Australia has all but locked in fellow FIFA 2014 World Cup participant Ecuador as its opponent for a FIFA 2014 World Cup warm-up match in London on 6 March (AEDT).
With the Socceroos tossed into a group featuring Spain, Chile and Netherlands in Brazil, coach Ange Postecoglou sees the slick and technical Ecuadorians as the perfect opponent for its final hit-out before its late May farewell match at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium against an opponent yet to be determined.
While final paperwork has yet to be signed off, the Ecuador date has been posted on FIFA’s official website and a Football Federation Australia spokesman said on Tuesday: "FFA is in advanced discussions about the location and opponent for the FIFA friendly date of 5 March (UK time), though nothing is contracted at this time."
The game - at a venue yet to be determined - offers Postecoglou the chance to have a look at a number of as yet untried would-be Socceroos like Aston Villa’s Chris Herd, Swindon Town’s Massimo Luongo and Preston North End’s Bailey Wright as well as possibly welcome back into the fold Utrecht midfielder Adam Sarota after his long-term knee injury.
The only stumbling block is a venue, with the incessant UK rain making traditional home-away-from-home venues like Fulham’s Craven Cottage and Queens Park Rangers’ Loftus Road unlikely stages this time around.
Neither club is keen to inflict further damage on its surface, leaving Australia - which beat Canada 3-0 at Craven Cottage in October - looking elsewhere in the British capital.
Alternatives for the first meeting at senior international level between the two nations could include Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park - home of Socceroos midfielder Mile Jedinak - West Ham United’s Upton Park, Charlton Athletic’s The Valley, Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road, Brentford’s Griffin Park or Millwall’s New Den.
Luis Chiriboga, the president of the Ecuadorian Football Federation, confirmed the match as part of La Tricolor’s World Cup preparations ahead of games against Netherlands, Mexico and England in May.
Ecuador - making its third appearance at football’s big show - faces Switzerland, France and Honduras in Group E.
Ranked 23 in the world - 33 places higher than the Socceroos - Ecuador clinched CONMEBOL's fourth and final automatic qualification spot for the World Cup behind Argentina, Colombia and Chile.
Share
