Farina Names Full Strength Squad For Venezuela

Coach Frank Farina today announced his 20-man Socceroo squad to face Venezuela in Caracas on Wednesday 18 February, the first time our senior national team will play against Venezuela. The match is due to be played at 7pm, Caracas time, at the Olympic Stadium, which holds 30,000 people.

Coach Frank Farina today announced his 20-man Socceroo squad to face Venezuela in Caracas on Wednesday 18 February, the first time our senior national team will play against Venezuela.   The match is due to be played at 7pm, Caracas time, at the Olympic Stadium, which holds 30,000 people.

Farina has named a full-strength squad for the international clash, with Parramatta Power NSL stars Simon Colosimo and Under-23 Olympic team player Ahmad Elrich (pictured) both gaining a senior team call-up in an expanded 20-man squad.

The complete 20-man squad is: -

ALOISI John - Club Athletico Osasuna - SPAIN BRESCIANO Marco - Parma - ITALY CHIPPERFIELD Scott - FC Basel 1893 - SWITZERLAND COLOSIMO Simon - Parramatta Power - AUSTRALIA ELRICH Ahmad - Parramatta Power - AUSTRALIA EMERTON Brett - Blackburn Rovers Football Club - ENGLAND GRELLA Vince - Empoli - ITALY KEWELL Harry - Liverpool FC - ENGLAND LAYBUTT Steve - Royal Excelsior Mouscron - BELGIUM LAZARIDIS Stan - Birmingham City FC - ENGLAND MOORE Craig - Rangers FC - SCOTLAND MUSCAT Kevin - Millwall FC - ENGLAND NEILL Lucas - Blackburn Rovers Football Club - ENGLAND PETKOVIC Michael (gk) - Trabzonspor - TURKEY POPOVIC Tony - Crystal Palace - ENGLAND SCHWARZER Mark (gk) - Middlesbrough FC - ENGLAND SKOKO Josip - Genclerbirligi Spor Kulubu - TURKEY STERJOVSKI Mile - Lille Olympique Sporting Club - FRANCE VIDMAR Tony - Cardiff City FC - WALES VIDUKA Mark - Leeds United FC - ENGLAND

Profiles of all the players are available on the Australian Soccer Association website, click on National Teams, then  Socceroos, then from the 'Select Other Information' drop-box choose player profiles. www.australiansoccer.com.au

TV BROADCAST ANNOUNCEMENT: - Socceroos back on SBS Television

The upcoming international friendly matches between the Socceroos and the national football teams of Venezuela and South Africa will both be broadcast LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on SBS Television.

In their first international for 2004, the SOCCEROOS will take on VENEZUELA at the Olympic Stadium in Caracas.  The match will be broadcast LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on SBS on Thursday 19th February at 9.30am AEST.*  A full match replay will be screened that evening at 10.00pm (All Centres)

The second match in 2004 for Frank Farina and his squad will take place in London against SOUTH AFRICA.  The match between the SOCCEROOS and the ‘Bafana Bafana- will be broadcast LIVE and EXCLUSIVE from London on SBS on Wednesday 31st March, at a time TBC.

These broadcasts will be the first Socceroo matches to be featured on SBS since the national team-s triumphant win over England in February 2003. Both matches will feature commentary by SBS- SIMON HILL and former Socceroo CRAIG FOSTER; and will be hosted from SBS- Sydney studios by SBS Head of Sport LES MURRAY and former Socceroo captain JOHNNY WARREN.

'It is just on one year since SBS' last involvement with the Socceroos - that historic win over England at Upton Park. It's good to be back, in the hope that we bring the boys similar luck. We are pleased to be again associated with the game on a domestic level, especially in this brave new era of its development,' stated SBS Head of Sport, LES MURRAY.