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Guus thinking big

December 9th, 2005

Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink believes his team is poised to make a splash at next year’s World Cup.

His team has already being written off by many pundits as fodder at the tournament but Hiddink is confident Australia will be competitive.

“We are not just here to complete the program. This team has shown it can be competitive,” Hiddink told AAP from Germany where the draw for the World Cup will be made on Saturday (AEDT).

“(Qualification) is something to be proud of, but the next step is coming.

“The players will commit themselves and show the world they are not just there by accident.

Hiddink says the team has an ideal opportunity to impress on the world stage in Germany.

“The teams proved in the previous months to be very competitive, and that is what I demand from them - be competitive and you never know what you will achieve.

“The world will look at them as a good team, an experienced team.

“We are not a leading country, but step by step we have improved, and this is the ideal stage to take the next step.”

Football Federation Australia chief executive John O’Neill is also in Germany, and is hopeful the Socceroos can progress to the knokcout stage of the tournament.

“If we made it into the second round, I’d be thrilled,” O’Neill said.

“From a profile point of view, we know back in Australia football will be on everyone’s mind for all of the first half of next year.

“It’s the biggest sporting event by a country mile and we’re in it.

“We’re still pinching ourselves that we’re here.”

http://www.sportal.com.au/soccer.asp?i=news&id=75100

Entry Filed under: Germany