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Sydney FC promise to attack [Sat Aug 27th, 2005]
Sydney FC coach Pierre Littbarski is yet to settle on his starting line-up for his side's opening A-League encounter against Melbourne on Sunday, but has promised fans "attacking football".
Billed as 'the new dawn of Australian football', crowd attendances are expected to reach an early peak in the competition's opening weekend, leaving it up to the players to display the sort of sporting entertainment which will entice audiences to continue flocking.
Littbarski, a former World Cup winner with Germany, has assured his Aussie Stadium fans that Sydney FC will play an offensive brand of football.
"We are going to play attacking football to make sure the fans are happy as we know they want us to play good football," the German coach affirmed. "But we have to make sure we play winning football also."
"We will attack because we have good power in attack, but our defence has been very good."
With Australian internationals David Zdrilic and Saso Petrovski, and former Manchester United treble-winner Dwight Yorke on Sydney's books, they certainly do not lack attacking talent.
A three-pronged attack is expected to be the way Littbarski sets up his attack for Sunday's opener, with the club's and the new league's marquee player, Dwight Yorke, set to occupy the role in behind the two Australian international strikers.
Add attacking midfielder Steve Corica to the mix, and left-sided former Everton junior David Carney, Sydney possess all the ingredients that should mix to serve goals.
However, their organisation throughout the park has led to their highly impressive pre-season form, which included Sydney earning the right to be Australia's representatives at the FIFA Club World Championships in Tokyo.
The likes of Clint Bolton, Iain Fyfe, Jacob Timpano, Terry McFlynn, Alvin Ceccoli and Matthew Bingley have all combined brilliantly to halt goals being scored from opposing sides. And add to that defence, injury-troubled captain Mark Rudan, and it becomes obvious Melbourne Victory's attack, led by Australian international Archie Thompson, will have their work cut out for them seeking openings.
“We are lucky that we have so many options and we won’t pick the starting side until Sunday because I still have to think about a few things,†Littbarski said.
"We have some very good attacking players and we also have Terry (McFlynn) who defends very well (in the midfield) so we can do some different things.
"Having (Matt) Bingley available is good for us because it means there are also some more options at the back but we also have another option with (Jacob) Timpano because he has done well in the pre-season games."
The match kicks off at 5 pm at Aussie Stadium, with gates opening at 3 pm.
PA Sport
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