Aloisi completes Socceroos squad - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Aloisi completes Socceroos squad

By Guy Hand 03/07/2007 05:43:37 AM Comments (0)

The Socceroos' Asian Cup squad is complete, with World Cup qualifier penalty hero John Aloisi joining the team ahead of their departure for the tournament on Wednesday.

With the team given a day off on Monday following a gruelling 10-day training camp in Singapore, Aloisi will train for the first time with his teammates on Tuesday after being given a week off following his late finish to the Spanish domestic season.

Aloisi played his final league match for club side Alaves nine days ago and Socceroos coach Graham Arnold allowed him to freshen up ahead of his Asian Cup duties.

The striker has been linked with a move to A-League club Sydney FC for the upcoming Australian season.

Aloisi is expected to play in the Socceroos' intra-squad practice match on Tuesday night before the team flies on Wednesday to Bangkok - the site of their Group A matches against Oman, Iraq and Thailand.

He is best known for scoring the penalty which got Australia to their first World Cup finals in 32 years, netting in the shootout against Uruguay in Sydney in 2005.

Meanwhile, two of the Socceroos' group opponents impressed in friendlies on Monday ahead of the tournament which starts officially on July 7.

Oman - the Socceroos' opening opponents on Sunday - drew 1-1 with powerful Saudi Arabia in Singapore.

The Saudis took the lead 10 minutes after halftime when Mohammed Al Shalboub scored, before Oman equalised five minutes later through a Fawzi Bashir header.

The Omanis, lack-lustre in a 2-2 draw with North Korea late last week, looked far sharper against Saudi Arabia, who are among the favourites for the tournament.

Co-hosts Thailand beat Asian Games champions Qatar 2-0 in Bangkok in a match rescheduled from Saturday after it was rained out.

A long-range strike from Thailand's Tawan Sripan gave his side the lead inside the first eight minutes, before a 70th minute penalty from Sutee Suksomkit put the result beyond doubt.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

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