Stan In Club Versus Country Dilemma

Last updated : 27 June 2001 By Brian Cartlidge
Lazaridis helped the Australians move a step closer to qualifying for next summer's World Cup finals when they beat New Zealand over two legs last weekend.
The problem now for Lazaridis, and Blues, is that the Australian soccer authorities want their players to spend up to a month at a training camp next winter to prepare for their next two play-off matches in November.
Australia will face a side from South America with the winners of that tie assured of a place in the World Cup finals. Dates for the two games have yet to be finalised as the South American programme of qualifiers has not yet been completed.
But, whoever the Aussies have to play, Blues will not look kindly to the prospect of losing Lazaridis for up to a month before the two games.
Blues are resigned to being without him for any possible play-off matches, but they will be among a host of clubs who would protest at the prospect of seeing their star players spend a month at a training camp Down Under.