Show your Support for the 'Olyroos'
The Australian Men's Olympic Football team will kick-off Australia’s competition schedule at the XXIX Olympiad in China when they face Serbia in their opening match of the Football tournament at the Shanghai Stadium tomorrow (Thursday 7 August, Kick-Off 7pm AEST).
The Australian Men's Olympic Football team will kick-off Australia-s competition schedule at the XXIX Olympiad in China when they face Serbia in their opening match of the Football tournament at the Shanghai Stadium tomorrow (Thursday 7 August, Kick-Off 7pm AEST).
Speaking after their final training session before tomorrow's match, team captain Mark Milligan spoke about the mood within the Australian camp.
"We have been preparing for this moment for the past two years and we are physically and mentally ready for this challenge.
"The whole team is looking to do Australia proud at these Olympic Games.
"Knowing that there are millions of Australians around the world supporting the boys will definitely give us that final lift on match day," concluded Milligan.
As well as Serbia, Australia will also face Argentina and Côte d-Ivorie (Ivory Coast) in Group A of the Men's Olympic Football Tournament, with the top two teams from the group progressing to the Quarter Finals Stage. Australia qualified for the Olympic Games after a gruelling two year campaign through the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) which saw the team play fourteen matches in extreme conditions from near freezing in North Korea to scorching hot in the Middle East. Australia is one of only three nations from the forty-five nations in the Asian region to qualify for the sixteen team tournament along with the host nation China PR.
You can send your message of support to the Australian Olympic Team via the Telstra Hero message website (hero.telstra.com/olympics)
2008 Australian Men's Olympic Football Team
Mark Bridge (Sydney FC), David Carney* (Sheffield United, England), Billy Celeski (Melbourne Victory), Adam Federici (Reading, England), Neil Kilkenny (Leeds United, England), Adrian Leijer (Fulham Athletic, England), Trent McClenahan (uncontracted), Mark Milligan (uncontracted), Stuart Musialik (Sydney FC), Jade North* (Newcastle Jets), Nikita Rukavytsya (Perth Glory), Kristian Sarkies (Adelaide United), Matthew Spiranovic (FC Nurnberg, Germany), Archie Thompson* (Melbourne Victory), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), James Troisi (uncontracted), Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory), Ruben Zadkovich (Derby County, England). * denotes over age players
Alternate Players
Leigh Broxham (Melbourne Victory), James Holland (Newcastle Jets), Chris O-Connor (Bray Wanderers, Ireland), Matt Simon (Central Coast Mariners).
Upcoming Match Details
Olympic Football Tournament - Beijing 2008
Australia v Serbia Thursday 7 August 2008 (Kick-Off Time 17:00pm CST (19:00pm AEST)) Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai, China
Television: The match will be broadcast on a 2-hour delay on Channel 7 from 9:00pm AEST. Check Local guides for further details
Argentina v Australia Sunday 10 August 2008 (Kick-Off Time 17:00pm CST (19:00pm AEST)) Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai, China
Côte d-Ivorie (Ivory Coast) v Australia Wednesday 13 August 2008 (Kick-Off Time 19:45pm CST (21:45pm AEST)) Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, Tianjin, China