Socceroos confident

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 36

Socceroos confident

NZPA-AAP Sydney The Socceroo coach, Mr Fran Arok, convinced Australia is on its way to the Olympic Games finals in Seoul. The Socceroos arrived in Christchurch late last evening carrying only two casualties on to the flight — the fullback, Alan Davidson, with an injured toe and the defender, Gary McDowall, who has a virus. Australia starts the second leg of the Oceania Olympic Games qualifying series against Israel on Sunday at Queen Elizabeth II Park with a two

points. advantage over its opponents. Arok is confident his team will again prove too strong for the Israelis, whom they beat 2-0 I in Melbourne last week but even a draw would probably be enough to put Australia into the Olympic finals for the first time since the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Davidson, who was outstanding against Israel, has damaged the little toe on his right foot and will know by tomorrow whether he can play. “I trained yesterday and today but even a few

kicks left the toe swollen and painful,” said Davi-? son. The Australian coach was pleased with the form of the striker, David Mitchell, after yesterday morning’s training. Mitchell showed little effect of his long flight from Europe and quickly slotted into the team lineup. “He is in a class of his own and is absolutely magnificent,” Mr Arok said. The major battle in the side will be which player will have to make way for Mitchell.