“Like the public, you know the faces you know the names you’re just not sure how they play but I’ve been pleasantly surprised and I’m quietly confident,” said Neill at today’s Socceroo press conference.

“I was probably the same when I was growing up. They just show no fear, they’re arrogant and have great confidence and belief in themselves … maybe I was like that I don’t know!

“But all those elements make them fantastic players and now that they’re given a chance, I’m sure they’re going to take it. They may only have this chance so they’ve got to impress. The only thing that’s going to be is how they handle the big crowd.”

Teenager Matt Spiranovic and rookie Socceroos Scott McDonald, Michael Thwaite, Patrick Kisnorbo and Brett Holman are expected to see some game time tomorrow night at Telstra stadium.

Socceroo coach Graham Arnold stressed that his planning of the squad was with one eye on the World Cup as well as the Asian Cup. “I don’t reward players with Socceroo shirts just because they’re good blokes. They’re good players and they’re the future of Australian football.

“The small picture is the Asian Cup but this is about moving forward to 2010.”

However, he added that the loss to Denmark earlier this year in a friendly “just highlighted the importance to keep the senior players going on while the younger guys come on.”

Arnold confirmed that his senior players Mile Sterjovski, Luke Wilkshire, Jason Culina, Brett Emerton and Lucas Neill will start tomorrow night. But he hinted that later in the game some of the younger Socceroos will be given their chance off the bench.

“If those five lead by example tomorrow night, the younger kids will follow.”

Arnold was coy on naming his captain for tomorrow night. When quizzed he just smiled before Neill said, “I’ll take it!”


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