Simon says big match has ‘bite’

Buoyed by his call up to the Socceroos training squad, Perth Glory midfielder, Simon Colosimo, is looking forward to a rough encounter with so-called glamour side Sydney FC this Saturday.

After two high stakes matches in knockout competitions between the two sides in recent months, Colosimo expects a tough battle on the Members Equity Stadium pitch this weekend.

As one of just three Hyundai A-League players selected in the 25-man Socceroos squad to leave for the Netherlands after Saturday’s game, Colosimo will go into the match on a personal high.

And he is sure Sydney will know they have been in a physical contest when the final whistle comes.

"They got a good result in Brisbane at the weekend but there is a little bit of bite between the two teams to be quite honest," Colosimo said.

"Quietly, we know we can rough it up against each other as we did in Sydney in the pre-season tournament final and hopefully it will be the same again."

"Not many teams like it (the physical side of the game) and if you watch Adelaide, they have got a lot of results from getting in peoples faces. If we can now add that to our game too then we should be all right."

After Sydney Swans win over the West Coast Eagles in the AFL Grand Final last weekend, the Glory will be looking to do Western Australia proud in this weekend’s WA v Sydney rematch at Members Equity Stadium.

And, while Colosimo acknowledged Dwight Yorke’s star quality, taking on the most talked about player in the national competition does not daunt him.

"We’ve got to treat Dwight like we do any forward," Colosimo insisted. "Archie Thompson probably isn’t that far away from Dwight and he is another forward you have to keep an eye on but I am sure Dwight will bring a little bit of hype and he should bring a few more people through the gate.

"There is a little rivalry already because we beat Sydney at their place and they beat us here but I think all the players and the people of Perth will be looking forward to it. We have improved game by game but now is our opportunity to make this our little fortress. That is what we have been trying to do and we need to make sure that happens."

After Saturday’s match, Colosimo will fly to Europe where he will meet up with Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink and his national team mates.

"It was difficult at the last camp, trying to train and knowing that I would not be available for selection because I was just part of the train-on squad. Although it was difficult I felt that I had trained quite well and I guess I must have caught the new boss’s eye," he smiled.

The training squad will be followed by a friendly fixture in London against Jamaica – the last friendly before Australia’s crunch match against the fifth placed South American in the decisive World Cup qualifying play-off in November.

"I missed out for the last November game against Uruguay so it gives me an opportunity to really push my case and stake a claim for 180 minutes of football," Colosimo stressed.

A-League Round 6
Perth Glory vs Sydney FC
Saturday October 1, 2005
Members Equity Stadium - 7:35pm.