Australia

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Kalac ready for axe

23 Jun 2006 - 13:09:48

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Goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac expects to watch Australia's World Cup second round clash against Italy from the bench.

Socceroos boss Guus Hiddink decided to call Kalac in to the starting line-up for Thursday's Group F decider against Croatia after regular number one Mark Schwarzer made some important errors in the matches against Japan and Brazil.

Hiddink must have regretted the decision when the AC Milan 'keeper somehow managed to palm Niko Kovac's tame shot in to his own goal to give Croatia a 2-1 lead.

Harry Kewell's equaliser secured the point Australia needed to reach the last 16 and ensured the nightmare moment did not prove costly to the team, but Kalac suspects it will prove costly to him.

"I am hopeful of keeping my place but let's say I wouldn't stake my life on it," he said.

"Schwarzer has made a couple of mistakes in past games and now I have come up with one.

"When the ball went in, I just wanted the ground to eat me up.

"It is difficult to explain what happened. The ball just bounced over my hand and into the net. I didn't see it go in - I didn't have to.

"I am just so relieved it didn't cost us a place in the competition. At least it won't be replayed over and over again now."