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.
9:05am
pete4 said | 9:05am | ! Report
Does anyone know why this match was played in Spain?
9:25am
Matt F said | 9:25am | ! Report
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
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
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
Okay sounds possible. As far as I’m aware I thought the winter break ends mid January?
9:54am
Adrian said | 9:54am | ! Report
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
Romania league start back on 1st March
10:03am
pete4 said | 10:03am | ! Report
Interesting. Thanks!
8:37am
Vince Rugari said | 8:37am | ! Report
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
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
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
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
“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
McDonald has scoed goals in the UEFA Champions League
Cornthwaite is in Korea
4:03pm
adrian said | 4:03pm | ! Report
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
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
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
90′ – Looking like Romania will hang on here. Meanwhile, I am officially late for work.
8:30am
Vince Rugari said | 8:30am | ! Report
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
86′ – Wake up lads, or it could be 4-2. Federici saves the day there.
8:30am
Jack said | 8:30am | ! Report
Leckie ?
8:28am
Vince Rugari said | 8:28am | ! Report
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.