Bahrain Match To Be Shown Live By Sbs

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SBS has confirmed the Socceroos first foray into Asia when they play Bahrain in the 2007 Asian Cup qualifiers, will be shown live to all centres.

The coverage will begin at 2.15am AEDT on Thursday 23 February. For all other centres please check your local guides.

For those unable to watch the match live on SBS, www.footballaustralia.com.au will provide a Live Match Update, also commencing at 2.15am AEDT.

The match is the first of six Asian Cup qualifiers to be played this year, with the remaining five to be played after the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany. Australia, who will also face Kuwait and Lebanon in their qualification games, need to finish in the top two to qualify for the 2007 Asian Cup finals.

The full schedule is: Bahrain v Australia - 22 February 2006 (23 February AEDT) Australia v Kuwait - 16 August 2006 Australia v Lebanon - 1 September 2006 Kuwait v Australia - 6 September 2006 (AEST TBC) Australia v Bahrain - 11 October 2006 Lebanon v Australia - 15 November 2006 (AEDT TBC)

AEDT - Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time AEST - Australia Eastern Standard Time

The majority of the Socceroos squad have arrived in Bahrain already, with only those players involved in games on Sunday, including David Carney, Alvin Ceccoli (Sydney FC) and Michael Valkanis (Adelaide United) who were involved in yesterday-s epic Major Semi Final clash. The match provides the perfect opportunity for a host of fringe Socceroos squad members to push their claims for a place in the World Cup squad.