Bringing the World Cup to Australia in 2018 filled the news wires this month, with the government stumping up an impressive $45.6m to support the bid. So the government is behind us, Pim is and of course Lowy is leading the trailblazing. However the bid will hinge on convincing the Europeans with their superior view of their domestic football, that Australia has the passion and facilities to host the world’s biggest sporting spectacle.

Elsewhere, Harry is back in Oz for minor hernia surgery, Lucas Neill has stunned West Ham management with a pay rise demand and Adelaide scrape past New Zealand part-timers Waikatere United to set up a rematch with ACL finalists Gamba Osaka in the Club World Cup.

Trevor Treharne
Deputy editor, Australian FourFourTwo

PS : The January issue of FourFourTwo is on sale - or subscribe now. It includes a One-On-One with Mark Bosnich who fields your questions and leaves no rock unturned as he muses over the highs and lows of his life and career, including what he thinks of Dwight Yorke and that Iran game. We also speak to Adelaide captain Travis Dodd about the ACL journey and the Club World Cup, plus we chart a year in the life of ‘The Special One’ Jose Mourinho.

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Four... things you must know about the week in football

Australia News
Dick Compo Battle Not Over, Say FFA
EXCLUSIVE: A year after Dick Advocaat reneged on a deal to coach the Socceroos, Football Federation Australia say they are more determined than ever to win financial compensation.

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Australia News
Pim Has No Fears About Harry
SOCCEROO head coach Pim Verbeek says he has no worries about Harry Kewell who is heading back to Oz for minor hernia surgery.

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Australia News
Muscat: I Won't Change
MELBOURNE Victory captain Kevin Muscat says he won't back down from confronting match officials despite his narrow escape from suspension following his clash with an assistant referee last weekend.

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Australia News
Neill Hammered For Pay Rise
SOCCEROO skipper Lucas Neill has stunned West Ham management with a pay rise demand while the club is facing a financial crisis.

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Four... things we loved this week

Australia News
50 Million Reasons To Dream
FRANK Lowy today said the Australia could now "dare to dream" as he welcomed the a $45.6 million government boost for the FFA's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

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Australia News
Pim Backs Oz World Cup Bid Over Dutch
PIM Verbeek was not aware of the $45m boost given to Australia's World Cup campaign but has thrown his support behind Australia 2018 potentially at the expense of Holland.

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Australia News
Waitakere Go Out With Pride Intact
WAITAKERE United coach Chris Milicich said his team made amends for last year's disappointing debut in the Club World Cup despite the 2-1 defeat against Adelaide United.

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Australia News
Adelaide: Now Bring On Gamba Again!
ADELAIDE United have scraped past New Zealand part-timers Waikatere United to set up a rematch with ACL finalists Gamba Osaka in the Club World Cup.

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Two... things that made us laugh

World News
Derby Suspend Carroll Over Row With Gaffer
DERBY have suspended goalkeeper Roy Carroll for two weeks following a "heated verbal exchange" with manager Paul Jewell.

World News
McDonald Unfazed By Curfew
SOCCEROO striker Scott McDonald insists Celtic's squad has no problems with the weekend city-centre curfew imposed on them by manager Gordon Strachan.