Let's win for Kewell, Moore: Neill - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Let's win for Kewell, Moore: Neill

By Doug Conway 21/06/2010 12:21:50 PM Comments (0)

Do it for Harry.

That's what Socceroos captain Lucas Neill will be telling his players before they march out to play Serbia.

Not only for Harry Kewell, but also for Craig Moore.

Both are suspended from Australia's final World Cup group match.

Neill wants to use their predicament as an added incentive for reaching the second round - to give the two veterans one more crack at the big time.

If the Socceroos can beat Serbia on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) and get a favourable result from the Ghana-Germany match, they can still reach the round of 16.

If they don't they can pack their bags.

But that could spell the end of the road for both Kewell and Moore.

Neither wants his last World Cup duty to be watching Australia v Serbia from the grandstands.

"We've got to give them another bite of the cherry," Neill said as he prepared for the must-win match in Nelspruit.

"Whoever comes in now (to replace the suspended duo) they're going to have the same team spirit we showed against Ghana.

"Let's hope it's enough."

This is definitely the last World Cup for 34-year-old Moore, who misses the Serbia match after being booked a second time in the fighting 1-1 draw with Ghana.

It's also likely to be the end for Kewell, 31, whose career has been plagued by injuries and who would be 35 next time around.

He was red-carded against Ghana for a goal-line handball and must serve an automatic one-match suspension.

"I don't want to leave it like that", said Kewell.

"I didn't mean to get sent off. It wasn't a deliberate handball. I am devastated.

"I have had some great moments and I have had some bad moments.

"You have to take the good with the bad. But we've still got a chance.

"Hopefully we get a little bit of luck next time (against Serbia), you never know."

Moore was among a number of Socceroos who felt Kewell was harshly dealt with when dismissed for handball but said: "That's life. I'm not one for hard-luck stories.

"We certainly haven't had the rub of the green with those big calls.

"They usually even themselves out, although they certainly haven't at this point in time."

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