Luongo: I Loved It - Ipswich Town News
Town midfielder Massimo Luongo says he felt like he was back home after making his return to the Australia side after more than four years away.
The 31-year-old impressed as the Socceroos beat New Zealand 2-0 at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium to win the Soccer Ashes.
"Amazing, amazing, honestly,” Luongo told Soccer Australia following the match. "I just enjoyed it. From minute one, I just went out there, I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t building it up in my head or anything, I just felt ‘This is nice’.
"I felt like I’m back home. Obviously I’m in England but it’s second home to me, it was incredible.”
Luongo, who took his caps total to 44, admitted last week that at times he had doubts that he’d ever get back into the squad and that finally making his return made all the hard work worth while.
"One hundred per cent,” he reflected. "The England game, I was thinking then it would have been little cherry on top. I was looking forward to that. It didn’t happen but today Arnie [manager Graham Arnold] put me in, put his full trust in me.
"I think the boys played really well, we had a lot of freedom, played with a lot of freedom and I think you can tell when the older players are enjoying it like me that it filters down to the young ones and the boys making their debuts.
"I’m just happy to get on the pitch and do what I can do and I think sometimes I get carried away a little bit but I just loved it, I loved it.”
What to read next:
Khan: Don't Believe Everything You Hear or Everything You ReadFulham vice-chairman and director of football operations Tony Khan has urged fans not to believe everything they read or hear regarding the vacant manager’s job at Craven Cottage with some sources reporting Blues boss Kieran McKenna is close to be appointed as the successor to Marco Silva, who recently departed West London for Benfica.
Town Youngsters Reach Last Eight at MagiCupAn academy side made up of players from the U11s, U12s and U13s reached the last eight of the MagiCup, which was played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida last week.
Wark Book Ideal For Father's DayWith Father’s Day only just over a week away, the John Wark book
He’s Here, He’s There makes an ideal present with only a handful of the collector's edition still available.
Butcher Documentary on ITV4 TonightButcher: Invisible Wounds, the documentary on Town and England legend Terry Butcher and the death of his son Chris, a former captain in the Royal Artillery, who suffered from PTSD after serving in Afghanistan, is being screened on ITV4 this evening (10pm).
U21s Friendly at MildenhallTown’s U21s will play Thurlow Nunn Premier League Mildenhall at their Recreation Way ground on Saturday 18th July (KO 3pm).
Striker Wilson Remains On Town's ListStriker Callum Wilson, who is set to leave West Ham United on a free transfer this summer, remains on Town’s list of potential recruits, TWTD understands.