Australian Football Team starts looking towards the 2014 World Cup

Operation of 2014 FIFA World Cup begins in less than two months with the Australian Football Team, Socceroos, already scheduled to play an away friendly against Slovenia on August 11, Australia's media reported on Tuesday.

According to The Australian, the Socceroos will have little time for rest with six friendlies already locked in prior to January's Asian Cup.

Switzerland, Chile, Egypt and United Arab Emirates were understood to be penciled in as friendly opponents, with possibly one more to be confirmed.

"All of the fixtures were away except for the Chile match, which will be played in Australia in October, which will double as a farewell match for the retiring Socceroos," the paper wrote on Tuesday.

And Federal Football Australia (FFA) were aiming to have their new national coach installed by the September friendly against Switzerland.

FFA head of national teams John Boultbee last week confirmed the busy upcoming schedule.

"We are using these friendlies as preparation for the Asian Cup, which is the beginning of the 2014 campaign," Boultbee told the The Australian.

"We've got a good number of friendlies organized and I think it 's inevitable that there will be some changes.

"We've got one in Europe on August 11, two more in September, one in Australia in October and in November we've got one in North Africa.

"Then we've got a lead up game in the lead up to the Asian Cup. "

Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill and Tim Cahill have put their hands up for January's Asian Cup but FFA will ultimately decide on the personnel they will take to Qatar.

Source: Xinhua

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