Nine of Australia's team for the first leg of their World Cup 2002 play-off with Urugay play their football in Britain. Socceroos boss Frank Farina has named an experienced, unchanged line-up for tomorrow's clash with the South Americans in Melbourne and leading the attack will be Leeds pair Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell.
"It's always good to have a fully-fit squad with everyone available. You have different situations when players aren't in for one reason or another," said Farina. "But Kewell and Viduka are very good. Both have been involved at many times over the years and I have every confidence in them. The squad's gelled well and we're ready. We've got reasonably high expectations. We're mentally prepared. Maybe we'll have to produce our best football to win tomorrow night, but that's what we're prepared to do," he added.
Other Premiership stars who will feature in the game include Middlesbrough midfielder Paul Okon, who will captain the team, and his team-mate on Teesside, goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. Wolves defender Kevin Muscat, Craig Moore and Tony Vidmar of Rangers, Shaun Murphy of Sheffield United and Birmingham's Stan Lazaridis are the other British-based players in the line-up.
Although Farina insists Australia are ready for the two-legged tie which offers the winners a place in next year's finals in Japan and South Korea, speculation over his future has overshadowed their preparation. Farina has been linked with a move to Europe before the end of the season but he was not too eager to explore that rumour. "I'm just concentrating on the next two games. But the ambition is to coach at the highest level, whether that is in Europe we'll see," he said.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
