Uruguay coach accuses Australia of 'stirring things up'

Uruguay coach Jorge Fossati said on Wednesday that World Cup qualifying opponents Australia were trying to stir things up before their visit to Montevideo for the first leg of tomorrow's play-off.

Australia, beaten by Uruguay in a play-off for the last World Cup, have brought back memories of their previous visit to Montevideo when they said they were insulted and spat at on arrival at the airport.

This time, Australia have decided to stay in neighbouring Argentina before the match and Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chief Executive John O'Neill has said his players would not hesitate to walk off if there was any crowd trouble.

"It's a case of them trying to stir things up," Fossati told Reuters after a training session.

"I wasn't there four years ago, I don't know what did or didn't happen, but if there was some hostility at that time and it makes them so afraid, then the truth is they're not ready for this type of game."

"There hasn't been a single problem at the Centenario stadium for many, many years," added Fossati, referring to the historic stadium which hosted the 1930 World Cup final and where Uruguay still stage their home games.

"The Centenario is one of the safest stadiums in the world and Uruguayans are one of the most educated and peaceful people in the world."

He added: "When they talk about us, the team, they can say what they want. But if they want to talk about the Uruguayan people, they should be careful because you have to know the history of the Uruguayan people first before you start talking."

Uruguayan police have said that this time, Australia's team bus will wait for them on the tarmac and they will be whisked to their hotel without passing through the airport terminal.

Australia have said they are happy with the arrangements although the two teams have continued to bicker over the date and kick-off time for the first leg.

Australia refused an Uruguayan request to bring the first leg forward to Friday, to allow an extra day ahead of the second leg which will be played in Sydney the following Wednesday.

Fossati, whose team have made a habit of grinding out goalless draws away from home, said he did not expect a big win in the first leg.

"If we win 1-0 here, that will be a start. We don't need to go to Australia with a five-goal lead."

FIFA ruling

The kick-off time for tomorrow's play-off tie was changed for the third time.

Uruguay FA (AUF) president Eugenio Figueredo told Reuters that the match, the first of two legs to determine who will go to Germany next year, would be staged at 1800 (Uruguayan time).

Uruguay had initially planned to stage the game at 1700, then switched it to 2100 and then back to 1700 when plans to arrange a charter flight to take them to Sydney fell through.

However, Australia refused to accept the change and FIFA ruled on Wednesday that the match would be played at 1800.

The new kick-off time still allows Uruguay time to get to the Chilean capital Santiago in time to catch a scheduled flight to Sydney the same evening.