THE Socceroos will play friendlies in Europe against South Africa and the Netherlands as part of preparations for the next round of World Cup qualifiers.
The Socceroos will meet the 2010 World Cup hosts, South Africa, in London on August 19 and Verbeek's home country, the Netherlands, in Eindhoven on 6 September 6.
Football Federation Australia CEO Ben Buckley said: “It’s all part of the road that leads to the door of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“We said we would leave no stone unturned in doing everything we can off the park to help Australia qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the same goes for the 2011 Asian Cup.
“Coach Pim Verbeek sees these two international matches as important opportunities to get the squad together and to work with the players in a match environment.”
As hosts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa is the only team guarantee of a berth at the tournament.
“With many of South Africa’s first team players also based in England and elsewhere in Europe, meeting them in London is an efficient and valuable opportunity for both of us,” Buckley said.
The teams last met in 2005 in Durban with a 1-1 draw, but previously met in London in 2004 with Australia winning 1-0.
The Netherlands game will be played four days before Australia’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan on 10 September.
“It’s important that we go into the Uzbekistan game with as much preparation as possible, and playing a team which is ranked 5th in the world and made the quarter finals of Euro 2008 will give us just what we need at that time,” Buckley said.
It is also a warm-up match for the Dutch team which is set to meet Macedonia in a World Cup qualifier on 10 September, and will be the first game with new coach Bert van Marwijk in charge.
Australia have only met the Netherlands once before – in a warm-up match prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup resulting in a 1-1 draw in a highly competitive workout for both teams.
Australia versus South Africa will take place on Tuesday 19 August at Loftus Road, the home ground of Queens Park Rangers, with the kick-off time to be confirmed.
Netherlands versus Australia will take place at Philips Stadium, Eindhoven, on Saturday 6 September with kick-off time of 8.45pm local.
These two games bring the Socceroos’ confirmed match schedule over the next 12 months to 12 matches including two Asian Cup qualifiers.
Buckley said: “It’s a busy schedule. But it’s also precisely why we wanted to be part of the Asian Football Confederation.
“We have regular, high quality competitive matches with real meaning and real context that fans want to see.”
Buckley said that more competitive matches for the Qantas Socceroos will lead to improved standards and greater growth and development in the game in Australia.
Football Federation Australia CEO Ben Buckley said: “It’s all part of the road that leads to the door of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“We said we would leave no stone unturned in doing everything we can off the park to help Australia qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the same goes for the 2011 Asian Cup.
“Coach Pim Verbeek sees these two international matches as important opportunities to get the squad together and to work with the players in a match environment.”
As hosts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa is the only team guarantee of a berth at the tournament.
“With many of South Africa’s first team players also based in England and elsewhere in Europe, meeting them in London is an efficient and valuable opportunity for both of us,” Buckley said.
The teams last met in 2005 in Durban with a 1-1 draw, but previously met in London in 2004 with Australia winning 1-0.
The Netherlands game will be played four days before Australia’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan on 10 September.
“It’s important that we go into the Uzbekistan game with as much preparation as possible, and playing a team which is ranked 5th in the world and made the quarter finals of Euro 2008 will give us just what we need at that time,” Buckley said.
It is also a warm-up match for the Dutch team which is set to meet Macedonia in a World Cup qualifier on 10 September, and will be the first game with new coach Bert van Marwijk in charge.
Australia have only met the Netherlands once before – in a warm-up match prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup resulting in a 1-1 draw in a highly competitive workout for both teams.
Australia versus South Africa will take place on Tuesday 19 August at Loftus Road, the home ground of Queens Park Rangers, with the kick-off time to be confirmed.
Netherlands versus Australia will take place at Philips Stadium, Eindhoven, on Saturday 6 September with kick-off time of 8.45pm local.
These two games bring the Socceroos’ confirmed match schedule over the next 12 months to 12 matches including two Asian Cup qualifiers.
Buckley said: “It’s a busy schedule. But it’s also precisely why we wanted to be part of the Asian Football Confederation.
“We have regular, high quality competitive matches with real meaning and real context that fans want to see.”
Buckley said that more competitive matches for the Qantas Socceroos will lead to improved standards and greater growth and development in the game in Australia.
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