Pablito Pablito Pablito Aimar

先發我只認識...20號Nikolai Topor-Stanley，26號James Troisi，1號Danny Vukovic跟隊長4號Mark Milligan。14號Dario Vidosic是星期六才認識的，德甲紐倫堡的球員。3號Adrian Leijer，剛剛認識的XD。
哈哈，看來我這偽澳洲犯還得多用功了~
(又是對青年隊興趣大於成年隊，唉呦威呀 orz)


在我有限的看過幾場澳洲比賽中，我常常覺得，這支國家對足球是很有一份熱情在的。澳洲當地流行的運動是Criket跟Rugby，足球也是近幾年才比較有聲有色，但跟美國一樣，只要決定發展就執行到底，澳洲國家隊的實力已非同日而語，屢屢打進世界盃會內賽就可以證明他們的進步有多麼神速，更別說他們也擁有許多知名球員在頂級聯賽有一席之地。
媽的，上面都是廢話。
熱情，就是熱情，不管是球員也好，球迷也好，看主場總是滿座就能知道澳洲球迷的潛力是很強大的。
對於澳洲國家隊的成員們，我曾經在亞洲盃期間批評過那群球員們不夠認真，但我寧願相信那是因為他們真的很累...至少面對國家的召喚時，他們依然是義無反顧。那這批U23的小夥子們就更不用說了，澳洲還在往足球大國的路上奔跑著，這群身為先鋒的孩子們，選擇了這相對冷門的運動為自己的人生事業，就代表了他們對足球的熱愛，對任何可能的榮譽也必定會更加渴望。世界盃，亞洲盃，奧運，所有這些獎盃，他們都想要。而他們也不會以為能一步登天。一步再一步，每一場勝利都值得慶祝再慶祝。
團結，凝聚，勇氣。有別於南美足球的狂野，歐洲足球的精密，澳洲給我的感覺是一種陽光燦爛的開放氣質，他們年輕，但他們沒有包袱，敢衝敢嘗試，很有一股蠻勁。
可能我喜歡澳洲跟我喜歡克本的感覺有點相似吧，就是愛那種赤裸裸的感覺，很拼很衝很敢，我想我骨子裡蠻橫的那一塊就表現在我對他們的支持上了...

當然啦，球迷是球員努力的最大動力。
這對父子的裝扮與表情讓大家知道他們有多們開心能成為socceroos。


Qantas Under 23's one step away from qualifying for Beijing

The Qantas Under 23’s have taken a giant step forward in its bid to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, with a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win over nearest rivals Iraq at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium on Saturday night.

Goals from central defensive pairing Adrian Leijer (18’) and Mark Milligan (58’) sealed the victory that now sees Australia jump three points clear of Iraq, with one game remaining.

Australia will travel to North Korean capital Pyongyang tomorrow, for Wednesday’s final group game, where a point will be sufficient to get Australia through to Beijing.

“It was hugely satisfying, but it’s a job only half done at the moment,” said Graham Arnold after the match.

"I've congratulated them on the performance, it was a great effort, but We’ve got to go to North Korea tomorrow play on artificial grass in zero degrees temperatures… that’s Asia, he added.”

Captain Mark Milligan, whose thunderbolt header gave Australia the two-goal cushion, echoed Arnold’s words.

“It was a massive buzz,” Milligan said. “We did what we came to do and that was get the three points, but we still need to get a result (in North Korea) to go to the Olympics.”

"We all came together after the game, because we just want to keep everybody's feet on the ground. The job is only half done at the moment.

“But we're extremely happy with how it went tonight," he added.

The first half was more open than most would have expected, with Iraq true to their word and not putting up a defensive wall for Australia to break down.

The first chance fell to Mark Bridge after just three minutes, when the Iraq defender mistimed his clearance and the Newcastle Jets striker turned sharply, but saw his shot saved by Kadhum.

Australia continued to press down the flanks with Ruben Zadkovich, James Troisi and Nikolai Topor-Stanley combining well down the left especially.

In the 8th minute, Troisi played in Zadkovich, but Kadhum blocked the shot and recovered to grab the ball in front of Bridge. His theatrics though didn’t go down well with home crowd, as he rolled around clutching his face. Thankfully the Singapore referee wasn’t buying into it then and for the rest of the game.

After several more raids, Australia’s persistence was rewarded with a goal to defender Adrian Leijer. He was hand after the ball ricochet out to him, following a free kick by Sarkies and he slotted home from eight metres out.

Australia continued to have the better of play, but Iraq almost snatched an equaliser in a dominating spell just before half time. The lively Mujbel on the right wing, dribbled his way into the penalty box and drilled a shot at Vukovic, who could only parry and Trent McClenahan had to clear off the line.

Iraq came out attacking at the start of the second half and pinned Australia in its own half, but in general the defence was looking strong and Iraq had no meaningful shots on goal.

Then came the pivotal moment of the match, when Australia was awarded a free kick just outside the right edge of the penalty box. Sarkies delivery was again spot on and his cross the back post, found Milligan steaming onto the ball and he powered his header home from close range.

Minutes later, Leijer covered his captain’s blushes after a careless pass allowed Iraq through on goal, but the Fulham defender superbly came across and forced a corner instead of a shot at goal.

For all Iraq’s efforts, most of their efforts came from long distance, with none really troubling Danny Vukovic. The closest they came to scoring was a rebound off the knee of Topor-Stanley that shaved the post.

The introduction of several substitutes for Australia, saw them take control in the final 15 minutes and should have added one or perhaps two more goals to the tally, with Sarkies missing two decent efforts, Nick Ward denied by the keeper and David Williams missing the rebound (off Ward’s shot) with the goal at his mercy.

Match Details

Australia 2 (Adrian Leijer 18’, Mark Milligan 58’)
Iraq 0

Australia line-up: Danny Vukovic (gk); Ruben Zadkovich (Nick Ward 77’), Adrian Leijer, Mark Milligan (c), Kristian Sarkies, Mark Bridge (David Williams 71’), Trent McClenahan, Dario Vidosic, Leigh Broxham (Aaron Downes 89’), Nikolai Topor-Stanley, James Troisi

Cautions: Zadkovich (26’)

--

附：

Adrian Leijer (Fulham FC)
Date of Birth:
25th March 1986
Weight:
80kg
Height:
186cm
Place of Birth:
Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Previous Clubs:
Melbourne Victory
Debut:
N/A

跟我同一天生的中衛，8月才跟農莊簽了3年約。

Adrian Leijer  signed a 3 year deal with Fulham Football Club on August 10th 2007. The centre back joins Fulham from Melbourne Victory for an undisclosed fee.

21 year-old Leijer won the A League and Grand Final with Melbourne victory before collecting the A League Young Player of the Year Award. The defender has been a permanent fixture for Australia at youth level and was invited to train with the Socceroos squad ahead of the 2006 World Cup Finals.

果然不出我所料，目前是是預備隊固定先發。嘖，萬惡的預備隊...