If anyone believes qualifying through Asia will be easy, think again ...

[OVP]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20351885-23215,00.html

Kuwait heat has Arnold sweating

By David Lewis
September 05, 2006
CONCERNED interim coach Graham Arnold has decided to ditch the all-action pressing game now synonymous with Australia when it faces Kuwait in the Asian Cup in melting heat early on Thursday morning.
With temperatures at local kick-off time - 8.30pm in Kuwait City - set to nudge 40C, Arnold is not prepared to risk the health of his players by demanding they clock up the kilometres.
A squad reduced to 17 by the late withdrawal of midfield metronome Jason Culina with a calf injury will train only in the evenings to avoid the worst of the 48C daytime heat in the oil-rich emirate.
In another heat-beating measure, players will hunker down in the air-conditioned comfort of their hotel by day for recovery sessions and rest. Arnold explained: "Substitutions will obviously be even more key than they are normally in a game - and we won't be able to play high up the field pressuring the opposition, which we like to do.
"We'll try and make the field as small as possible by dropping back to halfway (when we don't have the ball).
"The heat is going to be a huge factor, but coming into Asia we are just going to have to get used to these sorts of challenges."
With the Socceroos already guaranteed a place at next July's Asian Cup finals after their 2-0 win over Kuwait at Aussie Stadium last month, there is no onus on Arnold to take unnecessary risks with a squad, including seven certain starters who were a part of Australia's World Cup squad.
The team only has time for two full training sessions after most of them arrived from tortuous 14-hour trips from Europe.
With Mark Schwarzer, Michael Beauchamp, Scott Chipperfield, Josip Skoko, Mile Sterjovski, Luke Wilkshire and John Aloisi all sure of their spots, recalled defenders Ljubo Milicevic and Patrick Kisnorbo, wingback Ryan Griffiths and midfielders Nick Ward, Ahmad Elrich and Brett Holman will compete for the remaining four places,
"This is a wonderful opportunity for some of the players who missed out on the World Cup and have a lot to prove," added Arnold.
"A lot of them want to be here for the 2010 World Cup, so I don't think motivation will be a problem for anyone."
Arnold hinted strongly that the Romanian-based former Olyroo Griffiths will make his debut - possibly coming off the bench.
"He's a left-sided player who I'd like to have a look at," he said. "I know what most of the boys can do. I'd also like to see what some of the fringe players are capable of.
"In his position, Stan Lazaridis is nearing retirement and Chipperfield is not getting any younger. This is why I'm trying to look at long-term alternatives."
Arnold, who had Dutch legend Johan Neeskens alongside him in the dug-out when Australia beat Bahrain in Manama in February, is flying solo this time, with assistant John Kosmina failing to make a connecting flight to link up with the squad.

AUSTRALIAN Collette McCallum was selected in FIFA's All Star squad from the U20 women's world championship tournament in Moscow.
McCallum scored twice in the 3-0 win over New Zealand in the team's opening match.
Australia was eliminated at the group stage after a 1-1 draw against European champion and host nation Russia and a 2-0 loss to South American champion Brazil.








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Ouch !! 40 degrees at 8:30pm ?? :sarcasm::crazy::sarcasm::crazy:



A small win would be lovely methinks, especially in those conditions.

 

[fish eel]

Asia is a new world.

Competitive matches against sides that will have a dig and compete.

 

[NK Arsenal]

48 degrees will not be easy for our guys but there will be drinks breaks after 22mins and 67mins (approx) wudnt there?

 

[Raider Ultra]

I doubt it, both teams have to agree to it, you can bet Kuwait won't.

 

[Misanthrope]

It may hurt us in the short term, but once the players get used to playing in those conditions, there won't be an excuse. Some training in Townsville and the like would go a long way towards improving the players' ability to handle heat and humidity, both things we'll encounter plenty of in South East Asia.

 

[The Nulla]

A bad loss but as a few are saying, being exposed to these trying conditions can only be good for us in the long term.

Saying that, it was a horrible effort this morning. No cohesion or flair. We can't just assemble a team with two training sessions and hope to get over the line in Asian matches... Would have been better sending the A-league boys over.

 

[fish eel]

What it shows, is just how different Asia is.

We'll be playing sides that will be often well drilled, have spent a lot of time together in conditions that suit them.

It's great.

I think this also means our next home match isnt a dead rubber, as topping out group depends on the result?

 

[Raider Ultra]

It's a dead rubber for us... As was mentioned, we would have been better sending the A-League squad over. Terrible performance defensively and in attack, expected better from Beauchamp and Milicevic.

 

[fish eel]

It's a dead rubber for us... As was mentioned, we would have been better sending the A-League squad over. Terrible performance defensively and in attack, expected better from Beauchamp and Milicevic.

We can still finish second in our group if we dont win in Sydney.

Topping our group is important, because it has an impact on seedings.

Finish second, and we could be drawn with say, South Korea.

 

[Raider Ultra]

We need to win to be guaranteed of top spot.

 

[sooperdooper]

end of the day it was a nothing game will we turn up to the asian with the final in our eyes
we need a decent coach again