Viduka's spot of bother

Has Mark Viduka got the nerve to stand up and take a penalty against Italy?

On the eve of Australian football's biggest match, the Socceroos skipper still had no answer.

"I haven't thought about that yet," Viduka told reporters before the Australian squad headed to Kaiserslautern for its World Cup round of 16 match against the three-time world champions.

"Whether I'll be stepping up or not is a different story," said Viduka, who missed a spot kick in the qualification shoot-out against Uruguay last November, and missed again in a recent friendly against Netherlands.

"The main thing is that it's the right person. It's not about me, it's about getting the job done."

Penalties are all about confidence, so the fact that so many of his teammates are clamouring for the job indicates that Viduka might well take a back seat if a penalty is awarded against Italy, or even if the tussle comes down to a shoot-out.

When the Socceroos won a penalty in their final group match against Croatia in Stuttgart, it was defender Craig Moore who stepped forward and coolly rammed the ball home.

Happily for Australia, there is no question mark over Viduka's general form. Some believe he might even be a little too unselfish in front of goal, setting up chances for other players rather than taking them himself.

"My role in this team is to hold the ball up in the final (attacking) third (of the pitch) and trying to bring other people in to play," Viduka said. "So sometimes I get the opportunity to turn a player, and sometimes I don't."

The Socceroos would be overjoyed if they forced Italy in to a penalty contest.

The Italians have a poor sudden-death record in the four most recent World Cups, going down to a Korea Republic golden goal in 2002, and penalties in the three preceding tournaments, including the 1994 final against Brazil.

The Socceroos owe their very appearance in Germany to last November's penalty triumph over Uruguay in Sydney.

The five players who stepped up then were Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill, Tony Vidmar, Viduka and finally John Aloisi for the one that will live in everyone's minds.

Vidmar was ruled out of this World Cup because of a heart problem.

The other four are in Germany but Viduka, while in fine form in open play, is experiencing a goal drought, including from penalties.

Defender Lucas Neill will have no qualms if penalties decide the match against Italy.

"If it got to that situation I'd be happy because I know we've got a good chance," he said. "With the players we've got, and the spirit we've got mentally, there will be plenty of boys putting their hands up for penalties and wanting to be the so-called heroes of the evening."

Midfielder Tim Cahill is one of them.

"Most definitely," he said, when asked if he would apply for the job. "We've got a lot of confident players who can put their hands up and get on with it."

But Cahill said it was an issue normally decided on the day of the match.

"Just the same as Uruguay, (coach) Guus (Hiddink) will ask the five most confident players and they'll just put their hands up," Cahill said.

"It doesn't matter who takes them. If you're confident enough to take them, that's good enough for us."

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