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Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has called on the federal government to help Football Australia get fans back into stadiums ahead of Australia’s next round of World Cup qualifiers.
The Socceroos will be hoping to extend their impressive winning streak in World Cup qualifying when they take on Japan in Saitama. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 9:14pm (AEDT).
One’s a dual under-23 and senior national team coach renowned for demanding mental toughness from his players and a stilted style of football, and the other is Graham Arnold.
First it was the W-League and A-League brands being rolled into one, then Perth Glory went ahead and topped that news by signing former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge.
One of Australia’s most successful footballers is enjoying another record-breaking season as a key member of one of the biggest clubs in the region, not that many here have noticed.
Why is it no surprise to anyone who plays or watches football in Queensland that the sport receives a fraction of the infrastructure funding rugby union gets with far fewer participants?
The World Cup may be the pinnacle of the international game but there’s no doubt that for years now the highest-quality football has been on show in the UEFA Champions League.
It wasn’t always pretty but the Socceroos got the job done with a 1-0 win over Vietnam in Hanoi to make it two wins from two to restart their World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Socceroos will look to maintain their perfect World Cup qualifying start as they take on Vietnam in Hanoi. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 10pm (AEST).
Having romped through the second round of Asian qualifiers, the Socceroos are back in World Cup action and aiming to kick-start the third phase with a win over China in Doha on Friday.
Not since Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka were tearing it up for Leeds United has there been such interest in an Aussie football star as there is with Ange Postecoglou in charge at Celtic.
It’s a feeling we’ve come to know so well from major tournaments over the years, but the Olyroos are out of the Tokyo Olympics after a bitterly disappointing 2-0 defeat to Egypt.
The Olyroos go into their clash with Egypt in Rifu knowing their Olympic destiny is still in their own hands, with a draw set to be enough to clinch second place in a tight Group C.
Perhaps it’s fitting that the man who finally unlocked the Olyroos after 81 minutes of stubborn rear-guard action was once one of the most sought-after players in world football.
Do we dare to dream? After the Olyroos downed Argentina 2-0 in their Group C opener they suddenly find themselves staring down at the might of pre-tournament favourites Spain. Join us for a live blog on The Roar from 8:30pm AEST.
Maybe Australia would have won the Copa America after all? It feels like the sky’s the limit after the Olyroos shocked the football world to beat Argentina 2-0 at the Tokyo Olympics.
After the Matildas won last night, the Australian men’s team will be hoping for similar success when the Olyroos take on Argentina in the Tokyo Olympics from 8:30pm AEST tonight.
It’s been years in the making but with the goal of ensuring the Olympic Games are “relevant to sports fans of all generations,” four new sports will make their debut in Tokyo.
What would the Olympics be without some salacious scandals? Half the fun of spending two weeks as a couch potato while the world’s finest athletes slug it out for sporting supremacy is guessing all the ways that things can go wrong.
While many of Europe’s elite footballers are currently sunning themselves on the beach, one of the hottest names in the world game is preparing to take on Australia in primetime.
I suppose it’s to be expected given how vocal Tony Sage has been about the ongoing costs of keeping Perth Glory afloat.
Daniel Sturridge's signing is huge, but it seems old habits die hard in new football
I think you make a very fair point, Roberto, and I certainly don’t think South Melbourne owe the A-League or Western United anything.
But looking at the bigger picture, I also don’t think football clubs fighting with other football clubs paints the game in a flattering light within the rest of the Oz sporting landscape.
Daniel Sturridge's signing is huge, but it seems old habits die hard in new football
I don’t think I’ve played down anything.
As for talking to Danny Townsend, I tried to set up an interview with him weeks ago and have been told a couple of times “I’m on the list.”
My point being… we tend to blame guys like me for a lack of desire to speak to these administrators when the reality is it’s usually those working in the A-League who don’t want to talk.
Daniel Sturridge's signing is huge, but it seems old habits die hard in new football
None of that has anything to do with the fact that rugby has done well to cultivate its old boys network, does it though?
The astonishing funding gap between rugby and football: Will Aussie politicians ever give round ball code a fair go?
Doesn’t football suffer for lack of grassroots investment as well?
The astonishing funding gap between rugby and football: Will Aussie politicians ever give round ball code a fair go?
I think the truth is a little more prosaic. Football Queensland posted an infographic on Friday afternoon, on Saturday afternoon the editor of The Roar asked me to write about it, I wrote about it on Sunday and we ran this opinion column on Monday like we always do.
But you’re not asking for New York Times-style reporting because of a deep-seated interest in journalism. What you want is for me to write something that confirms your own deep-seated worldview; namely that your sport (rugby, AFL, whatever it is) is better than football.
I’m sure my subverting the status quo and suggesting that maybe football does deserve a second look is annoying to you guys, but we all know why you’re really here. You want football to be kept in its place as a second-tier sport.
That’s your prerogative and you’re entitled to believe whatever you want, but let’s not get all high-and-mighty about the tenets of journalism when what you really want to tell football fans is to sit down and shut up.
The astonishing funding gap between rugby and football: Will Aussie politicians ever give round ball code a fair go?
Perhaps the inferiority complex stems from one code being treated differently to all the others?
The astonishing funding gap between rugby and football: Will Aussie politicians ever give round ball code a fair go?
PeterCtheThird, I appreciate the responses, however football has lobbied various levels of government for years to no effect. Perhaps it’s a surprise to you because your sport of choice doesn’t struggle to be treated equally like football does?
The astonishing funding gap between rugby and football: Will Aussie politicians ever give round ball code a fair go?
He’s been fantastic. Incredible insight. I’d be really interested to hear his thoughts on football.
Who doesn't wish the incredible Ian Thorpe was an expert commentator for their favourite sport?
I called New Zealand dark horses before the tournament, mentioned their progress to the knock-out stage on the live blog last night and congratulated them elsewhere on the achievement.
But for what it’s worth this is an Australian website, I’m an Australian and so are the majority of the readers here. I’m pleased for the Kiwis but the job I’m employed to do is analyse Australia’s performance. Good on them, though.
Are you 'Arnie In' or 'Arnie Out' when it comes to Australia's national teams?
I’m not so sure about that!
One of the ten most intriguing Tokyo Olympic athletes is a 13-year-old skater girl
Great read, Luca. I’ll be interested to see how Pessina goes this season on the back of such a great summer.
Underrated Azzurri: Three under-the-radar Italians to keep an eye on
Don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll all be up at the crack of dawn to see whether Celtic can beat those giants of world football Midtjylland in – consults atlas – Herning on Thursday morning.
A 2-0 win over Argentina! Is that Arnie's best-ever result?
There absolutely was a live blog. It was written by yours truly.
Olyroos stun Argentina: See how one of Olympic football’s great boilovers unfolded
Make sure you’re checking the Olympics tab as well as Football. We’ll be doing it all again tomorrow night.
A 2-0 win over Argentina! Is that Arnie's best-ever result?
Every team’s in the same boat. Last night the better team won. Sometimes it’s as simple as that.
A 2-0 win over Argentina! Is that Arnie's best-ever result?
He was immense. Deserved a goal for his all-round contribution, but played a pivotal role in the two that were scored anyway. He really is the experienced campaigner they need.
A 2-0 win over Argentina! Is that Arnie's best-ever result?
It’s been a terrific start to the football. Good on the Kiwis for springing another big upset!
A 2-0 win over Argentina! Is that Arnie's best-ever result?
They’ve got a good chance to get out of their group. If they do that, they’ll want to be in medal contention for sure.
Seriously, how stacked is Spain? Frightening prospect facing Olyroos in Tokyo
I think that’s what he’s saying, pacman. When I first saw Italy on a map, it did my head in that Sardinia was Italian, but Corsica was French!
Incidentally, Toto Schillaci was a legend in Japan. He scored 65 goals in 93 total appearances for Jubilo Iwata and eventually won the J. League (although he barely played that season). He was a real trailblazer over there.
The two romantic reasons I'm an Italian in disguise
That it is. I think we sometimes forget how expensive the other codes can be.
Daniel Sturridge's signing is huge, but it seems old habits die hard in new football