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Asian World Cup Qualifiers

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griffo346

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ANZ not good enough, says Verbeek

By Liam FitzGibbon
 June 20, 2008 AUSTRALIA coach Pim Verbeek has called for greater communication between football codes, admitting he's concerned about the state of the ANZ Stadium pitch.
The Socceroos' match will follow two NRL games and two under-20 rugby league games at ANZ Stadium in two days and Verbeek believes the surface will affect the way his team is able to play.

“I think we have to discuss it,” Verbeek said.

“It (the pitch) is not good enough for us to play the way we normally like to play football.”

Sunday's World Cup qualifying match is a dead rubber, with Australia already guaranteed a spot in the next stage, but Verbeek said Football Federation Australia should take a lesson from the situation.

“Okay there's not so much pressure on our shoulder for Sunday's game but I think we all, FFA in particular, have to learn from this situation,” said Verbeek.

“Because next year if you play your last two (qualification) games at home and if you have to play on that surface, then I think it's something we have to avoid.

“I think we all know that there has to be more communication between the stadiums, the rugby league, the AFL.

“Because only one thing is important, that we qualify for the World Cup.”

Verbeek said neither the stadium nor the rival codes were to blame and described ANZ Stadium as “beautiful”.

Stadium officials have said the ground recently underwent a major resurfacing and are confident of meeting standards for all the matches, claiming the surface is in the best condition it has been since the NRL season started in March.

Watch the Socceroos take on China LIVE on Fox Sports from 6pm (EST) on Sunday. And log on to Foxsports.com.au for interactive coverage from 5.30pm.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23894488-23215,00.html
 
Misanthrope

Misanthrope

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You better be better than Brett Holman!!!!
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Holman bashing is such an idiotic pursuit, especially since he's been close to our best on field in the past two performances. He's not a striker, we all know that, but people seem to pick a player playing out of position to villify. Wilkshire got the same treatment during the World Cup - and now you don't hear a peep of complaint when he's selected.

Holman is a dangerous player when played in the midfield. He harried Iraq's defence when he was subbed on in Dubai, and looked dangerous everytime he was near the play against Qatar. FFS, he set up two of the three goals.
 
Misanthrope

Misanthrope

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He's had 3 games out of 16 matches that were decent.
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How many of those games was he played out of position? You're only as good as your last game - and his last three games have seen him playing some of the best football from the entire team. There are two kinds of football fan: those who know enough to formulate their own opinion, and those who find a popular one and pretend it's their own. Holman bashing is in the latter group.
 
NK Arsenal

NK Arsenal

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He isn't playing out of position.

In Holland, he manages to score goals pretty easily

But when he plays for the Socceroos, he can't find a way to score..

Maybe it's the pressure of playing for his country that is weighing him down...
 
Misanthrope

Misanthrope

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He isn't playing out of position.
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He's clearly not an international level striker. His past is in the midfield and, not surprisingly, that's where he's shone these past three weeks.
 
fish eel

fish eel

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Misanthrope said:
Holman bashing is such an idiotic pursuit, especially since he's been close to our best on field in the past two performances. He's not a striker, we all know that, but people seem to pick a player playing out of position to villify. Wilkshire got the same treatment during the World Cup - and now you don't hear a peep of complaint when he's selected.

Holman is a dangerous player when played in the midfield. He harried Iraq's defence when he was subbed on in Dubai, and looked dangerous everytime he was near the play against Qatar. FFS, he set up two of the three goals.
Click to expand...

welcome to the brett holman club. its pretty lonely thinking he is not sh*t. his goals put his club side into the uefa cup next year.

NK....he doesnt play as a striker in holland. when i've seen highlights on setanta, he hasnt been playing right upfront, but just sitting in behind a striker...
 
fish eel

fish eel

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G

griffo346

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the starting side for the socceroos tomorrow is

Socceroos Team

Michael Petkovic (GK), Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Matthew Spiranovic, Jade North, Ruben Zadkovich, Mile Jedinak, Carl Valeri, James Troisi, James Holland, Bruce Djite, Harry Kewell (c).

Beauchamp benched for China clash

June 21, 2008 AUSTRALIA defender Michael Beauchamp will not start in World Cup qualifying dead rubber against China due to an ankle injury.
Beauchamp, who has started alongside Jade North in all of this month's qualifiers, injured his ankle in last Sunday's 3-1 win over Qatar which confirmed Australia's progress to the next stage.

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek said he would not risk starting Beauchamp against the Chinese, who are already out of World Cup qualifying contention, instead handing 19-year-old Nuremberg defender Matthew Spiranovic his first international start.

"Of course I'd like to play with Michael Beauchamp but he's had problems with his foot since he came back from the Qatar game," Verbeek said.

"He trained yesterday and it was still sore.

"It's a little bit unlucky because he brings the experience we probably need in the middle of the park, but it's better not to let him start and a great opportunity for Matthew to start."

Verbeek revealed his starting line-up for the match, confirming he will hand an international debut to former Sydney FC winger and Derby recruit Ruben Zadkovich and first starts to former Adelaide United striker Bruce Djite and 19-year-old Newcastle Jets midfielder James Holland.

Djite will lead the attack with Harry Kewell, who will again captain the side.

Zadkovich will play at right back, joining Spiranovic, Jade North and Nikolai Topor-Stanley in defence.

Carl Valeri and Mile Jedinak will play as holding midfielders, with Holland on the left and James Troisi on the right.
Michael Petkovic will replace suspended Mark Schwarzer in goals.
Watch the Socceroos take on China LIVE on Fox Sports from 6pm (EST) on Sunday. And log on to Foxsports.com.au for interactive coverage from 5.30pm.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23900379-23215,00.html
Click to expand...
 
Misanthrope

Misanthrope

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Petkovic ahead of Covic is a crime. Otherwise, the team looks ok. Will be interesting to see how the new faces fit in.
 
NK Arsenal

NK Arsenal

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Maybe Pim likes the Covic in Petkovic??

Isn't it great to see 19-year-old James Holland get a start? :D
 
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Misanthrope

Misanthrope

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We're looking better and better as the game goes on. Had some good opportunities as the half has wound down. Kewell understandably our best, but North and Valeri are standing up well. Zadkovich is having a shocker defensively, but looks good coming up. James Holland has done some nice work from set pieces.
 
NK Arsenal

NK Arsenal

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I've found a few live streams but afraid to use em cause I dont want them eating up my downloads

How much MB/GB do these use?

Cheers..
 
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