39 Days and counting.....

It is hard to believe it was almost a year ago that Australia sealed its qualification to the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The 2006 World Cup left all Australian supporters with an appetite for more. However the strategic change in direction by the FFA to be included in Asia, gave all of us alike, a nervous glimmer of thought that we may not again have the ability to emulate our previous efforts.

Now without even a second thought, one would say that the change in course was a magnificent stroke of genius, given the increased level of regular competition for the national team, and the mere fact that the group is together more regularly can only increase the fluency and consistency of our national football elite.

Now for the supporters, all those months down the track, the thoughts, decisions and questions it seems are much more simple...do I pack the tracky dacks for Durban? How much will the drinking budget be? How many pubs does Durban have again?

For myself the Road to South Africa had been somewhat seamless...don't think about it and it won't take forever to get here. That was however until a few weeks ago when one of our travel companions decided that he would log on to the fanatics website for regular updates....of course by regular I mean every single second possible. I am almost positive that he will know the final squad before Pim Verbeek has even uttered it! Subsequent text messages and phone calls (and I am sure smoke signals but I live far enough away not to see them) have now built my expectations as such, that I now proudly include myself in the exclusive children's travel lounge...Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

And so the lists have begun...power adaptors, "check"...one pair of undies for each day, "check". The purchasing begins (and not that the better half needs an excuse of course)...New Socceroos Jersey....scarf...wig. Life is beginning to feel like a Mastercard commercial....priceless!

In the height of excitement, I am now chomping at the bit to get on the plane to Johannesburg. This could potentially be the longest 39 days I have ever lived, but 39 days worth the wait!

Socceroos - Past and Present

HARRY KEWELL

Harold "Harry" Kewell was born on the 22nd of September 1978 in Sydney, New South Wales. Kewell went to school at Smithfield Public School and St. Johns Park High School before transferring to Westfield Sports High School. During his time at Westfields, Kewell played at representative level for both school and club competitions. He played in the New South Wales Youth League representative team for Marconi from aged U13 to U15, while also attending the NSW Junior Soccer Academy.

At the age of 14, Kewell travelled to Thailand, Italy and England with the successful Marconi Under 14 team that had just won the State Titles. The team played games against the junior team of AC Milan, as well as apprenticeship sides in England. At the age of 15 Kewell was offered the opportunity to travel back to England and trial with English Premiership football club Leeds United for a period of four weeks as part of the Big Brother Movement in Australia. Kewell travelled to England with his future Socceroo team mate Brett Emerton. Both were successful during their trials at Leeds. However only Kewell was able to take up the club's offer due to his father's English heritage, which satisfied the visa requirements.

The rest as they now say is history. Whilst Kewell has most certainly been through the ups and downs in football, no one person can take away his stellar career, extending form Leeds to Liverpool and beyond to Galatassaray. Some will say otherwise, but for me there is no doubt that Harry Kewell is and always will be considered as one of the best to don the green and gold.

Harry is married to English soap star Sheree Murphy, whom he met at the Majestyk club in 2000. The couple married in Las Vegas on 24 May 2003 and have three children, son Taylor and daughters Ruby Heather Toni and Matilda.

2010 Socceroos Home Jersey

After much debate with the release of the new National team away kit, Football Federation Australia has unveiled the Jersey of which the Socceroos will don for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Already I have seen much anger over the changing of the design, as the purists call for the shirt to remain Gold from top to bottom. I am not sure it should be of any surprise in the new design, given 9 times out of 10, the away shirt mirrors the design of the home shirt, obviously with differing colours.

I must admit, I too was one of the sceptics when I saw the Away kit released, however over time and seeing the shirt in the flesh, I am now one of the converted. I for one will be more than happy to purchase one of the new Home strips to add to the collection, and it will be worn with pride when we stand as one against Germany on the 13th of June in the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

2006 Fifa World Cup - The Winners

Winner: Italy
Runners-Up: France
Third: Germany
Fourth: Portugal

adidas Golden Ball: Zinedine Zidane (FRA)
adidas Golden Shoe: Miroslav Klose (GER)
Yashin Award for the Best Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (ITA)
Best Young Player Award: Lukas Podolski (GER)
FIFA Fair Play award: Spain, Brazil
FIFA Award for the Most Entertaining Team: Portugal

The Official Matchball

Jabulani


On the day of the Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, the official ball for the competition was unveiled. The adidas Jabulani, which means ‘to celebrate’ in isiZulu, is the 11th edition of adidas's FIFA World Cup balls.

The 11 colours that are present on the Jabulani pay tribute to both football and the country in which Africa’s first-ever FIFA World Cup will be held. They represent a colour for each team player, every official South African language and for each of the 11 South African communities that will welcome the world next year. The design celebrates two of the most important facets of the South African nation - diversity and harmony - as it is these principles that make it such a colourful and welcoming nation.

Grip 'n' Groove

Jabulani uses some major advances in football technology. Running your hands over the ball, the first impression is the grip’n’groove texture, which allows for maximum control, stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions.

The grip ’n’ groove’s profile circles twist around round the entire ball in an optimal aerodynamic way and the integrated grooves provide unmatched flight characteristics, making this the most stable and most accurate adidas ball ever.

Minimal seam, more perfection

As opposed to the flat-paneled molding of previous adidas footballs, Jabulani comprises eight thermally bonded 3D panels that have been, for the first time ever, spherically molded to make this ball a perfectly round football that is more accurate than ever before.

Football History

From as far back as the Telstar used at Mexico 1970, the first ever adidas FIFA World Cup ball, adidas have been dedicated to propelling football technology into the future, always innovating and never settling for the ordinary.

The distinct 32 white and black leather panels that comprised the Telstar made it the roundest ball of its time. Meanwhile the Tango used at Argentina 1978 was so far advanced that it formed the blueprint for the next five FIFA World Cup footballs. The 2002 and 2006 editions of the FIFA World Cup ushered in football revolutions in their own right, showing adidas’ ability to keep ahead of the game, in a world in which technology is changing faster than ever before.

From that first 32 white and black paneled Telstar to the eight-paneled synthetic masterpiece that is ‘Jabulani’, adidas have maintained a standard is line with their core value “impossible is nothing.”

The Stadia - Loftus Versfeld Stadium

Stadium: Loftus Versfeld
City: Tshwane/Pretoria
Built: 1906
Construction: upgrade
Completion: 2008
Gross Capacity: 49,365

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, situated in Tshwane/ Pretoria, is one of the oldest stadiums in South Africa. The stadium has been used for major sporting events since 1903, and the first concrete structure, which could accommodate only 2,000 spectators, was built by the City Council of Pretoria in 1923.

Since 1948 it has undergone perennial upgrades. It has been used for both rugby and football matches and is home to one of the country's top rugby teams, the Bulls. Loftus Versfeld is in the heart of Tshwane/Pretoria and currently has a seating capacity of just under 50,000. It has hosted many significant matches including games during the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1996 CAF African Cup of Nations. It is now used by Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United as their home ground.

South Africa's national team, Bafana Bafana, achieved its first ever victory over a European side at this venue when they beat Sweden 1-0 in 1999.

Kewell and Bresciano return

In what can only be good news for the Socceroos leading into South Africa, Harry Kewell and Marco Bresciano appear to be about to make long awaited returns to the field after prolonged injury spells.

Kewell has been working closely with Australian team physio Phil Coles, who expects Kewell to make his first appearance back from injury on Anzac Day for Galatassaray. Whilst Harry has always been positive about his chances of a berth in South Africa, fans, team mates and coaching staff alike will be buoyed by the news of his imminent return.

In Italy, Marco Bresciano is nearing the end of his rehabilitation from a back injury. Australian team physios has been working with Bresciano in his quest to be fit for South Africa, and from all reports it has been very successful. Bresciano believes he will be fully fit to take his place in the 3 World Cup friendlies against New Zealand, Denmark and the U.S.A.

Socceroos - Past and Present

JOE MARSTON

Joe Marston MBE (born 7 January 1926) was the first Australian to appear in a FA Cup Final when he turned out for Preston North End in their 1954 defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

Joe Marston was 28 when he played at Wembley Stadium alongside Tom Finney and Tommy Docherty. After the War, Marston had played for Leichhardt-Annandale in Division 1 of the New South Wales State League, supplementing his income by working as a painter and life-guard.

In December 1949, Marston received correspondence from a scout in England who had watched him play, informing him that Preston wished to offer him a trial. Marston made 154 appearances for Preston, and during his tenure he was selected for the Football League side against the Scottish Football League. Marston eventually returned to Australia in 1956 because of homesickness, despite other big English clubs and Preston still wanting the Australian.

Marston was an outstanding servant for the Socceroos appearing on 37 occasions between 1947 and 1964 including Blackpool's 1958 tour of Australia in which Stanley Matthews appeared, and appearing and coaching the national side during Hearts tour of the country in 1959.

In September 2008 Marston was a recipient of one of the two inaugural Alex Tobin Medals awarded by the Australian Professional Footballers Association and Joe is also an inductee into the NSW Hall of Champions. The Joe Marston Medal, awarded to the man of the match in the A-League and National Soccer League grand finals, was named in his honour.

The Stadia - Mbombela Stadium

Name: Mbombela
City: Nelspruit
Construction: new
Completion: 2009
Gross Capacity: 43,589

The Mbombela Stadium is one of the newly-built stadia for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, and it takes its name from the local municipality which incorporates the city of Nelspruit. Mbombela is siSwati (one of the 11 official languages in South Africa) and literally means 'many people together in a small space.'

The stadium, with a capacity of 46,000, is located in the city of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga Province. It is situated approximately 7 kilometers from the city centre and 12 kilometers from the nearby Kruger-Mpumalanga Airport. The ground also enjoys a close proximity to various game parks, giving spectators the opportunity to see the wildlife during rest days.

Before the Stadium's construction, Nelspruit had no top football venue to host international matches.

Socceroos - Past and Present

MARK SCHWARZER



Mark Schwarzer was born in North Richmond, a semi-rural suburb in North-Western Sydney and attended Richmond North Public School and Colo High School. His parents Hans-Joachim and Doris emigrated to Australia from Germany in 1968. Mark speaks fluently in 3 different languages - English, Spanish and German. Schwarzer and his wife Paloma have two children, a son Julian, and a daughter Amaya. In 2009 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Schwarzer made his international debut for Australia against Canada in Edmonton in a 1994 World Cup qualifier. He came on as a substitute for Milan Blagojevic after first-choice Robert Zabica was sent off 17 minutes into the match. In the return leg in Sydney, he covered himself in glory when he saved two penalties to send Australia to the final phase of qualifying against Argentina. Schwarzer did not play in these matches, and Australia were defeated 2–1 on aggregate.

He was instrumental in Australia's qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in the play-off against Uruguay. After Uruguay won the first leg 1–0 in Montevideo, Australia won 1–0 in Sydney. In the penalty shootout, Schwarzer saved two penalties to see Australia victorious 4–2.

At the World Cup Finals he played the first two games in Australia's group matches, conceding a controversial goal against Japan and two goals against Brazil. In the third match he was replaced by Zeljko Kalac, but after Kalac's disappointing performance he was reinstated for the Round of 16 match against Italy.

Even though he predicted the direction of the penalty kick, he was unable to save the penalty in the second round of the World Cup against Italy, which was scored by Francesco Totti in injury time and sent Australia out of the World Cup.

After the World Cup in 2006, Mark vowed to return for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He played in all of Australia's matches in the 2007 Asian Cup although he performed admirably against Oman in the 1–1 draw he made an error which led to a goal in the 3–1 loss to Iraq and could not match Japanese goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi during the penalty shootout which saw the Socceroos crash out of the competition in their debut at the tournament. Schwarzer said that the penalty-shootout in the Asian Cup quarter-finals was the first penalty-shootout in his career that he had ever lost.

Schwarzer saved an 89th minute Shao Jiayi penalty against China in Australia's 0–0 draw in the 2010 World Cup qualifier in March 2008, continuing his record of stopping penalty kicks. He received his second yellow card of the tournament against Qatar in Doha, in which Australia were 3-1 winners. He also missed Australia's second leg game against the Chinese in Sydney. He played every minute for the Socceroos in round two of qualification, conceding only one goal in the final game against Japan.

Mark Schwarzer made several vital saves to secure Australia's Asian Cup Qualifier come back win (2-1) over Oman in Muscat after conceding from his penalty save rebound.

FACT: Schwarzer has worn the same pair of shinpads since he started his professional career at the age of 19 with Marconi Stallions, in the old National Soccer League.

The Stadia - Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg

The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is one of the stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The stadium is named after the Bafokeng people who live in the area.

In 1999, the Bafokeng won a legal battle, which entitled them to 20% on the platinum which is mined on their historical land. Hence, they have shares in platinum mining in the area. Upon completion, the stadium will seat 42,000.

The South African national team played a FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Bakino Faso in 2001, and won 2-1. It has been host to many Premier Soccer League games despite Rustenburg not having its own team.

The stadium is only a 25 minute drive to Sun City and 30 minutes to the Pilansberg. It is 12 kilometers from the Rustenburg city centre.

The Squad - Who will make the plane to South Africa 2010?

With the naming of the Socceroos squad to travel to South Africa looming, debate now rages as to whom the final 23 players will be. Differing media correspondents have thrown their ideas on the table, the lads down the pub have wagered a carton on it, but in essence it really comes down to the weight of one man....Pim Verbeek. The man who holds the key to Australia's potential successes in South Africa.

I certainly must say I don't envy him. I read this week that Pim had clocked up nearly 1,000,000 kms in travel over a 2 and a half year span in charge of the national team. In the public eye, Pim has been criticised from pillar to post with regards to the style of football he instructs his team to play. Not to mention the never ending critics of the amount of players selected over the past two years to play for the national team. The reality is however, that Pim Verbeek has achieved at this point what we as a nation wanted him to achieve, and that is to ensure that Australia once again qualified for the greatest stage.

The single largest headache now for Pim Verbeek, is selecting the final 23 man squad. Whilst I am almost sure that he has nearly every place pencilled in, Pim has to deal with many influencing factors that many others are not faced with on the international stage. Whilst the majority of the squad will be based overseas, there are a few key players that may come from the Hyundai A-League, and have had to move on short term deals to achieve "game time" leading in to the World Cup itself.

It is now seen that these instances may potentially hurt the group as a whole going in to South Africa, and it is certainly not the ideal preperation.

1. Jason Culina is training, however will not play for 2 months prior to camp
2. Craig Moore has left Europe early to give his body a break. That in itself sparks concern, however I am sure that Craig will be fine and I would have no hesitation in his inclusion.
3. Simon Colosimo it appears, is "backpacking" through Asia to attain himself a short term deal after his previous agreement has fallen through.

Aside from these, one would assume there are those that have already "purchased" tickets. The household names of Schwarzer, Kewell, Emerton , Wilkshere and Grella to name a few, are for mine most certain and key. The interesting topic will be those that bolt from the blue. As fore mentioned, there have been numerous additons under Pim Verbeek and the contention behind their conclusion still reigns.

The mere fact they have been included will install within them, the slightest glimmer of hope that they may make the plane. Nick Carle, Dario Vidosic, Brett Holman have been persistant inclusions over time, and I am sure they all eagerly await that final call. The Tommy Oars of the world however are a little more realistic about their chances at such an early stage of their careers, however one could think of much worse options for the boss. (Congratulations must also go to Tommy as only this morning Tommy has been signed by Utrecht in Holland.)

All in all there are a palethra of players at Pim Verbeek's disposal, however which of those have a realistic chance of going to the World Cup, and which of those will realise their dream? Only time will now tell, and it is with great anticipation that we now wait as the story unfolds in the lead up to South Africa 2010.