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(Sports) Int'l football stars arrive in Australia this week for ICC tournament

Xinhua, July 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

Four of world football's heavyweight clubs descend Down Under this week for one of the biggest off-season extravaganzas seen in Australia.

The International Champions Cup (ICC) will be played in Australia for the first time -- featuring Manchester City, AS Roma and Real Madrid -- when it makes its much-anticipated Australian stop later this week, while Premier League club Liverpool is also scheduled to play two friendlies.

Manchester City have already arrived in the country ahead of their first match -- a friendly against affiliate club Melbourne City FC -- while fellow ICC opponents Real Madrid and AS Roma are expected to arrive on Monday evening and on Wednesday respectively.

Manchester City hit the training track on Saturday, with a number of first-team stars still yet to join the group. Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany and Samir Nasri are among those already here, with David Silva and Joe Hart expected to join the group before the first match.

Meanwhile Real Madrid's Superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived in Melbourne amid the country's coldest snap of weather in more than a decade. He has already been spotted shopping and getting a haircut, having arrived well before his teammates ahead of the Spanish team's first ICC match against Roma at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday July 18. That match kicks off the three-game series in Melbourne, with Roma to take on Manchester City on July 21, followed lastly by Manchester City and Real Madrid on July 24.

Liverpool will also play a two-match tour against local sides Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United beginning in Brisbane on Friday. The Reds then head to Adelaide to play their namesake in a friendly on July 20.

Liverpool is expected to arrive in Brisbane on Wednesday.

At least 350,000 tickets have been sold for the five marquee matches, with sell-outs expected at both Adelaide and Brisbane, while the three matches held in Melbourne are expected to draw more than 80,000 revelers each.

The Victorian government estimates the three-match ICC tour will bring in nearly 40 million U.S. dollars into the economy, with thousands expected to make the trip from interstate and overseas to see some of the world's best players in action. Endi