Waugh and the socceroos

[jazzy]

AUSTRALIAN cricket legend Steve Waugh will arrive in Singapore tonight to address the Socceroos before their Asian Cup mission.

Waugh will spend three days with the 23-man squad after accepting an offer from coach Graham Arnold and Football Federation Australia to mentor the team. He will return later in the tournament.

Waugh will be part of the inner sanctum and will begin by speaking to the Socceroos' five-man leadership group – Mark Viduka, Lucas Neill, Harry Kewell, Vince Grella and Mark Schwarzer – tomorrow night.

"In a tournament situation over a six-week period, a different voice can be powerful," Arnold said last night.

"He'll watch the game (against Singapore) Saturday, speak to some players on Sunday, go home for a couple of weeks and we'll bring him back later in the tournament.

"He's part of the group and the staff and for this tournament he belongs to the Socceroos and the players are excited.

"He's got a lot to offer and he sees this as a different challenge.

"I've had three meetings with him. He's got some great ideas about getting to the core of the group. They always give everything . . . to get something extra mentally from them in tight situations."

Waugh was first approached three months ago and the idea of drafting him into the Socceroos' inner sanctum was Arnold's.

He will address players one-on-one and pass on his experiences of dealing with pressures and expectation.