This morning Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou announced Australia will be taking on Greece in an international friendly at Etihad Stadium on June 7.
It was also declared earlier in the week the same fixture will happen in Sydney on June 4. The Socceroos will have their hands full down under in 2016 with a number of World Cup qualification games as well as the friendlies.
Postecoglou, who was appointed Australia coach at the end of 2013, had only managed one game in Melbourne during his tenure as the national team coach – the Asian cup clash against Kuwait.
The Socceroos boss, who was born in Athens but grew up in Melbourne, said it was a good opportunity to test the squad against European opposition and said it would be anything but friendly.
“It’s vital, not just for us but for our fans as well, if you look at our journey post-World Cup 2014 we’ve really just played Asian opposition,” Postecoglou said on Saturday.
“There’s a difference in playing styles even though it’s a friendly, Greece is going through a transition and straight after the game against us they begin a World Cup qualification process, they’ve missed the Euros.
“Friendly isn’t the right word to describe these games coming up, they’re going to be taken very serious by us and Greece.
“There’ll be intensity in the game that won’t reflect the word friendly.”
Last time they locked horns was at the MCG in 2006 just before the World Cup in Germany, it attracted over 95,000 fans with Josip Skoko scoring the only goal of the game, handing Australia the win.
With Postecoglou’s Greek heritage, he also conceded how excited he was to test his skills against the country of his birth and wasn’t too fussed about the game not being held at the MCG.
“I’ve been to some fantastic games with the Socceroos and Victory at Etihad, when it’s full it’s exactly the kind of atmosphere I want the guys to experience and play through,” he said.
“I’m delighted the game is going to be here, I’m a proud Victorian. Melbourne’s my home town.
“I’m very proud of my Greek heritage and I don’t think there would be anyone in this country who would deny any person that.
“I’m sure they’ll come out here to watch some of the players they haven’t seen close up who are representing their country of origin.”
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