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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Nick Ward Playing For Australia vs Lebanon

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Sydney Morning Herald Olyroos signal intention to attack
Olyroos coach Graham Arnold is set to go for goals in his side's Olympic Games qualifier against Lebanon in Beirut on Thursday, naming four attackers as he looks to get a goal difference jump on group leaders Iraq.
Australia's under-23 soccer team are second on goal difference in their group to Iraq, who face a difficult away assignment on Thursday against North Korea.
Iraq then clash with the Olyroos on November 17 in Gosford in the match likely to decide which team qualifies for the Beijing Games.
The Olyroos beat Lebanon 3-0 in Gosford last month and go into the return match warm favourites despite making a hit-and-run raid to Beirut after being based in the United Arab Emirates in the lead-up.
Arnold goes into the match without star Adelaide striker Bruce Djite through injury, but signalled his intentions clearly when he named his team.
James Troisi, who plays with English Premier League club Newcastle, will join A-League duo Kristian Sarkies and Mark Bridge up front.
Adelaide star Nathan Burns is set to play a withdrawn role behind them - Arnold confident that an attacking frame of mind will reap rewards.
"It's a very fit and mobile side and we've got some great options on the bench," Arnold said from Abu Dhabi.
"When we've got the ball, we've got three up front, when we don't have the ball, we have five in midfield.
"The luxury with this Olyroos squad is the depth we've built over the last 12 months and many of them playing in the A-League regularly."
The Olyroos have not played any lead-up matches during their week-long training camp in the UAE because of the fact it fell during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
"It's been impossible to get a friendly game at all, but we've got a couple of extra players in and had a 10 v 10 friendly game on Saturday night," Arnold said.
"They also haven't forgotten what we worked in our two games on the Central Coast (in September)."
Olyroos: Danny Vukovic, Ruben Zadkovich, Adrian Leijer, Mark Milligan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Stuart Musialik, Nick Ward, Kristian Sarkies, Nathan Burns, Mark Bridge, James Troisi. Sydney Morning Herald