Surface is sweet, now to tackle Honduras

ANGE Postecoglou has used the Socceroos’ first training session at ANZ Stadium to inspect the pitch as well as his players after expressing concerns with the surface.

Australia’s coach is delighted by news the crowd is nearing a sellout of 76,000 but was much less enthusiastic about the pitch for tomorrow’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Honduras.

The venue was used for the return qualifying clash with Syria on October 10 but Postecoglou was nervous about the pitch given the ‘Monster Jam’ motoring event held at the venue later last month.

“From what I’ve seen so far ... it wasn’t as good a condition as it was against Syria. There were monster trucks on there,” Postecoglou said.

There are noticeable patches on the ground where grass has been replaced, but ground staff said they were happy with how the surface had pulled up from the October 21 event.

The ground will also be mowed twice before the match.

All 25 Socceroos trained yesterday, with Mat Leckie (groin) and Robbie Kruse (knee) sporting taped up legs.