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Led by Robbie, the team North Queens- to apply for the 2022 event but look es from these four teams,” said Football land Fury is putting together will give next set to be the only ones to do so. Federation Australia (FFA) CEO, Ben year’s competition added excitement and The bidding process has been further Buckley . impetus for North Queenslanders as well as complicated by FIFA’s decision to offer up “Between them, they have scored 141 Sports Hyundai A-League fans across Australia.” two World Cups simultaneously. goals games this season at more than 3.3 FIFA is yet to reveal how the process will goals per game so I am sure all fans will be TWELVE CANDIDATES work or whether the 24-member executive hoping for more of the same.” World committee will first choose the 2018 hosts Buckley said that the Finals Series culmi- With LAKIS KONISTIS FOR WORLD CUP! before turning to 2022. nates with the Hyundai A-League 2009 FURY SIGNS ROBBIE FOWLER! Up to 12 bids from across four continents The ruling body will send full details of Grand Final on Saturday 28 February and a are expected to determine who will host the the bidding process to all applicants on substantial prize on offer. NORTH Queensland Fury FC has pulled 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Feb. 16. “The champions gain entry in the off one of Australian sport’s greatest re- The list of potential bidders to have ex- Final bid dossiers have to be submitted 2010 Asian Football Confederation cruiting coups by signing former Liverpool pressed their initial interest in staging one by May 2010 with FIFA’s executive com- (AFC) Champions League along with superstar Robbie Fowler as the club’s mar- of the tournaments grew to a dozen on mittee casting its decisive votes seven premiers Victory,” Buckley quee player for the Hyundai A-League Monday when FIFA confirmed the late en- months later. said. 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. try of Egypt and . “ United showed in 2008 just Fury FC chairman Don Matheson said World soccer’s governing body is due to OBAMA TO HELP U.S. CAUSE? how exciting the AFC Champions League Fowler’s signing was a clean signal to other publish the final list shortly. Barring any is and it’s a great incentive for players, clubs A-League clubs that North Queensland further late additions it should comprise According to the U.S. Soccer Federation and their fans – along with the thrill of win- wants to taste success on the pitch in its de- five bids from Asia, four from , two the election of President Barack Obama ning!” but season. from the Americas and one from Africa. will help persuade FIFA to award the 2018 Melbourne Victory coach, “We want to win games– that’s what South Korea and , who jointly host- or 2022 World Cup to the United States. , agreed. “We’re hoping to make it a per- we’re about,” Matheson said. ed the World Cup in 2002, will go up a- “Given everything that, frankly, Presi- fect record in 2008/09 after already winning “Robbie is a legitimate international su- gainst each other this time round with In- dent Obama has said, everything he stands the Pre-Season Cup and the Premiers per star of the game and there’s no doubt donesia, and Australia completing for, everything he’s talked about in terms of Plate. But the ultimate prize is the champi- he will give us every chance of winning. It’s the Asian quintet. reaching out to the world,” U.S. Soccer onship and we enjoy the pressure of the taken a lot of work to make this happen, The 1966 World Cup hosts England face Federation president Sunil Gulati said, competition,” Merrick said. but it was worth it to because I really be- competition on their own continent from “that trying to bring the global game to the Queensland Roar coach, , lieve having him playing for North Queens- Russia and joint applicants /Portugal United States and opening our borders up believes form leading into the Finals Series land Fury FC will change the way people and /. Egypt, Mexico for a festival of 32 countries and hundreds is meaningless. “It counts for virtually noth- think about the Hyundai A-League.” and 1994 hosts the United States complete of thousands of people from all corners of ing in the finals,” Farina said. “It’s whether Fury FC coach Ian Ferguson said having the list. the world would be viewed in a very posi- you turn up in the next 3-4 weeks with your the former international striker on board There is confusion though over FIFA tive way.” ‘A’ game that counts.” was a huge boost for the team. “I’ve ad- president Sepp Blatter’s opposition to joint The United States hosted the 1994 tour- Lawrie McKinna, coach of Central Coast mired him as a player for a long time and bids and the extent to which his views re- nament at nine stadiums and set records for Mariners, agrees. “There’s two games to it’s just fantastic to have him signed,” Fer- flect official policy. total attendance (3.58 million) and average get through and, if you do, there’s a one- guson said. Blatter told reporters at a meeting of the (68,991). Major League Soccer launched in off. And then if you get through that, “Robbie is more than just a goal scorer – South American Football Confederation 1996, and Gulati said another tournament there’s another one-off. You need to play although he certainly knows where the net last week that “as soon as there is a (sole) in the United States would “finish the job.” the perfect match three to four times,” is – he links up play and he knows how to candidacy or three or four relevant candi- “Out of ’94, we launched a professional added McKinna. position himself to get other players in- dacies, we are directly going to reject the league that isn’t the Premier League or La Aurelio Vidmar, Adelaide United coach, volved. I knew he was serious about our of- double candidacies”. Liga today, but I’d like to understand where believes that any team could win the title. fer when he came to Townsville. There was those two leagues were 14 years in. We “It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be ex- a real commitment shown by flying out to SPAIN PRESSURE have a half-a-dozen brand new soccer-spe- citing. On the day I think anyone can win meet personally with us and to see the facil- cific stadiums. We have television coverage it.” ities and the lifestyle we’re able to offer him A spokesman told Reuters on Monday in both languages,” Gulati said. “It certain- Tickets for the Hyundai A-League Finals and his family.” that FIFA would consider joint bids from ly raised the profile of game in the United Series are available from Ticketek. The Fi- Fowler is looking forward to taking a new countries who were not capable of hosting a States. But in my view, it’s unfinished busi- nals Series is presented by FOXTEL, and path in his football career with North World Cup on their own. ness because it’s still not the same as it is in all games will be broadcast live and exclu- Queensland Fury FC in its historic entry in- “Countries capable of staging the event some other countries.” sive on . to the Hyundai A-League. “I had nothing alone should do so,” added the spokesman Gulati said 25-35 U.S. stadiums would be but good things to tell my family about the in a clarification that will increase pressure included in the bid and would be capable of VERBEEK NAMES SQUAD football side of things and the lifestyle op- on Spain to ditch its planned partnership hosting World Cup matches with little al- portunities North Queensland can offer with Portugal. teration, a contrast to the massive building Qantas Socceroos Head Coach Pim Ver- us,” Fowler said. FIFA rules dictate World Cup finals can and reconstruction at the last two World beek has selected 22 players in his squad “From a football perspective everything only be staged on continents that have not Cups and for South Africa next year and for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup Fury coach Ian Ferguson put on the table hosted either of the two preceding editions, Brazil in 2014. Asian Qualifier Round 4 match against and showed me was first class and the en- meaning bidders will primarily have to con- Time will tell..... Japan in Yokohama on Wednesday 11 Feb- thusiasm and drive of everyone at the club cern themselves with seeing off their near- ruary 2009. is fantastic. It’s a huge decision for my fam- est geographical rivals. HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE Midfielder Vincenzo Grella returns to ily, but it’s also an opportunity to continue If the European and Asian members of the Qantas Socceroos having missed the my football career in a truly wonderful part FIFA’s executive committee fail to agree The business end of the Hyundai A- past three 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian of the world. on the strongest candidate in their regions League season kicks-off this weekend when Qualifier Round 4 matches against Uzbek- Football Federation Australia (FFA) during the final vote in December 2010, the the 2009 Hyundai A-League Finals Series istan, Qatar and due to injury. CEO, Ben Buckley, said that Fowler’s sign- United States, Mexico or Egypt could ben- gets underway courtesy of FOXTEL. Jade North also returns to the squad hav- ing was an indication of the growing repu- efit. Central Coast Mariners meet Queens- ing recently transferred from the Newcastle tation of the Hyundai A-League. “Robbie South American countries were unable land Roar in the minor semi-final at Blue- Jets to Incheon United in the Korea Re- Fowler is one of the best known names in to put themselves forward for either tour- tongue Stadium, Gosford, on Friday while public . football with a wonderful record playing for nament due to Brazil’s scheduled hosting of Adelaide United host Melbourne Victory The Qantas Socceroos will go into the both Liverpool and England. It’s terrific to the 2014 version. at Adelaide ‘s on Sat- match sitting at the top of Group A of the welcome him to the Hyundai A-League Following South Africa’s staging of the urday. 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Asian Qualifiers and particularly to one of our newest clubs. 2010 World Cup, African nations were free “We’re expecting six very exciting match- Round 4.