England v Australia slated in October

[Delete Your Account]

EIGHT years after humiliating England, the Socceroos have another date with the mother country in their sights - this time at Wembley.
Negotiations are well advanced for a friendly between England and Australia in October, a game that could be worth up to $1 million for Football Federation Australia.

There is also the possibility of a partnership between the two soccer bodies establishing a regular soccer "Test" match, eight years after the Frank Farina-coached side shocked Sven-Goran Eriksson's England side 3-1 at Upton Park.

But the game can only happen if the FFA can persuade Asian soccer chiefs to move a World Cup qualifier.

Nothing can be signed off until the draw for World Cup qualification takes place in Rio on July 30, filling in the blanks on Australia's calendar for this year and next

But sources close to the English FA say their preference is to play Australia on October 11, confident of a money-spinning gate thanks to the huge number of Australians in the UK.

Australia won't know their World Cup qualifying opponents until the draw, but they do know the dates of the games - and the fact that the fixture slated for October 11 will be a home game.

The FFA want Asian soccer bosses to agree to that game moving forward to October 7 or 8, allowing the Socceroos squad then to fly straight to London and face England on October 11.

Fabio Capello's side play Montenegro in Podgorica in their final qualifying game for Euro 2012 on October 7 and currently have no game scheduled for the following week.

The game would have huge benefits for the cash-strapped FFA, with a match fee well above $500,000 expected depending on the exact size of the attendance.

The English FA would also have to pay Australia's expenses - thus recouping much of the cost of bringing Holger Osieck's squad back here for the World Cup qualifier - and there is the possibility of TV networks bidding to broadcast the game with England.

Overseas friendlies are outside Fox Sports' exclusive deal to show Australian games, and though the pay-TV network has first and last option on extra games it could be gazumped by one of the terrestrial stations.

Talks with the English FA have been held on and off for more than a year by FFA officials who have long sought to create a formal partnership that would guarantee regular "Ashes" encounters.

[UNITEDCITY]

Booking flights as soon as that is sorted


that is a once in a life time event.

England v Australia at wembley....DREAM COME TRUE!!!!!!!!

[DOC]

dont get your hopes up, it rests with AFC house and bin hammam, plus the FA of whoever we draw to play on october 11 and we all know what they think about australia

[Juventino]

At moving a competitive match for a friendly.

[Bomber]

At moving a competitive match for a friendly.

Agreed. I could understand if it were against a decent team, but otherwise.................

[soccernuts]

maybe a certain percentage of money could be donated to a asian charity, that could help the asian confederation say ok. pretty sure bribary and corruption and money money money gets your way in the international game of world cup football,russia and qatar world cup success anyone anyone!!!!!! :?

[UNITEDCITY]

I hope they pull this one off, will be good for Football in this country!!!

I think alot of Aussies would travel from oZ even for this game!!!

[ozzie owl]

I hope they pull this one off, will be good for Football in this country!!!

I think alot of Aussies would travel from oZ even for this game!!!

Would be great, especially if Australia won.

[UNITEDCITY]

its a load of crap, england denies any talks!!!! this will not happen

[soccernuts]

england denies all talks!!!

[Hawkseys Double]

We have bigger fish to fry.


SSSSHHHHHH!

[OldRedback]

I think Australia places greater importance on this fixture than England would - it's not really a concern for England. Australia certainly takes the win at Upton Park alot more seriously than England do and places far more importance on what England saw as a training run win, lose or draw. If Australia is pinning its hopes of development and using this game as a measuring stick then Australia is seriously deluding itself.

[DOC]

I think Australia places greater importance on this fixture than England would - it's not really a concern for England. Australia certainly takes the win at Upton Park alot more seriously than England do and places far more importance on what England saw as a training run win, lose or draw. If Australia is pinning its hopes of development and using this game as a measuring stick then Australia is seriously deluding itself.

who cares how you treated the game, the history books show australia beat a very good english side

and judging by reactions from the press and the coach, they took it seriously

[OldRedback]

You really think that the English FA is going to come and say "We think Australia is a second class nation when it comes to football and for that reason we fielded two completely separate teams."

[DOC]

You really think that the English FA is going to come and say "We think Australia is a second class nation when it comes to football and for that reason we fielded two completely separate teams."

hey back then the youngsters played better than the full strength squad so spin it how you will, you still lost with 2 very talented sides

[OldRedback]

You really think that the English FA is going to come and say "We think Australia is a second class nation when it comes to football and for that reason we fielded two completely separate teams."

hey back then the youngsters played better than the full strength squad so spin it how you will, you still lost with 2 very talented sides

The result is not in question mate - what is in question is the difference in the importance placed on the game by the two countries, it's less than water under the bridge for England but for Australia it is like they won the world cup!

[nuske]

I'd rather play Germany again tbh.

[DOC]

You really think that the English FA is going to come and say "We think Australia is a second class nation when it comes to football and for that reason we fielded two completely separate teams."

hey back then the youngsters played better than the full strength squad so spin it how you will, you still lost with 2 very talented sides

The result is not in question mate - what is in question is the difference in the importance placed on the game by the two countries, it's less than water under the bridge for England but for Australia it is like they won the world cup!

the media had a field day with it so i guess it was important to some, plus the FA got panned over the result as well

[Delete Your Account]

And FIFA changed the rules about how many subs can be made in a friendly.

[gooner4life]

You really think that the English FA is going to come and say "We think Australia is a second class nation when it comes to football and for that reason we fielded two completely separate teams."

hey back then the youngsters played better than the full strength squad so spin it how you will, you still lost with 2 very talented sides

The result is not in question mate - what is in question is the difference in the importance placed on the game by the two countries, it's less than water under the bridge for England but for Australia it is like they won the world cup!

Having been at the game in question, I can tell you the majority of the crowd who were supporting England took it seriously, and the most often heard comment after the game was criticism of Sven for not taking it seriously enough!

Regardless of the result it was a great night and one of my all time to top memories to see both my Australian and English heros on the park at the same time!

Be great to see it happen again.