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.
Stevo
Guest
YES :(
adrian
Guest
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
JAJI
Guest
McDonald has scoed goals in the UEFA Champions League Cornthwaite is in Korea
Adrian
Guest
"Cornthwaite not a defensive answer despite scoring 2 goals – doesnt mark, is lanky and clumsy" Cornthwaite got 2 goals more then Scott McDonald has :)
pete4
Guest
Interesting. Thanks!
Adrian
Guest
Romania league start back on 1st March
Adrian
Guest
not possible , it is ....it snowing and -6 in Poland right now many leagues still on winter break
pete4
Guest
Okay sounds possible. As far as I'm aware I thought the winter break ends mid January?
Adrian
Guest
because it doesn't snow in Spain.... this is where many clubs are base in winter, this where Romania been base....
pete4
Guest
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
Matt F
Roar Guru
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.
pete4
Guest
Does anyone know why this match was played in Spain?
JAJI
Guest
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
jamesb
Guest
maybe it's the loss Australia had to have. will Holger look at other options like Herd and Lowry?
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
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.
jamesb
Guest
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.
JAJI
Guest
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
JAJI
Guest
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
Vince Rugari
Expert
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!
Vince Rugari
Expert
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...