Written by Greg Stock

Sources: Doug Butcher, John Punshon and Thomas Esamie

Qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games commenced with a Preliminary Round divided into a two legged playoff against Chinese Taipei. The winner would go through to a spot in the First Qualifying Round.
Played: Wednesday February 7 2007				Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Australia Daniel Vukovic, Adrian Leijer (Robert Cornthwaite 73), Mark Milligan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Ruben Zadkovich, Stuart Musialik (Leigh Broxham 46), Spase Dilevski, Kristian Sarkies, David Williams, Bruce Djite, Nathan Burns (Dario Vidosic 62). Caution: Topor-Stanley 1 Goals: Milligan 7, Burns 10, Sarkies 45, 63, 84, 89, Djite 48, Topor-Stanley 62, 78, Cornthwaite 81, Vidosic 90	11	-	0	Chinese Taipei Lu Kun-Chi, Tsai Shang-An, Yu Chih-Hung (Wu Cheng-Hsien 55), Chen Yu-Lin, Chen Yi-Wei, Huang Chang-Tsung (Chen Yen-Ting 72), Hung Kai-Chun, Chen Po-Liang, Hsieh Meng-Hsuan, Chang Han, Huang Wei-Yi. Caution: Shang-An 60
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan) Assistant Referees: Yoshikazu Hiroshima & Masaaaki Iemoto (Japan) Attendance: 1,459 Coach: Rob Baan (Australia)
Played: Wednesday February 14 2007				Venue: Zhongshan Stadium, Zhongshan, Taipei
Chinese Taipei Lu Kun-Chi (Hsu Chih-Chang 84), Tsai Sheng-An, Wu Cheng-Hslen (Chen Yu-Lin 68), Chen Yen-Ting (Chen Shen-Fu 63), Chen Yi-Wei, Hsu Hsiang-Yu, Hung Kai-Chun, Chen Po-Liang, Hsieh Meng-Hsuen, Chang Hen, Huang Wei-Yi. Cautions: Sheng-An 30, Wei-Yi 78, Po-Liang 90+1	0	-	1	Australia Daniel Vukovic, Adrian Leijer (Steven O'Dor 46), Mark Milligan (Ben Kennedy 87), Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Ruben Zadkovich, Leigh Broxham, Spase Dilevski, Adam D'Apuzzo (Robert Cornthwaite 59), Vince Lia, Dario Vidosic, Bruce Djite. Caution: Zadkovich 65 Goal: Milligan 66
Referee: Rosdi Shaharul (Malaysia) Assistant Referees: Seadon Mohamad & Mohd Kamil Tumin (Malaysia) Attendance: 2,500 Coach: Rob Baan (Australia)
The Olyroos participated in the Lunar New Year Cup in Hong Kong. Drawn against the Under 23 team from China the loss saw the Chinese play off in the final while the Olyroos played in the 3rd v 4th places playoff against a Hong Kong League XI.
Played: Sunday February 18 2007				Venue: Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
China Zeng Chen, Zhao Ming, Lv Jian-Jun, Yuan Wei-Wei, Dai Lin, Zhou Hai-Bin, Yu Hei, Shen Long-Yuan (Jiang Ning 73), Li Wei (Dai Xin-Hua 59), Zhu Ting (Wan Hou-Liang 89), Jiang Chen (Yang Xu 75). Cautions: Dai Lin 26, Wei-Wei 72, Yu Hei 81 Goals: Cornthwaite 7 Own Goal, Jiang Ning 87	2	-	0	Australia Daniel Vukovic, Robert Cornthwaite, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Spase Dilevski, Ruben Zadkovich, Steven O'Dor, Troy Hearfield, Adam D'Apuzzo, Dario Vidosic, Mark Bridge (Sebastian Ryall 65), Jason Naidovski. Cautions: O'Dor 9, Dilevski 29, Topor-Stanley 42, Ryall 79
Attendance: 14,633 Coaches: Rob Baan (Australia), Ratomir Dujkovic (China)
The Olyroos played in the 3rd v 4th places playoff of the Lunar New Year Cup against a Hong Kong League XI - the game was 2-2 at the end of regulation time and was won 5-3 on penalties.
Played: Wednesday February 21 2007				Venue: Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
Hong Kong League XI Chan Domingos, Gerard Guy Ambesse, Ivan Jevic, Chan Wai Ho (Man Pel Tak 79), Cristiano Preigchadt Cordeiro, Wilfred Ndzedzeni Bamnjo (Lee Wai Lun 71), Lee Kin Wo (Festus Beise 71), Vandre Segrillo Monteiro, Fledimir da Cruz Freitas (Li Haigiang 66), Keith Jerome Gumbs, Christian Kwesi Annan. Caution: Man Pel Tak 89 Goals: Beise 72, Gumbs 82 pen	2 (3)	-	2 (5)	Australia Tando Velaphi, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Adrian Leijer (Robert Cornthwaite 63), Steven O'Dor, Troy Hearfield (Dario Vidosic 60), Leigh Broxham, Vince Lia (Ben Griffin 67), Kristian Sarkies, Mark Bridge, Nathan Burns (Jason Naidovski 85), Bruce Djite. Cautions: Topor-Stanley 25, Broxham 61, O'Dor 61, Sarkies 86 Goals: Burns 27, Djite 66
Attendance: 13,564 Coaches: Casemiro Mior (Hong Kong League XI), Rob Baan (Australia)
The 2008 Olympic Games First Qualifying Round commenced in February with a game against Iran in Tehran. The group contained Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Played: Wednesday February 28 2007				Venue: Azardi Stadium, Tehran, Iran
Iran Soush Melani, Mohsen Hamadi, Al Hamoudi, Ebrahim Karimi Senjid, Hossein Keebi, Mehrded Pooladi, Mehrdad Oladi Ghadkolsel (Shahram Goudarzi 67), Adel Kolakhaj, Omidreza Ravankhah (Mohammad Esmaell Nazari 90), Ali Nazifkar, Milad Midavoodi (Hader Ahmadi 76). Cautions: Pooladi 46, Keebi 90	0	-	0	Australia Danny Vukovic, Trent McClenahan (Ben Griffin 70), Adrian Leijer, Mark Milligan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Leigh Broxham, Kristian Sarkies, David Williams (Dario Vidosic 82), Bruce Djite, Mark Bridge, Nathan Burns (Nick Ward 70). Cautions: Burns 45, Broxham 53, Griffin 70
Referee: Abdullah Dor Mohammad Balideh (Qatar) Assistant Referees: Salah All Mohamad Mansoor & Waleed Sultan Al-Mannai (Qatar) Attendance: 4,000 Coaches: Vinko Begovic (Iran), Rob Baan (Australia)
Played: Sunday March 11 2007				Venue: Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park, Sydney
Adelaide Blue Eagles (South Australia) (Lineup Not Known)	0	-	1	Australia Lineup Included; Kristian Sarkies, Bruce Djite. Goal: Djite 30
Coach: Rob Baan (Australia)
Played: Wednesday March 14 2007				Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Australia Danny Vukovic, Ben Griffin, Adrian Leijer, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Leigh Broxham, Kristian Sarkies, Nick Ward (Vince Lia 81), Nathan Burns, Bruce Djite, Mark Bridge (Troy Hearfield 81), Adam D'Apuzzo. Goal: Sarkies 58	1	-	1	Jordan Mohammad Mahmood Jaber Shatnawi, Mouneef Hamad Ababneh, Ammar Ali Ibrahim Abu Aleega, Isam Al-Mbeydin (Amer Qasem Wrikat 58), Mohammad Ahmed Al-Mahameh, Odel Yusuf Ismael Al-Salfy, Issa Husamaidean Issa Al-Sepah (Mohammad Khier Abdel Razzaq Saeed Al-Jamal 83), Mohamad Othman Mhammad Al-Meharmeh (Musa Hammad 79), Ahmed Abdul-Haleem Abdul-Salem Al-Zugheir, Khalil Hala Mohammad Fetian, Hussein Zied Odtallah. Cautions: Al-Zugheir 47, Wrikat 90+2> Goal: Al-Zugheir 86
Referee: Chalwat Kunsita (Thailand) Assistant Referees: Chatchei Premsuk & Sitthikhun Kleinklard (Thailand) Attendance: 1,296 Coaches: Rob Baan (Australia), Nihad Sougar (Jordan)
Played: Wednesday March 28 2007				Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Australia Danny Vukovic, Adrian Leijer, Mark Milligan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Ruben Zadkovich, Leigh Broxham, Neil Kilkenny, Nick Ward (David Williams 64), Kristian Sarkies, Bruce Djite (Nathan Burns 70), Mark Bridge. Cautions: Milligan 18, Djite 67, Leijer 89 Goals: Topor-Stanley 73, Sarkies 90+3	2	-	0	Saudi Arabia Waleed Ali, Majed Rafa Al-Amri, Hassan Mueth Fallatah, Saad Al-Thyeb, Jufain Al-Bischl, Abdullatif Al-Ghannam, Mostaz Al-Mousa, Saleh Abdullah Al-Ghwinem (Mohammad Ibrahim Mohammad Al-Sahlawi 70), Ahmed Al-Suwalleh (Yousef Mansoor Al-Salem 54), Abdulleziz Saeed Al-Dawsari (Ibrahim All Sharaheli 78), Mohammed Saeed Al-Anbar. Cautions: Al-Ghwinem 22, Al-Anbar 40, Fallatah 47, Al-Thyab 73
Referee: Abdul Malik Abdul Bashir (Singapore) Assistant Referees: Hussein Nazeer & K.Kalimuthu Kashiappan (Singapore) Attendance: 3,434 Coach: Rob Baan (Australia)
Played: Wednesday April 18 2007				Venue: Prince Mohammad Bin Fahad Stadium, Demmam, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Waleed Ali, Majed Rafa Al-Amri, Hassan Muath Falletah, Abdullah Shuhail, Jufain Al-Bishi, Ibrahim All Sharahell, Abdullatif Al-Ghannam, Mostaz Al-Mousa, Mohammad Ibrahim Mohammad Al-Sahlawi (Ahmed Al-Suwelleh 65), Yousef Mansoor Al-Salem (Mohammad Saad Al-Anbar 90+2), Abdullaziz Saeed Al-Dawsari (Abdullah Ahmed Al-Asta 89). Goals: Al-Bishi 60 pen, Al-Salem 67	2	-	1	Australia Danny Vukovic, Adrian Leijer, Ben Griffin (Peter Eleftherakis 62), Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Ruben Zadkovich, Stuart Musialik, Kristian Sarkies, Leigh Broxham (Adam D'Apuzzo 64), James Troisi, Bruce Djite (Nathan Burns 82), Mark Bridge. Cautions: Leijer 8, Griffin 40, Zadkovich 57, Musialik 71, Vukovic 85 Goal: Bridge 45+2
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)Assistant Referees: Abdukhamidullo Rasulov & Valentin Kovalenko (Uzebikstan) Attendance: 11,000 Coach: Rob Baan (Australia)
Played: Wednesday May 16 2007				Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Australia Danny Vukovic, Trent McClenahan, Aaron Downes, Mark Milligan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Leigh Broxham, Kristian Sarkies (Bruce Djite 81), Neil Kilkenny, James Troisi (Dario Vidosic 90+3), Mark Bridge, Nathan Burns (Nick Ward 70) Caution: Topor-Stanley 90+3 Red Card: Bridge 65 Goals: Downes 3, Bridge 42 pen, Troisi 52	3	-	1	Iran Soush Makani, Ali Hamoudi, Mohammad Esmael Nazari, Ebrahim Karimi Senjid (Milad Midavoodi 67), Hossein Kaebi, Milad Mirtorabi Mahabedi (Shahram Goudazi 70), Mehrdad Pooladi, Adel Kolshkaj, Omidreza Ravankhah (Morteza Aziz-Mohammadi 20), Ali Nazifkar, Vahid Amraei. Cautions: Kaebi 42, Nazari 65, Pooladi 68, Amraei 90+3 Goal: Amraei 4
Referee: Saad Kameel Al-Fadhi (Kuwait) Assistant Referees: Suleiman Al-Shammari & Abdullah Akbar (Kuwait) Attendance: 6,750 Coach: Rob Baan (Australia)
Played: Wednesday June 6 2007				Venue: King Abdullah International Stadium, Amman, Jordan
Jordan Mohamad Shatnawi, Mouneef Hamed Ababneh, Ammar Ali Ibrahim Abu Aleega, Isam Al-Mbaydin (Ahmed Abdul-Haleem Abdul Salam Al-Zugheir 67), Mohammad Ahmed Al-Maharmeh, Mohammed Khler Abdel Razzaq Saeed Al-Jamal, Odai Yusuf Ismaeel Al-Saify, Issa Husamaldean Issa Al-Sapah (Mohammad Al-Zoubi 73), Mohannad Othman Mohammad Al-Maharmeh, Khalil Helal Mohammad Fetian, Hussein Ziad Odtallah (Mohammad Makawi 76). Cautions: Al-Mbaydin 19, Makawi 80	0	-	4	Australia Danny Vukovic, Trent McClenahan, Aaron Downes, Mark Milligan, Adrian Leijer, Ruben Zadkovich, Neil Kilkenny, David Williams (Adam Casey 75), Nathan Burns (Nick Ward 59), Bruce Djite, Dario Vidosic. Cautions: Downes 19, Milligan 69 Goals: Williams 54, 73, Ward 66, Vidosic 90+2
Referee: Jasim Karim (Bahrain) Assistant Referees: Khalad Rashed Salem Al-Allan & Jaafar Abdulla Mohamad (Bahrain) Attendance: 100 Coach: Rob Baan (Australia)
The Olyroos qualified for the second round of Qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games finals. Australia were drawn in a group with Iraq, North Korea and Lebanon with the group matches conducted on a home and away basis.
Played: Wednesday August 22 2007				Venue: Al-Rayyan Stadium, Doha, Qatar
Iraq Mohammed Kadhum, Mohammed All Karim, All Hussein Rehema Al-Ka'abi, Nabeel Abbas Lefta, Dira Mohammad Habelb, Ala's Abdul-Zahrah Khashen Al-Azzawi (Halguard Mulla Mohammad Taher 76), Karrar Jassim Mohammed (Haider Sabah Hassan 76), Fareed Majeed Ghadban, Mustafa Karim Abdullah, Ali Abbas Mshehed Al-Hlifi, Ahmed Mohammed Abbas Al-Zobaie (Samer Saeed Mujbel 46). Caution: Sabah Hassen 86	0	-	0	Australia Danny Vukovic, Adrian Leijer, Matthew Spiranovic, Trent McClenahan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Ruben Zadkovich (Neil Kilkenny 68), Stuart Musialik, Nick Ward (David Micevski 90+1), Nathan Burns (Dario Vidosic 80), Bruce Djite, David Williams. Cautions:Burns 26, Ward 54
Referee: Sun Baojic (China) Assitant Referees: Liu Tiajun & Hai Tan (China) Attendance: 1,500 Coach: Rob Baan (Australia)
Played: Saturday September 8 2007				Venue: International Sports Centre, Newcastle
Australia Danny Vukovic, Adrian Leijer, Mark Milligan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Ruben Zadkovich, Stuart Musialik, Kristian Sarkies, Nick Ward (Bruce Djite 64), Billy Celeski (Leigh Broxham 89), Mark Bridge, David Williams (David Micevski 74). Caution: Leijer 74 Goal: Milligan 49	1	-	0	Democratic People's Republic Of Korea Ri Myong-Guk, Cha Jong-Hyok, Ri Jun-Il, Ri Kwang-Chon, Kim Yu-Choi (Kim Kyong-Il), Jon Kwang-Ik, Pak Nam-Choi, Jong Su-Hyok, Pak Choi-Jin, Choe Choi-Man (Kim Kwang-Hyok 70), An Choi-Hyok. Cautions: Myong-Guk 45, Kwang-Chon 61, Jun-Il 72
Referee: Hiroyoshi Takayama (Japan) Assistant Referees: Toshiyuki Nagi & Hiroshi Tezuka (Japan) Attendance 4,903 Coaches: Graham Arnold (Australia)
Played: Wednesday September 12 2007				Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Australia Danny Vukovic, Mark Milligan, Trent McClenahan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Ruben Zadkovich, Stuart Musialik (David Micevski 80), Kristian Sarkies (Ersan Gulum 85), Nick Ward, Billy Celeski, Mark Bridge, Bruce Djite (David Williams 74). Caution: Musialik Goals: Ward 6, Bridge 24, Williams 90+3	3	-	0	Lebanon Hassan Abbas Moghnieh, Ali Mahmoud Al-Saadi, Hussein Hassan Amine, Abbas Ahmad Atwi, Mohamad Ahmed Atwi (Mohamad Ramal 89), Imad Kessam-Saad (Hassan Hamden 70), Ali Hamie (Ayman El Adib 82), Ali Yascoub, Diaa Al Houssein Berro, Samer Zeineddine, Hassan Maatouk.
Referee: Kadyrbek Chymybekov (Kyrgyzstan) Assistant Referees: Viktor Serazitidinov & Rustam Seidov (Uzbekistan) Attendance: 4,171 Coach: Graham Arnold (Australia)
Played: Saturday November 17 2007				Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Australia Danny Vukovic, Adrian Leijer, Mark Milligan, Trent McClenahan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Ruben Zadkovich (Nick Ward 77), Kristian Sarkies, Leigh Broxham (Aaron Downes 89), Mark Bridge (David Williams 71), Dario Vidosic, James Troisi. Caution: Zadkovich 26 Goals: Leijer 19, Milligan 58	2	-	0	Iraq Mohammed Kadhum, Mohammed All Karim, Saad Attiya Hafidh, Nabeel Abbas Lafta, Dira Mohammed Habeib, Khaldoun Ibrahim Mohammed Albu-Mohammed, Ala's Abdul-Zahrah Kheshen Al-Azzawi, Karrar Jassim Mohammed, Samer Saeed Mujbel (All Mansour Alwan 79), Ali Abbas Mshehed Al-Hilfi (Mustafa Karim Abdullah 36), Ahmed Mohammed Abbas Al-Zobeie (Haider Sabeh Hassan 69). Cautions: Jassim Mohammed 13, Albu-Mohammed 75
Referee: Abdul Malik Abdul Bashir (Singapore) Assistant Referees: Goh Gak Pheng Jeffrey & Shamsul Maidin (Singapore) Attendance: 13,088 Coach: Graham Arnold (Australia)
The Olyroos qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games finals with a 1-1 draw in their final second round qualifying game away to North Korea in Pyongyang.
Played: Wednesday November 21 2007				Venue: Kim Il Sung Stadium, Pyongyang, North Korea
Democratic People's Republic Of Korea Ri Myong-Guk, Ri Jun-Il, Jon Kwang Ik (Ri Kwang-Hyok 68), Kim Kuk-Jin, Pak Nam-Choi, Ri Choi-Myong, Kim Kyong-Il, Pak Choi-Min (Ri Hung-Ryong 43 (An Choi Hyok 82)), Yun Yong-Il, Pak Song-Choi, Jong Choi-Min. Caution: Hung-Ryong 73 Goal: Choi-Min 10	1	-	1	Australia Danny Vukovic, Adrian Leijer, Mark Milligan, Trent McClenahan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Ruben Zadkovich, Kristian Sarkies, Leigh Broxham (Nathan Burns 37 (Aaron Downes 90+2)), James Troisi, Mark Bridge, Dario Vidosic (Nick Ward 65). Cautions: Broxham 33, Troisi 84 Goal: Leijer 70
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria) Assistant Referees: Hamdi Al-Sheikh Al-Kadri & Tammam Hamdoun (Syria) Attendance: 8,500 Coach: Graham Arnold (Australia)

Last updated: 4 February 2021