Australia B is a secondary soccer team occasionally as support for the Australia national soccer team. The team has only ever played nine matches; winning one, drawing six, and losing two. It has been inactive since 1985.
Concept and history The national B team was designed to give games to players who were being considered for call-up to the full national squad. Generally, the team played in friendly matches against other international B teams or club sides.
Australia B were one of several teams which entered a "World Series" held in Australia in 1984, which included Rangers, Juventus, Australia A, Nottingham Forest and Iraklis. They were coached in the tournament by Eddie Thomson
In 1985, Australia B played two games against China in the leadup to the 1987 Ampol Cup between China and Australia. They were coached by John Margaritis in both games.
In 2007, then-Australia coach Graham Arnold, himself a former B international, flagged the idea of reviving the national B team.
Statistics Results and fixtures 1984
1985
Historical statistics Highest attendance: 18,300 vs. Iraklis at Melbourne. Biggest victory: 2–0 vs. , 23 September 1985 at Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan Heaviest defeat: 2–4 vs. Rangers, 7 June 1984 at Adamstown Oval, Newcastle
Player records Most appearances RankNameCapsGoalsYears1Jim Patikas901984–19852Steve Blair711984Tony Henderson701984Mike O'Shea7019845Charlie Egan611984Peter Katholos601984Peter Lewis601984Richard Miranda601984–1985John O'Shea601984
Goalscorers RankNameCapsGoalsYears1Doug Brown5219842Graham Arnold211985Steve Blair711984Charlie Egan611984Tom McCulloch311984–1985Mike Petersen211985Paul Wade211985
Managers Eddie Thomson 1984 John Margaritis 1985
References