Australia vs. Greece Preview
The Soccer Squirrel previews tonight's friendly between Australia and Greece.
Make no mistake tonight’s game against Greece is extremely important. Winning or losing is irrelevant, the aim is to be “fit, physically and mentally, tactically and in the strategic way of playing” in preparation for the World Cup opener against Japan. The game will be played in front of more than 90,000 passionate Melbournians at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Socceroo coach Guus Hiddink has said that he will not be using the lead-up matches to give fringe players an opportunity to force their way into the best XI. Hiddink will field his strongest possible line-up but will be without the injured Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, John Aloisi and Josh Kennedy. It is widely tipped that Hiddink will use a 4-2-3-1 formation for the World Cup and as this game is a rehearsal he will implement the same formation. Mile Sterjovski and Josip Skoko are the beneficiaries of positions in the starting line-up replacing Kewell and Cahill.
One position that could provide a shock inclusion is the goalkeeper with sources close to the Aussie camp suggesting Zeljko Kalac may have forced his way into the team in front of Mark Schwarzer. The giant AC Milan goalkeeper known as "Spider" has impressed Hiddink in training and the decision will go right down to the wire. If Kalac impresses against Greece, Schwarzer - the hero against Uruguay - may find it hard to get back into the team for the opening World Cup game against Japan on June 12.
Mark Viduka will play as a lone striker in attack for most of the game with other striking options Aloisi and Kennedy out injured. Sterjovski will fill in for Kewell on the left, Jason Culina will play behind Viduka and Marco Bresciano will operate on the right wing. Vince Grella and Skoko will be the defensive midfielders shielding the back four of Scott Chipperfield, Lucas Neill, Brett Emerton and the re-instated Craig Moore. Hiddink will make few changes before 70 minutes but after this time expect the fringe players to be given a run.
The European Champions Greece will be looking to regain some respect against Australia as they failed to qualify for the World Cup. The opposition were chosen wisely as they will provide the Socceroos with a similar brand of football to World Cup opponents Croatia. With Melbourne’s strong Greek links the crowd atmosphere will be electric and with Greece fielding their strongest line-up the intensity required will be similar to a big game.
Likely teams:
Australia (4-2-3-1): Zeljko Kalac; Brett Emerton, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Scott Chipperfield; Vince Grella, Josip Skoko; Jason Culina, Marco Bresciano, Mile Sterjovski; Mark Viduka.
Greece (4-5-1): Antonios Nikopolidis; Georgios Seitaridis, Traianos Dellas, Ioannis Goumas, Takis Fyssas; Theo Zagorakis, Kostas Katsouranis, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Angelo Basinas, Georgios Karagounis; Angelo Charisteas.
Make no mistake tonight’s game against Greece is extremely important. Winning or losing is irrelevant, the aim is to be “fit, physically and mentally, tactically and in the strategic way of playing” in preparation for the World Cup opener against Japan. The game will be played in front of more than 90,000 passionate Melbournians at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Socceroo coach Guus Hiddink has said that he will not be using the lead-up matches to give fringe players an opportunity to force their way into the best XI. Hiddink will field his strongest possible line-up but will be without the injured Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, John Aloisi and Josh Kennedy. It is widely tipped that Hiddink will use a 4-2-3-1 formation for the World Cup and as this game is a rehearsal he will implement the same formation. Mile Sterjovski and Josip Skoko are the beneficiaries of positions in the starting line-up replacing Kewell and Cahill.
One position that could provide a shock inclusion is the goalkeeper with sources close to the Aussie camp suggesting Zeljko Kalac may have forced his way into the team in front of Mark Schwarzer. The giant AC Milan goalkeeper known as "Spider" has impressed Hiddink in training and the decision will go right down to the wire. If Kalac impresses against Greece, Schwarzer - the hero against Uruguay - may find it hard to get back into the team for the opening World Cup game against Japan on June 12.
Mark Viduka will play as a lone striker in attack for most of the game with other striking options Aloisi and Kennedy out injured. Sterjovski will fill in for Kewell on the left, Jason Culina will play behind Viduka and Marco Bresciano will operate on the right wing. Vince Grella and Skoko will be the defensive midfielders shielding the back four of Scott Chipperfield, Lucas Neill, Brett Emerton and the re-instated Craig Moore. Hiddink will make few changes before 70 minutes but after this time expect the fringe players to be given a run.
The European Champions Greece will be looking to regain some respect against Australia as they failed to qualify for the World Cup. The opposition were chosen wisely as they will provide the Socceroos with a similar brand of football to World Cup opponents Croatia. With Melbourne’s strong Greek links the crowd atmosphere will be electric and with Greece fielding their strongest line-up the intensity required will be similar to a big game.
Likely teams:
Australia (4-2-3-1): Zeljko Kalac; Brett Emerton, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Scott Chipperfield; Vince Grella, Josip Skoko; Jason Culina, Marco Bresciano, Mile Sterjovski; Mark Viduka.
Greece (4-5-1): Antonios Nikopolidis; Georgios Seitaridis, Traianos Dellas, Ioannis Goumas, Takis Fyssas; Theo Zagorakis, Kostas Katsouranis, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Angelo Basinas, Georgios Karagounis; Angelo Charisteas.
posted by The Soccer Squirrel at 8:21 am
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