Written by Thomas Esamie. For more details see credits.
| This was an Asian Cup Qualifying match. | ||||
| Played : January 6 | Venue : International Jaber Al-Ahmad Stadium, Kuwait City | |||
| Kuwait Nawaf Al Khaldi, Yaqobu Abdullah, Hussain Fadel, Saleh Alhendi, Talal Alenzi, Bader Al Mutwa, Jarah Al Ataiqi (Abdul Aziz Al Enezi 25), Talal Alamer, Fahad Shaheen, Hamaad Aman (Ahmad Al Eidan 78), Yousuf Nasser (Mohammad Jarragh 72) Goals : Aziz Al Enezi 40, Nasser 44 |
2 | - | 2 | Australia Eugene Galekovic, Craig Moore, Luke Wilkshire, Nick Carle (Matt Thompson 89), Mile Sterjovski (Nikita Rukavytsya 60), Simon Colosimo, Mile Jedinak, Archie Thompson (Bruce Djite 90), Dean Heffernan, Dario Vidosic, Matthew Kemp Goals : Wilkshire 3, Heffernan 5 |
| Referee : Irmatov Ravshan (Uzbekistan) Linesmen : Rasulov Abdukhamidullo (Uzbekistan), Ilyasov Rafael (Uzbekistan) Attendance : 20000 Coaches : Pim Verbeek (Australia), Mohammad E. H. Hajeyah (Kuwait) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| Played in torrential rain the Socceroos ensured qualification to the Asian Cup with this win. This was an Asian Cup Qualifying match. | ||||
| Played : March 3 | Venue : Lang Park (Suncorp Stadium), Brisbane | |||
| Australia Eugene Galekovic, Jason Culina, Luke Wilkshire, Joshua Kennedy, Mile Sterjovski (Matt McKay 46), Jacob Burns (David Williams 89), Mark Milligan, Shannon Cole (Matt Thompson 72), Simon Colosimo, Scott Jamieson, Tommy Oar Goal : Milligan 42 |
1 | - | 0 | Indonesia Markus Rihihina, Charis Yulianto, Ponaryo Astaman, Budi Sudarsono (Arif Suyono 82), Ismed Sofyan, Firman Utina (Eka Ramdani 58), Syamsul Bachri (Hariono 59), Bambang Pamungkas, Muhammad Ridwan, Nova Arianto, Maman Abdurahman |
| Referee : Kenji Ogiya (Japan) Linesmen : Attendance : 20422 Coaches : Pim Verbeek (Australia), Abdurrahman Gurning (Indonesia) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| Repeating the 'farewell' match event for the local fans before the Socceroos head off to the World Cup this time they play the New Zealanders who are also World Cup bound (4 years ago it was Greece). This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : May 24 | Venue : Melbourne Cricket Ground | |||
| Australia Adam Federici (Brad Jones 46), Mark Milligan, Craig Moore (Michael Beauchamp 46), Lucas Neill, David Carney, Jason Culina, Vince Grella (Mile Jedinak 46), Dario Vidosic (Tommy Oar 87), Tim Cahill (Brett Holman 46), Mark Bresciano (Carl Valeri 46), Scott McDonald (Nikita Rukavytsya 71) Goals : Vidosic 56, Holman 90 |
2 | - | 1 | New Zealand Mark Paston, Ben Sigmund, Ryan Nelsen, Ivan Vicelich (Andrew Boyens 51), Leo Bertos (Winston Reid 33), Simon Elliott, Tim Brown (Michael McGlinchey 46), Tony Lochhead (Tommy Smith 59), Shane Smetlz (Jeremy Brockie 67), Rory Fallon, Chris Killen (Chris Wood 66) Goal : Killlen 16 |
| Referee : Ricardo Salazar (USA) Linesmen : Attendance : 55659 Coaches : Pim Verbeek (Australia), Ricki Herbert (New Zealand) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| Australia announced the match against the Denmark on April 15 just prior to the USA match as one of two arm up matches in South Africa before the Cup begins. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : June 1 | Venue : Ruimsig Stadium, Roodepoort, South Africa | |||
| Australia Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Craig Moore (Michael Beauchamp 76), Tim Cahill (Brett Holman 46), Jason Culina, Luke Wilkshire, Joshua Kennedy, Scott Chipperfield (David Carney 46), Vince Grella (Mile Jedinak 73), Richard Garcia (Carl Valeri 46), Mark Bresciano (Dario Vidosic 73) Goal : Kennedy 71 |
1 | - | 0 | Denmark Christian Poulsen (Martin Jorgensen 79), Daniel Agge, Lars Jacobsen, Daniel Jensen (Jakob Poulsen 46), Jon Dahl Tomasson (Soren Larsen 62), Thomas Kahlenburg (Mikkel Beckmann 82), Per Kroldrup, Stephan Andersen, Thomas Enevoldsen (Jesper Gronkjaer 62), Patrick Mtiliga, Christian Eriksen (Dennis Rommedahl 46) |
| Referee : Daniel Bennet (RSA) Linesmen : Attendance : 6000 Coaches : Pim Verbeek (Australia), Morten Olsen (Denmark) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| Australia announced the match against the USA on March 16. This is one of two pre-World Cup fixtures planned for South Africa before the fun starts in earnest. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : June 5 | Venue : Ruimsig Stadium, Roodepoort, South Africa | |||
| Australia Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Craig Moore, Tim Cahill (Carl Valeri 46), Jason Culina (Dario Vidosic 61), Luke Wilkshire, Joshua Kennedy, Scott Chipperfield, Vince Grella, Richard Garcia (Nikita Rukavytsya 71), Mark Bresciano Goal : Cahill 19 |
1 | - | 3 | USA Tim Howard (Marcus Hahnemann 46), Carlos Bocanegra (Jonathan Bornstein 55), Michael Bradley, Steve Cherundolo, Clint Dempsey (Herculez Gomez 82), Landon Donovan, Ricardo Clark, Eddie Buddle (DeMarcus Beasley 78), Jay De Merit, Robbie Findley, Clarence Goodson (Oguchi Onyewu 61) Goals : Buddle 4, 31, Gomez 90 |
| Referee : Addul Ebrahim (RSA) Linesmen : Luyanda Somi, Andrew Reezers (both RSA) Attendance : Coaches : Pim Verbeek (Australia), Bob Bradley (USA) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| Australia opened their campaign against 7 time finalist Germany. For some reason the referee saw fit to send Tim Cahill off for a tackle on Schweinsteiger that even he didn't think warranted a send off according to post match interviews. Still a loss wasn't the problem per se... more the size of it. This was an World Cup Finals match. | ||||
| Played : June 13 | Venue : Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa | |||
| Australia Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Craig Moore, Tim Cahill (sent off 56), Jason Culina, Brett Emerton (Mile Jedinak 74), Luke Wilkshire, Scott Chipperfield, Vince Grella (Brett Holman 46), Carl Valeri, Richard arcia (Nikita Rukavytsya 64) |
0 | - | 4 | Germany Manuel Neuer, Arne Friedrich, Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Oezil (Mario Gomez 74), Lukas Podolski (Marko Marin 81), Miroslav Klose (Claudemir Jeronimo Barreto 68), Thomas Mueller, Holger Badstuber, Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker Goals : Podolski 8, Klose 26, Mueller 68, Cacau 70 |
| Referee : Marco Rodriguez (Mex) Linesmen : Jose Luis Camargo, Alberto Morin (both Mex) Attendance : 62660 Coaches : Pim Verbeek (Australia), Joachim Loew (Germany) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| Australia next face Ghana against whom they have a surprisingly good record. Australia might have extended that record if not for some profligacy in front of goal and yet another send off and penalty to boot. At least this time the decision wasn't entirely bullshit. Even more incredibly Germany turn in a forgettable display and lose thir match against Serbia and have 10 men walk off the pitch. This was an World Cup Finals match. | ||||
| Played : June 19 | Venue : Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa | |||
| Australia Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Craig Moore, Jason Culina, Brett Emerton, Luke Wilkshire (Nikita Rukavytsya 84), Harry Kewell (sent off 25), Brett Holman (Joshua Kennedy 68), Carl Valeri, David Carney, Marco Bresciano (Scott Chipperfield 66) Goal : Holman 11 |
1 | - | 1 | Ghana Richard Kingson, Hans Sarpei, Asamoah Gyan, John Pantsil, Anthony Annan, Johnathan Mensah, Prince Tagoe (Quincy Owusu-Abeyie 56), Andre Ayew, Lee Addy, Kwadwo Asamoah (Sulley Muntari 77), Kevin Prince Boateng (Matthew Amoah 87) Goal : Gyan 25pk |
| Referee : Roberto Rosetti (Ita) Linesmen : Paolo Calcagno, Stefano Ayroldi (both Ita) Attendance : 34812 Coaches : Pim Verbeek (Australia), Milovan Rajevac (Ghana) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| Serbia was Australia's final group stage opponent. Remarakbly FIFA forgot to tell the referee that AUstralia, being so good, should only play with 10 and hence Australia turned in a wonderful display and a win in what ultimately proved short of what was required given the result in the other game (a Ghanaian win or sizeable German win was required). Australia finish their 2010 dream and in totally unrelated matters the Australian Prime Minister was deprived of his job by his deputy on the same day. This was an World Cup Finals match. | ||||
| Played : June 23 | Venue : Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa | |||
| Australia Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill, Jason Culina, Michael Beauchamp, Brett Emerton, Luke Wilkshire (Richard Garcia 82), Joshua Kennedy, Carl Valeri (Brett Holman 66), David Carney, Marco Bresciano (Scott Chipperfield 66) Goals : Cahill 69, Holman 73 |
2 | - | 1 | Serbia Vladimir Stojkovic, Nemanja Vidic, Branislav Ivanovic, Dejan Stankovic, Aleksandar Lukovic, Milan Jovanovic, Nikola Zigic (Marko Pantelic 67), Ivan Obradovic, Milos Krasic (Zoran Tosic 62), Milos Ninkovic, Zdravko Kuzmanovic (Dankko Lazovic 77) Goal : Pantelic 84 |
| Referee : Jorge Larrionda (Uru) Linesmen : Pablo Fandino, Mauricio Espinosa (Uru) Attendance : 37836 Coaches : Pim Verbeek (Australia), Radomir Antic (Serbia) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| With Australia still seeking a permanent (as as close as it gets) appointment to head coach National Technical director Han Berger steps in to coach the Socceroos looking to build for their next Asian Cup adventure. This was an Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : August 11 | Venue : Arena Stožice, Ljubljana | |||
| Slovenia Samir Handanovic, Miso Breko, Bostjan Cesar, Robert Koren, Valter Birsa (Josip Ilicic 67), Milivoje Novakovic (Zlatan Ljubijankic 75), Bojan Jokic (Branko Ilic 80), Andraz Kirm (Dare Vrsic 86), Aleksander Radosavljevic, Matej Mavric, Tim Matavz (Zlatko Dedic 46) Goals : Dedic 78, Ljubijankic 90 |
2 | - | 0 | Australia Mark Schwarzer (Adam Frederici 46), Lucas Neill, Jade North, Luke Wilkshire, Bruce Djite (Dario Vidosic 55), David Carney, Nikita Rukavytsya (Nathan Burns 72), Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak (James Holland 88), Carl Valeri, Richard Garcia |
| Referee : Paolo Tagliavento (Ita) Linesmen : Andrea Stefani, Mauro Tonolini (Ita) Attendance : 16155 Coaches : Han Berger (Australia), Matjaz Kek (Slovenia) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| This was an Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : September 3 | Venue : AFG Arena, St Gallen | |||
| Switzerland Marco Wolfli, Stephan Lichtsteiner (Steve von Bergen 46), Francois Affolter, Gokhan Inler (Pirmin Schwegler 46), Alexander Frei (Moreno Costanzo 67), Stephane Grichting (Scott Sutter 46), David Degen (Reto Ziegler 70), Gelson Fernandes, Albert Bunjaku, Eren Derdiyok (Xherdan Shaqiri 46), Xavier Margairaz |
0 | - | 0 | Australia Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, David Carney, Tim Cahill (Dario Vidosic 67), Jason Culina, Matthew Spiranovic, Brett Emerton, Luke Wilkshire, Brett Holman (Tommy Oar 84), Carl Valeri (Mile Jedinak 82), Scott McDonald |
| Referee : Thomas Einwaller (Austria) Linesmen : Armin Eder, Klaus Strasser (Austria) Attendance : 14660 Coaches : Holger Osieck (Australia), Ottmar Hitzfeld (Switzerland) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| This was an Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : September 7 | Venue : Wisla Krakow Stadium, Krakow | |||
| Poland Przemyslaw Tyton, Michal Zewlakow, Grzegorz Wojtkowiak, Dariusz Pietrasiak (Euzebiusz Smolarek 69), Sebastian Boenisch, Slawomir Peszko (Kamil Grosicki 75), Lukasz Piszczek, Rafal Murawski, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Ireneusz Jelen (Maciej Iwanski 82), Robert Lewandowski Goal : Lewandowski 19 |
1 | - | 2 | Australia Adam Frederici, Lucas Neill, David Carney, Luke Wilkshire, Johnathan McKain, Tim Cahill (Dario Vidosic 75), Brett Holman (Brett Emerton 28 (sent off 71)), Mile Jedinak, Carl Valeri (Jason Culina 55), Richard Garcia, Scott McDonald (Nathan Burns 80) Goals : Holman 14, Wilkshire 26 |
| Referee : Ivan Bebek (Croatia) Linesmen : Miro Grgic, Bosko Vukusic (both Croatia) Attendance : 16000 Coaches : Holger Osieck (Australia), Franciszek Smuda (Poland) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| Australia played its first home match post the 2010 World Cup against a spirited Paraguay team This was an Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : October 9 | Venue : Sydney Football Stadium | |||
| Australia Mark Schwarzer, David Carney, Tim Cahill (Matt McKay 76), Jason Culina, Luke Wilkshire, Joshua Kennedy (Scott McDonald 61), Harry Kewell (Dario Vidosic 88), Jade North, Mile Jedinak, Richard Garcia (Alex Brosque 90), Jon McKain Goal : Carney 53 |
1 | - | 0 | Paraguay Diego Berreto, Dario Veron, Claudio Rodriguez (Cesar Benitez 81), Carlos Bonet, Heman Perez (Edgar Benitez 66), Nestor Camacho (Osvaldo Martinez 54), Paulo da Silva, Victor Caceres, Cristian Riveros (Enrique Vera 78), Nelson Valdez (Federico Santander 76), Derlis Orue (Marcos Riveros 53) |
| Referee : Yuichi Nishimura (Japan) Linesmen : Attendance : 25210 Coaches : Holger Osieck (Australia), Gerardo Martino (Paraguay) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||
| A small setback to the Asian Cup Finals preparation as Australia visited the Pharoahs and, one suspects, help garner the Egyptian vote in the congress to decide the winner of the 2022 World Cup hosting rights. As with the Paraguay match that really didn't help at all... This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : November 17 | Venue : Cairo International Stadium | |||
| Egpyt Abdel Wahed Al Sayed (Mohamed Sobhy 61), Ahmed Eid Abdel Malek (Walid Soliman 55), Ahmed Dewidar, Islam Awad (Ahmed El Mohamady 54), Ibrahim Salah, Ahmed Abd El-Zaher (Mohamed Zidan 59), Ahmed Samir Farag, Wael Gomaa, Mohamed Aboutrika (Mohamed Nagy Ismail Asl 59 (Ahmed Hassan Mekky 74)), Ahmed Fathi, Mahmoud Fathallah Goals : Abdul Zaher 29, Ismail Asl 60, Zidan 90pk |
3 | - | 0 | Australia Mark Schwarzer, Brett Emerton (Richard Garcia 36), Tim Cahill (Matthew McKay 80), Lucas Neill, Sasa Ognenovski (Jade North 66), Luke Wilkshire (Carl Valeri 89), Brett Holman (Dario Vidosic 70), Mile Jedinak, Scott McDonald, Jason Culina, David Carney |
| Referee : Anton Genov (Bulgaria) Linesmen : Attendance : Coaches : Holger Osieck (Australia), Hassan Shehata (Egypt) | ||||
| Squad Listing | ||||