It’s hard to fathom that in 2016 Chris Ikonomidis was locked inside a Serie A training ground, trapped by the sheer volatility of Italian football, but also learning lessons set to inform his Socceroos awakening.
Celtic fans are blowing up at Graham Arnold, but the Socceroos coach says the Scottish Premiership club specifically requested he rest Tom Rogic for Sunday’s friendly against Oman.
Skipper Mark Milligan is encouraged to see the Socceroos ‘get into the habit of scoring goals’ as the team switches focus to making a statement in their opening Asian Cup clash against Jordan.
The Socceroos will kick off their Asian Cup defence against Jordan next weekend full of confidence after disposing with Pim Verbeek’s Oman 5-0 in their final hit-out in Dubai.
UP FOR THE CUP: China continue Brisbane affinity as Socceroos eye either Uzbekistan or Saudi Arabia and Jordan star faces ban after botched drugs test.
CHINA have reached the knockout stages of the Asian Cup for the first time since 2004, securing a quarter-final berth with a 2-1 win over Uzbekistan.
HIS performance would normally ensure him an automatic starting place, but Mark Milligan doesn’t mind playing “second fiddle” to skipper Mile Jedinak.
JORDAN’S football governing body (JFA) claim that their star player Ahmed Hayel suffered a “semi-coma and hypothermia” after a botched drugs test.
Saudi Arabia made a meal of a plucky North Korea, coming back from a goal down to win 4-1 in a hugely entertaining game at AAMI Park.
AUSTRALIA is edging towards a quarter final showdown with either Saudi Arabia or Uzbekistan after results plunged the two in to a head-to-head battle.
ONLY eight times in 93 years has there been more than eight individual scorers across two Socceroo games – but they were all against minnows.
JASON Davidson is adamant he made the right decision to move Premier League club WBA despite a lack of football that has hurt his Socceroos career.
IN another context, many would have eyed the Saudi Arabia fan with suspicion. But his broad smile exuded the goodwill that has characterised the Asian Cup.
IT was an insane passage of play that saw two shots, a handball, a red card, a penalty and the ball hit both posts and the crossbar. WATCH IT NOW.
Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/asian-cup/page/49