Neill Hints At New Role In Defence

Qantas Socceroo defender Lucas Neill gave a slight hint as to how the defence might line-up against the Solomon Islands, with a more central role a possibility for him personally.

Qantas Socceroo defender Lucas Neill gave a slight hint as to how the defence might line-up against the Solomon Islands, with a more central role a possibility for him personally.

Neill (pictured right), who has played the majority of his games at right fullback for the national team, could be shifted to the middle, which would allow his Blackburn teammate Brett Emerton to possibly play as an attacking wingback, a position he enjoyed while with Dutch club Feyenoord.

“In the Holland camp, we touched on a couple of variations and a couple of experimental systems,” said Neill from the team-s Sydney base at Bondi.

“Obviously when we were in the Confederations Cup, we never came up against the same system and teams seemed to adjust against us and we need to have the flexibility to do that, if were to go forward as the national team," Neill said.

"Being a little bit versatile, I managed to fill in at a couple of those spots, but everything is still a little bit up in the air. We're still getting to know Guus and he's still obviously getting to know us, so nothing is formal at the moment.”

Neill said he would rather stay in his preferred position, but was adamant he would play anywhere in the team, if it meant he would be in the starting line-up.

“As long as I play; put the shirt on,” said Neill, when asked what his preferred position would be. “But again that is not important now, it-s important now that the national team gets the World Cup.”

Italian-based attacking midfielder Marco Bresciano has also welcomed the competition for places in the front third of the pitch, saying it can only help the team.

“I think it-s a good thing having depth in the team,” said Bresciano. “There is a lot of players in form in the same positions, so it a good headache for a coach to have.”

While most pundits expect Australia to win over the two legs quite comfortably, Neill said it won-t be easy, especially the second leg in Honiara.

“In Sydney, as long as we go about the game in a professional manner and don-t take our foot off the pedal too early we should win the first leg comfortably and make it easier for the second leg.

“Last time (in the Solomon-s) we played a little bit later in the day, whereas this time, to play at 1.00pm in extremely high heat and humidity, will take its toll on players especially in the second half.”

“They (Solomon Islands) have obviously got something to prove as well,” he added.

The training camp, the first run under Guus Hiddink, saw a new outlook for many of the players, with Neill describing it as refreshing, although not in a bad way.

“It was a fresh change. I think not much was changed, as far as the day-to-day agenda, but a few tiny little adjustments and a little bit of tweaking of the rules and the training was a little bit different.

"As a player, if you get into a comfortable training schedule, it sometimes makes it a bit easier for you, so it was nice just to have a fresh idea, different type of training method and everybody is out to impress as well, so I think the intensity picked up a little bit.

“Places are up for grabs; nobody is a certainty for positions now and as a result the intensity lifted, so it was a very rewarding, but also challenging camp. It was good.”   The Socceroos play the Solomon Islands at Aussie Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night, kicking off at 7.30pm. Click here for match and ticketing information.   The FFA website will do a live match update of both games against the Solomon Islands.