3 Caltex Socceroo X-Factors against UAE

Massimo Luongo celebrates after scoring against Jordan in World Cup Qualifying.

Wednesday, 25 January 2017 –

John Greco @Grecs7

It’s less than two months until the Caltex Socceroos are back in action with a couple of crucial qualifiers on the Road to Russia 2018 – including a huge clash with UAE in Sydney in March.

We all know about the Caltex Socceroo stars Tim Cahill, Aaron Mooy and Mile Jedinak.

But there are more.

 

Here’s three players we think will be cherry ripe at club level and ready to have a big impact in the games against Iraq in Tehran then against the UAE in Sydney on March 28.

Massimo Luongo

One of a host of midfield stars in the Caltex Socceroos squad, Luongo appears to be hitting top form at just the right time of the season.

The 24-year-old has been excellent for QPR in the Championship since the turn of the year, blossoming under new coach Ian Holloway.

While he plays in a deeper role with his club, Luongo is just as influential further forward – popping up with some crucial goals for the Caltex Socceroos in recent years.

And it’s those traits which will make him a key player come March.

Robbie Kruse

What a relief it will be for the 28-year-old to have his club future sorted.

Kruse has joined the growing exodus of stars to move to China – signing with Liaoning Whowin FC this month along with fellow Aussie James Holland – and is sure to benefit from playing regular matches again.

In saying that, Kruse has often shown in the past he can perform in the green and gold regardless of how much football he has under his belt.

Is the type of player that excites fans whenever he’s on the ball because he’s always positive and looking to beat his marker one-on-one. He tore Jordan apart last year at the same venue in Sydney – expect a similar performance again from “Krusey” this March.

Tom Rogic

While he’s been out for the last month trough injury, Rogic is close to a return and should be cherry ripe once the qualifiers come around.

Which is great news for coach Ange Postecoglou given the 24-year-old playmaker’s growing importance to the side.

With Australia’s next two opponents likely to sit deep and pack the defence, Rogic’s ability to unlock a stubborn back-four with a clinical pass or classy piece of skill will be crucial.

Rogic has been in special form with Celtic, scoring 10 goals and picking up five assists in Scotland this season.

Watching him live, you’ll see a player who’s tight skills and vision are simply breathtaking.

 

Football Federation Australia

5 reasons to see UAE game in Sydney

The Caltex Socceroos are back in Sydney on March 28 and it’s an absolutely crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against a rising power in the region, UAE.

Here are five reasons why you should be at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

It’s the Mooy and Rogic show

The midfield duo have been in sensational form over the last 18 months for both club and country.
Aaron Mooy has been one of the best players in the English Championship with Huddersfield Town, while Tommy Rogic is scoring goals and exciting fans with legendary clb Celtic in Scotland.

Put them together in the green and gold in this type of form and it equals fabulous entertainment.

Cahill’s magical 50 milestone?

Australia’s greatest-ever scorer Tim Cahill has 49 international goals to his name, needing just one more to bring up a wonderful half century in the green and gold.

If he doesn’t get on the scoresheet in Tehran a few days earlier, he could reach his milestone in the city he grew up.

Cahill’s in excellent form, banging the goals in consistently for Melbourne City in the Hyundai A-League, while his last goal for Australia was the late winner against the UAE in Abu Dhabi.

A good omen?

Nothing like midweek football

Nothing breaks up the working week like getting out to a game and what better way to spend your Tuesday night than watching two of the AFC’s best attacking sides battle it out.

It’s got to be better than staying in and watching My Kitchen Rules or the Bachelor!

The masterful “Arabian Messi” is in town

There’s the “Kiwi Messi” at Victory. And UAE’s star playmaker Omar Abdulrahman needs no introduction, wowing crowds on his last visit to Australia for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

His touch, vision and passing ability is second-to-none, a major reason why he was voted the AFC Player of the Year for 2016.

And check out the goal he scored just this week. He’s a baller.

عمر عبد الرحمن يحرز هدف تقليص الفارق من تسديدة صاروخية#العين_الجزيرة#دوري_الخليج_العربي#أبوظبي_الرياضية#عموري pic.twitter.com/t9X9UJHaXN

— قناة أبوظبي الرياضية (@ADSportsTV) January 23, 2017

Dominating record against UAE

The Caltex Socceroos have never lost to UAE before in a senior international – and in front of a big Sydney crowd in March, that shouldn’t change.

As well as the 1-0 win in qualifying last year in Abu Dhabi, Australia also knocked off UAE in the semis (2-0) on the way to winning the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

In fact, the Caltex Socceroos haven’t conceded a goal against UAE in any of the last four matches between the two nations.

 

Football Federation Australia

 

Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC: your Big Blue guide

Tonight’s Big Blue promises to be the game of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Season. The unbeaten league-leaders at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium to take on second-placed Victory in the Big Blue.

So, as you enjoy your Australia Day and prepare for this blockbuster, here’s your complete guide to the biggest-ever regular season Big Blue.

BIG BLUE PRIMER

Your Australia Day Big Blue dossier

BIG BLUE PREVIEW

Read the official www.a-league.com.au preview here

WHAT HAVE THE PLAYERS BEEN SAYING?

Victory star backs Big V ahead of Big Blue

Sydney FC calm ahead of Big Blue storm: Ninkovic

WHAT HAVE THE COACHES BEEN SAYING?

Muscat’s mind games on Big Blue eve

Sydney FC’s Big Blue selection dilemma

 

WHAT’S BEEN SAID ON SOCIAL

A citizenship ceremony will be held for 101 new Australians before kick-off tonight. Details: https://t.co/QA2nPj7W1m #AustraliaDay #MVCvSYD pic.twitter.com/8zUCQxnFME

— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) January 25, 2017

Fresh from re-signing with the undefeated Sky Blues, @RhyanGrant picks his top 10 SFC moments – https://t.co/SbfWyN2JcI #SydneyIsSkyBlue pic.twitter.com/f9hTlmimVd

— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) January 24, 2017

TAKE THE BIG BLUE QUIZ Hyundai A-League Big Blue quiz MATCH DETAILS AND SQUADS Thursday, 26 January 2017 Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Kick-Off: 7:50PM (Local) (7:50PM (AEDT)) Referee: Jarred Gillett Assistant Referee 1: David Walsh Assistant Referee 2: Ashley Beecham Fourth Official: Shaun Evans TV Broadcast: Live coverage on Fox Sports 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport Pop-Up (New Zealand) Radio Broadcast: ABC Grandstand Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live, 1116 SEN (Melbourne) Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #BigBlue To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au Melbourne Victory squad: 2.Jason GERIA, 4.Nick ANSELL, 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Marco ROJAS, 8.Besart BERISHA, 9.Max BEISTER, 10.James TROISI, 11.Mitch AUSTIN, 13.Oliver BOZANIC, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 15.Alan BARO, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 17.James DONACHIE, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 23.Jai INGHAM, 40.Matt ACTON (gk) **two to be omitted** Ins: 2.Jason GERIA (returns from suspension), 4.Nick ANSELL (promoted), 13.Oliver BOZANIC (promoted), 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH (returns from suspension) Outs: 19.George HOWARD (omitted), 22.Stefan NIGRO (omitted) Unavailable: Nil Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Jordy BUIJS, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.BOBÔ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Bernie IBINI, 12.Aaron CALVER, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 17.David CARNEY, 18.Matt SIMON, 19.George BLACKWOOD, 20.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 25.Patrick FLOTTMANN **two to be omitted** Ins: 5.Jordy BUIJS (promoted), 19.George BLACKWOOD (promoted), 25.Patrick FLOTTMANN (promoted) Outs: 23.Rhyan GRANT (suspended – 1 match) Unavailable: 22.Sebastian RYALL (hamstring – indefinite) BIG BLUE STATS  Hyundai A-League Round 17 stats preview This rivalry dates back to the very first weekend of the Hyundai A-League back in the 2005/06 Season when the two sides played out a 1-1 draw. And a draw has been the most popular result when Victory takes on the Sky Blues, with 18 of the 39 previous meetings ending all square. Victory holds the edge when it comes to picking up the three points, beating Sydney FC 13 times and losing eight. That record is even better for the Big V when it comes to clashes at Etihad, with Victory losing just three of 17 matches at the venue, winning seven and drawing the other seven. There has been four previous clashes on Australia Day, with Victory winning two and losing just once, although that was an emphatic 5-0 result when Alessandro Del Piero scored a brace. Victory has lost just one of the last 10 meetings between the two sides – that was earlier this season in a 2-1 defeat at Allianz Stadium.

Expect goals

The fixture averages 2.9 goals per match – 113 in 39 games – with Victory slightly in front scoring 60 to Sydney FC’s 53.

And there’s little separating the sides in the 2016/17 Season, with both finding the net 36 times from their 16 games.

It’s no surprise it’s the attacking quartets at both clubs that has done most of the damage.

Sydney’s front four of Alex Brosque (9), Bobo (7), Milos Ninkovic (7) and Filip Holosko (5) have combined for 28 goals, just ahead of Victory’s Besart Berisha (13), Marco Rojas (10), James Troisi (3) and Fahid Ben Khalfallah (1) with 27.

No player has provided as many assists (8) as Ninkovic, although Rojas is only one behind having played three less matches.

Interestingly, the Sky Blues have scored more goals away from their home ground than at Allianz Stadium.

Graham Arnold’s troops have found the net 21 times on the road, compared to Victory’s 12.

Shooting and passing

Sydney FC’s average possession of 47% is the eighth best in the Hyundai A-League.

Victory is slightly better in both those categories, with 51% average possession per match and a 77% passing accuracy.

Where Sydney has been excellent is when it comes to the key stat of passes into the final third.

Only Melbourne City (1049) is better than the Sky Blues 1047, with Victory way back with only 815 into the front third of the pitch.

When it comes to shooting, Sydney FC has taken 28 more shots at goal than Kevin Muscat’s side (222 to 194), although Victory is slightly more accurate with 49.3% on target compared to Sydney’s 47.4%.

And Victory’s 24% conversion rate is also more superior than the Sky Blues’ 18.8%.

 

 

Flávia Alessandra e Marcelo Serrado iniciaram filmagens de A Justiça é Para Todos

 

Flávia Alessandra e Marcelo Serrado filmaram juntos, pela primeira vez, na terça-feira, para “A Justiça é Para Todos”…
…Ela, como uma delegada, e ele, no papel de Sérgio Moro. É o filme da “Lava Jato”.

 

Flávio Ricco com colaboração de José Carlos Nery

Multishow iniciou nesta semana gravações do “Prêmio Multishow de Humor”

 

Multishow deu a largada terça-feira nas gravações de mais uma temporada do “Prêmio Multishow de Humor”, com Bento Ribeiro, Dani Valente, Marcelo Marrom, Natália Klein e Sérgio Mallandro, que terá 20 episódios.
Entre os jurados, que serão convidados especiais, Katiuscia Canoro, Rafael Infante, Rafinha Bastos e Simone Gutierrez. A apresentação segue com Fábio Lins e sua estreia acontecerá neste primeiro semestre.

 

Flávio Ricco com colaboração de José Carlos Nery