Australia Consulate-General Guangzhou
Media Release Series No. PD004/2007
Date: 19 March 2007
Socceroos to Play in Guangzhou
Australian Qantas Socceroos will play against the China National Team in Guangzhou on 24 March, 2007 at Guangzhou Yuexiushan Sport Stadium in a match to mark Australia’s entry into the Asian Cup.
Australia officially joined the Asian Football League on 1 January 2006. This is only the second time they have visited China. The last time was on 3 November 1983 when they came to Guangzhou to participate in the Anbao Cup Match.
The Australian Soccer Team is one of the best teams in Asia and the Pacific. At the 2006 World Cup, despite being grouped with highly-ranked teams Brazil and Croatia, and the top Asian team Japan, they defeated Japan, drew with Croatia, and entered the final sixteen.
Although Australia lost to the World Cup champions Italy in the final minutes of their next game, their performance at the World Cup won them praise around the world. The Australian Prime Minister Mr John Howard, who was visiting Shenzhen at the time, sent a fax to the team to praise their achievements, and the team was welcomed home as national heroes.
Australia officially joined the Asian Football League on 1 January 2006. This is the second time they visited China. The last time was on 3 November 1983 when they came to Guangzhou to participate in the Anbao Cup Match.
The National Coach Graham Arnold believes that the Australian team need to continue to build depth, not just for the Asian Cup next year but also the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign. Thus the team is going to play with many international top teams, such as matches against Uruguay and Argentina in Sydney right after they return Australia from China.
For next year’s Asian Cup and the 2010 World Cup, the team coaches are looking for the best team. “We missed a lot of regular players against Denmark in February but it gave me the chance to continue to expose a new group of players to international football.” said Coach Graham Arnold.
He also said, “Matches like the upcoming international against China will give me another opportunity to test these players and to see where we currently stand against a fellow Asian Cup finalist.”
The squad consists of 17-Europe based players, and 11 of the squad participated in the 2006 World Cup team.
The Qantas socceroos squad to play china in Guangzhou are:
Michael Beauchamp (FC Nuremberg, Germany),
Mark Bresciano (Palermo, Italy),
Jacob Burns (Wisla Krakow, Poland),
Nick Carle (Newcastle Jets, Australia),
Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven, Holland),
Vince Grella (Parma, Italy),
Ryan Griffiths (Rapid Bucuresti, Romania),
Brett Holman (NEC Nijmegen, Holland),
Brad Jones (Middlesbrough, England),
Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester City, England),
Scott McDonald (Motherwell, Scotland),
Lucas Neill (West Ham, England),
Jade North (Newcastle Jets, Australia),
Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England),
Shane Stefanutto (Lillestrom, Norway),
Mile Sterjovski (Basel, Switzerland),
Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory, Australia),
Michael Thwaite (Wisla Krakow, Poland),
Mark Viduka (Middlesbrough, England),
Luke Wilkshire (Twente, Holland)
Time for the match: 15:30, Saturday 24 March 2007
Location: Guangzhou Yuexiu Stadium, Yingyuan Rd, Guangzhou
Prices: RMB80, VIP – RMB120
Information hot line: 83558113, 83557308
Internet ticketing: www.11185gz.com.cn , www.183.gd.cn
Ticket Offices:
1. All offices of China Travel Services in Guangdong Province
2. Guangzhou Dayoo Culture Chain Shops
3. Tianhe Sport Centre, Guangzhou
4. Guangzhou No.1 Worker’s Palace
5. Guangzhou No. 2 Worker’s Palace
6. Liwan Sport Development Limited
7. Guangdong People’s Sport Stadium
8. Guangzhou Yuexiu Stadium
9. Tiyudong Football Centre, Guangzhou