No upcoming games
Future matches are yet to be scheduled
No upcoming games
Future matches are yet to be scheduled

Please update your browser

Unfortunately you cannot view this website on the current version of your browser. Please either update your browser or use an alternative browser.

Jun 08, 2011   |  3:30PM AET

Socceroos spur Archie

Socceroos spur Archie

Melbourne Victory look set to be the big winners from Archie Thompson’s national comeback.

Melbourne Victory look set to be the big winners from Archie Thompson’s national comeback.

The 32-year-old ended more than two years in the international wilderness by featuring in the Socceroos 0-0 draw against Serbia at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

The hometown hero was handed a starting berth by Australian coach Holger Osieck and showed some positive signs during a 66-minute performance before being substituted for former Victory teammate Robbie Kruse.

Thompson wants to use his return to the green and gold as a springboard for the next A-League season with Victory.

“I was happy to get a run against good quality opposition – I’ll take the positives out of that, work hard and enjoy my holiday,” Thompson said.

“Having the knee done, I haven’t had a holiday for 18 months. I’m going to enjoy that and hopefully come back firing next year.”

“I’m confident I can get some kind of fitness back again, a lot of strengthening work and hopefully you still haven’t seen the best of me.”

Thompson may well also find himself in tandem with Harry Kewell in Victory’s colours next season, something he was quizzed about post-match.

“If he comes back it will be great for the league and if he does come to Melbourne it will be great for Melbourne Victory,” Thompson said.

Thompson reflected on the journey he’s taken back to international level after being plagued by serious knee and hamstring injuries for the bulk of the past 15 months.

“I was a bit nervous, I haven’t felt nervous for a long time. Obviously coming out in front of the home crowd that’s why the nerves were there,” Thompson said.

“To come out and play against a quality team like Serbia, and do my best for an hour I was pretty impressed with that.”

“I’m a striker, I like to score goals and you get judged on your goals, I just wish I could have put something in the back of the net.”

Coach Osieck spoke about Thompson-s contribution to the Socceroos’ cause post-match.

“He knows how to take on defenders and how to exploit space, he left a positive impression,” Osieck said.