Socceroo keeper Mark Schwarzer says tonight's friendly against China is another vital part of the preparation jigsaw as Australia builds towards July’s Asian Cup.
“For most of us, we’ve never played in this country before. So in terms of preparing for the Asian Cup, you need to learn from these different conditions and environment. It’s good preparation in another Asian Cup nation.
“It’s really important to soak up the new environment that we have here in China,” he said shortly after arriving in Guangzhou.
Speaking earlier, Socceroo coach Graham Arnold noted that the Chinese would provide a good test as he looks to fine-tune the squad for Operation Asian Cup. “I’ve had a look at the DVDs over the last couple of weeks; they are a very handy side, quick, mobile, like all Asian sides are.
“It’s new to be able to have four sessions before a game, to be able to work on things. This is the perfect dress rehearsal for what we are going to come up against in 2008-09 during the World Cup qualifiers,” added Arnold, who scored against China when the two nations last played each other (the Socceroos won 2-0 in 1986 in Canton).
Australia arrived in Guangzhou after spending a few days training in bustling Hong Kong. The squad took the three hour coach trip into southern China to the picturesque port city, the capital of the Guandong province.
Schwarzer also sees the match as an ideal way for some fringe Socceroos to press their claims. These include Shane Stefanutto, Brett Holman, Jacob Burns as well the local contingent of Archie Thompson, Jade North and A-League player of the year Nick Carle.
Missing from the squad will be Socceroo first XI regulars Harry Kewell, Vince Grella, Jason Culina, Tim Cahill and Scott Chipperfield. However, Mark Viduka, Lucas Neill and Schwarzer give Arnold's team a powerful spine.
Middlesbrough’s second keeper Brad Jones is also in the Aussie squad. “He’s a good keeper,” says Schwarzer. “I train with him day in day out. He’s done well when he’s gone out on loan spells to get regular first team action. He needs games under his belt and this is an opportunity for Brad to show what he can do in the national set up.
“I was talking with our keeping coach Paul Barron [at Boro] about this. It’s pretty unique for one club to have two keepers on international duty for the same country.”
Schwarzer says he “still has the desire” to play for the Socceroos. “I had a taste at the World Cup and I still have the willpower to go on. It’s not about others not coming through, as long as I’m playing well and have that desire, I want to continue.”
The Chinese will be wary of Australia, and rightly so. Aside from Germany 2006, Sydney FC outplayed Shanghai Shenhua in the Asian Champions League a few weeks ago in China.
Schwarzer is a keen observer as A-League teams also deal with Asian opposition. “I didn’t get a chance to see the Sydney FC game against Urawa. I heard they lost a 2-0 lead which was a little disappointing but by all accounts they did very well.”
Like the Socceroos, China is preparing for the Asian Cup and will view this match as good grounding for its crunch game with Iran in group C.
They will have a trio of English Premiership stars flying in, including Charlton’s midfield star Zheng Zhi, who is full of confidence after his debut goal and man-of-the-match performance during his new club 2-0 victory over Newcastle last week.
Manchester City defender Sun Jihai and Dong Fangzhuo, a fringe striker from Manchester United who’s played in Belgium for three seasons, have also been named in head coach Zhu Guanghu’s squad.
"It's a big game for us. We haven't played them before so this is a good chance to get to know them better," Zheng told a local TV station. "We're at home and neither side knows much about each other. I am confident we can win," added Zheng.
Schwarzer praised Sun Jihai for “his consistency in the premier league. They’ve obviously got some very good players,” he added.
But Chinese head coach Zhu was disappointed that injured PSV Eindhoven left-back Sun Xiang could not make the trip.
However, Schwarzer wasn’t keen to buy into the debate about who should coach the Socceroos. But he did say it’s an issue that needs sorting. “They [FFA] need to make a decision soon… Arnie has said from day one that he has been given the job on a temporary basis. He has our 100% backing while he has the job.”
Wanna see the match?
It will be broadcast live and exclusive on FOX SPORTS 2 from 6.30pm on Saturday night (March 24) with the game due to kick off at 7.00pm.The coverage will include a 30-minute pre-game show where host Andy Harper will be joined by former Socceroo captain Paul Okon, former Socceroo Paul Trimboli and Miron Bleiberg. Simon Hill and Robbie Slater will call all the action.
Record against China in “A” internationals
Played: 4
Aussie wins: 2
Chinese wins: 2
Draws: 0
World Rankings:
Australia: 40
China: 75
2007 Asian Cup:
Australia is in with Thailand, Oman and Iraq in the group stage
China is grouped with Iran, Malaysia and Uzbekistan
“It’s really important to soak up the new environment that we have here in China,” he said shortly after arriving in Guangzhou.
Speaking earlier, Socceroo coach Graham Arnold noted that the Chinese would provide a good test as he looks to fine-tune the squad for Operation Asian Cup. “I’ve had a look at the DVDs over the last couple of weeks; they are a very handy side, quick, mobile, like all Asian sides are.
“It’s new to be able to have four sessions before a game, to be able to work on things. This is the perfect dress rehearsal for what we are going to come up against in 2008-09 during the World Cup qualifiers,” added Arnold, who scored against China when the two nations last played each other (the Socceroos won 2-0 in 1986 in Canton).
Australia arrived in Guangzhou after spending a few days training in bustling Hong Kong. The squad took the three hour coach trip into southern China to the picturesque port city, the capital of the Guandong province.
Schwarzer also sees the match as an ideal way for some fringe Socceroos to press their claims. These include Shane Stefanutto, Brett Holman, Jacob Burns as well the local contingent of Archie Thompson, Jade North and A-League player of the year Nick Carle.
Missing from the squad will be Socceroo first XI regulars Harry Kewell, Vince Grella, Jason Culina, Tim Cahill and Scott Chipperfield. However, Mark Viduka, Lucas Neill and Schwarzer give Arnold's team a powerful spine.
Middlesbrough’s second keeper Brad Jones is also in the Aussie squad. “He’s a good keeper,” says Schwarzer. “I train with him day in day out. He’s done well when he’s gone out on loan spells to get regular first team action. He needs games under his belt and this is an opportunity for Brad to show what he can do in the national set up.
“I was talking with our keeping coach Paul Barron [at Boro] about this. It’s pretty unique for one club to have two keepers on international duty for the same country.”
Schwarzer says he “still has the desire” to play for the Socceroos. “I had a taste at the World Cup and I still have the willpower to go on. It’s not about others not coming through, as long as I’m playing well and have that desire, I want to continue.”
The Chinese will be wary of Australia, and rightly so. Aside from Germany 2006, Sydney FC outplayed Shanghai Shenhua in the Asian Champions League a few weeks ago in China.
Schwarzer is a keen observer as A-League teams also deal with Asian opposition. “I didn’t get a chance to see the Sydney FC game against Urawa. I heard they lost a 2-0 lead which was a little disappointing but by all accounts they did very well.”
Like the Socceroos, China is preparing for the Asian Cup and will view this match as good grounding for its crunch game with Iran in group C.
They will have a trio of English Premiership stars flying in, including Charlton’s midfield star Zheng Zhi, who is full of confidence after his debut goal and man-of-the-match performance during his new club 2-0 victory over Newcastle last week.
Manchester City defender Sun Jihai and Dong Fangzhuo, a fringe striker from Manchester United who’s played in Belgium for three seasons, have also been named in head coach Zhu Guanghu’s squad.
"It's a big game for us. We haven't played them before so this is a good chance to get to know them better," Zheng told a local TV station. "We're at home and neither side knows much about each other. I am confident we can win," added Zheng.
Schwarzer praised Sun Jihai for “his consistency in the premier league. They’ve obviously got some very good players,” he added.
But Chinese head coach Zhu was disappointed that injured PSV Eindhoven left-back Sun Xiang could not make the trip.
However, Schwarzer wasn’t keen to buy into the debate about who should coach the Socceroos. But he did say it’s an issue that needs sorting. “They [FFA] need to make a decision soon… Arnie has said from day one that he has been given the job on a temporary basis. He has our 100% backing while he has the job.”
Wanna see the match?
It will be broadcast live and exclusive on FOX SPORTS 2 from 6.30pm on Saturday night (March 24) with the game due to kick off at 7.00pm.The coverage will include a 30-minute pre-game show where host Andy Harper will be joined by former Socceroo captain Paul Okon, former Socceroo Paul Trimboli and Miron Bleiberg. Simon Hill and Robbie Slater will call all the action.
Record against China in “A” internationals
Played: 4
Aussie wins: 2
Chinese wins: 2
Draws: 0
World Rankings:
Australia: 40
China: 75
2007 Asian Cup:
Australia is in with Thailand, Oman and Iraq in the group stage
China is grouped with Iran, Malaysia and Uzbekistan
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