Australia to meet USA in international friendly

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced that the Qantas Socceroos will play an international friendly match against the United States of America (USA) in South Africa on the 5th June in the lead up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Qantas Socceroos Head Coach Pim Verbeek said that this match was crucial for his team’s preparations for the tournament.

“The USA are a very strong team and of course will be participating at the FIFA World Cup.

“They narrowly lost to the Netherlands recently, which shows their qualities, so this match will be very good preparation us.

“Their style of play will allow us to test our players against similar opposition to what we will face at the World Cup,” concluded Verbeek.

The Qantas Socceroos have previously played the USA on two occasions in 1992 and 1998 with the Qantas Socceroos winning the first and drawing the second encounter.

The Qantas Socceroos are currently 23rd in the FIFA Men’s Rankings with the USA in 18th.

The Qantas Socceroos have been drawn in Group D of the 2010 FIFA World Cup alongside Germany, Serbia and Ghana, whilst the USA have been drawn in Group C with England, Algeria and Slovenia.

The match will be played at the Ruimsig Stadium, Roodepoort and will be broadcast Live and Exclusive by FOX SPORTS in Australia.

Ticketing details will be released at a later date.

FFA is also in the process of organising another international friendly match for the Qantas Socceroos in South Africa prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup with details to be announced once finalised.