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Football: Socceroos’ Win In Germany

  • March 31st, 2011
  • Posted by EUEditor

soccweroos-deutsch-2011.gifMake-up time at Moenchengladbach on Tuesday (29.3.11), Australia’s Socceroos defeating Germany 2-1.

“PERFECT RESPONSE”

The friendly game, both sides fielding top-strength teams, started out with a goal from Mario Gomez putting Germany 1-0 in front – reviving memories of the 4-0 defeat at Durban that crippled Australia’s chances in last year’s Football World Cup.

The Australians scored twice in the second half, within two minutes: a goal from mid-fielder David Carney and a Luke Wilshire penalty.

See video match summary: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/football/osieck-imprint-has-socceroos-on-course-for-brazil-20110330-1cgci.html

The captain Lucas Neill said it was a ”perfect response” to the World Cup drubbing, and two earlier defeats by Germany in a row; the coach, Holger Osieck was roundly congratulated; a small band of supporters cheered away among a subdued home crowd in the stands.

Talk of a World Cup revival, in Brazil, seemed well in order, even if drawing a long bow, with three years to go.

CRICKET MILESTONE

Michael Clarke has moved up to become Australian cricket captain (30.3.11) after Ricky Ponting stepped down, having made 12,363 Test runs for Australia and 13,288 in one-day international games.

In the short professional life-span of elite sportsmen, a fair gap exists between the retiring captain, 36, and both Clarke and the new vice-captain, all-rounder Shane Watson, each pushing 30 this year.

Clarke, batsman and sometime spin bowler, said he would welcome the former captain staying on the team, beginning with the forthcoming one-day series in Bangladesh.

Reference

Michael Cockerill, Brisbane Times, “Osieck imprint has Socceroos on course for Brazil”, 30.3.11.  http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/football/…, (30.3.11).

Football Federation of Australia (Home), Sydney, “Qantas Socceroos avenge World Cup loss”, 30.3.11,
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/2009InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem_new&id=39430, (30.3.11).

Picture   FFA