Australia vs Ireland Friendly

[Thiele]

Thursday Morning around 4am

[johntheclaret]

Thursday Morning around 4am

Australia fielding a strong side by all accounts Thiele and I think the Irish are taking it a bit serious too.

REID COULD MAKE REPUBLIC RETURN

Blackburn midfielder Steven Reid has been placed on standby for the Republic of Ireland's friendly at home to Australia next month. The 28-year-old, whose club colleague Keith Andrews has been selected, has not played a competitive match since October because of a knee injury but is hopeful of being fit for the start of the Barclays Premier League season.

Manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named a 24-man squad to face the Socceroos at Thomond Park in Limerick on August 12. "This friendly is of utmost importance to our side as it acts as our final game ahead of our World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in Nicosia in September," Trapattoni said. "Australia, who have already qualified for the World Cup, will provide a stern test for the team. I am looking forward to playing an international friendly of this stature at the magnificent Thomond Park in Limerick. I am aware of the proud sporting culture in Limerick and I am sure that the people of Munster will get behind the team for this game."

Reid is joined on the standby list by Ipswich defenders Alex Bruce and Damien Delaney.

Squad: Given (Man City), Westwood (Coventry), Murphy (****), O'Shea (Man Utd), Foley (Wolves), Dunne (Man City), Kelly (Fulham), Kilbane (Hull), Nolan (Preston), St Ledger (Preston), McGeady (Celtic), Duff (Newcastle), Gibson (Man Utd), Whelan (Stoke), Andrews (Blackburn), L Miller (unattached), S Hunt (Reading), Keogh (Wolves), Lawrence (Stoke), Folan (Hull), Doyle (Wolves), Keane (Tottenham), Long (Reading), Best (Coventry).

[johntheclaret]

REPUBLIC GET SERIOUS FOR AUSSIES

Republic of Ireland assistant manager Liam Brady claims this week's friendly against Australia is a "hugely important game" ahead of the final rounds of World Cup qualifiers.

The Republic host the Australians at Limerick on Wednesday, in their first game since the 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in Sofia in June, and are set to name a strong starting line-up.

[johntheclaret]

KEANE AND DOYLE TEAM UP

Captain Robbie Keane will be partnered in attack by the returning Kevin Doyle when the Republic of Ireland face Australia in a friendly in Limerick on Wednesday night.

Doyle missed June's World Cup qualifier in Bulgaria with a calf problem as the team picked up a 1-1 draw which keeps them second in Group Eight.
However, the former Reading player has been cleared to play by former Republic boss Mick McCarthy, now manager at Doyle's new club Wolves, after he recovered quicker than anticipated following hernia surgery and he will pick up his 27th cap.

Shay Given is in goal behind a back four of John O'Shea, Sean St. Ledger, Richard Dunne and Kevin Kilbane, which is unchanged from the Bulgaria game.

Aiden McGeady and Damien Duff will offer options on the wings with Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews in central midfield.

Manager Giovanni Trapattoni had hinted he may start with Darron Gibson ahead of next month's World Cup qualifier against Cyprus but the Italian has kept faith with Andrews.

The Republic currently sit second in their World Cup qualification group, just a point behind leaders Italy, and with real hope of playing in next year's finals.

Wednesday's opponents have already booked their place on the plane to South Africa and at 16th in FIFA's official rankings, are 21 places higher than the Republic.

Trapattoni therefore believes Australia will provide the perfect preparation ahead of next month's crunch encounter.

[mighty_tiger_79]

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[Thiele]

Cahill we both goals

[drebin]

We actually won 3-0.

[Wedgie]

WOW, great result!

[Brock Landers]

Has anyone got a report on this game?

Did we field a full strength side?

An excellent result over a side that is a very good chance to make the World Cup finals.

[Wedgie]

Has anyone got a report on this game?

Did we field a full strength side?

An excellent result over a side that is a very good chance to make the World Cup finals.

Here ya go mate, good to see it was Ireland's biggest loss in 3 years!

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25922531-5014539,00.html

[drebin]

Try this match report:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25922553-11088,00.html

[RoosterMarty]

Fantastic win.

Timmy Cahill is a champ and Carney's was from 30 yards. Haven't seen the goals yet as I didn't get up to watch the game.

Interesting result really as we have struggled to score too many goals lately and this surely meant more to Ireland as we are already in South Africa while Ireland sit 2nd in their group with a crucial game against Cyprus coming up.

[Wedgie]

What we need now is a bit of consistency, hopefully we can back it up with another strong performance in Korea in a couple of weeks time. Hard to get consistency with the chopping and changing of players, I assume we'll be using less of our A team for that match.

[Dirko]

Wow ! What a game. Those goals were all class, and once again showed how valuable the Schwarz is....

Cahill is our man though, and he will be the key for the World Cup no doubt....

[RoosterMarty]

Goals can be seen here.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,,25 ... 39,00.html

edit: d'oh I see Wedge already posted that link above!

Anyway McDonald and Williams were superb in setting Cahill up but Carney's was a sensational strike!

[JK]

Ridiculous goal by Carney to cap a great result for the Roos ... What's the deal with Lucas Neill, he'd want to find himself a club pretty soon

[Dirko]

Ridiculous goal by Carney to cap a great result for the Roos ... What's the deal with Lucas Neill, he'd want to find himself a club pretty soon

Didn't the Spammers re-sign him ?

[JK]

Ridiculous goal by Carney to cap a great result for the Roos ... What's the deal with Lucas Neill, he'd want to find himself a club pretty soon

Didn't the Spammers re-sign him ?

The Fox report on the friendly referred to him as "clubless", so Im guessing they didn't mate?

[Dirko]

The Fox report on the friendly referred to him as "clubless", so Im guessing they didn't mate?

You sure they didn't say "clueless"

EDIT: Found this one Spermy http://www.theworldgame.com.au/aussies-abroad/neill-close-to-decision-222587

[JK]

The Fox report on the friendly referred to him as "clubless", so Im guessing they didn't mate?

You sure they didn't say "clueless"

EDIT: Found this one Spermy http://www.theworldgame.com.au/aussies-abroad/neill-close-to-decision-222587

lol I nearly wrote that .. Cheers mate.