Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou “dropped a strong hint” that one of the bigger nations of world football could be coming to Australia for an int’l friendly next year, according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. In what will be the "first of its kind" since Postecoglou took charge of the Socceroos in ‘13, the Asian Cup-winning coach is “lining up a high-profile friendly to harden his squad for the second stage of World Cup qualifiers.” Speaking ahead of the match against Jordan in Amman on Thursday, Postecoglou said that he was “looking to bring a blockbuster side to Australia” in one of next year's int’l dates. Postecoglou: "We don't have a lot of windows but I think there's a couple next year after the first phase. I'm certainly keen on having a couple of big games [to give us more international experience]. Even at home, a couple of really big games because we know that the second half of qualifying, once we go through we'll have some big games at home in front of some big crowds." While the potential opponents are unknown, it could be the “first time in six years Australia hosts one of the world's biggest nations in a friendly game after holding the Netherlands to a goalless draw in Sydney in June 2009.” The Socceroos have “no fixtures set” between the end of their current round of qualifiers, which finish in March next year, and the start of the next stage in September. As such, “it's likely such a friendly match will occur at the earliest in the June FIFA int’l window” (SMH, 10/7).
PRICE HIKE: Bossi reported in a separate piece travelling Australian fans "are furious with a ticket pricing scheme that has forced them to pay 16 times the price of an admission to watch the Socceroos play Jordan in a World Cup Qualifier." Australians were given "just one option to purchase tickets" before the game for almost A$100 ($72) only to discover local prices for admission cost as little as A$6 ($4). Jordanian FA sources informed Fairfax Media the prices of 50 Jordanian dinars ($70) were set as they were "VIP Tickets, despite being the only option available to traveling fans" (SMH, 10/7).
