Watishista Backwards is going to be a very happy camper! The rumored Australian expansion of the ICC has been confirmed!
FROM THE GUARDIAN
Real Madrid to tour Australia for July 2015 tournament
Manchester City and Inter Milan favourites to join Spanish giants
Friendlies in Melbourne will be part of International Champions CupCristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid are coming to Melbourne as part of a feast of international football next July.
The series of friendlies, part of the International Champions Cup, will take place at the MCG on July 18-24.
The reigning European champions and FIFA Club of the 20th Century will be joined by an English Premier League team and Italian Serie A side.
Organisers said the other teams, rumoured to be Manchester City and Inter Milan, would be revealed in the next few weeks.
The long-rumoured event was confirmed on Monday morning by the Victorian sports minister Damien Drum.
Drum said he expected the three fixtures would generate around $50m to the local economy.
He thanked AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, which has rights to the MCG during the winter, for scheduling their season around the tournament.
“It has taken some negotiations but the goodwill in which these negotiations have taken place deserves credit,” he said.
The three teams will play in a round-robin tournament, which has been staged predominantly in North America for the last two years.
Ronaldo is the current holder of the FIFA Ballon d’Or handed out annually to the world’s best player.
“I got to play in Spain for six years and experience how big Real Madrid were,” said former Socceroo John Aloisi, who played in the Primera Liga for Osasuna and Alaves.
“They buy the biggest players in the world and make it work. Watching them live is another experience. I can’t wait.”
Also in Madrid’s squad is Colombia’s James Rodriguez, who was voted the best player at this year’s World Cup, France striker Karim Benzema, Wales winger Gareth Bale and Spain stars Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos.
Aloisi said he expected soccer to enjoy a year in the limelight, with the matches coming after Australia hosts the Asian Cup in January.
The matches also add to a bumper 2015 for the MCG – which is also hosting the Cricket World Cup final and a State of Origin match on top of the AFL grand final.
That means that there is the potential for Asia tour dates as well. You can pre-register for more info and the presale info here.
I’m bummed I won’t see them play this summer but I’m psyched for everyone on that side of the World and hey, I’ve got the Women’s World Cup in Canada to look forward to.
– Lozil
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July, that would be winter in Australia, and the start of the monsoon rain season in Asia. I wish they would do a SE Asian tour!
I’m in Europe in July. I want to cry. This is a sick joke RM! 😛 . Lozil, I think you should make the trip over to australia since I won’t be here! It’s only right!
And yes it’s going to be cold and raining! Whyyy
Oh no! That totally sucks. They may be in Munich in early August playing in the Audi Cup but that’s not confirmed yet.
I should totally go to Australia. I have good friends living in Adelaide that have been encouraging me for a visit but I think financially, such a long trip would be out of the cards this year. I’m traveling for Dr. P’s bachelorette and wedding so that’s going to probably be the extent of my travels barring a few short trips elsewhere.