Socceroos V England

[SOCCERROO FOX]

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EIGHT years after humiliating England, the Socceroos have another date with the mother country in their sights - this time at Wembley.

Negotiations are well advanced for a friendly between England and Australia in October, a game that could be worth up to $1 million for Football Federation Australia.

There is also the possibility of a partnership between the two soccer bodies establishing a regular soccer "Test" match, eight years after the Frank Farina-coached side shocked Sven-Goran Eriksson's England side 3-1 at Upton Park.

But the game can only happen if the FFA can persuade Asian soccer chiefs to move a World Cup qualifier.

Nothing can be signed off until the draw for World Cup qualification takes place in Rio on July 30, filling in the blanks on Australia's calendar for this year and next.

But sources close to the English FA say their preference is to play Australia on October 11, confident of a money-spinning gate thanks to the huge number of Australians in the UK.

Australia won't know their World Cup qualifying opponents until the draw, but they do know the dates of the games - and the fact that the fixture slated for October 11 will be a home game.

The FFA want Asian soccer bosses to agree to that game moving forward to October 7 or 8, allowing the Socceroos squad then to fly straight to London and face England on October 11.

Fabio Capello's side play Montenegro in Podgorica in their final qualifying game for Euro 2012 on October 7 and currently have no game scheduled for the following week.

The game would have huge benefits for the cash-strapped FFA, with a match fee well above $500,000 expected depending on the exact size of the attendance.

The English FA would also have to pay Australia's expenses - thus recouping much of the cost of bringing Holger Osieck's squad back here for the World Cup qualifier - and there is the possibility of TV networks bidding to broadcast the game with England.

Overseas friendlies are outside Fox Sports' exclusive deal to show Australian games, and though the pay-TV network has first and last option on extra games it could be gazumped by one of the terrestrial stations.

Talks with the English FA have been held on and off for more than a year by FFA officials who have long sought to create a formal partnership that would guarantee regular "Ashes" encounters.

CELTIC'S tour of Australia looks certain to go ahead in early July after games were arranged with the Central Coast Mariners at ANZ Stadium and also Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park to complement the side's visit to Perth. Newcastle Jets had to withdraw from a planned match

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Can someone move it my Comp is playing up and i got re-directed as it was posting cheers.

[purpleronnie]

Another shit game at wembley then.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

[Samilktray]

Can't say this is a friendly that fills me with any excitement. What a boring match up

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Can't say this is a friendly that fills me with any excitement. What a boring match up

We may not be a footballing power house but there guaranted they will sell out Wembley with all the Aussies that live in the UK.

So very much a decsion based on money

[OzFox]

Means a lot to the Aussies, not much to the English