Viduka talked out of quitting Socceroos
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:42 pm
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has talked Mark Viduka out of announcing his international retirement, according to reports in Australia.
Viduka, who recently left Middlesbrough for fellow Barclays Premier League side Newcastle, had intended to reveal his plans to quit playing for Australia with immediate effect on Friday.
But following talks with Arnold, Viduka is now thought to have performed a U-turn and made himself available for the Asian Cup, which gets under way next month.
Should Australia reach the latter stages of the tournament as expected, the 31-year-old will have less than three weeks' preparation time with Newcastle prior to the start of the 2007-08 English season.
Viduka has scored six goals in 38 appearances for the Socceroos, debuting in the 1-0 win over South Africa in Adelaide in 1994.
It is still expected, however, that Viduka will quit the international arena after the Asian Cup to enable him to prolong his club career.
Viduka, who recently left Middlesbrough for fellow Barclays Premier League side Newcastle, had intended to reveal his plans to quit playing for Australia with immediate effect on Friday.
But following talks with Arnold, Viduka is now thought to have performed a U-turn and made himself available for the Asian Cup, which gets under way next month.
Should Australia reach the latter stages of the tournament as expected, the 31-year-old will have less than three weeks' preparation time with Newcastle prior to the start of the 2007-08 English season.
Viduka has scored six goals in 38 appearances for the Socceroos, debuting in the 1-0 win over South Africa in Adelaide in 1994.
It is still expected, however, that Viduka will quit the international arena after the Asian Cup to enable him to prolong his club career.
