Socceroos to face Japan at MCG
Posted
Updated
The Socceroos will take on Japan in Melbourne next year (file photo). (AAP: Paul Miller)
Australia will play its potentially deciding Asian World Cup group match against Japan in Melbourne on June 17 next year, Football Federation Australia (FFA) says.
The match will be staged at the MCG in front of an anticipated blockbuster crowd.
FFA also announced that the Socceroos' two other remaining home qualifying matches against Uzbekistan on April 1 and Bahrain on June 10 will be played in Sydney.
Australia, which faces Qatar in a World Cup qualifier in Brisbane, has a great rivalry with Japan and beat the 'Blue Samurai" 3-1 on its way to the second round of the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
"This is the final match for the Socceroos in round four of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the one that could determine whether we qualify directly for the World Cup or not," FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said.
The top two in both Asian qualifying groups qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
Victoria's Major Events Minister, Tim Holding, said he expects a big crowd for the Melbourne match even if the Socceroos have already qualified for South Africa.
"Melbourne's shown a willingness to get behind major events really, no matter whether they're a friendly or whether they are the critical qualifier in Australia's World Cup aspirations," he said.
"So I think you'll see a big crowd here no matter what hangs on this match."
Socceroos schedule:
October 15 - Australia v Qatar, Brisbane
November 19 - Bahrain v Australia, Bahrain
February 11 - Japan v Australia, Tokyo
April 1 - Australia v Uzbekistan, Sydney
June 6 - Qatar v Australia, Doha
June 10 - Australia v Bahrain, Sydney
June 17 - Australia v Japan, Melbourne
-ABC/AFP
