Viduka ready to prove his worth on biggest stage

MELBOURNE, May 26: Australia's dramatic qualification for the World Cup finals probably offers enigmatic skipper Mark Viduka a last opportunity to prove his worth on the biggest stage of them all.

Two months after the 30-year-old took over the Socceroos' captaincy last September, Australia ended 32 years of hurt by beating nemesis team Uruguay in a penalty shootout to book their ticket to Germany.

It meant the green-and-gold shirts would be seen at a World Cup finals for the first time since 1974, and finally turned the spotlight on soccer in a nation more accustomed to cricket, tennis and rugby success.

The Australians lost to East and West Germany before drawing with Chile the last time they graced the World Cup finals stage.

Viduka believes the current crop of players including himself, Liverpool's Harry Kewell and Everton's Tim Cahill are worthy of loftier achievements.

''We're not going to go there just to make up the numbers,'' said the Middlesbrough striker, who has also plied his trade with Croatia Zagreb, Celtic and Leeds United.

''I think we've got this inner confidence now. We've had 30 years of bad luck or whatever you want to call it. Now we have qualified, the sky is the limit.'' Despite his undoubted talent, the finals offer a chance of redemption to a player whose body language has often given the impression of being distant and disinterested during spells of his career in Europe.

He failed to win the hearts of Celtic fans despite hitting 27 goals in his first full year at Parkhead and his mind often seemed elsewhere at Leeds as they went from Champions League semi-final glory in 2001 to relegation from the English Premier League in 2004.

With the Socceroos' captaincy his form and attitude for club and country seem rejuvenated, and he believes his side can progress from a Group F containing Croatia, Japan and world champions Brazil.

''This is probably my last chance of playing in a finals as I'll nearly be 35 next time but I feel good,'' he said.

''I believe that we won't just mix it with the other teams, but compete as well.''

REUTERS