Holger Osieck has selected his core Socceroos, with few surprises for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers (Image: AP)
With next month’s crucial 2014 World Cup Qualifier against Oman looming, fringe Socceroos will be looking to make the most of their chance when they face Romania in Spain this morning. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 6.45am AEDT.
It’s less than 18 months until the 2014 World Cup and with Australia’s ageing team creaking toward Brazil, tonight’s friendly against Romania presents the perfect opportunity to see who might be ready to step up into the first team.
On the back of an increasingly fruitful Bundesliga campaign with Fortuna Dusseldorf, Robbie Kruse is set to earn a start and looks the most likely of the next generation to become a key player in Holger Osieck’s plan.
After a serious injury threatened to derail his season Middlesbrough captain Rhys Williams makes his first start in Socceroos colours since August, and will also be named by Osieck to start.
But the conservative Osieck hasn’t strayed too far from the known with the old guard of Neill, Schwarzer, Bresciano and Wilkshire there to guide the ship.
Romania sit third in a tricky Group D of the European section of 2014 World Cup Qualification alongside The Netherlands, Hungary and Turkey.
A 1-0 over Turkey in Istanbul pushed the Romanians into equal second alongside Hungary, and they’ll also view this morning’s fixture as a chance to prepare for more important matches down the road.
That said, a second-string Romania were hammered 4-1 by Poland in Malaga on Saturday and while Victor Piturca will name a significantly stronger outfit here they’ll still be without Adrian Mutu and Ciprian Marica.
With only three qualification matches left, the Socceroos have well and truly reached the endgame of their 2014 World Cup Qualification campaign.
Put simply, each and every match becomes a crucial opportunity for the side to build form, and this morning is no different. The Socceroos should get a victory on Spanish soil tonight.
Vince Rugari is an Adelaide-born journalist who cut his teeth on the sporting graveyard that is the Gold Coast. He fancies the round ball and the Sherrin, and used to be a handy leg-spin bowler before injury curtailed a baggy green push. He is a Port Adelaide fan by birth, as painful as that has been recently. He's now sports editor of The Area News in Griffith, NSW.
The Crowd Says (100) | Page 1 of Comments
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9:05am
pete4 said | 9:05am | Report comment
Does anyone know why this match was played in Spain?
9:25am
Matt F said | 9:25am | Report comment
I’m not sure why they picked Spain but they would have picked somewhere in Europe because this international break is only a week instead of the usual two so flying the European based players back to Australia would have created some issues.
9:38am
pete4 said | 9:38am | Report comment
Not sure either… Romania was classified as the home team. Why not play it in Romania then? Seems odd to pick a neutral country and getting both teams to travel
9:43am
Adrian said | 9:43am | Report comment
because it doesn’t snow in Spain….
this is where many clubs are base in winter, this where Romania been base….
9:50am
pete4 said | 9:50am | Report comment
Okay sounds possible. As far as I’m aware I thought the winter break ends mid January?
9:54am
Adrian said | 9:54am | Report comment
not possible , it is ….it snowing and -6 in Poland right now
many leagues still on winter break
10:01am
Adrian said | 10:01am | Report comment
Romania league start back on 1st March
10:03am
pete4 said | 10:03am | Report comment
Interesting. Thanks!
8:37am
Vince Rugari said | 8:37am | Report comment
And that’s it! A 3-2 win for Romania! Well, an up-and-down game for the Socceroos here. Started poorly, let one in, then settled, took control, went ahead and… let it slip in the end. Question marks over defence there and certainly the midfield, after Bresciano went off. But it is a friendly. I wonder what Holger will have learned from that?
Anyway, I’ve got to go to work – thanks for joining me!
8:40am
JAJI said | 8:40am | Report comment
Cornthwaite not a defensive answer despite scoring 2 goals – doesnt mark, is lanky and clumsy. Shane Lowry, Chris Herd and Luke DeVere are better options (if the later 2 are ever fit). Matt McKay not up to it which shows as he is now playing in China. Brosque hasnt looked like scoring for about a year – what about Scott Macdonald?
We are going to get flogged at Brazil 2014 if we continue this path
8:53am
jamesb said | 8:53am | Report comment
maybe it’s the loss Australia had to have.
will Holger look at other options like Herd and Lowry?
9:04am
JAJI said | 9:04am | Report comment
Well he flew Milligan from Melbourne and 25 hours away rather than calling Lowry who is 90 minutes away
Herd is injured everytime he gets called…..
So what central defence will play in the crunch game against Oman next month? Think I would rather Ognenovski than Cornflake
10:04am
Adrian said | 10:04am | Report comment
“Cornthwaite not a defensive answer despite scoring 2 goals – doesnt mark, is lanky and clumsy”
Cornthwaite got 2 goals more then Scott McDonald has
1:31pm
JAJI said | 1:31pm | Report comment
McDonald has scoed goals in the UEFA Champions League
Cornthwaite is in Korea
4:03pm
adrian said | 4:03pm | Report comment
McDonald score 2 goals in 14 Champions League,,and has soced 5 goals in 25 matches in all europe cup matchersmatchers
McDonald has scored zero goals in 26 matchers for Australia
you think that good? 5 goals in those 51
now he playing in a team, that be lucky to be in the top 250 teams in europe
and McDonald can only play as Striker
8:52am
Nathan of Perth said | 8:52am | Report comment
Well, much to learn about, I’d say, interesting result, bit disappointed we gave it up after getting a lead. But friendlies in Spain are for learning.
8:35am
Vince Rugari said | 8:35am | Report comment
93′ – Looks like Leckie has been brought on – I missed that as I was getting ready for work, but really, what’s the point of that? He only gets a few minutes and that’s not enough time to do anything at all…
8:33am
Vince Rugari said | 8:33am | Report comment
90′ – Looking like Romania will hang on here. Meanwhile, I am officially late for work.
8:30am
Vince Rugari said | 8:30am | Report comment
87′ – Not bad there from Roberto Kruse! Nips past the defender on the left, cuts inside, puts a pass there across the six yard box but nobody there. Out for a corner, and nothing comes from that either. 3-2 Romania.
8:29am
Vince Rugari said | 8:29am | Report comment
86′ – Wake up lads, or it could be 4-2. Federici saves the day there.
8:30am
Jack said | 8:30am | Report comment
Leckie ?
8:28am
Vince Rugari said | 8:28am | Report comment
84′ – Gotta wear that. Probably should have been a penalty but a top drawer free kick. Williams the guy who gave away the foul – and he was the one beaten at the near post for the equaliser, too. What looked like a good day at the office for Australia has quickly become a game that has asked more questions than given us answers.
8:26am
Vince Rugari said | 8:26am | Report comment
82′ – Romania look like they’re going for the winner here. What’s happened here? Romania’s Alexe goes down under contact from Rhys Williams. Looked like that happened inside the box, that should probably be a penalty, but the ref decides this one will be taken from outside the box. Just outside too. Torje over the ball and… BANG BANG. HOW YOU FEEL HOLGER. 3-2 ROMANIA. What a beautiful free kick, over the wall and into the back of the net. That is quality.
8:37am
JAJI said | 8:37am | Report comment
So lets talk about the side that started tonight apart from Schwarzer (who spilled the first goal mind you)
Wilkshire plays in Russia and that league has been shut down for 2 months
Neil not playing
Cornthwaite playing in Korea which has been shut down for 2 months
Zullo barely playing
Holland playing in Austria whose league has been shut down for 2 months
Holman barely playing at Villa
Bresciano and Brosque playing in the lacklustre Middle East
Its a concern 6 weeks out from a very important world cup qualifier. Lets also look at Holgers record against European opposition since the German game. From my recollection its draws Serbia while they were touring Australia, and losses to Scotland, Denmark and now Romania by the looks of it. Remember Holger was on his way out with ten minutes to go against Iraq when we were down 1-0 back in October
8:49am
jamesb said | 8:49am | Report comment
You raised some good points JAJI
Romania finished the game strongly in the last 25 minutes, and that may possibly be due to the fact that our players haven’t had enough game time recently.
8:24am
Vince Rugari said | 8:24am | Report comment
81 – SUBSTITUTION. On comes Mark Milligan for Mark Bresciano. Bit of an A-League flavour for the last 10 minutes then.
8:23am
Vince Rugari said | 8:23am | Report comment
80′ – Hasn’t been an awful game, this. Australia’s gotta be happy with the way they’ve come back from 1-0 down to… well, I’m an idiot for saying that. GOAL ROMANIA. Stancu scores, finally, tapping in a near post cutback cross from the right. That’s the last time I ever pat the Socceroos on the back. 2-2.
8:21am
Vince Rugari said | 8:21am | Report comment
79′ – Stancu stuffs that one up, another shot straight to Federici. Should have done better… 2-1 Australia.
8:19am
Vince Rugari said | 8:19am | Report comment
77′ – Ahh, Ruka. Shot with his non-preferred right foot ends up somewhere between Jupiter and Saturn. Not ideal.
8:17am
Vince Rugari said | 8:17am | Report comment
75′ – 15 minutes left here which unfortunately means 15 minutes until I have to go to work. Bresciano whistled for offside after an opening crafted by Ruka goes astray.
8:16am
Vince Rugari said | 8:16am | Report comment
73′ – Romania wins a free kick here, the new substitute whose name I’ve missed draws the foul from Bresc. It’s about 25 metres out, Torje delivers the free kick and he finds Stancu, I think! But Federici is all over the header. Nicely done, that save, and it looks like it was Rhys Williams who was beaten in the air there. Cobwebs, consider them blown out.
8:13am
Vince Rugari said | 8:13am | Report comment
70′ – Romania massaging the ball around there but unable to penetrate. Australia wins it back. We are looking a bit comfy. But a chance for Stancu! Just as a type that, a pass slips between Zullo and Cornthwaite and Stancu takes a shot, which goes across the face and wide. Not a bad opportunity.
8:10am
Vince Rugari said | 8:10am | Report comment
68′ – Someone’s just knocked on my door and is here to install some new blinds in my apartment. Just thought you should know.
8:11am
Vince Rugari said | 8:11am | Report comment
In football news, not much doing. Might take a few more minutes for these new subs to get a feel for the game and settle.
8:09am
Vince Rugari said | 8:09am | Report comment
66′ – SUBSTITUTION. Matt McKay on, Nikita Rukavytsya on. Pace to burn, this kid. Always liked him. Great signing for my Gold Coast United side in Football Manager 2012.
8:08am
Vince Rugari said | 8:08am | Report comment
65′ – Brett Holman should have scored. Ball comes to his feet from the right – from Kruse, unsurprisingly – and Holman’s point-blank and stumbles over the ball. Not great. Australia is in control though, now
8:07am
Vince Rugari said | 8:07am | Report comment
64′ – Bit of the rhythm out of this game at the minute. Australia looking the goods though. Things can change pretty quickly, though, as we know.
8:05am
Vince Rugari said | 8:05am | Report comment
63′ – Romania looking to go forward but Australia’s got the numbers and some pretty fresh legs – all three subs have been in defence. New keeper, new RB, new CB. Keep things tight, lads.
8:03am
Vince Rugari said | 8:03am | Report comment
61′ – Another YELLOW CARD, this time to Torje of Romania. For simulation! Cornthwaite dives in for the ball and Torje just slid into his legs. Ref shows him a Kraft Single and rightly so. That’s what you get for messing with Cornflakes.
8:02am
Vince Rugari said | 8:02am | Report comment
60′ – Great to see Rhys Williams fit again. He’s going to be a big part of Australia’s future. Although perhaps not as big as Australia’s brave Robbie Cornthwaite…
8:00am
Vince Rugari said | 8:00am | Report comment
58′ – Well look at that. We’re ahead! And things are looking up in this second half. Great start from the Socceroos. Some new blood on the park as well, so fingers crossed it continues.
7:59am
Vince Rugari said | 7:59am | Report comment
55′ – The only possible explanation for Robbie Cornthwaite’s recent form for the national team is that something like the plot from the movie Freaky Friday has happened to him. He’d be Lindsay Lohan and let’s say it’s Mark Viduka as Jamie Lee Curtis. Bizarre stuff but great for Holger.
And another SUB – Rhys Williams ON for skipper Lucas Neill. Reckon anyone will be signing our skipper up on the back of that hour or so in the ol’ shoppe window?
8:00am
Stevo said | 8:00am | Report comment
NO! not even HeartFC
7:57am
Vince Rugari said | 7:57am | Report comment
54′ – GOAL. GOALGOALGOAL. YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. IT’S CORNFLAKES AGAIN. Robbie Cornthwaite grabs the scraps from a failed Matt McKay corner, controls the ball, has a shot, it’s deflected, gathers it again and… my word. How do you think Scott McDonald feels right now? Australia 2-1 up.
7:58am
Stevo said | 7:58am | Report comment
LOL LOL LOL. Just come in from walking the dog and hey we’re in front
Who’s Scotty Mac?
8:01am
Roger said | 8:01am | Report comment
Hahaha Vince, I reckon that’s the first time I’ve laughed after an Australian goal
8:14am
Jamesb said | 8:14am | Report comment
Cornflakes = goal scoring superstar
7:55am
Vince Rugari said | 7:55am | Report comment
52′ – Another SUBSTITUTION for Australia. Wilkshire off, Ryan McGowan on. Nicely done Holger – guys like him are the future and as an SA expat, good to see a fellow Adelaide product on the park. Remember, he’s no longer with Hearts in Scotland – he’s in China now with Shandong Luneng. Well, not *right now*, he’s obviously in Malaga at the moment…
7:53am
Vince Rugari said | 7:53am | Report comment
51′ – Romania’s Tamas, the guy who took the armband from the departed Rat (lol), has a crack from a fair way out. Was never going to beat Federici but worth an attempt. Maybe. Not really, hey. Bit of a waste.
7:52am
Vince Rugari said | 7:52am | Report comment
50′ – Australia looking alright – no surprises that’s the case when Kruse is busy. He crosses in from the right and it’s cut out, but he is the Socceroos player most likely to make something happen up front.
7:51am
Vince Rugari said | 7:51am | Report comment
49′ – A couple of shots for each side to start this second half but nothing serious. Romania going into the wind now, as Simon Hill notes. Apparently it’s a stiff wind. Might make an impact. Might not. Who knows.
7:48am
Vince Rugari said | 7:48am | Report comment
46′ – In all seriousness, I do hope we see Mathew Leckie and Ruka in this second half.
7:47am
Vince Rugari said | 7:47am | Report comment
And we have KICK-OFF. Second 45 underway. A change for the Socceroos at the break – Schwarzer off, Federici on. That’s the only change? Holger, you so cray-cray.
7:47am
Vince Rugari said | 7:47am | Report comment
SECOND HALF. The latter 45 minutes. The final stanza. The end bit. It’s about to begin.
7:43am
Vince Rugari said | 7:43am | Report comment
We’re back. There was once a time in the post-Pim era that I wouldn’t get up for Socceroos games. Wasn’t worth the heartbreak/boredom. Not sure what possessed me to be awake for this one. I could still be in bed. Make it worth my while in this second half, please, Holger.
7:32am
Vince Rugari said | 7:32am | Report comment
So that’s HALF TIME. On balance, Romania had the better and their goal through Tanase on 35 minutes was well deserved. But the Socceroos weren’t bad in the middle-to-latter stages of the half and evened the ledger via the penalty spot. Brosque earned it, it was definitely there, and Wilkshire made it count.
Not the prettiest game but there you go. 1-1 at the interval.
I don’t know about you but I need another coffee. And to get ready for work, which unfortunately for yours truly starts right after the end of this match. Damn. I’ll be back with you shortly.
7:30am
Vince Rugari said | 7:30am | Report comment
44′ – PENALTY AUSTRALIA. Rat, the Romanian skipper, brings down Brosque in the box and that’s pretty clear cut. Nice call from the ref. Definitely there. Wilkshire takes it, and hits the back of the net. GOLAZO AUSTRALIA, 1-0, how you feel Romania?
7:32am
Stevo said | 7:32am | Report comment
Soft penalty? In the HAL, Strebers would have waved that away and giving Brosquey a yellow for simulation
7:57am
Garcia said | 7:57am | Report comment
Still butt hurt from Saturday night I see?
5:06pm
Stevo said | 5:06pm | Report comment
YES
7:26am
Vince Rugari said | 7:26am | Report comment
42′ – James Holland takes a shot from maybe 25m out and, well, let’s just pretend that didn’t happen.
7:27am
Vince Rugari said | 7:27am | Report comment
Also, just taken notice of the Romanian GK’s name – Pantilimon. Sounds like some sort of refreshing citrus drink, or perhaps even a home brand alternative to Lemsip.
7:39am
Roger said | 7:39am | Report comment
Lol Vince, you’re making me chuckle like a crazy person on my morning commute.
7:42am
Vince Rugari said | 7:42am | Report comment
That’s what I’m here for Rog.
8:20am
Savvas Tzionis said | 8:20am | Report comment
In Orthodox liturgy, the word panteleimon is often used by the priest. Romania is an Orthodox nation.
7:26am
Vince Rugari said | 7:26am | Report comment
41′ – Couple of half-chances for Australia – aerial ping-pong in and around the box, it was scrappy and it was ugly and yeah, there were no actual shots or anything to come of it, but nice spell there with the ball where we want it. Just lacking some polish in the final third. Where’s Tom Rogic when you need him?
7:24am
Vince Rugari said | 7:24am | Report comment
40′ – Andy Harper going on about Romanian artistry and the fall of communism. Thought it was worth a mention.
7:23am
Vince Rugari said | 7:23am | Report comment
38′ – Told you this would be an interesting part of the game. Australia worked their way into it but that goal changes things now. Romania’s playing with their chests puffed out and the Socceroos all of a sudden look a little sheepish.
7:21am
Vince Rugari said | 7:21am | Report comment
36′ – Kruse there almost with the instant reply on the break! Under pressure and scoops his shot well over the bar, but he did work himself into a nice spot there. 1-0 Romania still, of course.
7:21am
Vince Rugari said | 7:21am | Report comment
35′ – GOALSKI Romania! 1-0. It’s the number 10 Cristian Tanase there on the spot. We sat back, invited pressure, and a shot from out wide on the right hits Schwarzer on the chest. He stops it, the ball kind of spills away from him and straight into the lap of Tanase, who makes no mistake and tucks that one away. Marky Mark won’t be happy with that and neither will Holger. Nor should they. Deserved lead, you’d have to say, for Romania.
7:19am
Vince Rugari said | 7:19am | Report comment
33′ – Now it’s Australia pressing like demons. Fair bit of running there from Brosque and Kruse on the Romanian defenders with the ball, forcing them to go long and in doing so, an offside is called. Our ball, very minor win there.
7:17am
Vince Rugari said | 7:17am | Report comment
32′ – This game is on a much more even keel now. Andy Harper taking the words out of my mouth, saying the first 20 minutes were all Romania but we’ve broken into the contest now. We’re not bossing it by any means, but at least we don’t look vulnerable as we did.
7:15am
Vince Rugari said | 7:15am | Report comment
30′ – Zullo’s pace on the left there earns Australia a free-kick a fair way out. Taken short, but guess what? Ball coughed up again.
7:13am
Vince Rugari said | 7:13am | Report comment
28′ – We’re getting it forward more often now with Kruse looking like the guy who’s going to make something happen. Wilkshire put a cross in, it was too deep, and in the end it came back to that right side and Kruse tried to get past two Romanians with a cheeky run inbetween, but no dice. Still, you can see how annoying he must be to defend against.
7:11am
Vince Rugari said | 7:11am | Report comment
26′ – Just as I was about to say that Australia’s starting to find their feet in this one, Romania wins the ball back. Still, we do look a little more comfortable now that Romania have eased off the pressure but our own passing hasn’t been amazing. Let’s see what happens here, very interesting part of the game coming up I reckon.
7:08am
Vince Rugari said | 7:08am | Report comment
23′ – Not bad from Robbie Kruse! Good incisive, annoying work down the right touchline, gets inside, flashes a cross in – and Matty McKay is there. Unfortunately his shot, if you could call it that, flashes just wide, but that’s Australia’s best chance right there.
7:10am
Stevo said | 7:10am | Report comment
I’m thinking Kruse is our best player ATM. Getting the ball and asking questions of our opponent. Nice run.
7:07am
Vince Rugari said | 7:07am | Report comment
22′- Grozav latches onto a long ball from the back, gets past Cornthwaite and is one-on-one with Schwarzer! Good touch but it just gets away from him. Kind of ran out of space there, Schwarz goes low to collect it. Sigh of relief.
7:05am
Vince Rugari said | 7:05am | Report comment
20′ – Compare what we do without the ball to what Romania do without it. They force the issue, they put pressure on, we sit back. Maybe that’s part of Holger’s grand plan here but it’s allowing Romania to settle and dictate the tempo, which they look pretty happy with.
7:03am
Vince Rugari said | 7:03am | Report comment
18′ – Pretty high-pressure stuff here from Romania when they don’t have the ball. They looked very well drilled. Another cross from wide, this time from the right, just evades Stancu in the box. The Socceroos defence is under siege just a little here.
7:01am
Vince Rugari said | 7:01am | Report comment
15′ – Yeah, this match has hit a groove. Unfortunately that groove involves Romania being better than Australia in just about every department. And another shot! The Romanian LB (Rat) overlaps and crosses in, Torje gets on the end of it but attempts the spectacular volley and comes off looking like a bit of a muppet, there. Scuffed off the side of his boot. He should have scored, it should be 1-0 Romania.
7:02am
Stevo said | 7:02am | Report comment
Who was marking him?
7:04am
Vince Rugari said | 7:04am | Report comment
Good question – I think it should have been Lucas, but the Romanian was Billy-no-mates/Nigel-no-friends when the ball game in. Gotta do better.
6:58am
Vince Rugari said | 6:58am | Report comment
13′ – Corner from Romania cleared, Brosque, tries to take it forward, but Romania win it back. Fortunately the ref whistles for a foul Australia’s way, before we run into even more trouble.
6:57am
Vince Rugari said | 6:57am | Report comment
11′ – Bresciano coughs it up in a dangerous position and that’s a shot from long range from Stancu! Really not far off, just past the left post and it had old man Schwarzer worried there for a second. Can’t keep doing that.
6:55am
Vince Rugari said | 6:55am | Report comment
10′ – Just looking a little suspect at the back, Australia, but that’s probably what you get when you have a guy at LB who isn’t playing much, a guy in the middle who isn’t playing much and a guy at RB who hasn’t played there for his country much recently.
6:53am
Vince Rugari said | 6:53am | Report comment
7′ – Robbie Cornthwaite cuts out a cross from Romania’s left and heads it onto Schwarzer in the goalmouth. Had to be there because the striker Stancu had Neill beaten and was waiting for the pill. Couple of little half-chances here for this Romanian outfit whch looks pretty comfortable in possession.
6:52am
Vince Rugari said | 6:52am | Report comment
6′ – First YELLOW CARD! And who is surprised to see it’s Robbie Kruse as the guy who extracted it? Romania’s Mihal Pintilli took the legs from out under the former Victory star, and now he’s been shown the cheddar. He’ll have to be careful.
6:51am
Vince Rugari said | 6:51am | Report comment
5′ – Romania seeing a bit more of the ball, keeping it well and trying to make an incision past Zullo on the right. It goes out for a throw. These guys don’t look awful, by the way, even if having a captain with the last name ‘Rat’ tells you otherwise.
6:48am
Vince Rugari said | 6:48am | Report comment
3′ – Not many locals in Malaga made it out for this one. Don’t blame them. I don’t think this is going to be an amazing game. Romania have been stroking it around a bit, but I think it might take a while for this game to find a groove. After all – it’s the first international ever between us and them.
6:46am
Vince Rugari said | 6:46am | Report comment
1′ – the in-form Robbie Kruse on the ball for an early touch, and he looks threatening down the right. Crosses it into the box and finds a man but nothing comes of it. Still, he’s in the mood, young Kruse.
6:45am
Vince Rugari said | 6:45am | Report comment
And we have kick-off.
6:45am
Vince Rugari said | 6:45am | Report comment
OK, thanks Simon Hill, apparently a couple of these Romanian guys play in the EPL and Serie A. Forgive me. My bad. I should be more aware of these things.
6:43am
Vince Rugari said | 6:43am | Report comment
The big(-ish) news, of course, is that Lucas Neill is starting – despite being without a club. Not sure how I feel about having a Socceroos squad reduced to being a shop-window for a player who by rights should really be playing regular football. Personally I think he’s nuts if he doesn’t come back to the A-League. Almost as nuts as this Romanian national anthem, which is pretty much what you would think of if you imagined a stereotypical eastern European national anthem. Wowser.
6:41am
Vince Rugari said | 6:41am | Report comment
So let’s crack into the Australian side… now look, if you’d have told me two years ago that Robbie ‘Cornflakes’ Cornthwaite would be starting in central defence for the Socceroos next to a clubless Lucas Neill for a friendly in Spain… against freaking ROMANIA, I’d have taken you straight to the nearest mental health clinic.
As a closeted Adelaide United fan, the fact that Cornflakes is now considered a national team player is a source of both great pride and amusement. Let’s hope he can keep this little run going.
Michael Zullo gets the nod there at LB, it looks like Luke Wilkshire is getting a run at RB. Forward of that there are few surprises – Holman probably will play in the hole behind Brosque, with that old midfield pairing of Bresciano-McKay that I enjoyed so much back again.
6:40am
Stevo said | 6:40am | Report comment
Vincenzo Grella on Fox along with Bozza and Slater. Some nice memories of his WC days and never fail to get a shiver down the spine seeing Aloisi putting THAT ball into the back of the net. Now for this team to create new golden memories!
6:54am
Vince Rugari said | 6:54am | Report comment
Indeed Stevo – don’t count on any golden memories being made this morning though!
6:38am
Vince Rugari said | 6:38am | Report comment
And here’s the Romanian XI, of course packed to the brim with household names: Pantilimon, Rat (c), Tamas, Bourceanu, Chiriches, Grozav, Stancu, Tanase, Torje, Goian, Pintili. Couldn’t find a bench. May not be hugely relevant to us, anyway.
Forgive me in advance, but I know more about croquet in outer Mongolia than I do about Romanian football.
6:36am
Vince Rugari said | 6:36am | Report comment
This is us: Schwarzer, Neill, Zullo, Holland, Wilkshire, Kruse, Cornthwaite, Holman, McKay, Bresciano, Brosque. And, the bench: Federici, McGowan, Williams, Leckie, Davidson, Rukavytsya, Milligan.
6:34am
Vince Rugari said | 6:34am | Report comment
Ladies and gentlemen…. ok, there are no ladies getting up at 6.30am for a Socceroos friendly. But gents, good to be with you. Thanks for dragging yourselves out of bed to join me – or, if you’re really lucky, thanks for reaching over and turning on the TV in your room. If it’s the latter, I’m jealous.
Kickoff in this one not far away. I’ve got a double-shot espresso and a bowl of oats, ricotta and banana in front of me as breakfast fuel to get me through. Teams coming up shortly. Fire up!