Think of the money we saved!

CEO Ben Buckley, "We're gonna be quids in if we lose to Japan."

Losing to Japan was good for the game! Ok, Ben Buckley said nothing of the sort, but it got me thinking.



We were always going to have to pay for the team and support staff to stay until the final.

So we saved a week's money there. Hotel fees, The big man's food bill, you know who I mean etc.

Also the players were said to be on $110,000 per man if they won the tournament. With Arnie and others on a bonus, that has to be about $2.5million.

We're rich, we're rich.

That should cover a Youth League or a Women's league. Take your pick.

Until I hear otherwise the FFA must have more money in their budgets now than if we stayed one more week and won the Asia Cup.

Remember there was no prize money, so the longer we stayed the more it cost.

Any thoughts?

Australia lose to Japan on penalties

Australia produced their best performance of the Asia Cup, but it was not good enough to beat Japan.

The game ended 1-1 after extra time, and Japan won 4-3 on penalties.

Australian fans went into the game with some concerns given their defensive performances over the last twelve months.

Japan had a new coach, Ivica Osim, since the last world cup. He'd also made six changes to the team.

It was a good game. Tense and tactical. Both teams playing to their maximum. Japan kept the ball, moved it around and changed tempo.

Australia produced flashes of play from David Carney and Brett Emerton on the flanks. But Mark Scharzwer's distribution was woeful all night. And Mark Viduka and John Aloisi found it very difficult to find other Australian players when they did receive the ball.

But Australia scrapped and the defence was stronger than its been for months.

Mark Milligan Michael Beauchamp and Lucas Neill all started the game well.

Finally Australia took the lead in the Asia Cup. A Kewell corner bundled home by Aloisi.

The reward for effort and determination throughout the night.

They kept the lead for one minute. Just one.

Woeful defence from Neill and Milligan allowed Naohiro Takahara to turn in the box and shoot home.

Then disaster struck. A great game of football was ruined, once more by the referee. The ref, from Kuwait, had a strange game all night. Booking Carney and Kewell for diving. But more amazingly refusing free kicks on Aloisi time and time again.

Vince Grella jumped for a ball. His arm was out, but little intent or power. Takahara coming in from behind went down like he'd been hit by a tank.

Ref showed Grella a straight red, and he was gone.

Pity because this was an epic battle.

And the Aussies battled on. For the last fifteen of the game...and then all through extra-time.

Shunsuke Nakamura should have won it in the ninety. Scharzwer made a superb save. But apart from a similar chance at the end of extra-time, Australia played exceptionally well with ten men. Sure Japan had plenty of the ball but the Aussies were compact and kept the Japanese threats to a minimum.

It felt like the goal was to get to penalties, and that would be our best chance.

We did it. But of course the penalties are always a lottery.

Significantly Scharzwer saved nothing int he shoot-out. And Harry Kewell missed, followed by Lucas Neill. 0-2 is not how you win penalty shoot-outs.

And why did Neill take a two step walk up. Is it just me or do fans hate this approach, especially when they miss.

So Japan the Asian Cup Champions march on.

It was a great game. I loved every minute, but the ref spoiled the fare.

Australia may say they were unlucky, but in truth they lost this tournament they day they produced insipid performances against Oman and Iraq.

Arnold improved his defence only because Patrick Kisnorbo needed a break under the United Nations Human Rights Charter. Rule 30: All Centre Halves who make simple errors in major tournaments mus t be given a two week break form the glare of the fans and media. Without this rule Arnold would still have played him. Of that you can be sure.

And secondly when Neill was suspended he had to change his defence. And it worked against Thailand and against Japan despite Milligans error.

Australia were good enough to be playing Vietnam for a place in the semi-final not Japan.

And who takes responsibility for that?

It has to be Arnold.

Football is a tough business. Arnold should recognise his achievements and do the honourable thing.

FFA CEO Ben Buckley talks Asian Cup

FFA CEO Ben Buckley talks with Australian Assistant Coach John Kosmina and Ireland's Michael Lynch from The Age.

I interviewed FFA CEO Ben Buckley after the Iraq game. Here's the article.


Football Federation Australia has been stung by criticism earlier this week as The Socceroos struggled to live up to their pre-tournament tag as Asia Cup favourites.

Fans in Australia were shocked at dismal performances against Oman and Iraq, which left Australia in a do-or-die battle with Thailand. Australia won 4-0 easing pressure on Coach Graham Arnold, the players and the whole FFA organisation but the previous performances haven’t been forgotten.

Many fans have called for Graham Arnold’s resignation. Others blame a lack of preparation. Some say the players don’t want to be here. A lack of knowledge and respect of Asian football within the FFA structure has also been raised.

FFA CEO Ben Buckley admits seeing the Socceroos play in their first Asian Cup is a big learning curve for everyone.

But Buckley, clearly disappointed by the criticism, strongly refutes the team is under prepared.

“Not at all. We invested a lot of time and money in reconnaissance. We sent a team to the various locations to check training facilities and hotels. We worked hard on having a preparation plan; we went to Singapore where we acclimatised. We had a very strong game plan in place. But it’s like anything when you are first time participants. Entering a new tournament for the first time, when you sit down afterwards you will learn a lot about what went right and what you can improve on.”

Within the FFA Coaching structure is there anybody with Asian Cup knowledge?

“The Coaches have studied the teams. The coaching staff watched tapes and saw them play in some games so I don’t think we have been deficient in our preparation but there is always going to be a team who comes and plays a different way from what we’ve seen or a player who plays better than we anticipated he could. That’s the same in any sport.”

Despite the rocky start the FFA is delighted with the interest back in Australia.

“We were unsure how the Australian public would embrace the Asia Cup. But the TV audiences have been extremely strong. Clearly there is a lot of interest and that’s really pleasing. The scale of the tournament; the reach around such a large region can only be beneficial to Australian football in the long run.”

If Australia goes out of the tournament early will this hinder the growth of the sport?

“Sure it would help if we are successful here, but our long term strategy is governed by a range of factors; not just success at one tournament. We want to grow the A-League, bring in quality players and get the huge grass roots participants through the turnstiles. Our long term growth doesn’t depend on success at anyone tournament.”

“There is no one silver bullet for the growth of football in Australia. But getting the participants and people who have an interest in the game through the turnstiles of an A-League club would result in higher attendances, bigger revenues for clubs and more income from TV and Sponsorships, and this would allow us to reinvest back into the community.”

The Socceroos are reported to be on $110,000 per person to win the Asia Cup. Given the wages of some of these players, plus the fact there is no national women’s league or men’s youth league due to a lack of funds within the FFA, are these player incentives warranted?

“Well, I think you are being selective in your numbers. But the players are the games greatest asset. These are the ones young people aspire to. It’s the players who generate huge interest in the game. They need to be appropriately rewarded, and to be fair, they could have asked for more. But they sat down and we went through our four-year business plan and they saw what we are trying to do for the growth of the game. The players accepted our plan.”

Don't think John Howard will be happy!

Socceroos are a Union

With the use of the word Union in Aussie politics today at an all time high as we approach the election, I was interested that players earning up to $400,000 a week (150,000 pounds) are active union members "collectively bargaining" for a new wage deal.

It should be noted that many players, including Sydney's Mark Milligan and David Carney probably earn around $100000 a YEAR.

This agreement has been announced today

As an avid follower of Aussie politics I was amused to see the words Collective and Bargaining next to a modern day industrial agreement.

Not sure Australia's Prime Minister would feel the same way.

Announcement from Football Federation Australia reads:

A Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that covers the Qantas Socceroos for the vital 2007 AFC Asian Cup and up to the completion of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. This new CBA details payments to players for matches and tournaments, commercial and licensing agreements between the FFA and players, community and game development initiatives and provides players with a world class high performance environment when representing their country.

Aussies to get $110,000 each from Football Fed.Australia

There is no money for the winners of the Asia Cup!

Did you know this?

I think the AFC have spent it all on their hotel accommodation. (see previous post)

but equally puzzling, to me, is the fact that the Aussies are set to earn $110,000 each.

Presumably this comes from Football Federation Australia.

Just seems a few questions should be asked.

Hw come the players, the few that earn reportedly more than this a week, how come they take it?

And secondly with the FFA unable to fund a women's league, a youth league, and looking to chop the AIS programme, how come they have to offer $11o,ooo x 23; plus Arnie and co must be on a bonus.

Let's hope we come second, we'll be quids in:)

AFC Asian Cup 2011: Why not Australia?

Qatar are the only nation to have formally submitted their bid to host the 2011 Asian Cup.

Of the original trio that expressed interest in hosting the event, India withdrew from proceedings and Iran missed the final deadline to submit their proposals to the Asian Football Confederation.

It is not all done and dusted however as the Gulf State must show that it can meet all the requirements necessary.

If the AFC is not satisfied then the whole process will restart.

The final decision will be taken on July 28, a day before the final of the 2007 version takes place in Jakarta.

Come on Aussie come on come on.

Get your bid in now! I guess given our finances and the state of our organisation at the moment this tournament has come to early.

John Howard - Have you got Fox Sports?

Aussie Prime Minister will be able to watch the Socceroos on Fox at the Asia Cup


If the Aussies get to the last four of the Asia Cup, and they probably will, do you want to see pictures of John Howard in his new Socceroo tracksuit jumping up and down in front of his FoxSports channel.

All the kids and parents who would be watching in PRIMETIME if the game was on Free-to-air will not want to see it either. This is wrong and the FFA need to get Fox to the table and renegotiate a one-off deal.

How does it help Fox if 70% of Aussies can't watch what would be the biggest sporting viewer figures of the year.

Australia v Japan Final of the Asia Cup at 7.30pm.

Which Aussie wouldn't tune in if this happened?

Socceroos can't blog for toffee.

Socceroos want to blog, no really they do!

Football Federation Australia have sent out a message saying no players can write diaries, newspaper columns or blogs during the Asian Cup.

The FFA want to ensure team morale is maintained throughout the tournament.

All very good I'm sure. Didn't stop Zeljko Kalac getting his message out during the last World Cup campaign

As far as we are concerned Carl Valeri is not allowed to write for us during the Asian Cup but we can interview him.

You work it out, because I'm struggling.

Come on, we're a little good time blog, not the Daily Telegraph!

Okay Arnie, it's your way for now, but we'd better win the Asian Cup or I'll be leading a campaign for a change of coach....

You can see the headline:

Blog off Arnold:)

Fox to ruin the Asian Cup spectacle?

Pity the children who can't watch the Socceroos

With the Asian Cup only been shown on Fox, the number of Socceroos fans able to see the games will be severely reduced.


However a run to the final in prime time should give FoxSports it's biggest viewing figures ever.



With the tournament only being shown on Fox, and Aussie media's reluctance to cover anything outside its own shores, the fantastic Free To Air channels will surely find it hard to fit news of the Socceroos into their bulletins.



Don't expect too much in the newspapers either.



When Football in the Capital recently spoke to the FFA they said, "they weren't expecting too many reporters travelling from Australia."

Still you can keep up-to-date with the Aussies through this blog. Someone has to keep the non-Fox subscribers informed, so I'll do my best:)

Graham Arnold wants to get to the final

Graham Arnold told the Bangkok Post: "We hope to reach the final of the Asian Cup but there are plenty of strong teams taking part.

"The team is looking forward to playing in Thailand."

Wonder if he'd keep his job if we won. Don't suppose so, but could put some pressure on Fran Lowy and save the FFA a lot of money.

Socceroos preparations in disarray?

Socceroos preparation for the 2007 Asia Cup is looking frail.

The Socceroos play Uruguay on June 2nd in Sydney and were supposed to play Argentina in Melbourne on June 6th. The Argentinean game has been postponed leaving little time to organise a new opponent.

After the Uruguay game, the players will have a two-week break before heading to Singapore on June 21 for a training camp and friendly against the Singaporean national team.

Most European seasons finish early May so it could have been better to give the players a longer break, say 3 to 4 weeks, then bring them back mid-June for the Uruguay international before heading off to Singapore.

Looks like the FFA may have got this one wrong? What do you think?