FFA announce annual Anzac Turkey clash

Hope so .. also hope the media give it some time as well...

Do you think the game will be televised? If it is, will it be on FOX or SBS?

Details of the match are as follows. http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/2009InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem_new&id=27143 Qantas Joeys selected for Turkish Friendlies Thursday, 9 April 2009 The Qantas Joeys Coach Jan Versleijen has selected a squad of 25 players to represent Australia at the inaugural Australia-Turkey Friendly Football matches to be played in in Canakkale and Gelibolu (Gallipoli), Turkey, on 24 and 26 April 2009. The Qantas Joeys have been selected entirely from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) scholarship players with this tour to be fully funded by the AIS. The Qantas Joeys will prepare for the matches at the AIS European Training Centre in Varese, Italy and will play matches against youth teams from Italian clubs including AC Milan and Inter Milan. These historic matches against Turkey are the first of what will be an annual event between the two countries which will see friendly football matches played in either Turkey or Australia in alternating years between designated men's and women's national teams. The dates for this new annual football event were specifically selected to coincide with ANZAC Day (25 April) for Australia and National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (23 April) for Turkey. The annual football event has the strong support of both the Australian and Turkish governments with Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, and NSW Premier, Nathan Rees, all expected to attend one of the matches. Match Details Friday 24 April 2009 Turkey U-16 v Qantas Joeys Canakkale Stadium, Canakkale 2:00pm local (9:00pm AEST) Sunday 26 April 2009 Turkey U-16 v Qantas Joeys Gelibolu Stadium, Gelibolu 2:00pm local (9:00pm AEST) Qantas Joeys Squad Christophe Bush (ACT/AIS), Stephen Domenici (ACT/AIS), Jason Geria (ACT/AIS), Alexander Meibusch (ACT/AIS), Mustafa (Amini (NSW/AIS), Kerem Bulut (NSW/AIS), Kevin Davison (NSW/AIS), Patrick Dixon (NSW/AIS), Samuel Gallaway (NSW/AIS), Brendan Hamill (NSW/AIS), Robert Kolak (NSW/AIS), Aaron Lennox (NSW/AIS), Jared Lum (NSW/AIS), John Martinoski (NSW/AIS), Aaron Peterson (NSW/AIS), Daniel Petkovski (NSW/AIS), Nikola Stanojevic (NSW/AIS), Lawrence Thomas (NSW/AIS), Marc Warren (NSW/AIS), Curtis Good (VIC/AIS), Ersin Kaya (VIC/AIS), Damir Lokvancic (VIC/AIS), Eli Babalj (WA/AIS), Scott Mellish (WA/AIS), Trent Sainsbury (WA/AIS)

Ah yes, another ANZAC day contest. Hopefully we can look forward to even more of those offensive 'sport as war' metaphors that only those utterly untouched by armed conflict could possibly embrace. And all with a nationalistic edge, absolutely brilliant.

Congratulations to Ben Buckley (FFA) for inventing a true ANZAC day contest with Turkey.. A real homogeneous and historical event.. This will be a more significant event of real importance to both nations .. instead of an AFL's half baked concept of a one sided encounter that only half of the nation can embrace .. let alone the New Zealanders and Turks .. In saying that, I think the FFA should go one step further and invite the NZ players to sit on the bench and come on as subs in the second half .. no harm in giving NZ players a part to play in this tournament .. After all they are part of the ANZAC tradition... I am sure the RSL will give its full blessing to this historical tournament... Well done Ben... ;) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Australian Football is played with a regulation FIFA No. 8 football

"contrived" - oh please! The number of contrived stunts the AFL pulls is beyond contest in our sporting landscape. Fair play to them IMO. This is different though. This is a game(s) between young men (and women in the future I hope) from two nations who's relationship was sealed on a bloody battlefield in the Great War - it need not even compare itself with an AFL game. I would be interested to see what the RSL thinks about this game? They, unlike some in our community, might deeply appreciate this tremendous, nation defining and 'rememberance' enhancing idea. Fiardinkum - the AFL must be concerned about this one.

Of course we all know the Aazac day clash between Collingwood and Essedon is contrived,back in the mid 90's wasn't it.

Finno, it depends. Anzac day is a set date but FIFA sanctioned dates are variable, so the Euroroos might not be free that day . . . or they might. This year Anzac day is not on a FIFA sanctioned weekend. . This year they are only playing U16s games at Gallipoli and next year they will add senior mens and womens fixture. Should be a proud moment for those young Australians. "contrived . . " Ah yes . . . and AFL is the purest and noblest pursuit of all mankind and the sport that made Australia what it is today - a proud nation that accepts all races, peoples and sports without prejudice.

Good idea but will we get the guys from Europe to play????

OH my god - - how contrived this is. (just getting in early). Good on 'em. If it has legs it may grow. If it's only contrived, it won't. The average punters are normally pretty savvy enough to detect cynical stunts.

ANZAC stands for, AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND ARMY CORPS For this promotional idea to be credible, some New Zealand players must be in the team.

This is THE ONLY correct way to celebrate ANZAC Day via sport.

Excellent nay Brilliant idea