May 26, 2006	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 27, 1427

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MELBOURNE, May 25: Australia gave 95,000 home fans a rousing World Cup send-off with a 1-0 win over European champions Greece in a football friendly at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here Thursday.

Midfielder Josip Skoko, who plays for Stoke City in the English Championship, netted the winning goal in the 16th minute with a cracking left-foot volley from outside the penalty area.

It was perfect tonic for Dutch coach Guus Hiddink as he takes his Australian squad to Holland Friday for a pre-World Cup training camp ahead of another warm-up match against the Netherlands in Rotterdam on June 4.

The Australians make their first appearance for 32 years in the World Cup finals with an opening match against Japan in Kaiserslautern on June 12.

“We had a good first half against the European champions,” Hiddink said.

“Our organisation was good, but in the second half we didn't have the same control and although our opponents didn't create chances I wasn't happy with the performance until the last 10 minutes when we got more control.

“We still have to work a lot if we want to be very competitive at the World Cup level, you must have control for the whole game. I am always looking for ways for us to improve.”Hiddink's team were full value for their win, showing sharpness on the ball, superior organisation and aggression in the tackle and confident passing, while Greece looked off their game.Skoko stunned Greece with his spectacular volley after a corner from Marco Bresciano.

Bresciano found Lucas Neill on the far post and his header was directed by Mile Sterjovski into the path of Skoko, who powered a first-time volley into the top left corner of the goal with goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis stranded.

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel said Australia deserved the win through their greater aggression and Skoko's “dream” goal.“Before the game I told the team that it was a very important game for Australia as it was their last game before their fans before they go to Germany and that they would be fighting for their positions to get into the starting team at the World Cup,” Rehhagel said.

“Unfortunately, our boys were still thinking it was a friendly game and they were taken aback by the aggression of the Australian players and it took a while for us to get into the game and only in the second half were we better.

“Australia deserve the result and the dream goal from Skoko and the aggression of the Australian players was far more evident then in our players who were already looking forward to having a holiday.”Australia dominated the opening half as the Greeks struggled to make their passes with moves often breaking down.

Bresciano almost stretched Australia's lead when his 24th-minute long-range free kick skimmed just past the right post away from Nikopolidis' despairing dive.

Sterjovski, who was proving lively up front with skipper Mark Viduka, brought a diving save from Nikopolidis minutes later in Australia's fourth shot on target.—AFP