Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with Steve Corica

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Steve Corica

Corica on the 2001 Confederations Cup…

Diegos: “The last couple of months have been a tumultuous time for the Socceroos.

Stunning wins over Brazil and France in the Confederations Cup; defeating the Kiwi's in the World Cup qualifiers and then recently losing 3-0 to your plucky soul brothers - Japan, has made for a colorful and unpredictable time for the team.

You've been one of the few ever-present in the squad during this time.

What's the experience been like?”

Corica: “It’s been fantastic. The Confederations cup was a good tournament for us.

We beat France the World Champions, which was an unbelievable game for us and also Brazil.

We were very proud of our achievements in the Confederation cup and also the qualifying games against New Zealand.

We fulfilled our aims and earned a spot in the next round of qualifiers.”

Diegos: “The Diegos want to take you back to a very special moment in Aussie soccer - the win over world champions France in the Confederations Cup.

The scorer of the winning goal that night was Clayton Zane - it earned him world acclaim but it could've been oh so different. Unfortunately the glory could've been all yours had it not been for that ‘bully’ Frank Leboeuf who cut you down on the way to a certain goal.

Given that you could've been bigger than the 'Tokyo Shock Boys' if you'd scored, are you angry and bitter at Frankie?”

Corica: “Yes and no.

He did bring me down after I put the ball through his legs. I guess he wasn’t happy about that.

Even if I had got past him I still had a big job to do to score. At the end of the day we got the winning goal from the free kick so I was very happy with that.

To beat France is a sensational feeling.”

Diegos: “ When you do put the ball through the opposition’s legs do you still yell ‘nuts’ as you’re running past him?”

Corica: “No I didn’t actually. I was a bit scared too I think. It was Frank Leboeuf you know. You don’t tell a bloke like that you’ve just embarrassed him on the world stage.”

Diegos: “The Australian Confederation Cup performance was a memorable one and shocked the world but what sort of reaction did the team get in your adopted country.

Were we the talk of the Sushi Bars?”

Corica: “Definitely. I think we surprised a lot of people with the way we played to beat teams like that.”

Soft Sombrero Moment September 2001

Corica on ‘copping heaps’ from his Japanese mates…

Diegos: “Of course, a real downer was being beaten by Japan in the Confederation Cup semi's 1-0 and then again last week 3-0 in the Asia / Pacific Cup.

Its Ok for the rest of the boys they can leave the country and go home but you instead have to put up with all that Japanese dressing room sledging.

How have you coped with the jibes and by-play and what do Japanese players say when they wind someone up?”

Corica: “It’s probably good that I can’t really understand them that much.

I did cop a bit of ‘stick’.

The major one was the Confederation cup. I thought we played well and had enough chances to win so we were a bit disappointed that we didn’t get through to the final in that respect.

In last game against Japan we had a lot of players out or not available so it was a disappointing game for us.

The Japanese team is a good team. They’ve got a French coach and I think they should do well in the World Cup.”

Soft Sombrero Moment September 2001

Corica on the Socceroo pay dispute – 2001 version…

Diegos: “Late this week the issue about Socceroo players still being owed money by Soccer Australia from the Confederation cup exploded with talk even suggesting a possible player's strike.

Now Steve do the Diegos have to get out the placards and set up a picket line or will this issue be resolved pretty quickly?”

Corica: “Yes we are owed a fair bit of money from the Confederations Cup.

I don’t want to go into it too much except that we are owed the money and hopefully we’ll get it soon and no we won’t need the Diegos to help us out on this one but thanks anyway.”

Soft Sombrero Moment September 2001

Corica on his ‘Pat Malone’ in the land of the big red sun…

Diegos: “The Diegos research department tells us that your club, Sanfrecce has started the second half of the season on fire with you especially in fine goal-scoring form. Things must be pretty good at the moment but with Tony Popovic departing for Crystal Palace recently, it must be pretty lonely just the same.

How are you coping with an Aussie - less change room? Who do you drink your slab of VB with? Who do you sing Chisel songs with in the shower?”

Corica: “Now I’ve got no one really.

Tony Popovic has left and gone to Crystal Palace so I’m hanging out with two Russian players. The coach here is now Russian too. I suppose I better start learning some Russian.

I’ve got an interpreter with me when I do interviews just to make sure I get some idea of what they are talking about. ’

Soft Sombrero Moment September 2001