Viduka - I Can Take The Criticism!

Last updated : 21 July 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
The Australian captain destroyed defending champions Japan the last time they met, in Germany in the World Cup, and he has no fear for today's fixture.

Viduka: "We deserved to be criticised over the way we played. And I think a lot of us felt that the criticism started to grow beyond football. 

"They were criticising us in Australia for things not related to football at all. It was very disappointing.

"We all knew before the (Thailand) game that we needed a good result and I think it pulled us together."

Reports in Australia suggested that there was a rift among the players, but Viduka played that down blaming their poor form on hot and humid weather.