Socceroo's vs Serbia melb 7th june..

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

The Socceroos will head into Tuesday's clash with Serbia full of confidence after a makeshift side proved too strong for New Zealand in a 3-0 win at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Australia coach Holger Osieck was encouraged about the future after a host of fringe players stepped in for absent stars Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Mark Schwarzer with a solid performance.

Returning striker Josh Kennedy scored a double while young gun James Troisi marked a rare start with his first international goal in front of his hometown crowd.

The likes of Michael Zullo, Jon McKain, Matthew Spiranovic, Rhys Williams and Alex Brosque also impressed, with Osieck declaring they had proved their worth as squad players for the coming World Cup qualifying campaign.

They will hold a training session in Melbourne on Monday evening to prepare for the rematch with their 2010 World Cup group opponents.

Osieck is expected to field a strong side against the Serbians, with captain Lucas Neill set to play a part after missing the All Whites clash with a groin injury.

Regulars Mile Jedinak, Sasa Ognenovski and Matt McKay are also poised to start after being rested or given bit parts against New Zealand.

Osieck also gave big names Brett Emerton, Luke Wilkshire and Brett Holman only half games on Sunday in a bid to balance the weight of expectation on the side and the short turnaround between games.

"It was my challenge to find out how much I could load the individual players and having the obligation here to perform in front of the home crowd in Adelaide, people came with great expectations, and I had to field a strong team ... that happened," Osieck said.

"On the other hand, I had to balance out how far can I load them in the one game considering the fact the next one is in 48 hours and I think so far we are in a position that in another two days that the players that will start will be ready."

Emerton stood in as captain for Neill against the Kiwis and said he was honoured to have led the Socceroos for only the second time as well as praising the efforts of the side's young players.

"I think they did exactly the job that was asked of them," Emerton said.

"They weren't overawed by the occasion and some of the boys showed a bit of flair ... It was good to watch

[UNITEDCITY]

this will be a better standard of football, however the young kids for australia v nz did quite well.

[Blotto]

this will be a better standard of football, however the young kids for australia v nz did quite well.

Only because NZ were so shithouse....

[Mr X]

Anyone going to the game? Socceroos vs Serbia

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

Anyone going to the game? Socceroos vs Serbia

if vidic came ....i would of yes, a lot are going over anyways...

[Facts and Stats]

TGJ you go to watch the teams, not the players.

[Bomber]

1-1

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

SOCCEROOS captain Lucas Neill's decision on his club future will be based on the best option to get him to the 2014 World Cup.

Out of contract after two seasons with Turkish club Galatasaray, Neill, 33, has drawn interest from newly promoted English Premier League club Queen's Park Rangers but will not be rush a decision.

Neill wants to continue playing in Europe and will discuss his club future with Socceroos coach Holger Osieck and the impact it has on his chances of making the next World Cup squad.

"I'm there or thereabouts," Neill said. "But I'm here with Australia, so this week's been purely focused on that.

"I'm trying to get my fitness back to where it was and (then) I'll have two weeks off and start thinking about it.

"I'll also discuss it with the manager and talk about the options and which ones he might be able to give me his opinion on.

"I see this as a new challenge and I need to pick the right one because my goal is ... the World Cup.

"Some of you think I'm going to be too old, but I want to be part of that plan and the manager can assist me with that."

Neill has had stints at Millwall, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham, Everton and Galatasaray, where he was teammates with Harry Kewell, who is also out of contract and being courted by several A-League clubs.

But Neill said he did not want to play in the A-League just yet and wanted to stay in Europe.

"I hope so," Neill said. "I still feel like I've got a lot to offer there and I want to be playing at the highest possible level to get more international opportunities."

After a groin injury forced Neill to miss the win against New Zealand on Sunday, he is poised to return to the line-up against Serbia tonight in his usual centre back role.

"I'm available," Neill said. "It's up to the manager. I'm six weeks from playing a competitive match, but I think I've done fairly decent training and enough to justify some minutes in the game."

[Red-4-Life]

1-1 draw
35k crowd

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

1-2
40k
an freezing..

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

·Socceroos striker Josh Kennedy does not want to be rested for tonight's friendly against Serbia in Melbourne after scoring twice in Sunday's 3-0 win over New Zealand in Adelaide.

[TAXI]

What time is the game tonight? AEST?

[Bomber]

What time is the game tonight? AEST?

Watch Fox Sports Two now. There's a little countdown clock in the corner.

[Željko Jurin]

Why are some of the Serb supporters that are kids born in Aust, wearing those funny looking hats that their soldiers wore in World War II, to a football game in Australia in the year 2011 ?

[Bomber]

And why not red/blue/white strip?

[Željko Jurin]

And why not red/blue/white strip?

They left them in Korea

Love the mascots wearing red/blue/red...... surprised the nostalgic blue/white/red didn't get pulled out .....

[Bomber]

2 mins 45 secs and the first flare is thrown.

Good old Melbourne town............... Sorry, I will rephrase...good old Melbourne Serbs..............

[Bomber]

Watchable game but at least we got to see 3 goals in Adelaide.

As for crowd, just over 28,000 - that is terrible given no amateur league being played, no AFL games on, roof cover - in such a big city too. I suppose they should give Melbourne the flick for future internationals too now!

[Red-4-Life]

decent game, not the most exciting. Serbia were the better team I thought.

As for the crowd and the Vics bagging out our 21k.....stfu! 28k is far worse in a city with 3x our population with no AFL on against a much better opponent in dry conditions

[soccernuts]

its not worse, 28 thousand is better than 21 thousand, when it comes to money made.


why would you go to adelaide over melbourne, when melbourne pulls a bigger crowd.


the whole population thing, just favours melbourne even more and proves why the bigger populated states get the games, they can get the bigger crowds.

[Rob Lozza]

Australia 0
Serbia 0
Crowd: 28,149 at Etihad Stadium

[Željko Jurin]

decent game, not the most exciting. Serbia were the better team I thought.

As for the crowd and the Vics bagging out our 21k.....stfu! 28k is far worse in a city with 3x our population with no AFL on against a much better opponent in dry conditions

Not the most exciting ??? 20+ shots on goal not exciting enough for you ??

[Stitch This]

its not worse, 28 thousand is better than 21 thousand, when it comes to money made.

why would you go to adelaide over melbourne, when melbourne pulls a bigger crowd.

the whole population thing, just favours melbourne even more and proves why the bigger populated states get the games, they can get the bigger crowds.

For once you are not nuts.

All other arguments are invalid.

[Unknown]

Why are some of the Serb supporters that are kids born in Aust, wearing those funny looking hats that their soldiers wore in World War II, to a football game in Australia in the year 2011 ?

because they can wear whatever the fuck they want. thats like asking why Australians wear thongs and a singlet on Australia day

[Željko Jurin]

Why are some of the Serb supporters that are kids born in Aust, wearing those funny looking hats that their soldiers wore in World War II, to a football game in Australia in the year 2011 ?

because they can wear whatever the shiraz they want. thats like asking why Australians wear thongs and a singlet on Australia day

Thanks for explaining the reasoning behind it, surprised it hasn't taken off in Australia yet then, with kids wearing ANZAC hats to the footy ......

[Side Kick]

its not worse, 28 thousand is better than 21 thousand, when it comes to money made.


why would you go to adelaide over melbourne, when melbourne pulls a bigger crowd.


the whole population thing, just favours melbourne even more and proves why the bigger populated states get the games, they can get the bigger crowds.

Yes 28k is better than 21k, but when you compare 28k comes from a based of 4m compared to 21k from 1m, then Adelaide's is not that bad, considering Melbourne is the so called sporting capital.

Interesting both games held at an AFL ground. Im sure the 28k would have been better at the Melbourne Football ground (AAMI). Obviously they budgeted for a 40K crowd as its 'melbourne the sporting capital of the world'

[Bomber]

Why are some of the Serb supporters that are kids born in Aust, wearing those funny looking hats that their soldiers wore in World War II, to a football game in Australia in the year 2011 ?

because they can wear whatever the shiraz they want. thats like asking why Australians wear thongs and a singlet on Australia day

Thanks for explaining the reasoning behind it, surprised it hasn't taken off in Australia yet then, with kids wearing ANZAC hats to the footy ......

I believe to compensate our soldiers will start wearing khaki beanies and duffle coats.

[ozzie owl]

5AA news this morning focussed on the crowd behaviour before, during and after the game.

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

Australia 0
Serbia 0
Crowd: 28,149 at Etihad Stadium

wrong......

socceroo's 2
flares
serbia 13..
flares

[Facts and Stats]

Did the Advertiser really have the headline Roos v Croatia? I don't buy the paper but I was told that was what was written