The Socceroos will follow up January’s Asian Cup on home soil with an international friendly against world champion Germany in March.
Ange Postecoglou’s side will travel to Kaiserslautern to take on the world’s No.1 ranked side for an expected fixture to be held on the 25th before Germany faces Georgia in Tbilisi in a Euro 2016 qualifier.
German team manager Oliver Bierhoff let slip of the friendly against Australia and another against the United States scheduled for June at a press conference in Berlin before realising both fixtures had yet to be officially announced.
“Sometimes you have to give facts,” he joked.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) confirmed the leak.
“FFA is in advanced discussions with the DFB (German football association) about a friendly international and we hope to conclude those talks and confirm a match in the near future,” an FFA spokesperson said.
The Socceroos haven’t exactly lit the world on fire in recent months and will head into next weekend’s final Asian Cup warm up against Japan in Osaka with just one win from their past ten matches, including a winless group stage exit at this year’s World Cup.
Australia’s only victory in recent months came in a 3-2 result over Saudi Arabia in September before the Socceroos hit a new low-point while on a short tour of the Middle East in October, recording a nil-all draw with the United Arab Emirates and a 1-0 loss to Qatar.
FIFA has the Socceroos ranked as the world’s 94th best team- the lowest since the national team formed in 1922.
While the Socceroos are in desperate need of a bounce back, the world champs aren’t exactly blitzing the field either. Germany’s World Cup hangover has seen the nation lose a Brazil final rematch against Argentina 4-2 in Düsseldorf in September, scrape past the 37th ranked Scotland 2-1, get trounced 2-0 by Portugal and draw 1-1 with Ireland.
Australia defeated Germany 2-1 last time they met March 2011 in Monchengladbach.
Photo: Matt King/Getty Images
