Latest news with #Socceroos
The Age
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
Maradona played there. Now Sydney's iconic stadium may lose its World Cup qualifiers
Football Australia has threatened to take clutch World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers away from Sydney's Allianz Stadium due to issues with the surface and congested schedule at the $828 million venue. Newly released documents reveal a schism between the game's governing body and Venues NSW about the use of the rebuilt stadium, which only reopened three years ago but has been plagued by turf and drainage issues. Formerly known as the Sydney Football Stadium, Allianz has a long history of hosting major Socceroos and Matildas matches, among them the World Cup qualifier against Argentina in 1993 when Diego Maradona led the South American team to a first-leg draw before Australian hearts were broken in Buenos Aires. But FA warned in an email after the Socceroos' World Cup Asian group stage qualifying game against Indonesia in March that its men's and women's national teams may abandon the 42,500-capacity ground if it could not be closed off in the two weeks before their matches. 'Moving forward, Football Australia would be hesitant to book Allianz Stadium for high-stakes international fixtures unless greater assurance is provided around pitch protection, turf preparation windows, and warm-up zone quality,' FA chief corporate affairs officer Peter Filopoulos wrote to Venues NSW general manager for event acquisition Stephen Saunders on March 26. Filopoulos said players had reported the Allianz surface was 'the worst pitch they've played on in some time', describing it as well below international standard. He even suggested it cost the Socceroos winning by more than the 5-1 margin they did against Indonesia, 'which could be crucial given the tightness of our qualification group'. FA chief executive James Johnson, who has since left the role, followed up with an email to Venues NSW chief Kerrie Mather on April 17, saying the conditions hadn't improved when the Matildas played at Allianz Stadium on April 4 and football authorities had 'significant concerns'. Johnson told Mather the goal conceded by the Socceroos against Indonesia was 'directly influenced by an uneven bounce, undermining the integrity of play', while also reporting safety concerns from players' slippage, an 'unacceptable' strip of ready-to-play turf in a goalmouth, and below-standard warm-up areas.
Sydney Morning Herald
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Maradona played there. Now Sydney's iconic stadium may lose its World Cup qualifiers
Football Australia has threatened to take clutch World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers away from Sydney's Allianz Stadium due to issues with the surface and congested schedule at the $828 million venue. Newly released documents reveal a schism between the game's governing body and Venues NSW about the use of the rebuilt stadium, which only reopened three years ago but has been plagued by turf and drainage issues. Formerly known as the Sydney Football Stadium, Allianz has a long history of hosting major Socceroos and Matildas matches, among them the World Cup qualifier against Argentina in 1993 when Diego Maradona led the South American team to a first-leg draw before Australian hearts were broken in Buenos Aires. But FA warned in an email after the Socceroos' World Cup Asian group stage qualifying game against Indonesia in March that its men's and women's national teams may abandon the 42,500-capacity ground if it could not be closed off in the two weeks before their matches. 'Moving forward, Football Australia would be hesitant to book Allianz Stadium for high-stakes international fixtures unless greater assurance is provided around pitch protection, turf preparation windows, and warm-up zone quality,' FA chief corporate affairs officer Peter Filopoulos wrote to Venues NSW general manager for event acquisition Stephen Saunders on March 26. Filopoulos said players had reported the Allianz surface was 'the worst pitch they've played on in some time', describing it as well below international standard. He even suggested it cost the Socceroos winning by more than the 5-1 margin they did against Indonesia, 'which could be crucial given the tightness of our qualification group'. FA chief executive James Johnson, who has since left the role, followed up with an email to Venues NSW chief Kerrie Mather on April 17, saying the conditions hadn't improved when the Matildas played at Allianz Stadium on April 4 and football authorities had 'significant concerns'. Johnson told Mather the goal conceded by the Socceroos against Indonesia was 'directly influenced by an uneven bounce, undermining the integrity of play', while also reporting safety concerns from players' slippage, an 'unacceptable' strip of ready-to-play turf in a goalmouth, and below-standard warm-up areas.
Perth Now
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Sky Blues land former Reds star in ALM rebuild
Al Hassan Toure has joined Sydney FC's rebuild, linking up with the fallen A-League Men heavyweights on a two-year deal. Starting his career at Adelaide United, Toure returns to Australia from FC Tulsa in the USL Championship after stints in Turkey and France. The 25-year-old forward shapes as a crucial piece in Sydney's chances for finals this season after a raft of off-season exits. Reigning Golden Boot winner Adrian Segecic, Polish striker Patryk Klimala, Socceroos midfielder Anthony Caceres and German attacking midfielder Anas Ouahim were among the departures. The Sky Blues will be out for atonement after failing to make finals last season under coach Ufuk Talay, finishing seventh with a 10-7-9 record. "Sydney FC has set a standard in the A-League for many years. It's good to be part of such a successful club," Toure said in a club statement. "Being a player you are always looking to grow and improve every day and I feel that Sydney FC has the environment, players, coaches to do so." Toure made his way up the ranks at Adelaide United alongside brothers Musa and two-cap Socceroos striker Mohamed, who are at Danish Superliga club Randers FC. He is a two-time Australia Cup winner, having scored in every round - apart from the semi-final - in Adelaide's winning run in 2019 to earn the Mark Viduka Medal. Toure then added to his trophy cabinet after making the switch to Macarthur, scoring again in the 2022 final for the Bulls. "We've had an eye on Al Hassan for a bit as he is a quick, strong player and he will be able to give us plenty of versatility in the front third as we can deploy him as a striker and a winger," Talay said. "He is very talented in a one-on-one situation, and we believe he will help us break lines with his speed and the forward runs that he can provide us."
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Adrian Segecic confident a strong season with Portsmouth will help him realise his FIFA World Cup dream
Former A-League star Adrian Segecic has backed his chances of playing for the Socceroos at next year's FIFA World Cup – if he has a strong season in the English Championship with his new club Portsmouth. Despite often having to settle for an impact role off the bench, Segecic starred for Sydney FC last season, with his 13 goals enough to a be co-winner of the A-League Golden Boot with Adelaide United striker Archie Goodwin. Segecic's form also led to him signing last month with Portsmouth on a three-year deal. The 21-year-old attacking weapon has so far impressed in Pompey's pre-season campaign in both finding the back of the net and setting up goals for his teammates. Segecic hopes to continue that form during Portsmouth's Championship campaign, which kicks off on August 9 against Oxford United at Kassam Stadium. Five-star at Farnborough. 🌟 — Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) July 17, 2025 'If I'm playing here and doing well then one thing is going to lead to the other,' Segecic told the website. 'The World Cup's definitely a target for me … the World Cup would be amazing. To go and play at a World Cup at my age would be a dream, especially for Australia. 'We've qualified, so it's just about being able to make the squad. Playing for Portsmouth and doing well here gives the chance for that to happen. '(I) want to play in the Championship. It's one of the hardest leagues in the world. 'If I'm able to show I can handle it, I think it shows how good how I am. 'I will need to be good technically to cope with that, and if I'm doing well in the Championship, I think there's a good chance (of going to the World Cup).' A strong start to the season will also help Segecic's chances of being picked in the Socceroos squad for September's two friendly games against New Zealand in Canberra and Auckland.
The Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Marco Tilio expected to join Rapid Vienna on loan from Celtic
Marco Tilio is set to join Austrian outfit Rapid Vienna on loan from Scottish giants Celtic, ending any faint hopes Melbourne City had that the Socceroos winger would return to the club for the 2025-26 A-League campaign. City coach Aurelio Vidmar last week said it was 'highly likely we won't have the return of Marco' after Tilio had spent the previous season and a half on loan to the Melbourne club, who are the reigning A-League champions. Since then, the 23-year-old attacking weapon was used as a second-half substitute by Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers in the Hoops' 4-0 weekend trial win over English Premier League club Newcastle United. However, reports suggest Tilio – who signed a five-year deal with Celtic in June 2023 – is heading to Vienna for a loan spell with Rapid, who finished fifth in last season's Austrian Bundesliga. Socceroos winger Marco Tilio is set to move from Celtic on loan to Rapid Vienna. Picture:Sky Sport has reported the deal will have an obligation clause for Rapid to buy Tilio if he makes 20 competitive appearances for the club. Celtic, whose reported loan fee is more than $710,000, will pocket about $2.6m if Tilio ends up joining Rapid on a permanent deal. City's director of football Michael Petrillo said: 'While we were keen to extend his stay and continued discussions with Celtic, we fully support Marco's ambition to once again challenge himself in Europe. 'We thank him for everything he's contributed to the Melbourne City and wish him every success in the next stage of his career.' Rapid's first competitive match of the new season is a Europa Conference League qualifier on Friday morning (AEST) against Montenegrin club FK Decic. A good start to the season will help Tilio's chances of being retained in the Socceroos squad for September's two matches against New Zealand in Canberra and Auckland. Meanwhile, former Melbourne City defender Scott Galloway has departed Auckland FC after just one season at the club. Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. @marcothejourno Marco Monteverde
