Canberra Times article: Friday 29 June

Canberra’s Socceroo Carl Valeri will play his football in Italy’s Serie B next season with Grosseto.
Valeri who is currently in camp with the Socceroos in Singapore, as they prepare for the AFC Asia Cup 2007, is pleased with the outcome.

“At this stage of my career, it’s best for me,” said Valeri.

Valeri’s contract is half owned by Italian giant Inter Milan and Grosseto. Valeri’s match winning goal for Grosseto on the final day of last season ensured the Tuscan club went into Serie B for the first time in their short history. It also meant Grosseto was keen to keep him.

When Valeri’s loan period to Grosseto expired in May, Inter and Grosseto both placed bids into an envelope to secure the players future. If Inter had placed the highest bid it was expected Valeri would be loaned out to another lower league club.

“I want to stay at Grosseto, establish myself in Serie B. Moving to another club you have to start all over again,” said Valeri.

Fortunately for Valeri, Grosseto’s bid was said to be $300,000 higher than Inter’s so Valeri gets to stay for one more year.

“Yes, I’m delighted. The good news is that Grosseto won the other half of me. So that's pretty exciting for me. That’s what I wanted, so that will be good when I get back. I’ll join up with late pre-season training with Grosseto.”

Meanwhile Valeri wasn’t so happy with the heat in Singapore.

“I’m so tired it’s not funny. We have been training pretty hard. It’s just so hot.”

Coach Graham Arnold is putting his players through pre-season training. Arnold is determined to have his players fit for their first ever Asia Cup. The Socceroos have been training twice a day in humid conditions. Players have lost between 2-4kg in training sessions.

Former coach Guus Hiddink introduced a more mobile style of play to the Australian game. It got great results in the World Cup last June in Germany. Maintaining this style in the heat of South East Asia will be a big challenge for the squad.

Valeri doesn’t expect much game time at this tournament, despite playing the full ninety minutes in the last two Socceroo games, against Uruguay and China. He sees World Cup stars Vince Grella and Jason Culina ahead of him in the battle for selection.

“There are some great midfielders ahead of me in this team. I'm working hard but understand my chances of playing may be limited,” said Valeri
“It's going to be a good learning experience no matter what.”

“Since we arrived last week we’ve only had one morning off, so it’s been pretty hectic.”

“Luckily I did some training at the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) before I left, otherwise I don’t think I would be able to move right now.
Despite the intense training Valeri is excited as the tournament approaches.
“Everyone except John Aloisi is in camp. All the senior players are willing to help the younger guys out, which is great,”

The Australians will play Singapore on Saturday in their only international before their opening 2007 Asia Cup game against Oman on July 8 in Bangkok.

Australia is in Group A with Oman, Iraq and co-hosts Thailand. All group games will be played in Bangkok. If Australia wins they stay in Bangkok for their quarter final. The semi-final would be in Hanoi, Vietnam, with the final in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Organisers have acknowledged hosting the games in four countries is a mistake. Fans, journalists and teams may have to move between all four countries if their team makes it to the final.

Australia are expected to have 5,000 fans at the first game, with more to join if, as expected, the team progresses.