Written by Thomas Esamie. For more details see credits.
| Graham Arnold was without the services of eight players from the initial squad of 20 namely Michael Beauchamp, Mark Bresciano, Jason Culina, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Mark Schwarzer, Mark Viduka and Luke Wilkshire. Sadly the game was shown exclusively live on Cable TV... so I don't think anyone who wasn't there saw it. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : February 7 | Venue : Loftus Road, London, England | |||
| Australia Michael Petkovic, Brett Emerton, Patrick Kisnorbo, Michael Thwaite, Scott Chipperfield, Vince Grella, Josip Skoko (Jacob Burns 67), Tim Cahill (Ryan Griffiths 75), Mile Sterjovski, Brett Holman, John Aloisi Goals : Emerton 85 |
1 | - | 3 | Denmark Thomas Sorensen, Daniel Agger, Lars Jacobsen, Michael Gravgaard, Niclas Jensen, Christian Poulsen, Daniel Jensen, Dennis Rommedahl, Thomas Kahlenberg, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Martin Jorgensen Goals : Tomasson 5, 38, Jensen 28 |
| Referee : Rob Styles (England) Linesmen : Attendance : 12476 Coaches : Graham Arnold (Australia), Morten Olson (Denmark) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| Australia v China matches go back a long way, but have been far from regular. Still in this match a mix of established and fringe players toyed with their opponents for 45 minutes before any real resistance was encountered. The match telecast didn't do a good job of indicating the Chinese subs, so I got those from http://sports.sohu.com/20070324/n248946977.shtml which says China brought forestry on at halftime. I bet Dams would have played better... heh oh and they don't include the Yan Song sub.. which I'm pretty sure I saw. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : March 24 | Venue : YueXiuShan Stadium, Guangzhou | |||
| China Li Lei Lei, Du Wei, Shao Jiayi (Han Peng 60), Sun Jihai, Li Jinju (Wang Dong 82), Zhang Zhi, Cao Yang, Xu Yunlong, Zhao Junzhe (Yu Tao 45), Mao Jianqing (Yan Song 75), Du Zhen Yu (Dong Fangzhuo 38) |
0 | - | 2 | Australia Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Luke Wilkshire, Shane Steffanuto (Jade North 65), Michael Beauchamp, Patrick Kisnorbo, Marco Bresciano (Nick Carle 80), Carl Valeri (Jacob Burns 90), Brett Holman (Archie Thompson 69), Mile Sterjovski (Simon Colosimo 85), Mark Viduka (Scott McDonald 76) Goals : Holman 8, Bresciano 28 |
| Referee : Wu Chao Jue (Hong Kong) Linesmen : Attendance : Coaches : Graham Arnold (Australia), Zhu Guanghou (China) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| Brad Jones cut a lonely figure as his failure to hold onto what looked like a simple catch from a cross was fumbled and bounced kindly for Recoba to head into an empty net for what turned out to be the winner. Despite a number of yellow cards this was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : June 2 | Venue : Olympic (Telstra) Stadium, Sydney | |||
| Australia Brad Jones, Lucas Neill, Patrick Kisnorbo (Danny Allsopp 84), Michael Thwaite, Brett Emerton, Carl Valeri, Jason Culina (Nick Carle 70), Luke Wilkshire, Mile Sterjovski (Ryan Griffiths 55), Brett Holman (Archie Thompson 62), Scott McDonald Goal : Sterjovski 6 |
1 | - | 2 | Uruguay Fabian Carini, Diego Lugano, Pablo Garcia, Dario Rodriguez, Cristian Rodriguez, Carlos Diogo, Alvaro Recoba (Fabian Cannobio 83), Diego Perez (Guillermo Giacomazzi 46), Andres Scotti (Jorge Fucile 26), Diego Forlan (Fabian Estoyanoff), Vicente Sanchez Goals : Forlan 40, Recoba 77 |
| Referee : Roberto Rosetti (Italy) Linesmen : Ben Wilson (Australia), Nathan Gibson (Australia) Attendance : 61795 Coaches : Graham Arnold (Australia), Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay) | ||||
| Squad Listing |
Match Reports by Various | |||
| The Socceroos looked to have a final hit out in Asian Cup conditions and also played the final match to be hosted at this venue before it is demolished. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : June 30 | Venue : National Stadium, Singapore | |||
| Singapore Lionel Lewis, Noh Rahman (Hafiz Osman 90), Aide Iskandar (Baihakki Khaizan 84), Precious Emuejeraye, Daniel Bennett, Ridhuan Muhammad (Fazrul Nawaz 67), Shahril Ishak, Mustafic Fahrudin (Hariss Harun 56), Shi Jiayi, Khairul Amri (Masrezwan Masturi 75), Indra Sahdan (Ashrin Shariff 79) |
0 | - | 3 | Australia Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Patrick Kisnorbo (Michael Beauchamp 54), Jason Culina, Brett Emerton, Luke Wilkshire (Michael Thwaite 87), Mark Viduka (Nathan Burns 90), Vince Grella, Brett Holman (Archie Thompson 68), Mile Sterjovski (Nick Carle 77), Marco Bresciano (Harry Kewell 61) Goals : Viduka 51, 88 Kewell 76 |
| Referee : Linesmen : Attendance : 45000 Coaches : Graham Arnold (Australia), Radojko Avramovic (Singapore) | ||||
| Squad Listing |
Match Report by Singapore FA | |||
| Tim Cahill ended up saving Australias bacon at one end while Mark Schwarzer was doing it at the other, as for those in between... This was an Asian Cup Finals match. | ||||
| Played : July 8 | Venue : Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | |||
| Australia Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Patrick Kisnorbo (Brett Holman 78), Jason Culina, Brett Emerton, Luke Wilkshire, Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, Vince Grella (Tim Cahill 62), Mile Sterjovski (John Aloisi 46), Mark Bresciano Goal : Cahill 90 |
1 | - | 1 | Oman Ali Al Habsi, Mohamed Al Noobi, Juma Al Wahaibi, Said Suwailim, Bader Al Maimani (Fawzi Bait Doorbeen 60), Yousuf Al Busaidi (Mohammed Al Ghassani 65), Ahmed Al Mahaijri, Ismail Al Ajmi, Hassan Al Gheilani, Amad Al Hosni (Younis Al Mahyijari 80), Goal : Al Maimani 32 |
| Referee : Eddy Maillet (Seychelles) Linesmen : Celestin Ntagungira (Rwanda), Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon) Attendance : 5000 Coaches : Graham Arnold (Australia), Gabriel Calderon (Oman) | ||||
| Squad Listing |
Match Report by the AFC Match Report by Tony Tannous Match Reports by Various | |||
| It can be amazing how quickly the wheels fall off. Rumours of a player rift, coaches under pressure and an outrage among the public ensued this game and suddenly there were real doubts about the ability to fend off Thailand to make the quarterfinals. I'm not privy to what actually happened off the field, but the onfield wasn't pretty. Iraq deserved the win and almost repeated their Olympic dose of 2004. However their first goal probably should not have counted if dangerous play results in an IFK. This was an Asian Cup Finals match. | ||||
| Played : July 13 | Venue : Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | |||
| Australia Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill (sent off 93), Patrick Kisnorbo (John Aloisi 71), Jason Culina (Archie Thompson 64), Brett Emerton, Luke Wilkshire, Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, Vince Grella, Brett Holman (Tim Cahill 46), Mark Bresciano Goal : Viduka 47 |
1 | - | 3 | Iraq Noor Hassan, Jasim Al Hamd, Basem Gatea, Nashat Ali, Salih Al Sadwn (Qusay Aboudy 49), Younes Khalef (Mohammad Shakrown 91), Hawar Taher, Haider Hussain, Ali Rehema, Mahdi Ajeel, Haitham Tahir (Karrar Muhamed 74) Goals : Ali 22, Taher 60, Muhamed 86 |
| Referee : Jasim Karim (Bahrain) Linesmen : Awni Hassouneh (Jordan), Hae Sang Jeong (South Korea) Attendance : 6000 Coaches : Graham Arnold (Australia), Jorvan Vieira (Iraq) | ||||
| Squad Listing |
Match Report by the AFC Match Report by Tony Tannous Match Reports by Various | |||
| In an arguably flattering result Australia came together and got the job done with some changes to the lineup. The reward is to face Japan for a World Cup rematch. Let's hope THey are starting slow to finish strong.. like Italy at the aforementioned tournament. This was an Asian Cup Finals match. | ||||
| Played : July 16 | Venue : Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | |||
| Thailand Kosin Hatrairattanakool, Suree Sukha, Niweat Siriwong, Nataporn Phanrit, Suchao Nutnum, Tawan Sripan, Nirut Surasiang, Kiatisuk Senamuang, Teeratep Winothai (Pipat Thonkanya 60), Kiatprawut Saiweao (Jetsada Jitsawad 56), Sutee Suksomkit (Datsakorn Thonglao 54) |
0 | - | 4 | Australia Mark Schwarzer, Jason Culina, Michael Beauchamp, Brett Emerton, Luke Wilkshire, Mark Viduka (Brett Holman 84), Vince Grella, John Aloisi (Harry Kewell 61), David Carney, Mark Milligan, Mark Bresciano (TIm Cahill 74) Goals : Beauchamp 20, Viduka 80, 83, Kewell 90 |
| Referee : Jong Chul Kwon (South Korea) Linesmen : Hae Sang Jeong (South Korea), Yew Mun Tang (Singapore) Attendance : 46000 Coaches : Graham Arnold (Australia), Chanvit Phalajivin (Thailand) | ||||
| Squad Listing |
Match Report by the AFC Match Report by Tony Tannous Match Reports by Various | |||
| Disappointing as a loss is the boys did well and I have to say that once Grella was sent off it was not going to be Australia's night. Perhaps Japan beating that "Australia are thugs" drum in the press had an effect. This was an Asian Cup Finals match. | ||||
| Played : July 21 | Venue : My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam | |||
| Japan Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, Yuichi Komano, Yuki Abe, Yasohito Endo, Shunsuke Nakamura, Seiichiro Maki (Hisato Sato 102), Keita Suzuki, Kengo Nakamura (Kisho Yano 115), Naohiro Takahara, Akira Kaji (Yasuyuki Konno 88), Yuji Nakazawa Goal : Takahara 72 Pens : Nakamura, Endo, Komano, Takahara (miss), Nakazawa |
1 aet | - | 1 aet | Australia Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Jason Culina, Michael Beauchamp, Brett Emerton, Mark Viduka (Harry Kewell 61), Vince Grella (sent off 75), John Aloisi (Nick Carle 82), David Carney, Mark Milligan, Mark Bresciano (Tim Cahill 71) Goal : Aloisi 69 Pens : Kewell (saved), Neill (saved), Cahill, Carle, Carney |
| Referee : Saad Kameel Al Fadhli (Kuwait) Linesmen : Abdullah Salim Khalfan Al Amouri (Oman), Mohammad Kadom Arab (Iraq) Attendance : 25000 Coaches : Graham Arnold (Australia), Ivan Osim (Japan) | ||||
| Squad Listing |
Match Report by the AFC Match Report by Tony Tannous Match Reports by Various | |||
| This match marked the official retirement of Josip Skoko from the Socceroos and the last match Australia were coached by Graham Arnold. Though the announcement has not been made it is expected Dick Advocaat will take over. Brescianos free kick which hite the crossbar, the back of the keepers head and the crossbar again was as close as Australia got to scoring. That is very, very close. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : September 11 (match postponed from June 6) | Venue : Melbourne Cricket Ground | |||
| Australia Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, David Carney, Jason Culina, Michael Beauchamp, Luke Wilkshire, Josip Skoko (Carl Valeri 51), Joshua Kennedy (Nick Mrdja 82), Archie Thompson (Nick Carle 62), Vince Grella, Marco Bresciano (Brett Holman 58) |
0 | - | 1 | Argentina Roberto Abbondanzieri, Martin Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze, Javier Zanetti, Carlos Tevez (Javier Saviola 84), Javier Mascherano, Gabriel Milito, Nicolas Burdisso, Jonas Gutierrez (Fernando Gago 72), Lionel Messi (Sergio Aguero 91), Federico Insua (Cristian Ledesma 80) Goal : Demichelis 49 |
| Referee : Mike Dean (England) Linesmen : Ben Wilson (Australia), Nathan Gibson (Australia) Attendance : 70171 Coaches : Graham Arnold (Australia), Alfio Basile (Argentina) | ||||
| Squad Listing |
Match Report by Tony Tannous | |||
| Well that bit about Dick Advocaat taking over, not going to happen. Yes he signed a contract, but he was just having a laugh. On the plus side David Carney scored a ripper goal. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : November 17 | Venue : Craven Cottage, London, England | |||
| Australia Mark Schwarzer, Brett Emerton, Lucas Neill, Michael Beauchamp, Scott Chipperfield (Jacob Burns 46), Carl Valeri, Luke Wilskhire, David Carney, Nick Carle, Harry Kewell, Scott McDonald Goal : Carney 52 |
1 | - | 0 | Nigeria Bamidele Mathew Aiyenugba, Rabiu Afolabi, Danny Shittu, Ifeanyi Emeghara, Richard Eromoigbe, Dickson Etuhu, Onyekachi Okonkwo (Taye Ismaila Taiwo 72), Yussuf Atanda Ayila, Obafemi Martins, Peter Odemwingie (Ikechukwu Uche 63), Stephen Makinwa |
| Referee : Mark Clatenburg (England) Linesmen : Attendance : 11953 Coaches : Robert Baan (Australia), Berti Vogts (Nigeria) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||