Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Craig Moore Moore on the Uruguay Challenge… Diegos: "Finally the wait is over - they'll be no more ten pin bowling or games of golf - the real hard training starts now with the news that everyone's favoured opponent, Uruguay will be meeting the Socceroos for the critical World Cup qualifiers at the MCG. You've had a little bit of time to digest it. How are Frank and the boys feeling about the draw? Moore: "The nice thing about the draw is at least we know who we're playing now. We've got a few days to train more specifically for the Uruguayans. We can start looking at them on video and check out how they have been playing. So in that respect the next four or five days are very exciting." Diegos: "Speculation has been wild about who we will eventually be matched up with for the big two legged series that starts next Tuesday. Now that we know it's Uruguay is our preparation going to extremely different to what it would've otherwise been the case if we'd met Brazil or Colombia? Moore: "I wouldn't think that it would be a lot different. We knew that it was going to be against South American opposition. We wanted to avoid Brazil and Colombia especially with regards to traveling and high altitude. We are pleased to get Uruguay because it's an easier place to get to. You can train as much as you want but the games are the important things." Diegos: "South Americans have always been recognized as nippy, wily types on the field. The Uruguayans will be no different. Their strikers don't mind the theatrics - diving, feigning death and crying to 'Mama'. You're an experienced international defender. How will you confront the South American challenge next week and is there anything in particular that you'll have to be wary of when you come up against these high class South American strikers? Moore: "I think defensively you just need to be very careful because all South American teams look to 'con' the referees into penalties and free kicks outside the box. So that's one area where we will really have to be clever. They've also been known for off the ball incidents and I'm sure they'll try to annoy us and get us to react. But that's something that we've all experienced and I'm sure that we'll be able to handle the situation." Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001
Diegos: "The Diegos want to take you back to a special moment last week in the 1-1 draw against France when you scored, what will go down in Australian soccer history as the famous 'Head of Moore' goal. Now you don't score many so to score against the World and European champions and one of the best teams in the history of the game no doubt has put a snap in your shorts. Now how is the bragging in the change rooms going and have you got on to the phone to Rangers in Scotland yet looking for a better contract when you get back? Moore: "No there hasn't been any bragging or contract renegotiations. There's been some good banter floating about the dressing room but I'm not the sort of player who would go about bragging about it especially since my goal scoring record is not that good anyway. In training though I've been fancying myself as a bit of striker so that's been enjoyable. The goal is something that will live with me for the rest of my life because I don't score many. It was nice to play against the World Champions and do well in the game but that was just a friendly game. The two important games are the one's that are coming up. Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001
Diegos: "The Diegos know that the Socceroos are nice, fun loving guys but it seems after the game against France the rest of the football world think that we're brutal, bloodthirsty thugs. We know you as 'Mad Dog' Moore and your defensive partners, 'Mad Cow' Muscat and 'Mad Stare' Murphy don't mind it hard and tough but is this perception of the team unfair? Can such a reputation work to our advantage when we face up to the hotheaded Uruguayans next week?" Moore: "I think it's very unfair. We can definitely play football and we can do it at the highest level as well. We're not a team full of 'thugs', although there are a few, especially Kevin Muscat…only joking. We all go out to enjoy ourselves but if it does come down to the 'nitty gritty' and tackles need to be put in then we've got the players that can do that.' It's an interesting situation because South American tempers are quite extreme as well. I think the way they'll try and approach the game is to try and aggravate a few of our players. That can work both ways but we'll keep our discipline." Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001
Diegos: "We know that Iran 97 has been brought up a lot during this campaign. You were part of that tragedy and had to live with the disappointment ever since. Is what happened in that MCG game back in 97 at all relevant from a player's point of view in the upcoming series and do you think that Frank will use the old 'Remember Iran' pep talk in the lead up to the Uruguay games? Moore: "Frankie's never mentioned it. There were a lot of players involved and obviously that disappointment is what keeps us going. It makes us more determined to put things right this time around.' Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001 |
World Cup campaigns: 1997 & 2001
Championships Italy 1991