The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 21

AUSTRALIA'S WORLD CUP WARRIORS The strategists M' r-f 53 TMUG UTJESE-NOVIC, 27, defender, 5ft 9in (St George-Budapest): Right fullback, born in Yugoslavia, who migrated to Melbourne where played for Footscray JUST before being transferred to St George. A master of the overlap, and bright attacking defender, al-though sometimes found wanting in a tight situation. Uijesenovic has played 18 times for Australia. Occupation: storcman. JACK REII.LY,28, goalkeeper, 6ft 01 in (Melbourne Hakoah): Scottish-born, played with first division club Hibernian in Scotland.

Became Australia's first-choice goalkeeper in 1970, but was omitted from last year's World Cup squad after failing to attend training. Good reflexes and experience point to him as prime choice for the Cup games in West Germany. Has played 10 times for Australia. Occupation: stockbroker. COL CUR RAN, 26, defender, 5ft 6in (Western Suburbs): Australian-born player who learned with Adamstown -Rosebuds in Newcastle, and served apprenticeship with Manchester United at Old Traf-ford in England.

Won World Cup place after injury to Bobby Hogg in April last year, and is probably most consistent player in the Australian team. Speed and penetration from the left full-back position can launch his side into attack in a flash. Eleven caps. Occupation: driver. PETER WILSON, 26.

defender, 6ft lin (Safeway United): Australia's World Cup captain, born in England where played professionally with Middlesborough before migrating to Australia to join South Coast United. Spent a season with Marconi-Fairfield before returning to South Coast, now Safeway United, to become player-coach. Solid and reliable, plays the sweeper's role in the defence and has played 29 full internationals for Australia. Occupation: car salesman. ALLAN MAHER, 21, goalkeeper, 6ft 2in (Sutherland): Australian-born, began a bright career when spotted by then Sutherland coach Mike Johnson who lured him to the club on a huge transfer fee three years ago.

Tall, agile, has played a big role i Sutherland's tenuous grip on a first division place since their promotion in 1972. Captained the Australian under-23 team on recent three-match tour of Indonesia, was fortunate to gain a place in the World Cup side after Jim Frascr pulled out. No international caps. Occupation: maintenance fitter. JOHN WARREN, 31, midfielder, 5ft 9in (St George-Budapest); Australia's vice-captain and most celebrated player, captained Australia from 1967 until suffered serious knee injury in 1971.

With Watkiss, has been in all Australia's three Cup campaigns. Damage to cartilage and cruciate ligaments threatened to end career three years ago, but after 18 months' absence, fought back to win place in the team for the elimination series last year. Tremendous drive and determination, lias played 42 times for Australia. Occupation: public relations officer. IFS SCHF.IN-ll,l 37, assistant coach.

One of the finest players ever to represent Australia as irtside-lrft and left-half. Born in Yugoslavia of German parents. came to Australia at 12, Captain-coach Marconi-Fairfield 1969; coached South Coast United 1971; Canlcrbury-Marrickville 1972; South Sydney -Croatia 1973; now coach of Western Suburbs. First appointed assistant national coach 1970. Occupation: professional coach.

RALE RASIC, 38, coach and sole selector (Pan Hellenic): A Yugoslav youth international, Rasic played for and coached Victoria after migrating from Yugoslavia to Melbourne in 1963, armed with a physical education degree, and an ambition to be a Soccer coach. In 196S he returned to Belgrade to complete an advanced coaching-course. Back in Australia, he was appointed national coach in 1970. Occupation: professional coach and sports company director. (fSSil '( tgsi'f ifrvH; tfeSN JIM MILISAVL-JhYIC, 23.

goalkeeper, 5ft II in (Mel-bourne-JL'ST): Born in Australia of Yugo- -slav parents, was Australia's second -goalkeeper to Jim Fra-ser last year. Coach Rale Rasic has been a major influence on his career since bringing him into the JUST firrt team at 16. Has not yet played internationally, but his anticipation and ability to punch the ball clear in a tight situation make him an asset. Occupation: clerk. ATTI ABONYI, 27, forward, 5ft 8iin (St George Budapest) Born in Hungary, fled after the 1956 revolution with his parents to live in Melbourne while still a schoolboy.

Played for Melbourne HSC, earning first international honours. Brilliant but erratic ball-playing forward, has played in several front-line positions since moving to St George. Match-winner when in form, has played 38 times for Australia. Occupation: tailor. BRANKO BUL-JEVIC, 26.

forward, 6ft lin (Melbourne JUST): Bora in Yugo-s 1 a i a naturalised shortly before the tour of Asia in 1972, where played first international. Skilful player, operates from left-wing position, but often cuts inside to score vital goils. Played in Cup elimination series, and has 17 caps. Occupation: turner. RAY RICHARDS, 28.

midfielder, 5ft 9in (Marconi Fairfield) Born in London, came to Australia 11 years ago and played in Brisbane before moving to Sydney in 1968. Very able player who usually produces his best for his country, but is often erratic in club games. Outspokenness on and off the field has given him an outlaw reputation, and be is one of the most colourful characters in Australian soccer. Carries an element of surprise with him into many games with his ability to throw a long ball into the goal area. Has represented Australia 27 times.

Occupation: company director with Rale Rasic ADRIAN ALSTON, 25, forward 6ft 01 in (Safeway United): English-born, pi a ycd professional I with Preston North End while still a teen-lpcr. Migrated in 1967, and has played most of his football on the South Coast. Tall, solid, with ability to produce a dazzling gamer but lacks the consistency to hold down a regular place in the side. Despite this, has 31 Australian caps. Occupation: sales JIM ROONEY, 25.

midfielder, 5ft 6in (Apia Leichhardt) Born in Scotland, had Scottish and English league experience before coming to Melbourne in 1967. Moved to Sydney to play with Prague in 1969 and later joined Apia. Probably the hardest working player in the Australian side, covers an enormous amount of ground and refuses to acknowledge defeat. His 17 international caps are less than his ability deserves. Occupation: despatch clerk.

PETER OLI.ER-TON, 23, forward, ft lin (Apia-Lcichhardt): Born in Lancashire, England, seemed set to win a place in the Cup side last year after moving to Sydney from Melbourne, but failed to make the cut-off for the matches against Iran and South Korea. Tall, powerful goabcorcr, particularly strong in the air. Scored five goals in this year's Ampol Cup final against Auburn. Won first two cant against Uruguay. Occupation: sales JIM MACK AY, 30, midfielder, 5ft 91in (Hakoah-Eastern Sub-urosj: Former Scottish professional with first division club Airdrie-onians.

Migrated to Melbourne 10 years ago and played with Croatia before joining Hakoah in 1972. Relics on sound positional sense and clever distribution, without flamboyance, but is one of the key men in the Australian side. His brilliant goal in Hong Kong against South Korea put Australia into the World Cup finals. Has won 26 Australian caps. Occupation: roof tiler.

GARY MANTEL, 24, forward, 5ft lOin (Pan Hellenic): Australian-born forward, played first international against South Korea in 1969 World Cup. Plagued by injury, Manuel has rarely played for long enough stretches to realise his potential, but sound form early this season earned place in Cup side. Played in only one match on the 1972 tour of Asia, and because of persistent injury has represented Australia only thrice in past five years. Occupation: printer. MAX TOI-SON, 28, forward, 6ft 01 in (Safeway United): Australian-born player who developed skills in native Wollongong.

Joined Marconi-Fairfield last year, but returned to Safeway this season. Tall, tough, versatile and recognised as the finest header of the ball in Australia. Misfortune in missing the 1970 world tour because of knee ligament damage was almost repeated this year when he contracted mumps a fortnight before the Cup team assembled at their Sydney training camp. Occupation: sales representative. MANFRED SCHAEFER, 31, defender, 5ft 8in (St George Budapest): Born in Germany, migrated to Australia at 14, and has learned all his football here.

Teak tough, widely known as the iron man of Australian soccer, bounced back to top form after cartilage operation last year. With the injured Ray Baartz out of the side Schaefer takes over as stopper. Occupation: milk vendor. in first match agaiast East DAVE HARDING, 26. midfielder, 5ft 9in (Pan Hellenic): English-born, learned his football in Liverpool before migrating to Sydney in 1968.

Like club-mate Ivo Rudic, is newcomer to World Cup football, and played first international against Uruguay. Skilful midfielder, with an eye for an opening. Hard working without being spectacular. Won World Cup chance with sound early season form under the eye of club and national coach Rale Rasic. Occupation: postal clerk.

HARRY WILLIAMS, 22, defender, 5ft 9in (St George-Budapest): Left fullback who appeared to have lost all chance of place after a tuck of encephalitis earlier this year. First Aboriginal to leprescnt Australia, has yet to play a full international. First selected for the 1970 world tour. Exciting but somewhat erratic player. Occupation: clerk.

To play JOHN WATKISS, 33, defender, 6ft lin (Hakoah-Eastern Suburbs): Came from England at 10, has been in Australia's three World Cup campaigns. Very experienced player (23 caps), who only came back into Cup calculations when Schaefer was injured, but played a big part in Australia's qualification. With John Warren, was one of the "whiz kids" in the golden days of Canterbury. Solid, reliable stopper, back at his peak after struggling to find form following a back injury early in the season. Occupation: scrap metal dealer.

IVO RUDIC, 31. defender, 6ft (Pan Hellenic): Born in Yugoslavia, 1 was brought to Australia to play for Yugal, and had several outstanding seasons there before switching to Pan Hellenic this year. Usually reliable sweeper, has sometime? shown dangerous lapses in allowing opposing forwards to get around him. Newcomer to international soccer, and has not played for Australia. Occupation: shop assistant Germany.

Jnt ERNIE CAMP BEIJj 24. forward, 5ft lOin (Marcofu-Eai rf icKI Australian-bom player of tremendous potential, apprenticed to English club Chelsea while still a teenager. Never quite lived up to early promise, but it capable of brilliant performance on the day. Scored coal in Auckland lo enable Australia to scramble lo a draw against New Zealand in March last year in the first elimination match, and remains in the race for a place in West Germany. Has played in eight internationals.

Occupation: sales representative. Printed and pwbMthed frv John FlrU Sons limited, of 3 The Sydney Morning Herald World Cup Soccer Guide, Friday, June 14, 1974 3.