Australia national football (soccer) team season 2006
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In 2006 the Australian national football team had twelve matches scheduled. Four of these were qualification matches for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup and another four were for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The national team manager for matches up to, and including, the World Cup was Guus Hiddink. Once Hiddink left the post Graham Arnold then became the interim coach.
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[edit] Australia v Bahrain
On February 23rd, Australia played against Bahrain for their first qualification match for the 2007 Asian Cup and their first match as an AFC member. Due to club commitments, and the match being played on a non FIFA sanctioned date, many first team players were ruled unavailable. Thus giving a chance to several fringe Socceroos, as well as seven previously uncapped players, to prove thesmselves before the World Cup. This was also the first match where the Qantas Socceroos wore their new Nike World Cup kits.[1]
Hiddink was unavailable for this match due to his club commitments with PSV Eindhoven, leaving his two assistant coaches, Johan Neeskens and Graham Arnold, to co-coach the national side for this game.
The first half was relatively disjointed with Arnold and Neeskens choosing to start with an unfamiliar 3-4-3 formation. Bahrain made the first breakthrough with Hussein Ali and almost made it 2-0 before the half-time whistle. After changing the formation to 4-4-2 in the second-half the Socceroos gave an improved performance, dominating the midfield, bringing about 3 goals to win the match. Michael Beauchamp proved to be one of the standouts of the game.[2]
| February 23, 2006 02:15 AEDT |
 Australia |
3–1 |  Bahrain |
Bahrain National Stadium, Manama Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh  Malaysia |
Thompson  54'Skoko 79'Elrich 88' (p) |
FFA Report AFC Summary |
Ali 35' |
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[edit] Australia v Greece
On May 25th, Australia played Greece in a friendly match at the MCG in front of over 95,000 supporters. The match was intended to be both a warm-up and a send-off for the Socceroos before the start of the World Cup. Guus Hiddink had also stated before the game, that he would not be worried about the outcome, as his main agenda was the fitness of the players and the manner in which the team played.[3] With a few key players pulling out of the match,[4] it allowed Hiddink to test some players, such as Željko Kalac, who had not yet had a chance to prove themselves.
Although Australia made plenty of chances in the first half, a well-timed volley from Josip Skoko at the edge of the box proved to be the only goal, and winner, for the match. The second half was a more open contest, though in the end Australia prevailed, leaving Australia and the Socceroos supporters on a high note.
| May 25, 2006 19:00 AEST |
Australia |
1–0 |  Greece |
MCG, Melbourne Attendance: 95,103 Referee: Mike Riley  England |
| Skoko 16' |
FFA Report |
[edit] Australia v Netherlands
On June 4th, Australia played the Netherlands in a friendly match at the De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam. The Socceroos were facing their toughest opposition for a while in the Dutch, who were ranked No. 2 in the FIFA World Rankings at the time, and featured players the likes of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Philip Cocu and Arjen Robben. Both teams wanted to make a good impression in their lead up to the World Cup, the Dutch moreso in front of a packed stadium at home, and the Socceroos wanting to show improved tactical maturity before their game against Japan.[5]
Hiddink chose to reveal the starting line-up only hours before kick off, unveiling a surprise selection in Luke Wilkshire who would replace Josip Skoko in a holding midfield role.[6] Harry Kewell would not be named as he was still yet to be fully match fit.
The Socceroos were immediately put under pressure by the Dutch, with Van Nistelrooy grabbing the opening goal within the first ten minutes. In the second half a penalty taken by Mark Viduka was blocked and put into the path of Tim Cahill who slotted home Australia's equaliser. Wilkshire's send-off after a crunching tackle on Giovanni Van Bronckhorst didn't help matters, the Dutch continuing to make multiple chances, Mark Schwarzer proving to be their biggest folly, making some excellent saves and emerging as Australia's best player on the day.[7]
The draw would have some positive and negative repercussions in the after math, with some calling it an impressive result for the Socceroos,[8] and others (including some Dutch players) labelling the Socceroos overly aggressive in their play, a tag that would stay with the Socceroos throughout the World Cup, and highlighted by Wilkshire's tackle and three Dutch players leaving the field with injuries.[9]
| June 4, 2006 19:00 AEST |
Australia |
1–1 |  Netherlands |
De Kuip Stadium, Rotterdam Attendance: 49,000 Referee: Michael Dean England |
| Cahill 54' |
FFA Report | Van Nistelrooy 9' |
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[edit] Australia v Liechtenstein
On June 8th Australia played Liechtenstein in a friendly match. This would be the last warm-up match before Australia's first game of the 2006 World Cup against Japan. Guus Hiddink would be looking to give chances for the fringe players in the squad to stake their claim for a starting berth at the World Cup, and, at the same time, giving some first choice players a much needed rest. Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill would start the game to gain some match-fitness, still in the steps of recovery from injury,[10] and Zeljko Kalac would also start instead of Mark Schwarzer, with Hiddink still unsure of whether he or Schwarzer would be the first-choice keeper.
A sloppy own goal from Lucas Neill in the opening minutes would not prove too costly, though scores remained level at the break, with Australia needing substitute, Joshua Kennedy, who made an immediate impact, to bring about the second goal in the 75th minute. John Aloisi would score the third to seal the match. Liechentenstein would prove to be a worthier opponent than their lowly World Ranking of 123 suggested, creating several opportunities to worry the Australian defence, and generally, giving Australia a scare.[11]
A mixed performance overall, an irritated Hiddink would state in the after-match press conference that he was disappointed at the team, going on to say "We were sloppy in the first 20 minutes and lacked concentration" and the team would need much improvement before the Japan game.[12] Brett Emerton would later agree with those sentiments, also acknowledging the poor performance was puzzling given that a few players had the chance to press for places against Japan.[13] Though some positives still emerged with both Cahill and Kewell coming through the game unscathed and Joshua Kennedy's impressive performance putting him in contention for some game time.[14]
| June 8, 2006 19:00 AEST |
Australia |
3–1 |  Liechtenstein |
Donaustadion, Ulm Attendance: 5,872 Referee: Wolfgang Stark  Germany |
| Sterjovski 20' Kennedy 75'Aloisi 83' |
FFA Report | Neill 8' (og) |
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[edit] 2006 FIFA World Cup
[edit] Australia v Japan
| June 12, 2006 23:00 AEST |
Australia |
3–1 |  Japan |
Fritz Walter Stadion, Kaiserslautern Attendance: 46,000 Referee: Essam Abd El Fatah  Egypt |
| Cahill 84', 89' Aloisi 92+' |
FFA Report FIFA Summary |
Nakamura 26' |
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[edit] Australia v Brazil
| June 15, 2006 02:00 AEST |
Australia |
0–2 |  Brazil |
Allianz Arena, Munich Attendance: 66,000 Referee: Markus Merk Germany |
| FFA Report FIFA Summary |
Adriano 49' Fred 90' |
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[edit] Australia v Croatia
| June 22, 2006 05:00 AEST |
Australia |
2–2 |  Croatia |
Gottlieb Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart Attendance: 52,000 Referee: Graham Poll England |
| Moore 39' (p) Kewell 79' |
FFA Report FIFA Summary |
Srna 2' Kovač 56' |
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[edit] Australia v Italy
| June 26, 2006 03:00 AEST |
Australia |
0–1 |  Italy |
Fritz Walter Stadion, Kaiserslautern Attendance: 46,000 Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo  Spain |
| FFA Report FIFA Summary |
Totti 95+' (p) |
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[edit] Australia v Kuwait
| August 16, 2006 19:30 AEST |
Australia |
2–0 |  Kuwait |
Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 32,622 Referee: Junjie Huang  China |
| Dodd 75' Petrovski 86' |
FFA Report AFC Summary |
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[edit] Australia v Kuwait
| September 6, 2006 03:00 AEST |
Australia |
0–2 | Kuwait |
Kuwait National Stadium, Kuwait City Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Kamikawa Japan |
| FFA Report AFC Summary |
Al Mutairi 55' Al Motawaa 60' |
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[edit] Australia v Paraguay
| October 7, 2006 19:15 AEST |
Australia |
1–1 |  Paraguay |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 47,609 Referee: Joji Kashihara Japan |
| Popović 88' |
FFA Report | Beauchamp 92+' (og) |
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[edit] Australia v Bahrain
| October 11, 2006 19:30 AEST |
Australia |
2–0 | Bahrain |
Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 36,606 Referee: Fareed Ali Mohamed Al Marzouqi  United Arab Emirates |
| Aloisi 17' Bresciano 23' |
FFA Report AFC Summary |
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[edit] Australia v Ghana
| November 15, 2006 06:45 AEDT |
Australia |
1–1 |  Ghana |
Loftus Road, London Attendance: 14,379 Referee: Mark Clattenburg England |
| Aloisi 25' (p) |
FFA Report | Agogo 75' |
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[edit] Footnotes and References
- ^ Nike Unveils Australia’s World Cup Kit, FFA, February 14, 2006
- ^ Beauchamp In Socceroos World Cup Frame, The Age, February 23, 2006
- ^ Result against Greece not that important: Hiddink, FFA, May 25, 2006
- ^ Cahill, Aloisi declare they will miss Greece match, FFA, May 22, 2006
- ^ Hiddink to limit changes, FFA, June 2, 2006
- ^ Wilkshire set for starting berth, FFA, June 4, 2006
- ^ Schwarzer's class on show, The Age, June 5, 2006
- ^ Holland 1-1 Australia, BBC Sport, June 4, 2006
- ^ Socceroos went too hard: Dutch players, The Age, June 5, 2006
- ^ Kewell set for Liechtenstein, The Age, June 6, 2006
- ^ Socceroos survive scare against minnows, The Age, June 8, 2006
- ^ Socceroos promise to find missing link, The Age, June 10, 2006
- ^ Emerton defends performance, FFA, June 10, 2006
- ^ Tall story gives Japanese nightmares, The Age, June 11, 2006
- ^ Šimunić was given three yellow cards in the match. The referee failed to send him off the pitch after the second yellow, and was only red carded after the third yellow. The original FIFA match report listed all three yellow cards, however was revised shortly after, with the second yellow card (90') not being recorded. It is unknown whether this was for consistency in the reports, or whether the card was retrospectively overturned.
- ^ Having received a red card in the previous game against Croatia, Emerton was suspended for this match.
- ^ Kewell was confirmed as injured, just before the start of the game, and therefore was unable to play.
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National football teams of Australia
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