Socceroos' fate on the cards
By Doug Conway in Oehringen, Germany
14-06-2006
From: AAP
Yellow card ... Socceroos stars Tim Cahill and John Aloisi get back into training in Ohringen, Germany, before their match against world champs Brazil on Sunday night / AFP
FOUR key Socceroos have a yellow card hanging over their necks but a "no guts, no glory" approach means Australia is unlikely to hold anything back from Sunday's World Cup showdown with world champions Brazil.
The Australians escaped physically unhurt from their historic 3-1 victory over Japan in Kaiserslautern but yellow cards can be deadlier than injuries, and four Australian names went into the Egyptian referee's book - defender Craig Moore, midfielders Vince Grella and Tim Cahill and striker John Aloisi.
All are vital cogs in the Socceroo machine.
But if coach Guus Hiddink decides to risk them against Brazil, any one who picks up another yellow card will be automatically disqualified from what is shaping up as the real decider for Australia - the final group match against Croatia.
Vote: Can Australia beat Brazil? »
Graphic: All the World Cup statistics »
In pictures: Fans go Brazilian »
The temptation, therefore, is to keep one or more of them in cotton wool on Sunday, especially as the chance of upsetting the tournament's hot favourites is, on paper at least, remote.
But Socceroos' management is unlikely to start thinking conservatively at this stage, particularly after bold selections and tactics have got the team where it is now - on the brink of a coveted place in the final 16.
"It is a concern having four yellow cards," assistant coach Graham Arnold said.
"Obviously we've got a bit to talk about with yellow cards."
But Arnold gave a strong indication of the audacious thinking in the Socceroo camp when he said: "If we can get something against Brazil, well, the second round looks good.
"I don't think we have the luxury of being able to rest players, so I think it's one game at a time and at the moment that's Brazil.
"You can't look too far down the track (to the Croatia game) because you can bring yourself undone, especially against a side like Brazil.
"If you ask the players who are on the yellows, they'll all want to play against Brazil, won't they?
"It's a fantastic experience to be able to play against them."
The Socceroos were given a well-earned day off today to relax with their families and play golf at their palatial retreat at Friedrichsruhe in the tranquil countryside of southern Germany.
But it's straight back to serious work tomorrow.
"We'll get mentally and tactically prepared to play Brazil," said Arnold.
"We'll give it our best shot. We've got nothing to lose.
"We pretty much shocked the world with our win over Japan.
"Now Brazil will be looking over their shoulder at us."
Arnold believes the Socceroos are the type of team that could do well if they make the knock-out stage of the World Cup.
"We've got a cup final football side of good athletes that fight for 90 minutes and leave nothing in the tank," he said.
He also praised Australian sports science as among the best in the world, saying Australian Institute of Sport research had helped the Socceroos develop a superb hydration and recovery program.
"Our boys have recovered fantastic (from the Japan game) with ice baths and wearing tights to get rid of lactic acid," he said.
"The recovery and hydration has been fantastic."
"When everyone tired (during the game) we had three guys who were still going - Brett Emerton, Scott Chipperfield and Jason Culina - and they helped make it possible for us to play four strikers at the end."
