Australia go for broke against Croatia

MUNICH, June 19: Australia said they always knew their chances of reaching the second round of the World Cup would come down to their final Group F match against Croatia.

The Socceroos could have sealed their place in the last 16 by beating Brazil in Munich yesterday but a 2-0 defeat to the world champions has left them needing to get a result against Croatia in Stuttgart on Thursday.

''It was always going to be about the last game,'' Australia captain Mark Viduka told reporters.

''I think it's going to be an interesting game. That's why the World Cup is so interesting, it goes down to the wire and it will show who's the toughest.'' Australia are second in the group standings on three points after winning their opening match against Japan 3-1 and can still go through to the second round for the first time if they draw with Croatia and the Asian champions fail to beat Brazil by three goals.

Brazil are already safely through after winning their two matches while Croatia and Japan have a point each after their scoreless draw on Sunday.

Striker Harry Kewell said Australia had no intentions of playing for a draw against Croatia, insisting they would play their natural game and chase victory so the result of the Brazil-Japan match was irrelevant to their advancement.

''I don't think we look at draws. You can't do that in this day and age,'' Kewell said.

''Of course, it's a massive game, not only for us but for all of Australia. We're really looking forward to it. It's going to be a cracking game.'' Defender Scott Chipperfield said it was not part of Australia's nature to chase a draw.

''We don't have to win but we'll be trying to. It's just not our style to try and get a draw,'' he said.

The Australians were left rueing a handful of missed opportunities against Brazil that might have produced a different result.

They dominated most of the game but failed to convert their chances and conceded two goals on the counter-attack, including one in the last minute when they were pushing forward in search of an equaliser.

''We played very well and created a few good chances. We put Brazil under pressure,'' midfielder Vince Grella said.

''The defeat won't knock us off our stride as it's still possible for us to get through to the last 16.

''We want to approach the next match the way we played Japan.

We're confident that we will be able to beat Croatia -- we know we're good enough.''

REUTERS

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