Left: Australia's World Cup soccer players wave to the crowd as they do a lap-of-honour after winning their friendly match against Greece at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yestereday. Australia defeated Greece 1-0 and will leave for the World Cup today. Right: Sweden's Petter Hansson (left) tackles Finland's Mikael Forsell during their friendly match in Gothenburg yesterday. The game ended 0-0. - PHOTOS BY REUTERS
LONDON (Reuters):
AUSTRALIA DEFEATED European champions Greece 1-0 before a record crowd for a soccer match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday in a rousing send-off to their first World Cup finals for 32 years.
Josip Skoko's 15th-minute volley was the difference between the sides, who were cheered on by a huge contingent from Melbourne's large Greek community.
LACKLUSTRE GAME
In Gothenburg, Sweden, without several first-choice players, were held to a goalless draw by Finland in their penultimate warm-up match.
It was another lacklustre performance by the Swedes who were beaten 3-0 by Ireland in March.
Germany captain Michael Ballack was forced out of another warm-up match after sustaining an ankle injury.
Ballack, who will lead the hosts in the opening World Cup match on June 9, was injured early in the practice match against Servette Germany's under-18 team.
PROBLEM IN FRENCH CAMP
France coach Raymond Domenech told a news conference that tempers had flared in the French World Cup camp yesterday with reserve goalkeeper Gregory Coupet storming out after a dispute over rival Fabien Barthez.
"There was indeed a problem," said Domenech, who made Barthez his number one ahead of Coupet.
"Gregory Coupet had the blues for a moment. He cracked. Such things can happen."
Coupet initially packed his bags before deciding to return to the camp in the French Alps resort of Tignes.
Spain coach Luis Aragones held Wednesday afternoon's training session behind closed doors after loud criticism from dissatisfied fans.
Aragones, who has been under fire for leaving striker Fernando Morientes out of his squad, eventually decided to hold a closed session after appealing for calm.
Dutch coach Guus Hiddink said there was still much work to be done if Australia were to be competitive in a group containing world champions Brazil, Croatia and Japan.
"We need to put in the training and focus on improvement because games at World Cup level are decided on details," he said. "The first half was good, but the second we lost focus which is a worry."
DIFFICULTIES
As England continued to wait on news of Wayne Rooney's recovery from his broken foot, the Czech Republic suffered a setback when it was revealed that there was a delay in midfielder Vladimir Smicer's recovery from a leg injury.
The former Liverpool player has a blood clot in his thigh and team doctor Jiri Fousek was quoted as saying "lasers, draining, special bandages, we're trying everything possible".
Costa Rica, Germany's oppo-nents in the opening match in Munich, were presented with an unexpected difficulty after entering the host country.
A security gate at Frankfurt airport had to be cut open with a bolt-cutter to allow the bus carrying the players and officials from their plane to get through.
