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Aussie fans under the doona in Canberra to watch the Socceroos take on Japan.

"I'm not happy because we lost."

"Mum, why didn't Scharzwer move for that penalty?"

Just a couple of comments that floated by in the night from the couch experts.

I'm so popular now I've got FOX!

Seems like lots of people are delighted by my return.

First question on return has been.

"Hi, Eamonn, you've got Fox, can we come round for the Japan game?"

Second question

"How was your trip?"

Should be a great game tonight, just hope I can find a seat at my place with my new very best friends.

At football games across the World you always find.....

A Celtic fan

I stumbled across Mick Whalen dashing up the very steep stairs before the Thailand Australia game.

And as a Celtic fan seeing the shirt in the middle of 55,000 Thai fans, well it just lifts your heart really.

Best Celtic game Peter ever saw?

"When we won the European Cup in 1967. We were the first British team to win it."

Tonight Peter originally from Scotland, lived for a long time in Melbourne, but now resides in Pattaya, Thailand was supporting the Aussies.

Bit of colour outside the ground

Just before the storm hit, crowd was building up nicely.

They seemed convinced Thailand will win, but watching Japan pump Vietnam 4-1 at the moment

Surely Australia can beat Thailand.

Need to score first I think

Australian Football Expert Richard Jones speaks.

Speaking from Canberra, long time Football analyst Richard Jones has announced his team for tonight.

Jones says, "I don't think it matters if they play 3 or 4 at the back. It's the midfield cover that is the problem as much as anything."

"And Viduka needs Archie up with him. He's been too isolated. And Harry needs to fire.
Schwarzer (probably doesn't deserve it)."

"Milligan Beauchamp Kisnorbo (only cos Neill is suspended) or Thwaite
Kewell Bresciano (doesn't deserve it but who else is there)Valeri (in for Grella)Cahill Carle
Thompson Viduka."

A youthful and aventurous team Mr Jones, but it could just win the game. Will Arnold be so bold?

We can only hope. Interesting at training on Saturday, Breciano and Grella did nothing, merely light light jogging around the pitch.

Given Grella was taken off in the first game and his surprisingly for him, poor performances in his key roll, he may well not be match fit.

Will Anold risk Valeri? Seems like big reputations get the nod, no matter how bad the performances.

What star man has he dropped? Is he content just to keep picking guys who are not performing when he has a few younger keener guys on the bench.

He better do something before it's too late. His job is lost already even if he wins the tournament but it feels like the Coach is trapped in the headlights unable to move left or right.

Will we win?

Hey Guys you made Sunday's paper

Canberran Socceroo fans in Bangkok

Thanks for coming together for the photo. Appreciate it. And I can tell you that you are in the Canberra Times today, Sunday.

Not sure if the story go in or not but here's what I sent through.

From the left:

Walnuts, Macca, Jozo, (All Tuggeranong United boys) Rod Lynes, Ian Price, Chris Conti, Kate Parker, Sean Blunt, Stephen Blunt, and Gordo with Koala.

When Socceroo and Canberran Carl Valeri looked up into the stands at Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok on Sunday night he saw the symbol of the Canberra junior club he once played for amongst the Green and Gold Army.

“I was on the bench during the Oman game and I thought I recognised the symbol. Then I read Tuggeranong United. It was awesome, really inspiring.”

Walnut, Macca, Jozo and Gordo, as the lads are known are all Tuggeranong United players following the Socceroos Asian Cup adventure in Bangkok. Gordo carries his cuddly good luck charm, Koala, with him to games.

“Koala was at the World Cup in Germany so I thought he should come here as well.”

Rod Lynes, ANU Technical Director wanted to see the Socceoos first venture into the Asia Cup.

“I’ve been to four World Cup’s including Germany. Playing in Asia allows us to engage with Asian countries on a number of levels. The other day we were playing football on the beach with a group of Omani’s. Which other sports code enables that.”

Kate Parker had seen her parents go to Germany last year.

“They love the Socceroos and when they asked me if I like to come this time, I jumped at the chance.”

The group were in good spirits before the Iraq game. All were confident of victory.

Sean Blunt had been watching the Oman game which ended in a 1-1 draw with a late equalizer from Tim Cahill.

Sitting at home in Belconnen he thought, “These guys need all the support they can get. Wouldn’t it be great if I could get over? I got the last seat on the plane, and here I am.”

Australia plays Thailand in their last group game on Monday night 10:30AEST. If Australia win and Iraq draw or beat Oman, Australia and Thailand will both have four points. The team who won the game (in this scenario Australia) between these two sides will go through.

Kate Parker said “I’m booked through to the final. So I hope the Aussies make it.”

Aussie players meet the fans

It's all gonna be okay!

Good turnout from the Aussie fans today. A positive spirit prevailed.

Players were a little cautious at first, to say the least. But they were welcomed by the Australian travelling fans.

A good exercise planned months ago, but it probably gave everyone a lift.

Chants of "Right foot," were bellowed to Sydney FC's notoriously left-footed David Carney.

"He's such a goalie," as keeper Mark Scharzwer was asked to join in a dribbling drill.

A great roar went up when Our Harry scored an overhead kick in training. Harry played the crowd and seemed the most relax he's been all week.

And Tim Cahill's kid who is about three or four, took off across the stadium and dribbled the ball into the net.

A great cheer from the fans, and of course, "Sign him up."

So it was all smiles.

But who will be smiling come Monday night? Let's hope it's Graham Arnold.

We support you evermore, through thickness and thin.

Dig deep,and Monday awaits. Australia can still go through. Honest!

And times are a little thin, it has to be said.

Mood in the Australia camp is flat to say the least.

And it seemed many players weren't aware that if Australia win and Iraq draw or win he Aussies will go through.

But something is wrong with this team. The defence is shocking has been for months and Graham Arnold has been unable to improve it.

In fact it's getting worse.

The Press were amazed, stunned by the ease with which so called Australia stars were crushed.

Skill passion and energy and a crafty wily coach. Jorvan Vieira. Who complained about Graham Arnold's behaviour after the game.

In defence of Arnold, no-one I spoke to saw it. And usually Coach animosity is a two way thing.

It seemed at the Press Conference that Arnold had threw in the towel.

Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill and Carl Valeri were all unaware that they can still go through if they win.

It seemed the manner of the performance left the players wishing they could just leave today.

Can Arnold pick his team up in time?

Can the players lift?

Will new players now get a chance to shine. Australia can still do it.

Ouch that hurt but Australia can still go through.

If the Aussies beat Thailand and Iraq draw or beat Oman, then Australia have the same points as Thailand

And then it goes on the Aussie Thai game,not goal difference, therefore Australia would go through.

Almost embarrassing really, but I'd take it.

Every cloud has a silver lining so they say. Lucas Neill is suspended and Paddy Kisnorbo should be rested. Maybe this was the only way Arnold would change his defence.

It's time to try the new blokes.

So we lose, Beauchamp and Milligan will at least be better for the experience. And we'll need them for the next four years or more.

If they aren't considered good enough, well who is in the back four really!

Arnie never got his defence sorted, against Denmark, Uruguay, Singapore, Oman and now Iraq.

It was horrible tonight and embarassing to the sport. And it has showed up Arnie's coaching and the lack of depth in our squad.

But we can still go through, so come on those Socceroos.

Well we were all happy before the game!

Aussie fans ready to support the Socceroos

Fans from Canberra outside Rajamangala Stadium before the Iraq game.

That word almost sounds like Iran.

Iraq 3..could have been 6 Australia 1

We were there!

Sort of like saying you were there when Australia beat Uruguay.

Full fan report should appear in Sunday's Canberra Times, and I'll have a full write up on Monday on this blog.

Names, attitude, and wit. Yes Canberra wit was alive and kicking.

Glad I didn't ask them for a photo after the game......aaaaggggghhhhhhhhh!!

Tuggeranong United banner inspires Carl Valeri

"Did you see the banner? It was awesome."

Canberra's Carl Valeri at the Socceroos Hotel in Bangkok.

I caught up with Carl after the Oman game.

"It was a tough game, but I'm absolutely convinced we'll get better."

We discussed the game and during the discussion, Carl sparked.

"Did you see the banner, the Tuggeranong United banner."

"Where, in the Stadium?"

"Yes, in the middle of the Aussie fans. I looked across to the fans during the game, and saw a sign on a banner. I thought I recognise that sign. And then I read the banner Tuggeranong United. It was awesome, so inspirational. Do you know who they are?"

"No, I actually didn't see it."

"Well tell them thanks from me if you find out."

So well done the boys from Tuggeranong. Great to see the local support for the Australian team and hope you are having a ball.

And of course Carl played for Tuggeranong United as a junior.

ED; I'm planning to meet Canberrans in Bangkok at 4pm at the media gate at the stadium w1. Hoping to organise a photo and story for the Canberra Times.
If you know anyone in Bangkok, let them know. The more the merrier.

Myanmar's representative

Mr. Kyaw Zaw Linn If you look closely at this photo you will see what appears to be a row of metal prongs sitting in a row above the scoreboard.

These metal prongs were somehow part of the opening ceremony, but as the storm came through before the game, they smashed the 30 metres into the seats below. If people had have been there they would have been killed.

Myanmar's Eleven Media Group Sports Editor, Kyaw Zaw Linn, is here to cover the football. A proud Myanmar football fan he is getting as much as experience as he can.

And like all proud football fans Kyaw assures me Myanmar are the best team in Asean.

The Asean Cup will take place in December.

We'll see Kyaw how good Myanmar are then, won't we?

Around Bangkok

Let's hear it for The King of Thailand. Yellow is the colour you wear on Monday to show respect for the King.

Some wear it all week, around 70% of people wear yellow on Monday.

Maybe we could wear black in Australia..to show "something" towards John Howard.

Who said sport and politics can't mix.

Here comes my boat. From hotel to friends place, boat is the way to go. Traffic in Bangkok is awesome, once. And then it's time to sit back and wait while your taxi moves, or not as the case may be.





Never leave your house before 9am. Always get home by 4pm and go out again at 9pm and you'll get to move a bit.

Outside The Socceroos very big and very posh hotel a game of Thai football was going on. Like players the world over they were determined to put one over on their mates in front of the media from Australia.

It's not such a bad job, I suppose.

How much would you give to be here?

After the hard interviews, well I interviewed Carl Valeri today, I thought I deserved some (more) down time. Interviewing Carl is more like a chat with a mate, but there you go.

I just had to find a pool to cool off.

The Royal Orchid is a very posh hotel, for a lad from Burton-on-Trent, with a pool. The sort of place Socceroos stay but not lads from Burton.

Carl had to go to his room at 2pm, as all good athletes should after training all morning. Socceroos are told to rest and keep out of the sun between 2 and 4pm.

So the pool was empty, and as luck would have it I had my bathers, swimmers or even togs, depending on where you are from.

So with tight security around the pool I managed to blarney my way in.

Back again tomorrow I guess!

Wake up Australia.

A friend of mine from Perth tells of his frustration at missing out on free to air coverage of the Socceroos. Where can he take his young kids, football players, to watch the game?

Fox are claiming huge PAY tv viewing figures, but as Craig points out below, the losers may be football in the long term.

Hi Eamonn

Tried to put some comments on your site with no success.

Nice work!

Interesting that on the day when we should have been warming the set for the Oman match we were with our kids at an AFL Multicultural Day (with some Burmese and Chinese kids).

We will go to the telecast on Friday and leave the kids with my mum (who is over visiting) but we are witnessing the FFA surrendering its future.

Cheers Craig

Got a similar experience? Let me know

Harry Kewell takes time for a photo.

Can Australia beat Iraq?

I collared Harry Kewell in the lobby of the Royal Orchid hotel today in Bangkok.

"Can Australia win on Friday," I asked.

"We'll see." said our wizard winger.

Harry and the team had the day off today to wander around Bangkok.

I went to the hotel by chance, and as luck would have it Harry was just wandering out.

Despite all the press attention over the last few days Harry was happy to oblige. Thanks Harry!

Aussie and Omani fans mingle

Maybe 5,000 fans in the stadium 30 minutes before kick-off

Thai media, Government have pulled out all the stops for this one.

And the next time someone says Asians love Englisj Premier League football and players, and that EPL players are massive in Asia..just say oh yeah, sterotypes rock!

Still the sun is out, the Aussies are here and it's going to be great.

What are they laughing at?

Simon Hill, Robbie Slater and a guy with big glasses.

FoxSports Simon Hill and Robbie Slater took a minute out in the middle of the most amazing storm. Half the supports for the opening ceremony crashed over 40 metres to the ground just moments before.

A wild wild storm which has delayed if not cancelled the Opening game and ceremony.

Maybe Ta Ta bye instead of Tata Young tonight.

Simon Hill Australia's premier match caller, and English Premier League winner Robbie Slater could be having a night off.

The photo was taken by FoxSports producer Murray Shaw, who I used to play football with at the University of Canberra one hundred years ago.

Murray was a full-back in those days.

German fan with a passion

Meet Thorstin Stein

"I photograph empty football stadiums around the world."

Met up with German football fan, Thorstin Stein this morning at breakfast at Hotel Ibis Hua Mark.

"I'm here today, first time in Asia, in Thailand. I just love taking photo's of empty football stadiums. I collect them."

"Who for, the media?" I asked.

"No myself. I follow Borussia Munchengladbach in the German Second Division now."

I did mention that European loss to Kevin Keegan's Liverpool in the 70's.

"I also follow the German national team. To America, Italy and elsewhere."

"I was in Egypt, Cairo actually for the African Nations Cup and now I'm here."

"Fly out tomorrow at 5pm for Vietnam, two games there, back here to watch Australia and then on to Malaysia and the final in Indonesia."

"Best stadium you've photographed?"

"Hmmmn I think Sporting Braga in Portugal. It has this amazing rock formation at one end of the ground."

"What about Celtic Park?" The Mad Hoops fan asks.

"I've been there!"

Thorsten said he'll send me a few photo's for this blog, if he gets chance.

"I only do empty stadiums."

"That can be hard to do surely."

"It can." He smiled.

Somehow a man from Germany convinces me that he can get that shot of the empty stadium.

And with that I nipped to the stadium to take some photo's myself.

Robbie Martin: The night he nearly fell off the bandwagon

Room for all on the Australian football bandwagon.

Even me old mate Robbie.

We met when he was in my accounting class many years ago. A Sydney Swans magoo..number two, reserves I'm told, and an ACT Junior AFL development officer to boot.

Robbie loved and talked his AFL. Soccer as he called it, well he heard of it but he didn't let me talk about it.

He even preferred to do accounting.

Catching up with Robbie recently I was stunned to hear how he become a football convert. Read Robbie's story at www.nearpost.blogspot.com/

But there was a night Robbie nearly fell off the bandwagon.

"I'm a fan now, a convert. I go to watch Melbourne Victory and I love it."

I stand amazed, listening. What is happening in Australia. Young blokes, died in the wool AFL guys going to football games.

"But there was a night I nearly fell off the bandwagon,"laughs Robbie.

"Do tell."

"I was watching Australia in the World Cup against Japan. I had my Socceroos shirt on, even my scarf. I was right into it."

"When Japan scored. I was stunned and deflated. I couldn't see Australian scoring. As the game went on, I felt worse and worse."

Robbie looks at me. You can feel his shame.

"I did it. I took my Australian shirt off. I was so disappointed. I thought we'd lost. And then we scored, and the shirts back on," he laughs.

"Yeah I nearly fell off the bandwagon but I'm back on for Asia."

Good on yer Robbie. Go Asia, enjoy the games.

Qatar to buy fans!

Qatar are looking for fans.

The Qatar football association are about to purchase 10,000 Vietnamese fans to cheer on Qatar in the AFC Asian Cup 2007. I kid you not.

Fans will get the full Qatari shirt and get to go to all the Qatar games and cheer like...well a Qatari!

Not a bad way to boost a crowd, not a bad way to earn a dollar either come to think of it.

You couldn't pay me to watch some teams but suddenly I fancy singing, "There's only one Qatar."...cough cough splutter splutter..

Well, somebody had to didn't they!

Which team would you like to be paid to watch?