Well said Lucas. These lads have shown that they care about the development of the Australian game into the future. That's something that has always been there, even though they've copped tonnes of criticism in the media and on forums.

Well done, Socceroos!


What do you think about the FourFourTwo article Neill: I'm Not Retiring Yet?
SOCCEROO captain Lucas Neill has scotched rumours the 32-year-old would retire after Australia's exit at the group stage of the tournament in South Africa and vowed to play on.

Have your say.

Good to hear!

Apparently on other news, chipperfield has announced to SBS that he has retired from international football.

Edited by Bryan: 24/6/2010 09:56:55 AM

That's how we know you can play! Well done Socceroos!

Michael Beauchamp had a fantastic game. Well done lads. Serbia are great team but we were greater.

TOP CLASS DEFENDER. HES BECOME SUCH AN ACCOMPLISHED DEFENDER SINCE HE WENT TO TURKEY. RATE AS ONE OF THE BEST DEFENDERS IN WORLD FOOTBALL. LOOKS SO COOL AND COMPOSED AT THE BACK. WE NEED YOU NEILL. BEAUCHAMP HAD A GREAT GAME AT THE BACK ALSO.

Yup. He's a very good asset. I think that he can lead us through Asia :)

Yeah, it hurts, but you can all stand tall today knowing that you gave it your all and left nothing on the pitch and have gained back the respect you deserve. Bring on the Asian Cup.

Great words i really hope he plays on for another world cup and is still as amazing as he is now, we have some great defenders in kisnorbo niel beauchamp williams wilkshire we should be fine in that apartment. I hope Holman continues this brilliance there is def a bright future for us we just need our young players to continue to develop and have a manager for the next four years who isnt useless. Our national manager probably could be the most important issue of them all.

No Neill retire give young players a go who will make it to Brazil 2014.

A-League??

I agree with youth for the next world cup!!! It worked well for New Zealand!

I think we should platy our best options as much as possible in critical games and competitions. You can blood youth in friendlies and group games. The other options is to blood them individually mixed in with experience. In some ways we have started this process.

If Neill and co are good enought come the next WC then they should play. Its that simple. We should not say because you 34+ your no good.

What this team has done over the two WC's is provided future teams with a spirit of never giving up even when the chips are down. Lets hope we continue that because thats what makes our team special.

I think we'll find alot of players at the end of the WC would put there boots in their bag and walk away from the Socceroo's, we definitely have depth to cover these players. I'm hoping we can pull in an experienced coach and someone prepared to take risks, Scolari is available and would be priced within FFA's $6m salary range.

Between the last 2 WC's, we have only LOST to Brazil, Italy, and Germany. Whatever else has happened (and a lot of people have been very quick to forget the criticism they leveled at the squad after the Germany debacle), this is a record to be proud of.

Fair play, Neil managed to put in two good performances after having a shocker against Germany. He is an imporatant player for us and could really healp us give the Asian Cup a good push.

Poor Lucas looks really sad in that photo :(

Neill is too old to make it to Brazil however he is to good to be replaced atm. Australia had the same problem with Moore sooner or later good players need to hang up to boots. It will be sad to see it but thats just the way football works. Heros rise and fall but their legacy will be remember by the fans. The Heroics and the despair will never be forgoten the story of the Socceroos will be told through out histroy.

Neills story will be the story of the bravest Captain in Australias history a man who never never gave up, even when almost all hope was lost.

I for one can see i lived to see him play, i lived to see a legend.

Edited by Davstar: 24/6/2010 04:39:10 PM

I don't think he's needed that much. With Beauchamp, Milligan, Spiro, Lowry, Kisnorbo, Bosnar, Oganovski, I think we have plenty of possibilities at CB

Glad's he's staying on, need some experience at the back to help with the smooth transition of the future defence of the Socceroo's. Can't believe people were calling for his head after the Germany game, I rate him as one of our greatest captain's in history.

I think we need a two year period (Asian Cup and hopefully some decent friendlies following) for handover, so if he wants to hang around until 2012-ish that's great.

Yes showed against Serbia he still has a lot to give.
Beauchamp was class though but I think A beauchamp Neill pairing is Australias future for a few years yet.
Maybe Milligan or spira after. the latter more likely.

who are the ones retiring now then?

chipperfield and moore are the obvious ones

anyone else?

The Socceroos really fired up in the last two matches.well done the whole nation is so proud of you!!

Hopefully 1 or 2 or 3 socceroos can came back and enhance the A-League to reach higher popularity and status in the community!

chipperfield and moore are the obvious ones
anyone else?

maybe Grella