 | Team News |  | Euro 2008 on your mobile! | | Fixtures | | Betting | | Mobile |  |
Australia Team Information
Latest News / Squad / Team Profile / Player Profiles / Betting / Results
Australia - Fixtures
30/03/2006
Australia v Japan Kaiserslautern Monday June 12 2:00pm
Named after the winning captain of Germany's 1954 World Cup side, the Fritz Walter Stadium is one of the few World Cup venues that have retained some of its original charm. Fritz Walter was a national hero before his death in June 2002 with his team's exploits in the 'Miracle of Berne' when the Germans beat the all-conquering Hungarian side in the final.
Set on a mountainside, the stadium has been modernised of late to ready it for the forthcoming tournament. Nicknamed Betze by locals due to its location (built on the Betzenberg Mountain) - the ground will stage five games during the World Cup. The ground has a capacity of 48,000. The city of Kaiserslautern is the smallest German city to hold world cup fixtures with a population of just 100,000.
World Cup matches in Kaiserslautern
Australia gets things underway at the Fritz Walter Stadium on June 12 when they face their rivals Japan. On June 17 Italy, one of the pre-tournament favourite take on the USA. Two of England's opponents battle it out June 20 as Paraguay meet Trinidad and Tobago. The final group game between Saudi Arabia and Spain is scheduled to take place on Friday June 23. The final game at the Fritz Walter Stadium will be the second phase game that could see Italy take on Japan, Australia or Croatia.
Australia v Brazil Munich Sunday June 18 5:00pm
Although known as the Allianz Arena, the stadium will be known as the FIFA World Cup Stadium Munich during the World Cup as Fifa does not allow stadium sponsorship. It's distinctive shape led to the ground being nicknamed Schlauchboot (inflatable raft) by the locals of Munich. Two Buderliga teams play at the stadium FC Bayern München and TSV 1860 München. Built at a cost £286 million the stadium holds 70,000 people. It was completed in 2005 and replaced Munich's Olympic Stadium. Panels in the roof were made so they can change colour depending on which team is playing and can be covered over to provide protection from the sun. The first goal, in a competitive match, was scored by the England midfielder Owen Hargreaves. The old Olympic Stadium was the venue for the 1974 World Cup final where West Germany beat Holland 2-1 in the final.
World Cup matches in Munich
The Munich Stadium will host the opening game in the 2006 World Cup on June 9 when hosts Germany take on Costa Rica. On June 14 African qualifiers Tunisia play Saudi Arabia in their opening games. The colourful Brazilian fans will see their team take on the Socceroos from Australia on Sunday June 18. On June 21 Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) will face their easiest game when taking on Serbia and Montenegro having already faced Argentina and the Netherlands (Holland) in their earlier games.
On June 24 the stadium will host a game in phase two of the tournament - possibly Germany and possibly England. On July 5 ticket holders for one of the semi-finals will need to be in Munich to watch the second of ties - the other semi-final being played in Dortmund.
Australia v Croatia Stuttgart Thursday June 22 8:00pm
Stuttgart's Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion is the busiest of the World Cup venues staging a total of six matches including the 3rd/4th place play-off. Historically it is one of the most important of Germany's stadia. It was the venue when Germany played its first post-war international -against Switzerland in 1950 and the Swiss were also the opponents when Germany played its first international post-reunification. Redeveloped in time for the 1974 World Cup, the stadium hosted four games and proved itself a ground capable of staging major events. It has been the home of European and World Athletic Championships as well as staging European football finals. It is home to VfB Stuttgart of the Bundesliga.
World Cup matches in Stuttgart
Switzerland feature in the first game at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion when they entertain France in the crucial first game for both sides on June 13. The Netherlands and Ivory Coast (Holland and Cote d'Ivoire) battle it out in the second game at the venue on June 17. A third European heavyweight visits Stuttgart on Monday June 19 when Spain faces the accomplished Tunisia. Stadium staff will have no let up as just three days later on June 22 Croatia play Australia in what could prove a crucial game in Group F. England could potentially play their second phase game in Stuttgart should they win their match. The tie will take place on June 25.