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| Wednesday, May 17, 2006 |
| Telstra Stadium chosen for Socceroos crucial FIFA World Cup Home Match |
Telstra Stadium chosen for Socceroos crucial FIFA World Cup Home Match
Telstra Stadium has been chosen ahead of other venues in Sydney and interstate as the host of the Socceroos crucial home match in the FIFA World Cup South America-Oceania play-off on 12 or 16 November this year. Telstra Stadium CEO Ken Edwards said today he was very excited that Telstra Stadium will be playing such a big part in the Socceroos campaign to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time in three decades. “The home and away format of the World Cup qualifying makes this game so crucial,” said Mr Edwards. “I firmly believe the Socceroos will have a fantastic home advantage at Telstra Stadium. “As well as providing a top-class pitch and the best facilities around, Telstra Stadium will generate the sort of electrifying atmosphere from over 80,000 passionate fans that will lift the Australian team to new heights against their South American opponents.” Mr Edwards said Telstra Stadium has already set crowd attendance records for football in Australia; • 104,098 Highest ever crowd to watch a football match in Australia Spain v Cameroon, Olympic men’s football tournament final September 2000 • 88,101 Highest ever crowd to watch the Socceroos in Australia Socceroos v FIFA World Stars, June 1999 “Telstra Stadium is the natural choice for this type of prestigious event, now and into the future,” said Mr Edwards. “Our football heritage includes matches with some of the world’s biggest teams, such as Manchester United and the Brazilian national team.” The average attendance for the six international football matches played at Telstra Stadium is 65,488. “Football fans have voted with their feet and it’s easy to see why,” said Mr Edwards. “We are right in the middle of Australia’s biggest city, easily accessible by public transport and road, with world-class spectator facilities. Most of all, Telstra Stadium has the buzz of making great things happen in Australian sport, and like every other fan I’m banking on the Socceroos making history at home at Telstra Stadium.“ The exact date and kick off time for the home leg of the FIFA World Cup South America-Oceania play-off is yet to be determined. |
posted by ZanZiBaRi @ 8:23 AM  |
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| Buoyant Germans glimpse bright future |
Germany approached the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005 with the stated aim of winning the trophy, and although the hosts fell short of that lofty goal, their new brand of exuberant attacking play sealed third place, infusing their supporters with optimism bordering on euphoria. A 4-3 triumph after extra time in the third place play-off against Mexico rounded off a more than satisfactory dress rehearsal for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™.
"We've grown together as a team during this tournament, and we've drawn valuable conclusions," upbeat coach Jurgen Klinsmann declared. "Overall, we're hugely satisfied with our performances and the account we've given of ourselves," he continued, admitting his team was "still learning" ahead of the 2006 finals. "We have to remain patient. We're bound to make a few mistakes."
Klinsmann's side opened with a nervy 4-3 victory over Australia and a hard-earned if ultimately clear-cut 3-0 success against Tunisia, before going on to match both Argentina and Brazil for passing, movement and tactical flexibility in a 2-2 draw and a narrow 3-2 defeat respectively. The Germans will count themselves unlucky not to have made it to the final.
"We needn't worry about lagging miles behind. We're already on a par," Michael Ballack concluded. The German captain followed up an impressive season at Bayern Munich with an influential tournament for the national team, scoring four goals to claim the adidas Silver Shoe accolade as second-highest scorer behind Brazil's Adriano.
Despite Germany's continuing failure to beat a top ten footballing nation, Oliver Kahn expressed great satisfaction at his side's gutsy displays against the sides lying first and third in the world rankings. "I'm certain we'll beat the big names again soon - and it will be at the World Cup," the giant keeper predicted.
Germany scored 15 times in five matches to finish top of the tournament scoring charts. Emerging talents such as Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Per Mertesacker repaid the coach's faith in youth with immensely promising displays and the prospect of a bright future on the international stage.
For all the positives, the coaching staff can hardly overlook a number of glaring weaknesses. The Germans conceded ten times in their five matches, as a rearguard desperately short on experience at the highest level threatened to undo all the good work further up the field.
"We have to improve our entire tactical approach when we don't have the ball. We still have a great deal to learn," Klinsmann acknowledged. "But even if we're occasionally taking a step back, we're always taking two steps forward. We still have plenty of work to do, but we're fired up and determined to keep on improving. We want to grow, and we will grow."
Assistant coach Joachim Low shared his boss's assessment. "A year ago, we had the feeling we were a long way off. But we've climbed a long way up the ladder." The major remaining difference was the "individual class" embodied by superstars such as Ronaldinho, Adriano or Juan Riquelme. |
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posted by ZanZiBaRi @ 7:27 AM |
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