Farina Has Doubts On Players Fitness

Socceroos coach Frank Farina has named six possible changes to his stating eleven that will take on giant killers Vanuatu at Hindmarsh Stadium tomorrow night, although he is concerned on the condition of several players.

Socceroos coach Frank Farina has named six possible changes to his stating eleven that will take on giant killers Vanuatu at Hindmarsh Stadium tomorrow night.

Although not naming a definite starting team due to the condition of some players being questionable, Farina hinted that he might hand starts to Qantas Under 23-s David Tarka and Alex Brosque, with the former to be making his debut.

Farina may recall Genclerbirligi midfielder Josip Skoko, Osasuna striker John Aloisi (pictured above), former Aberdeen marksman David Zdrilic and Parma attacker Marco Bresciano, who looks to have recovered from a niggling foot injury.

Making way will be Vince Grella, Mile Sterjovski, Max Vieri, Scott Chipperfield and goal scorers against Fiji Adrian Madaschi and Tim Cahill.

Possible Qantas Socceroo line-up versus Vanuatu: Zeljko Kalac (gk), Jade North, Tony Vidmar, Patrick Kisnorbo, David Tarka, Brett Emerton, Josip Skoko, Marco Bresciano, Alex Brosque, John Aloisi, David Zdrilic

Farina will be sure to approach the match with Vanuatu with some caution, following their amazing victory over New Zealand last night that has thrown the 2004 OFC Nations Cup wide open.

Farina knows better than most the danger posed by Vanuatu, having escaped with narrow one and two-nil wins from their previous two encounters.

“Obviously it-s a shock that they won by such a big margin and so comfortably,” said Farina when quizzed on Vanuatu-s upset win over New Zealand last night.

“I saw with the under 23-s for example, Vanuatu most probably deserved to beat New Zealand then.

“It shows that they-re improving and proves that they-re capable of beating sides like New Zealand.

“It came as a shock, but not as bigger shock as some people think it is.”

Despite Vanuatu-s surprise win, Farina is confident his charges will do the job tomorrow.

“The only surprising thing is that they managed to score four, when New Zealand performed reasonably well against us at the back,” said Farina from the Socceroos hotel today.

“They won-t score four against us… I hope!”

The Vanuatuans are on a high after claiming their biggest ever scalp and will be looking forward to tomorrows clash with great enthusiasm, having revived their slim hopes of a top two finish.

Traditionally, Vanuatu have troubled the Socceroos in the past.

In the 2002 OFC Nations Cup, an under strength Australian side snuck two late goals to beat Carlos Buzzetti-s men 2-0, having scraped through 1-0 two years earlier thanks to a Kevin Muscat penalty.

With their confidence high, the Vanuatuans will be sure to provide the Socceroos with a stern test and Adelaide-s sporting community are sure to witness a quality showing of dramatic football in the South Australian capital tomorrow.   Tomorrow-s other matches, will see New Zealand try to get back on track when it takes on the winless Tahiti, while its do or die for both the Solomon Islands and Fiji when they clash in the earlier of the two games at Hindmarsh Stadium.   A win by the Solomons could go a long way to securing second spot, while Fiji will jump over the Solomons if it wins and set up a last round blockbuster against New Zealand.