Unchanged line-up for Cook Islands clash

LG Socceroo Coach FRANK FARINA has named the same starting line-up which began against Paraguay last Thursday night in Melbourne, for tomorrow’s opening clash with the Cook Islands in the Oceania Nations Cup.

LG Socceroo Coach FRANK FARINA has named the same starting line-up which began against Paraguay last Thursday night in Melbourne, for tomorrow-s opening clash with the Cook Islands in the Oceania Nations Cup.

FARINA put the squad through a lengthy final hit-out at training this afternoon at the Punaruu Stadium in Tahiti, before the players were taken to the Stade de Pater to get a feel for the ground before tomorrow night-s match, with everyone fully aware of what-s at stake over the next ten days.

"I-m under no illusions and neither are the players - we have to win this tournament, it-s as simple as that," said Farina today.

"We-re all very focussed and I-m happy with the preparations and with the attitudes the players are displaying, basically everyone in the squad understands that what happened two years ago when we lost in Brisbane, can-t happen again.

"To be honest, I really don-t know too much about the Cook Islands, so we-ll go out there tomorrow night and play our game, and make sure the boys take the game to the opposition.

"We can-t have any more pressure put on us than being the red hot favourites and being expected to win the tournament, and the bottom line is that we have to qualify." he concluded.

LG Socceroos Starting XI Vs Cook Islands ZELJKO KALAC (goalkeeper) STAN LAZARIDIS SHAUN MURPHY TONY POPOVIC KEVIN MUSCAT PAUL OKON (Captain) CRAIG FOSTER DANNY TIATTO BRETT EMERTON DAVID ZDRILIC PAUL AGOSTINO MATCH: AUSTRALIA Vs COOK ISLANDS DATE: Monday 19th June (Tahiti)/Tuesday 20th June (Australia) KICK-OFF: 6.00pm (Tahiti)/2.00pm (AEST) VENUE: Stade de Pater, Tahiti

Note: Tahiti is 20 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time