Socceroos to face Greece in friendly at Etihad Stadium

The Socceroos will take on 2004 European Champions Greece in a blockbuster football international at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 7 June.

The fixture will spark a frenzy for tickets with Socceroos fans jockeying with the 380,000 Melburnians with Greek Heritage.

FFA CEO David Gallop said the match would be a celebration of football’s cultural diversity.

Socceroos to face Greece at ANZ Stadium

“The Socceroos playing Greece in Melbourne is a wonderful celebration of football and Australian culture that illustrates the way football can unite the nation,” Gallop said. “We have no doubt this match will have an atmosphere that will make it a night to remember.

“FFA would like to thank the Victorian Government and Etihad Stadium for their cooperation to take the Socceroos match to Melbourne.”

One Australian with Greek Heritage is Socceroos Coach Ange Postecoglou whose family moved from Athens to Melbourne when he was five years old.

Ange Postecoglou celebrates the Socceroos triumph in the Asian Cup final.

“This is going to be a very special match for a variety of reasons,” Postecoglou said. “From a football perspective Greece will give us a great test over the two matches and obviously there is some personal significance for me.

“I am very proud of my heritage and it will be a proud moment to coach the Socceroos against the country of my birth in front of my family and friends in Melbourne, where my parents settled to give us a wonderful life.

“The Socceroos always enjoy playing in front of our own fans and the Greeks who have settled in Melbourne are passionate about their homeland and football and they will add to what will be a special atmosphere at Etihad Stadium.”

The Socceroos and Greece faced off in Melbourne in 2006 before departing for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, with the Socceroos winning that game 1-0 in front of 95,000 fans at the MCG.

The Socceroos celebrate their international friendly win over Greece in 2006.

The announcement was made this morning by Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events, John Eren, who said: “This is going to be an epic blockbuster. The Socceroos and Greece always put on a great show. The atmosphere at Etihad Stadium will be electric.

“These are the big events we want. They keep our restaurants and hotels full, they create a buzz around the city and they stimulate the economy.”

MATCH DETAILS:

Socceroos v Greece                       

Etihad Stadium, Melbourne

Tuesday 7 June 2016

8pm kick off

TICKETS:

Football Family: 10.30am, Wed 9 Mar until 9.00am, Thu 10 Mar

Partners/Ticketmaster: 12.00pm, Wed 9 Mar until 9:00am, Thur 10 Mar

General Public: 10am, Thursday 10 Mar

Not a Football Family Member, want 10% off tickets and access to the pre-sale? Sign up here

Tickets: ticketmaster.com.au/AUSvGRE

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