Destiny 06 – 26 Days To Go

We continue the countdown to the World Cup (South American) play-off kick-off (as of the time of writing) of the 1st Leg being played in Montevideo (Saturday 12 November), bringing you up-to-date with all the headline news from around the country surrounding the crucial play-off matches.

DESTINY 06 - We continue the countdown to the World Cup (South American) play-off kick-off (as of the time of writing) of the 1st Leg being played in Montevideo (Saturday 12 November), bringing you up-to-date with all the headline news from around the country surrounding the crucial play-off matches.

PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY

Australian sports fans get their much anticipated chance to purchase tickets to the ‘Powerade Series- Australian leg of the play-off on Wednesday 16 November, from 9.00am.

Less than 20,000 tickets will be available across all categories, with the FFA expecting that they will be snapped up by eager Australian supporters wanting to witness the biggest sporting event in Australia this year.

The advice is to get in early, as these tickets for the two previous play-off matches (against Iran (1997) and Uruguay (2001) at the MCG), sold out early. Also with a substantial Uruguayan population living in Australia, one would expect they will be out in force to obtain tickets for the match.

To purchase tickets you can either purchase at a Ticketek agency, on-line through www.ticketek.com.au or by calling 132 849.

Socceroos WATCH

Three players will be action for their respective clubs overnight, with the most notable being Ljubo Milicevic in the Euro Champions League match against Ajax Amsterdam. Milicevic has been a regular feature in the FC Thun side throughout their Champions League campaign, but missed the last Australian international against Jamaica, due to him being best man at his brothers wedding in Melbourne.

Central defender Tony Popovic is doubtful for Crystal Palace-s League Championship match against Brighton & Hove Albion; while Luke Wilkshire, fresh from his match winner for Bristol City last weekend play a LDV Vans Trophy match against Barnet.

WHAT-S MAKING THE NEWS

THOMPSON NO.1

Former national team coach Frank Farina believes Archie Thompson has been the best signing by far in the Hyundai A-League and will be very much in the frame for a starting berth against Uruguay.

Farina, in his regular column in the Sydney Daily Telegraph-s ‘Football Fever-, also believes that it won-t be too long before some big European clubs come calling on his door for a possible return, especially if he keeps up the form he is currently in and plays well in the play-off against Uruguay.

“If I were a coach of a team in Europe he-d be just the sort of player I-d want,” said Farina. “He scores goals, makes goals and makes life a nightmare for opponents.”

Thompson spent four years in Belgium with Lierse, but has so far indicated that he is very happy with how things are going in Melbourne and that the only way he would go back to Europe is if it was with the right club and most likely a big club.

KEWELL RETURN

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has reiterated his belief in Qantas Socceroo striker Harry Kewell, as the player that can reinvigorate Liverpool-s poor start to the season.

Kewell who has not played a first team game since the European Champions League final last May, has played just 25 minutes in one reserves team outing, but has done enough in training to be included in the Liverpool squad for Champions League clash with Anderlecht on Wednesday night (Thursday morning AEST).

Benitez told the clubs website: "Harry is feeling much better now. He will definitely be travelling with us and could maybe play some part, we will have to assess his fitness before the game.”   "If he doesn't figure against Anderlecht then I am sure he will be back playing either at the weekend or the following midweek.   "His return will be a big boost for us. He is the kind of player who can beat players and get in crosses from the by-line from which the likes of Peter Crouch and Fernando Morientes can benefit."

Kewell-s return will be a huge boost for Guus Hiddink ahead of the two-match play-off series against Uruguay, especially if he can get valuable match fitness.

WE WILL NOT GET OVERWHELMED - LUCAS NEILL

Defender Lucas Neill has told the Sydney Daily Telegraph-s ‘Football Fever- that the Socceroos will not get overwhelmed by the situation at the Centenario Stadium, like four years earlier.

Neill said the FFA and the team will be much better prepared this time around, so the players can just focus on the job at hand and get a good result over there, before finishing it off in Sydney.

The Blackburn Rovers defender said that the majority of players are used to the big match occasions and intimidating atmosphere-s through the local derby games they play in Europe.