Age shall not weary us, says Culina
By Guy Hand
09:25 AEST Sat May 29 2010
Socceroos midfielder Jason Culina says Australia's first-choice players are not just four years older, but four years wiser as they get down to business at the World Cup.
The Socceroos' ageing line-up and lack of new blood from the last World Cup has been the subject of much conjecture.
Elements of defensive frailty were evident in the fortunate 2-1 friendly win over New Zealand in Melbourne on Monday night.
But as the Socceroos' 28-man squad settle into what promises to be a gruelling pre-World Cup training camp at altitude in Johannesburg, Culina has warned those calling for the zimmer frames and walking sticks for the 30-something mainstays not to be too hasty in their assessment.
He believes knowing what to expect is the Socceroos' biggest advantage going into their tough Group D.
"We've all got the four years behind us and three-quarters of the squad have been at a World Cup before so we know what to expect," Culina said.
"Last World Cup was hard because we didn't know what to expect.
"We're not going in there blind this time. It should count for a lot.
"The whole team has really been strengthened in the last few years, we moved up the rankings, and that's why we've got the results we have.
"This squad's been together for quite a while now and that's really important to us."
Culina was arguably Australia's best in the less-than-convincing 2-1 win over New Zealand in Melbourne before the team headed to South Africa.
It was a performance which came despite not having played a match since early March when his A-League side Gold Coast exited the finals.
Culina has spent the past two months training with his old Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, attempting to keep fit and at the forefront of coach Pim Verbeek's plans for the World Cup opener against Germany on June 13.
"Unfortunately I haven't played any games but I'm raring to go. I'm feeling fit and healthy and I can't ask for more," Culina said.
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=1061063