Australia v Fiji
Frank Farina has called in the cavalry to grace the Marden Sports Complex tomorrow, naming an imposing side bursting with overseas pedigree to take on top two hopefuls Fiji.
Farina has made five changes to the eleven that thrashed Tahiti 9-0 last night, with Patrick Kisnorbo, who earns his first start since the 2002 OFC Nations Cup final, joined by Brett Emerton, Marco Bresciano and Max Vieri who were rested against the Polynesians after starting against New Zealand.
FC Basel striker Mile Sterjovski will also earn his first start since February’s 1-1 draw with Venezuela, following his three-goal bonanza as a substitute against Tahiti.
Qantas Socceroos Starting Lineup v Fiji: Zeljko Kalac (gk), Jade North, Adrian Madaschi, Patrick Kisnorbo, Tony Vidmar, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella, Tim Cahill, Marco Bresciano, Max Vieri, Mile Sterjovski
Tomorrow’s match at Marden will be the ninth clash between the two nations and the Qantas Socceroos are fully aware of the threat posed by their island neighbours.
Unlike any other team from the pacific, Fiji have twice beaten Australia and are seldom obliging to succumb to defeat to Oceania’s top team.
Both matches won by the Fijians occurred on Fiji turf and both included the same score line, 1-0.
Most recently, the Fijians derailed the Qantas Socceroos Italia 90′ World Cup campaign courtesy of a devastating one-goal victory in Nadi.
Since then though, it has been relatively smooth sailing for Australia, as they have chalked up 18 goals in their past four outings with the white and blacks.
In the last edition of the OFC Nations Cup, an under strength Qantas Socceroos side hammered a disappointing Fiji 8-0 in Auckland.
The was result was a surprising one, given the tough resistance Farina’s men encountered in Coffs Harbour a year earlier, where goals to Steve Corica and Hayden Foxe saw the Qantas Socceroos through in front of 5 000 fans in the first stage of qualifiers for Korea/Japan 2002.
The Fijians now linger as the only island side capable of dumping New Zealand out of stage three contention, following their scrappy 1-0 win over Vanuatu last night.
Tony Buesnel’s men have yet to deliver their best in the 2004 OFC Nations Cup but are sure to be switched on for tomorrow’s clash in the boutique surrounds of the Marden Sports Complex.
Tahiti v Solomon Islands
The first OFC Nations Cup 2004 fixture at Hindmarsh Stadium tomorrow night brings together the two qualifiers from Group A in stage one, that being Tahiti and the Solomon Islands.
Of the two, the Solomon Islands in particular have shone with great promise in the tournament so far and came within a whisker of upsetting regional giants New Zealand yesterday at the Marden Sports Complex.
While the final score line read a misleading 3-0 to the All Whites, Alan Gillett’s men performed with an honour not seen in a Solomons shirt for some time and can consider themselves very unlucky not to have come away with something from the match.
The loss was the Solomons first in eight games under Gillett, and the Englishman will be hopeful of sending his side back into the winner’s circle tomorrow in an encounter that traditionally brings very little success to the Melanesians.
In nine previous meetings with Tahiti, the Solomons have posted a win on only one occasion, that being in the France 98′ qualifiers in Sydney, when the Solomons romped home 4-1.
The Tahitians have since gone on a four match unbeaten run against the Solomons, which was added to most recently in the Honiara stage one qualifiers.
On that occasion, a late goal to veteran Batram Suri salvaged a draw for Gillett’s charges in a match that was of little concern to the Solomons, as they had already qualified through to the next stage.
After their deflating loss to New Zealand yesterday, Gillett will be hopeful his tired squad will be up for the occasion tomorrow, which will be their first in the stadium surrounds of Hindmarsh.
Tahiti, still smarting from their thrashing at the hands of hosts Australia last night, will be looking to post their first win of the tournament, having drawn blanks with Fiji in their opening match at Hindmarsh.
The Polynesian’s surprised many with their overtly withdrawn and defeatist approach in their encounter with the Qantas Socceroos and will be looking to eradicate their poor attacking form tomorrow.
Gerard Kautai’s men have now gone five halves of international soccer without scoring, although before last night had only conceded one goal in six matches.
Tahiti’s youthful squad is sure to be put to the test tomorrow, as they try to halt the Solomons charge to their crown as Oceania’s top ranked island team.
Prior to this tournament, the Tahitians best finish in an OFC Nations Cup tournament was in 2002, where the then Patrick Jacquemet coached side finished a morale boosting third, squeezing out Vanuatu in the third place playoff.
Hopes of a similar feat rest on tomorrows match and the Tahitians are hoping to add to their impressive collection of wins over the Solomons, which currently sits at five in nine matches.
New Zealand v Vanuatu
The final match of round three of the OFC Nations Cup sees New Zealand take on the Vanuatu at Hindmarsh Stadium in what is sure to be a contest that offers redemption for both sides.
For New Zealand, coach Mick Waitt will be begging for a performance of quality following his admissions of the All Whites abysmal showing against the Solomons yesterday.
As for Vanuatu, coach Carlos Buzzetti would be the first to admit that his side has been disappointing in losing both their opening matches 1-0, after having such high expectations coming into the tournament.
The Vanuatuans have been on the improve ever since Buzzetti assumed the role as Vanuatuan Technical Director, with the Uruguayan born coach taking the Vanuatuans from regional minnows to the third place playoff at the last two OFC Nations Cup’s and third place at 2003’s South Pacific Games.
However, the Melanesian side has under performed in the tournament thus far, failing to score a goal against both the Solomon Islands and Fiji en route to successive defeats.
Unfortunately for Buzzetti’s charges, their task does not become any easier, as tomorrow they face Oceania’s second highest ranked team, who are on the rebound after an embarrassing performance yesterday.
The All Whites come into this match with a lot still to prove after they fuelled the fire of their doubters yesterday with a below par showing against their much less fancied opponents.
The New Zealanders have never lost to Vanuatu in a senior international, although they did draw with their island neighbours at under 17 level in February 2003 at the Gold Coast.
Goal scorers on that day, Steven Old from New Zealand and Jean Maleb of Vanuatu should both feature prominently for their respective sides tomorrow.
In six encounters with Vanuatu, New Zealand have amassed 30 goals and conceded just three.
Most recently, the All Whites beat Vanuatu in an OFC Nations Cup semi final in Auckland.
The last time a Vanuatuan put a goal past New Zealand was in the 2000 edition of the OFC Nations Cup in Tahiti, when current Vanuatu striker Richard Iwai gave his side an unexpected lead in their Group B clash in Papeete, before surrendering three goals to go down 3-1. – By Ben Coonan