Australia national soccer B team
The Australia national soccer B team, controlled by Football Federation Australia, is run occasionally as a second team for the Australia national soccer team. They have played nine matches, winning one, drawing six, and losing two.
Association | Football Federation Australia |
---|---|
Most caps | Jim Patikas (9) |
Top scorer | Doug Brown (2) |
First international | |
(Melbourne, Australia; 27 May 1984) | |
Biggest win | |
(Canberra, Australia; 23 September 1985) | |
Biggest defeat | |
(Newcastle, Australia; 7 June 1984) |
Concept and history
A national B team is designed to give games to players who are being considered for call-up to the full national squad. Generally, the team plays in friendly matches against other international B teams. These games are often played at smaller venues than the full national team play at, with attendances generally under 10,000.
Australia B were one of several teams which entered a "World Series" held in Australia in 1984, which included Rangers, Juventus, Australia A, Nottingham Forest and Iraklis. They were coached in the tournament by Eddie Thomson[1]
In 1985, Australia B played two games against China in the leadup to the 1987 Ampol Cup between China and Australia. They were coached by John Margaritis in both games.[2]
In 2007, then-Australia coach Graham Arnold, himself a former B international, flagged the idea of reviving the national B team.[3]
Results and fixtures
1984
27 May 1984 | Australia B | 0–0 | Melbourne, Australia | |
[4] | Stadium: Melbourne Cricket Ground Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Jim Fearn (Australia) |
31 May 1984 | Australia B | 1–2 | Brisbane, Australia | |
Egan |
Clark Ferguson |
Stadium: Lang Park Attendance: 2,257 Referee: Bill Monteverde (Australia) |
5 June 1984 | Australia B | 1–1 | Adelaide, Australia | |
McCulloch |
McClelland |
Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium Attendance: 4,300 Referee: Jim Rossis (Australia) |
7 June 1984 | Australia B | 2–4 | Newcastle, Australia | |
Blair Brown |
Paterson Burns McCoist Cooper |
Stadium: Adamstown Oval Attendance: 6,292 Referee: Jim Reeves (Australia) |
11 June 1984 | Australia B | 0–0 | Sydney, Australia | |
Stadium: Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Garry Power (Australia) |
13 June 1984 | Australia B | 0–0 | Brisbane, Australia | |
Stadium: Lang Park Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Alan Kibbler (Australia) |
17 June 1984 | Australia B | 1–1 | Melbourne, Australia | |
Brown |
Papadopoulos | Stadium: Melbourne Cricket Ground Attendance: 18,300 Referee: Spiers (Australia) |
1985
23 September 1985 | Australia B | 2–0 | Queanbeyan, Australia | |
Petersen Wade |
Stadium: Seiffert Oval Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Richard Lorenc (Australia) |
25 September 1985 | Australia B | 1–1 | Sydney, Australia | |
Arnold |
Ma |
Stadium: St George Stadium Attendance: 1,530 Referee: Garry Power (Australia) |
Managers
Eddie Thomson 1984 John Margaritis 1985
References
- Stock, Greg. "Socceroo B Matches for 1984". OzFootball.net. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- Stock, Greg. "Socceroo B Matches for 1985". OzFootball.net. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- Cockerill, Michael (17 March 2017). "Arnold's plan B: Socceroos seconds to nurture the next generation of stars". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- "Franken earns Australia draw". Sydney Morning Herald. 28 May 1984. p. 33.