It’s become the Socceroos’ home-away-from-home and ahead of next month’s Ecuador friendly, we take a look at Australia’s history of international matches in London.
It’s become the Socceroos’ home-away-from-home and ahead of next month’s friendly against Ecuador, we take a look at Australia’s history of international matches in London.
The axe may be hanging over his head at Sydney FC but things weren’t always so bad for Frank Farina.
It’s almost 11 years to the day since he had arguably his greatest day as a coach, when his Socceroos dismantled England on their home turf at Upton Park.
Australia triumphed 3-1 – thanks to goals from Tony Popovic, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton – against an England team that featured names like David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen.
That famous night in London saw the international debut of a certain Wayne Rooney as well but it was also the start of Australia’s home-away-from-home in the English capital.
It was after that stunning result that the Socceroos made London their ‘home’ base in Europe.
With overseas clubs reluctant to let their players fly halfway across the world for friendlies, it made sense for Australia to play home matches in the UK.
With so many players plying their trade in England and the huge number of Aussie ex-pats around, London was the perfect fit.
And if you look at it purely results-wise, it’s been a huge success.
Including the memorable win over the Poms, the Socceroos have played 11 times in London – predominantly at Craven Cottage or Loftus Road – for a very healthy seven victories.
The only defeat came in February of 2007 when they were beaten 3-1 by Denmark, with Brett Emerton’s second-half free-kick the only bright note.
But that result aside London has proved a successful stomping ground for the Green and Gold.
Australia’s biggest win came at Craven Cottage in October 2005, when they coasted to a 5-0 thrashing of South Africa with Mark Bresciano, Mark Viduka and John Aloisi among the scorers.
The Socceroos have met Bafana Bafana three times in London, the last an entertaining 2-2 draw in 2008 before a five-year gap between the next fixture.
And that came late last year and just days after Holger Osieck was sacked in the wake of back-to-back 6-0 defeats to Brazil and France.
Assistant coach Aurelio Vidmar took the reins for the night last October, with goals to Josh Kennedy, Dario Vidosic and Matthew Leckie ensuring a comfortable 3-0 win.
The Socceroos will have a new base for the Ecuador game on March 6, with Championship side Millwall’s ‘The Den’ playing host to a vital warm-up clash heading towards the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in June.
Full list of Socceroos’ results in London:
*October 16, 2013 – Socceroos 3-0 Canada, Craven Cottage (Kennedy, Vidosic, Leckie)
*August 19, 2008 – Socceroos 2-2 South Africa, Loftus Road (Sterjovski, Kennedy)
*November 17 – Socceroos 1-0 Nigeria, Craven Cottage (Carney)
*February 6, 2007 – Socceroos 1-3 Denmark, Loftus Road (Emerton)
*November 14, 2006 – Socceroos 1-1 Ghana, Loftus Road (Aloisi pen)
*October 9, 2005 – Socceroos 5-0 South Africa, Craven Cottage (Bresciano, Thompson, Viduka, Aloisi, Griffiths)
*June 9, 2005 – Socceroos 1-0 New Zealand, Craven Cottage (Colosimo)
*November 16, 2004 – Socceroos 2-2 Norway, Craven Cottage (Cahill, Skoko)
*March 30, 2004 – Socceroos 1-0 South Africa, Loftus Road (Bresciano)
*September 7, 2003 – Socceroos 2-1 Jamaica, Madejski Stadium (Bresciano, Kewell)
*February 12, 2003 – England 1-3 Socceroos, Upton Park (Popovic, Kewell, Emerton)
