Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Mark Viduka Viduka on the friendly against France in November 2001… Diegos: " It's great to see you back in a rich vein of goal-scoring form after a little bit of a lean spell. Last week you frightened the living daylights out of Fabian Barthez in a Manchester United shirt; this week you going to do the same but this time he'll be wearing a French strip. Coming into some of the most important games in Australian soccer history, the Diegos reckon you're looking pretty sharp and hungry. How are you feeling?" Viduka: "I'm feeling quite good at the moment. We're at the time of the season where we're starting to get full fitness. I personally feel a lot better and a lot sharper in games so it's a good time to play these qualifying matches." Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001
Diegos: "The French team is bitter and twisted after the Confederations cup. They are looking for revenge and have selected close to a full strength side. It's a pretty intimidating practice match going into the most important games in Australian soccer history, don't you think?" Viduka: "It's going to be a great thing for Australian soccer. Aussie fans don't get much of chance to see the likes of France often. They're bringing out their full squad so obviously they're serious so I hope it prepares us well for the qualifiers. The issue of Arsenal trying to stop its French players from turning up has been in the media over here but to be honest I haven't taken much notice. There has been a lot of comments but I knew that in the end they wouldn't be able to stop anyone from coming to Australia." Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001
Diegos: "The Diegos believe that the French national association has hired a Boeing 747 and actually converted it into a 'flying mattress' to make the trip to Australia for the French boys nice and comfortable. Has Soccer Australia done the same for you and Harry?" Viduka: "Yeh I wish! I don't think our soccer federation is as rich as theirs." Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001
Diegos: "Judging from the hugs and kisses you exchanged after you scored four against Liverpool last season, it seems that you and David O'Leary have a special close bond. With many other players having to battle with 'Club V Country' issues coming into the French game, it must have been a huge relief to you and Harry Kewell that O'Leary and Leeds were very supportive of you joining the Aussie squad for the upcoming games?" Viduka: "I think he realizes that it's an important game for us. Not just the France game but also the qualifying matches as well. The last time I played for the 'A' national team was almost two years ago in the game against the Czech Republic. The thing is that we haven't really been away too often with the national team. I think it's quite realistic to expect us to go to important games likes the ones we're about to experience. That's my view anyway and I think David agrees." Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001
Diegos: "It seems that throughout this whole World Cup campaign you personally have taken every opportunity to unleash a western suburbs 'mad stare' at FIFA for its treatment of Australia and it's qualifying schedule. As we go into some pretty important games do you still believe there's been an injustice in the way the Aussies are forced to qualify? Viduka: "What do you Diegos mean by western suburbs 'mad stare'?" Diegos: "You know the one that you often give to Martin Keown." Viduka: "Oh now I understand. I think you're right. The way we've been forced to qualify in this World Cup is unjust. I think we should be given a fair go like the rest of the teams in the world. If FIFA thinks that our region isn't strong enough they should put us into another region. CONCACAF, Asia or some regions like that because with games over two legs it's always a gamble isn't it? When you're playing in a league system it's the better team that most of the time prevails." Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001 Viduka on Iran 97… Diegos: " You were involved in the heartbreak of Iran 97. We know that to try and get it out of your system, you talk to your dog, Tara about it every chance you get. To avoid another Iran, what in your opinion does the team need to focus on going into the next couple of weeks? Viduka: "To be honest I don't really talk to my dog about the Iran qualifiers because she wasn't around then so she doesn't really understand. Apart from that I think the best thing to do with the whole Iran situation is to disregard it. It's in the past and a long time behind us. We have to look forward. We shouldn't forget what happened but I think it's stupid to keep bringing it up because we've got a game to look forward to and hopefully a World cup to look forward to. If and when, hopefully it's when we qualify for the World Cup people will forget about that." Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001
Diegos: " We know that you grew up curving and curling the ball around your Dad's backyard cabbage patch. Coming into these big games against the French and the South Americans, your backyard cabbage patch is now the MCG. What will qualifying for the World Cup on Viduka's cabbage patch mean to you?" Viduka: "You reckon the cabbage patch? I know my old man makes good cabbages but I think that place is a bit big don't you think?" Playing at the MCG means everything to me. I couldn't think of a better place for me and the team to try and get Australia to the World Cup. Playing for Australia is like the icing on the cake. We've got good jobs here and good lives and most of us are doing well playing football overseas. My team is doing well but the icing on the cake for me is to play for Australia. It's great to try and do it for all the Aussie fans. We're born in a country where soccer is not number one sport and I think when people see players like us doing so well playing football overseas and then coming back and playing for the national team and respecting that I think it's great. It's something that all people want to see and I think the players love to be involved in it too." Soft Sombrero Moment November 2001
Diegos: "A couple of weeks ago on a sunny day at Elland Road the world watched you perform one of the most devastating displays of finishing, unmatched by anyone in the world in recent years. Four solo goals - each one specifically dedicated to the Four Diegos - in a 4-3 win over the mighty Liverpool. Mark, from an individual point of view, does it get much better than that?" Viduka: "I hope it does. It was a good game, a good team performance and a good win. Hopefully we can get a couple more like that this season. I thought from a performance point of view I've probably played better in other games this season but I suppose I can't complain scoring four against Liverpool. There are times when you play really well but don't get rewarded with a goal. In that game I got four chances and put them all away." Soft Sombrero Moment December 2000
Diegos: "You're quickly earning a reputation as a bit of a softy. When Maradona thrusts his face into a TV camera during a game you can clearly see the drug fuelled frenzy that he's in. You, on the other hand, just say hello to your mum. You're going to have get tougher that that, don't you think?" Viduka: "Yeh I've always been a mummy's boy you know. I miss my family. I've been away so long and that moment when I scored four against Liverpool was such a happy one for me, it's the first thing that came into my mind." Soft Sombrero Moment December 2000
Diegos: "From watching the way you and Leeds manager, David O'Leary were exchanging the 'sign of the cross' during the Liverpool game, its became pretty apparent that you and he share a special spiritual bond. Having said that, is it true, as reports have stated, that you defied him by attending the Socceroo camp in the recent international against Scotland without his blessing?" Viduka: "I don't know whether it was against his wishes. I know he wasn't too keen on me playing after getting injured in a league game against Chelsea. I wanted to go up and see the rest of the team. Even if I wasn't going to play, I wanted to go and support them. It was good to be with them. I always enjoy coming and playing with the national team." Soft Sombrero Moment December 2000
Diegos: "Over the years there has been a question mark over the commitment of some Aussie players when it comes to representing the Socceroos. The boys performed magnificently against Scotland last week. What's the spirit like in the camp at present and why do you believe this team can go all the way to the World cup 2002?" Viduka: "I'd like to think so and I'd like to think that I'm an important part of that team. Obviously I'm the same as any other player in the team and it's important that I don't give the impression that I'm 'Mr. Big Time' or anything like that. I really want to make the World Cup with the Aussie team and I think the best way to do that is to play as many games as possible together and develop a strong team spirit. If I wasn't going to play against Scotland I wanted to be involved in any way and to show the boys that I'm one of them." Soft Sombrero Moment December 2000
Diegos: "Your football career has been both a dramatic and heart-warming story - a story of love, war, politics, haggis, coming home, Tara the dog and also the odd change room disagreement. When's the book coming out?" Viduka: "I don't know Diegos. I haven't thought about it really. I reckon it wouldn't be a bad book actually. There are quite a few things to talk about but I'm not ready to divulge anything yet. I just want to try and get as much publicity as I can on the field before I get it off the field." Soft Sombrero Moment December 2000
Diegos: "One Diego request - will you please tell Alan Smith to stop jumping on your back ala Wayne Carey when you score? Our resident medico Dr. Groin reckons it's going to do damage one day?" Viduka: "Yeh I have to see a chiropractor now because of all the jumping on me after I score goals. I guess as long as I score I don't mind but I will tell him that the Diegos have requested that he stop doing it." Soft Sombrero Moment December 2000
Diegos: "What do you think about when you're one on one with the keeper?" Viduka: "To tell you the truth not much. Footballers are pretty renowned for having not too many things going through our heads." Diegos: "Is it any different to your younger days growing up in Keilor, curling the ball around your Dad's tomato plants and slotting it into your mum's flower pots?" Viduka: "You hit it spot on Diegos. My Dad had a lot of cabbages as well so they took a pounding too." Soft Sombrero Moment December 2000 |