Reputations count for little in Hiddink's Australia

MELBOURNE, May 23: Australia's World Cup squad were left in little doubt that reputations counted for nothing in the mind of Dutch coach Guus Hiddink as they prepared for Thursday's friendly against Greece.

The Socceroos were put through an intense training session on Tuesday with places in their farewell match before a 95,000 sell-out crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground clearly up for grabs.

''I'm very happy if Harry (Kewell) is there (at the World Cup). If not, we go on,'' Hiddink told reporters.

''The team is the important thing.'' Liverpool forward Kewell is recuperating in England after straining his groin in the FA Cup final earlier this month, but he and other big name players cannot be assured of their place in the starting line-up when Australia open their World Cup bid against Japan in Kaiserslautern on June 12.

''He doesn't pick players on names, he picks players on performances,'' Basel midfielder Scott Chipperfield told Australian Associated Press.

''You can see that at training. It's very intense. Everyone is putting in, everyone is committed.

''Every player is fighting for that starting spot come the game against Japan, so whenever you get your chance it's important to take it.'' Kewell will join up with his team mates in the Netherlands next week and in the additional absence through injury on Thursday of Everton forward Tim Cahill and Alaves striker John Aloisi, the opportunity is there for lesser lights in the squad to make their mark.

''Guus Hiddink will be assessing all of us,'' said Stan Lazaridis, a winger with recently relegated Birmingham City.

''There's a lot of competition for places, and that's great for the public as well as us.'' Crystal Palace defender Tony Popovic said Hiddink's methods were already paying dividends at the start of preparations for Australia's first World Cup appearance in 32 years.

''The manager has come in and changed a few things around and it has worked for us,'' Popovic said.

''Everyone understands their roles. We are gelling a bit better, and we're a bit better organised. Things are working for us at the moment.'' Australia complete their Group F matches in Germany against champions Brazil on June 18 in Munich and against Croatia on June 22 in Stuttgart.

REUTERS