Soccer: Money plays no part says Farina

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Socceroos coach Frank Farina was quick to brush off suggestions that money, or rather the apparent lack of it, will play a part in Australia's Oceania Nations Cup campaign.

Speaking before his team's first training session yesterday, Farina said he was happy with the players he has brought to Auckland, but added: "I don't see why New Zealand should not go in as favourites."

Pressed about the non-availability of almost all of his European-based players, apparently for financial reasons, Farina said: "I don't control Soccer Australia's purse strings.

"We are all faced with circumstances out of our control. But we are here to do a job."

Of suggestions that arrogance had cost Australia when they lost 1-0 to New Zealand at the 1998 Nations Cup in Brisbane, and subsequently a place in the 1999 Confederations Cup, Farina said: "I wasn't coach then, but as I saw it, New Zealand played better on the day.

"The players I have here all want to do well, just as I do. It isn't going to be easy.

"I have just got back to Australia [from the World Cup] and now we are here for a tournament in New Zealand's backyard in weather and conditions vastly different from what we have at home.

"Five games in 10 days is not going to be easy from a health point of view in these conditions. But there is always pressure for us as players and coaches to do well.

"We hope this tournament will put us back up there. It is the start of a new four-year cycle [aimed at the 2006 World Cup]."

Captain Steve Horvat says he expects a difficult tournament.

"You can never take anything for granted," he said.

"The disappointment of losing [the World Cup qualifier] in Uruguay has been and gone. Now we have a mix of young and experienced players who want to do a job.

"New Zealand have an advantage for sure. While we have the majority of our players from the NSL, New Zealand have players who have been playing in the MLS [United States] and Europe, as well as Australia."

Horvat also said the money wrangles had not had an effect on the players.

"To put on the [Australian] shirt is a bigger motivation than a few extra dollars."

Asked about Con Boustianis' non-selection, apparently over money demands, Farina said he was not interested in Boustianis.

Both teams restricted themselves to one training session each yesterday.

The All Whites were joined by US-based Ryan Nelsen and Duncan Oughton, who arrived from the States early yesterday, for their morning session while the Socceroos trained in the afternoon.

Farina has yet to make a final decision on whether a planned game against University Mt Wellington tonight will go ahead.

* Scottish premier side Dunfermline Athletic wind up their New Zealand tour with a game against the CMG All Stars at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium at 7.30 tonight. The AllStars will be led by former international Harry Ngata.