Australia national football (soccer) team season 2006

In 2006 the Australian national football team had twelve matches scheduled. Four of these were qualification matches for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup and another four were for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The national team manager for matches up to, and including, the World Cup was Guus Hiddink. Once Hiddink left the post Graham Arnold then became the interim coach.

Australia v Bahrain

On February 23rd, Australia played against Bahrain for their first qualification match for the 2007 Asian Cup and their first match as an AFC member. Due to club commitments, and the match being played on a non FIFA sanctioned date, many first team players were ruled unavailable. Thus giving a chance to several fringe Socceroos, as well as seven previously uncapped players, to prove thesmselves before the World Cup. This was also the first match where the Qantas Socceroos wore their new Nike World Cup kits. [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=9852 Nike Unveils Australia’s World Cup Kit] , "FFA", February 14, 2006]

Hiddink was unavailable for this match due to his club commitments with PSV Eindhoven, leaving his two assistant coaches, Johan Neeskens and Graham Arnold, to co-coach the national side for this game.

The first half was relatively disjointed with Arnold and Neeskens choosing to start with an unfamiliar 3-4-3 formation. Bahrain made the first breakthrough with Hussein Ali and almost made it 2-0 before the half-time whistle. After changing the formation to 4-4-2 in the second-half the Socceroos gave an improved performance, dominating the midfield, bringing about 3 goals to win the match. Michael Beauchamp proved to be one of the standouts of the game. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Beauchamp-in-Socceroos-World-Cup-frame/2006/02/23/1140563881975.html Beauchamp In Socceroos World Cup Frame] , "The Age", February 23, 2006]

Australia v Greece

On May 25th, Australia played Greece in a friendly match at the MCG in front of over 95,000 supporters. The match was intended to be both a warm-up and a send-off for the Socceroos before the start of the World Cup. Guus Hiddink had also stated before the game, that he would not be worried about the outcome, as his main agenda was the fitness of the players and the manner in which the team played. [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=10069 Result against Greece not that important: Hiddink] , "FFA", May 25, 2006] With a few key players pulling out of the match, [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=10062 Cahill, Aloisi declare they will miss Greece match] , "FFA", May 22, 2006] it allowed Hiddink to test some players, such as Željko Kalac, who had not yet had a chance to prove themselves.

Although Australia made plenty of chances in the first half, a well-timed volley from Josip Skoko at the edge of the box proved to be the only goal, and winner, for the match. The second half was a more open contest, though in the end Australia prevailed, leaving Australia and the Socceroos supporters on a high note.

Australia v Netherlands

On June 4th, Australia played the Netherlands in a friendly match at the De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam. The Socceroos were facing their toughest opposition for a while in the Dutch, who were ranked No. 2 in the FIFA World Rankings at the time, and featured players the likes of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Philip Cocu and Arjen Robben. Both teams wanted to make a good impression in their lead up to the World Cup, the Dutch moreso in front of a packed stadium at home, and the Socceroos wanting to show improved tactical maturity before their game against Japan. [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=10088 Hiddink to limit changes] , "FFA", June 2, 2006]

Hiddink chose to reveal the starting line-up only hours before kick off, unveiling a surprise selection in Luke Wilkshire who would replace Josip Skoko in a holding midfield role. [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=10118 Wilkshire set for starting berth] , "FFA", June 4, 2006] Harry Kewell would not be named as he was still yet to be fully match fit.

The Socceroos were immediately put under pressure by the Dutch, with Van Nistelrooy grabbing the opening goal within the first ten minutes. In the second half a deft Luke Wilkshire chip into the area created an Australian penalty. The penalty was taken by Mark Viduka and blocked but put into the path of Tim Cahill who slotted home Australia's equaliser. Wilkshire's send-off after a mistimed challenge on Giovanni Van Bronckhorst seemed to galvanise the side into a more compact unit. Though the Dutch continued to make multiple chances, Mark Schwarzer proving to be their biggest folly, making some excellent saves and emerging as Australia's best player on the day. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/comments/schwarzers-class-on-show/2006/06/05/1149359619879.html Schwarzer's class on show] , "The Age", June 5, 2006]

The draw would have some positive and negative repercussions in the after math, with some calling it an impressive result for the Socceroos, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5046498.stm Holland 1-1 Australia] , "BBC Sport", June 4, 2006] and others (including some Dutch players) labelling the Socceroos overly aggressive in their play, a tag that would stay with the Socceroos throughout the World Cup, highlighted by three Dutch players leaving the field with injuries. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Socceroos-went-too-hard-Dutch-players/2006/06/05/1149359665452.html Socceroos went too hard: Dutch players] , "The Age", June 5, 2006]

Australia v Liechtenstein

On June 8th Australia played Liechtenstein in a friendly match. This would be the last warm-up match before Australia's first game of the 2006 World Cup against Japan. Guus Hiddink would be looking to give chances for the fringe players in the squad to stake their claim for a starting berth at the World Cup, and, at the same time, giving some first choice players a much needed rest. Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill would start the game to gain some match-fitness, still in the steps of recovery from injury, [http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/kewell-set-for-liechtenstein/2006/06/07/1149359778290.html Kewell set for Liechtenstein] , "The Age", June 6, 2006] and Zeljko Kalac would also start instead of Mark Schwarzer, with Hiddink still unsure of whether he or Schwarzer would be the first-choice keeper.

A sloppy own goal from Lucas Neill in the opening minutes would not prove too costly, though scores remained level at the break, with Australia needing substitute, Joshua Kennedy, who made an immediate impact, to bring about the second goal in the 75th minute. John Aloisi would score the third to seal the match. Liechentenstein would prove to be a worthier opponent than their lowly World Ranking of 123 suggested, creating several opportunities to worry the Australian defence, and generally, giving Australia a scare. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Socceroos-survive-scare-against-minnows/2006/06/08/1149359844865.html Socceroos survive scare against minnows] , "The Age", June 8, 2006]

A mixed performance overall, an irritated Hiddink would state in the after-match press conference that he was disappointed at the team, going on to say "We were sloppy in the first 20 minutes and lacked concentration" and the team would need much improvement before the Japan game. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Socceroos-promise-to-find-missing-link/2006/06/10/1149815348093.html Socceroos promise to find missing link] , "The Age", June 10, 2006] Brett Emerton would later agree with those sentiments, also acknowledging the poor performance was puzzling given that a few players had the chance to press for places against Japan. [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=10144 Emerton defends performance] , "FFA", June 10, 2006] Though some positives still emerged with both Cahill and Kewell coming through the game unscathed and Joshua Kennedy's impressive performance putting him in contention for some game time. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Tall-story-gives-Japanese-nightmares/2006/06/11/1149964398915.html Tall story gives Japanese nightmares] , "The Age", June 11, 2006]

2006 FIFA World Cup

Australia v Japan

Australia v Brazil

Australia v Croatia

Australia v Italy

Australia v Kuwait

Australia v Kuwait

Australia v Paraguay

Australia v Bahrain

Australia v Ghana

Footnotes and References

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