Mayor hails Socceroos’ return to Qld
BRISBANE Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has admitted Socceroos-starved Queensland football fans have deserved better in their quest to see more of their national team in Brisbane.
As revealed by The Cairns Post, the Socceroos will play in Brisbane for the first time since January 2015 when they host South Korea at Suncorp Stadium on November 17.
It’s a long overdue return to Australia’s best football venue for the Socceroos, who haven’t played a World Cup qualifier at Suncorp Stadium since June 2012, when a crowd of 40,189 watched Australia’s 1-1 draw with Japan.
Between then and now, six World Cup qualifiers have been played in Sydney, three in Melbourne, two in Perth and Adelaide, and one in Canberra.
“The key is that these events do attract significant numbers,” Quirk said yesterday at the official launch of the November friendly.
“If there’s more that come along of this ilk in the future we’ll be prepared to look at supporting those as well.”
The Socceroos’ return to Suncorp Stadium has come via a partnership between Tourism and Events Queensland, Brisbane Marketing and Football Federation Australia.
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones wasn’t at the launch but in a statement said the match would inject $5.8 million into the Queensland economy.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said Suncorp Stadium was among his favourite football venues in Australia.
“It’s about getting the boys together, getting them back on home soil and also thanking their fans for their wonderful support,” said Arnold, who said the Socceroos were focused on readying themselves for January’s Asian Cup title defence rather than become preoccupied with a possible farewell for Tim Cahill.
Discussions are ongoing about a farewell match for stalwart Cahill.
“This is preparation for the Asian Cup … it will be a great test for us,” Arnold said.
“For me we are going to the Asian Cup (in the United Arab Emirates) expecting to win every game.
“We’ll be in great shape and ready to go.”
Arnold also announced a Socceroos training camp next month in Turkey.
The Socceroos’ next match is most likely in the Middle East, during the October international window.
Tickets for the November 17 match went on sale yesterday from www.socceroos.com.au/ to Football Family members and will go on sale to the general public on Monday at 9am.