozental (Rodrigo Goldberg 46) Goals : Zamorano 52, 82, Valencia 62 |
3 | - | 0 | Australia Mark Bosnich, Kevin Muscat, Mehmet Durakovic, Dominic Longo (Paul Trimboli 16), George Kulscar, Harry Kewell, Paul Wade (c), Andrew Bernal, Ernie Tapai (Warren Spink 78), Joe Spiteri (sent off 31), Danny Tiatto (Walter Ardone 38 (Paul Agostino 68)) |
| Referee : Robert Ruscio (Argentina) Attendance : 30,000 Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia) | ||||
| Match Report by Thomas Esamie | ||||
| Australia were invited to participate in South Africa's Simba Cup. The series was a round robin tournament and included three games against South Africa, Kenya and Ghana. Australias first match was against Ghana in Durban. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : September 14 1996 | Venue : Kings Park, Durban, South Africa | |||
| Ghana Richard Kingston, Frank Amankwah, Samuel Adjei, Jacob Nettey, Osei Kuffour, Stephen Baidoo, Yaw Sakyi, Eben Dadzie Samuel Kumah (Evans Quaye 61), Patrick Allotey, Bernard Aryee |
0 | - | 2 | Australia Zeljko Kalac, Andrew Marth (Jason Polak 80), Robbie Hooker, Milan Ivanovic, Tony Popovic, Alex Tobin (c), Craig Foster, Milan Blagojevic, Damian Mori, Ernie Tapai, Paul Trimboli Goals : Mori 46, Trimboli 69 |
| Attendance : 46,000 (double-header) Referee : Mathabela (South Africa) Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia) Arday (Ghana) | ||||
| The second Simba Cup game was against the host nation South Africa. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : September 18 1996 | Venue : Johannesburg Athletics Stadium, South Africa | |||
| South Africa Andre Arendse, Sizwe Motaung, Neil Tovey, Jacob Tshisevhe, David Nyathi (Isac Kngwane 63), Eric Tinkler, Joel Masilela, John Moshoeu, Linda Buthelezi, Mark Williams (Jerry Sikhosana 82), Shaun Bartlett (Fani Madida 74) Goals : Moshoeu 13' Williams 71' |
2 | - | 0 | Australia Zeljko Kalac, Andrew Marth, Robbie Hooker, Milan Ivanovic, Tony Popovic (sent off 28'), Alex Tobin (c), Craig Foster (Warren Spink 70'), Milan Blagojevic (Sean Cranney 62'), Damian Mori, Ernie Tapai (Alistair Edwards 68'), Paul Trimboli |
| Referee : Suleiman Gharib (Kenya) Crowd : 29632 Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia), Clive Barker (South Africa) | ||||
| Australias final Simba Cup game was against Kenya in Pretoria. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : September 21 1996 | Venue : Loftus Versveld, Pretoria, South Africa | |||
| Kenya Matthew Otama, Thomas Juma (sent off 72), Francis Oduor, Musa Otieno, Paul Ochieng, Gerald Origi, Frederick Ambani, Allan Odhiambo, Thomas Odhiambo (Joseph Birgen 71), Anthony Lwanga, Nickanor Aketch |
0 | - | 4 | Australia Jason Petkovic, Andrew Marth, Robbie Hooker, Milan Ivanovic, Alistair Edwards, Alex Tobin (c), Craig Foster, Warren Spink (Paul Trimboli 75), Kris Trajanovski (Damian Mori 55'), Jason Polak (Ernie Tapai 46'), Goran Lozanovski Goals : Polak 32' Spink 37' Mori 63' Tobin 78'pen |
| Referee : Ian McLeod (South Africa) Crowd : 50000 Coaches : Vojoslav Gardasevic (Kenya - sent off 72), Eddie Thomson (Australia) | ||||
| Australia were invited to play a one off international against the Saudi Arabian national side in Riyadh. This match turned out to be the last match for coach Eddie Thomson who announced that he was resigning as Australias coach to pursue a club career with Japanese club Sanfrecce Hiroshima. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : October 9 1996 | Venue : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | |||
| Saudi Arabia (Lineup unavailable) |
0 | - | 0 | Australia Zeljko Kalac (Mark Schwarzer 75'), Kevin Muscat, George Kulscar, Alistair Edwards (Lucas Neill 46'), Tony Popovic, Harry Kewell, Craig Moore, Paul Okon (c), Steve Corica, Carl Veart, Paul Agostino (Lorenz Kindtner 62') |
| Coach : Eddie Thomson (Australia) | ||||
| With the Oceania Cup at stake and a place in the Confederations Cup in December 1997, Australia took on Tahiti in a two legged series of home and away. Following Eddie Thomson's resignation, the ASF appointed his deputy Raul Blanco as caretaker coach. This was a Oceania Cup match. | ||||
| Played : October 27 1996 | Venue : Olympic Stadium, Papeete, Tahiti | |||
| Tahiti Ricky Fassain, Tetahio Auraa, Jean Ludivion, John Thunot, Farahia Teuira, Tehina Tahitotera, Rupena Raumati, Heimana Vaiho, Reynald Temarii, Coco Fenuati, Jean-Loup Rousseau |
0 | - | 6 | Australia Zeljko Kalac, Ernie Tapai (Paul Wade 70'), Robbie Hooker (Robert Enes 65'), Milan Ivanovic, Tony Popovic, Alex Tobin (c), Craig Foster, Milan Blagojevic, Alistair Edwards, Kris Trajanovski, Paul Trimboli Goals : Tapai 5' Trimboli 20' Trajanovski 25' 28' 44' 89' |
| Attendance : 5,000 Referee : Barry Tasker (New Zealand) Coach : Raul Blanco (Australian caretaker coach) Gerard Kautai (Tahiti) | ||||
| Match Report by Thomas Esamie | ||||
| The home leg for the Socceroos marked the final international appearance for long serving Socceroo captain Paul Wade. In front of his home crowd, Paul Wade was treated to a standing ovation by the 9,00 strong crowd as bought to a close his international career as Australias most capped player. This match was an Oceania Cup match. | ||||
| Played : November 1 1996 | Venue : Bruce Stadium, Canberra, Australia | |||
| Australia Zeljko Kalac, Matthew Bingley, Robbie Hooker, Milan Ivanovic, Tony Popovic, Alex Tobin, Craig Foster (Robert Enes 76), Paul Wade (c) (Jason Polak 60'), Ernie Tapai, Kris Trajanovski (Warren Spink 60), Paul Trimboli Goals : Hooker 11' Trajanovski 21' 36' 54' Raumati 31og |
5 | - | 0 | Tahiti Laurent Heinis, Eric Etaeta, Jean Ludivion, Farahia Teuira, Patrick Appriou (Heimana Vaiho 80'), Tehina Tahitoterai, Jean-Paul Wong, Rupena Raumati (Stephane Tuairau 46'), Reynald Temarii, Tetahio Auraa, Jean-Luc Rousseau (Gatien Maheanuu 66') |
| Referee : Intaz Shah (Fiji) Linesmen : Suresh Behari (Fiji), Fred Lensi (Vanuatu) Attendance : 9,421 Coach : Raul Blanco (Australian caretaker coach), Gerard Kautai (Tahiti) | ||||
| Match Report by Thomas Esamie | ||||