The Socceroos began the final part of the game lining up as: Bolton, A Griffiths, Vargas, Coyne, McKay, Pondeljak, Hutchinson, Griffiths, Brosque and Thompson. It was a 4-4-2 with Joel playing more as a wide midfielder breaking from deep.

Corica, Colosimo did not make it onto the park today.

The Olyroos were largely unchanged for the final 20 minutes with the side being: Velaphi, Cornthwaite, Topor Stanley, D'Apuzzo, Broxham, Celeski, Zadkovich, Bridge, Elrich, Biddle, Djite.

It was an even final 20 minutes but the better side won. The Socceroos' second half side however did perform better than the first half.

Earlier, a brilliant Ruben Zadkovich goal gave the side a 2-0 lead. He broke wide right and took the ball into the box before he chipped Clint Bolton with a curling chip.

This was shortly after Matt Simon blasted a fantastic goal to give the U23s the lead at the earlier break. The Mariner had dispossesed Jade North on the edge of the box before firing low and hard past Ante Covic.

The Socceroos scored after a Talay blast from the edge of the box was backheeled into the goal by Archie Thompson.

Best players for the Socceroos were Vargas, Adam Griffiths (as a left back), Thompson, Pantelis, Griffiths and Pondeljak.

For the Olyroos: Cornthwaite, Musialik, Zadkovich and Celeski.

Man of the match: Robert Cornthwaite.


EXCLUSIVE UPDATE 11.30am: The Olyroos are easily accounting for the Socceroos with Graham Arnold's side 2-1 up at the third break of the practice match at Marconi Stadium.

A brilliant Ruben Zadkovich goal gave the side a 2-0 lead. He broke wide right and took the ball into the box before he chipped Clint Bolton with a curling chip.

This was shortly after Matt Simon blasted a fantastic goal to give the U23s the lead at the earlier break. The Mariner had dispossesed Jade North on the edge of the box before firing low and hard past Ante Covic.

Brosque should've scored for the Socceroos but his close range shot was brilliantly parried by Velaphi.

The Socceroos however scored after a Talay blast from the edge of the box was backheeled into the goal by Archie Thompson.

The Socceroos for this third 20 minute block was: Bolton, Thompson, Wilkinson, Vargas, Coyne – Pondeljak, Talay, McKay and Hutchinson – Brosque and Thompson.

For the Olyroos, Biddle and and Broxham came on for Matt Simon and Tarek Elrich. Velaphi came on in this 20 minutes for Vukovic.

This has been the most entertaining half with the game and fluidity ramping up a notch.

Verbeek on the sidelines is deep in thought.


EXCLUSIVE UPDATE 11.00am: A defensive howler has given the Olyroos the advantage with Matt Simon blasting a fantastic goal to give the U23s a 1-0 lead at the 40 minute break.

The Mariner dispossesed Jade North on the edge of the box before coolly firing low and hard past Ante Covic.

The tempo has been upped in this the second 20 minute “half” of a game that wil be four 20 minute blocks.

For the Socceroos, Joel Griffiths has had two good chances to score – one a header off a cross that Vukovic saved well and the other a free kick from the edge of the box. It just went over.

Worryingly for Melbourne Victory, Kevin Muscat left the field with a hip injury. He was replaced by Tommy Pondeljak in a straight swap.

It looks like Pim Verbeek is going to make wholesale changes for the second part of this training match.

The Olyroos for their part have looked well organised and have coped well with the occasional danger from Griffiths and Aloisi.

The Olyroos have played a 4-5-1 with Djite the lone striker and Matt Simon wide right, Zadkovich and Musialik in midfield central with Celeski and Bridge wide right. At the back is Elrich, Cornthwaite, D'Apuzzo and Topor Stanley.


EXCLUSIVE UPDATE 10.35am: After the first 20 minute break in play, it's 0-0 at Marconi stadium. The game has been even but both sides have lacked fluency.

Pim Verbeek has been animated at the break and doesn't look too happy with what's he's seen so far.

The Socceroos are playing a 4-4-2 with John Aloisi playing as a spearhead and Joel Griffiths just behind. Lucas Pantelis and Travis Dodd are wide in midfield with Kevin Muscat as the holding midfielder and Ufuk Talay just in front of him.

It's been a Jets defence with central defenders Durante and North with Matt Thompson left and Adam Griffiths on the right.

The Olyroos have played a 4-5-1 with Djite the lone striker Matt Simon wide right, Zadkovich and Musialik in midfield central with Celeski. At the back is Elrich, Cornthwaite, D'Apuzzo and Topor Staneley.

The second 20 minutes has just kicked off with no changes to either side. Joel Griffiths had an opportunity to score straight after the restart but his free kick from just outside the box just went over.

Stay on au.fourfourtwo.com for more news as the game progresses.

*Jamie Coyne has been receiving treatment for a shoulder injury on the sidelines, as has Simon Colosimo.


UPDATE 10am: Australia's 2010 World Cup campaign officially kicks off today with a match between the Olyroos and the Socceroos at Marconi stadium - and we're live at the ground. The latest news is that Central Coast's Matt Simon and Sydney FC's Adam Biddle are in the starting line up for the Olyroos for a game that's set to kick off around 10am.

The Socceroos starting 11 as we can see from the side warming up is: Joel Griffiths, John Aloisi, Adam Griffiths, Jade North, Matt Thompson, Andrew Durante, Kevin Muscat, Ufuk Talay, Travis Dodd, Lucas Pantelis, Ante Covic.

Injuries in the Socceroos camp include Nick Ward (groin) and Jamie Coyne and Roddy Vargas are not playing.

The Olyroos starting 11 is: Nikolai Topor Stanley, Zadkovich, Djite, Elrich, Celeski, Bridge, Broxham, Cornthwaite, Biddle, Simon, Vukovic.