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Australia's tough stance

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26 June 2006 | 01:14 - AAP

Let's get physical.

 

That could be the theme song for Australia's World Cup eliminator against Italy in Kaiserslautern.

The Socceroos enjoy a reputation as a fair but physically robust team, and see no reason why they shouldn't enhance that reputation against a cultured team which could be unsettled by an aggressive approach.

The USA tried similar tactics against three-times world champion Italy in their group match, and it paid dividends. The Americans did not qualify for the round of 16, but did succeed in scoring the only goal of the tournament against the Azzurri so far, coming away with a draw and taking the only point the Italians have dropped in three games.

"We will adopt a high pressure game against Italy," said Lucas Neill, Australia's outstanding defender of the tournament to date.

"The US performed very well in terms of the pressure they put on Italy. We have to do the same."

Skipper Mark Viduka said: "We are a very physical side. We don't pull out of tackles. I don't think we will change our game."

"We won't go out getting physical against Italy on purpose, but we are not known for being scared of tackling."

Italian teams over the years have hardly been angelic when it comes to cynical fouls, but they like to play the game at their own pace.

For Australia, getting physical means not just challenging fiercely for every ball, but denying Italian playmakers like Francesco Totti the space to operate in.

To that end, the Socceroos will badly miss the dynamism of the suspended Brett Emerton.

"He is a great athlete and he brings a lot of energy to the team," coach Guus Hiddink said of Emerton. "He is not the most spectacular in terms of creativity, but he is very efficient in causing trouble to opponents."

"He is so hard to stop and gives so much not only at the start but also in the 85th minute of a tough game."

The Australians will be relying on their mental as well as physical strengths, having shown against Japan, Brazil and Croatia that they can never be counted out until the final whistle.

"In all games we were down," said Hiddink. "But the team always reacts, always comes back."

"It never gives the impression it has lost. It is one of the main qualities of this team."

If the Australians do go down, it will not be without a fight.

"We were smiling on the first day we got here and we are still smiling now," Neill declared. "If we go out tomorrow we will still be happy because of the experience we have had."

"But we are not a team that likes to lose."

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