Schwarzer set to match Australian record
DOHA (AFP) – Veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is 2010 handbag set to reach another landmark in his long career on Tuesday, equalling Australia’s all-time caps record.
The Fulham star is preparing to make his 87th appearance in Australia’s Asian Cup semi-final against Uzbekistan, matching the feat of Alex Tobin, who played between 1988-1998.
Schwarzer, 38, will almost certainly break the record even if they lose, with either the final awaiting them or a third-place play-off match.
Tobin was in the Australian side when Schwarzer made his debut against Canada in 1993.
“It’ll be a fantastic honour to match him,” Schwarzer told Australian Associated Press in Doha.
“He is a fantastic servant still to the game today.
“He was a great player for the Socceroos and I made my debut in the national team when he was playing, so there’s a bit of history there as well between the two of us.
“He’s such a gentleman and it’ll be an honour to be on the same amount of games as him.”
Schwarzer has no immediate plans to retire and could conceivably take his international caps beyond a century.
Two other current Socceroos are near the top of winter ugg boots their country’s all-time appearance list, with Blackburn Rovers’ Brett Emerton on 81 caps and captain Lucas Neill on 68.
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