By TERRY MADDAFORD
PAPEETE - Paul Urlovic has been sent packing again and faces a long road back if he is to regain his place in future All Whites soccer teams.
Urlovic and his former Central United clubmate Ivan Vicelich are surprise omissions from the New Zealand team to play the Solomon Islands in tonight's second Oceania Nations Cup semifinal.
Both have started in the previous two games but have paid the price for unacceptable Kiwi efforts.
While Vicelich will be on the substitute's bench, Urlovic will sit in the stand with youngsters Jeff Campbell, Josh Stick and David Rayner.
Last year Urlovic did not get any game time at the Confederations Cup in Mexico with coach Ken Dugdale citing his lackadaisical attitude in pre-tournament matches in Singapore and Malaysia as the reason.
Last night he said Urlovic had slipped back into "holiday mode" again.
Asked whether it might be the end of the international line for the Melbourne Knights striker, Dugdale said simply: "It [Urlovic's attitude] won't happen again."
Of the decision to drop Vicelich - the Football Kingz player of the year - Dugdale said he blamed his club's decision to play him in midfield rather than his more customary defensive roles as the reason for the uncertainty he showed in the 3-1 win over Vanuatu.
"I have expected more from Ivan," said Dugdale after the team's second training session yesterday. "His defensive play has suffered from playing in the midfield."
Of the decision to retain Mark Atkinson, Dugdale said he had just had a bad game against Vanuatu. He was not the only one and Dugdale admitted the team have done better in training here than they have done in beating Tahiti (2-0) and Vanuatu.
The heavy rains which swept the island yesterday should be in the All Whites' favour tonight.
"There has been a lot of uncertainty over the bounce of the ball," Dugdale said. "With the ground likely to be softer, the players will be able to wear studs rather than moulded soles for the first time and that should help their confidence."
With Gavin Wilkinson, Che Bunce and Scott Smith returning after missing the Vanuatu game through injury, Dugdale has named what he and assistant coach Mick Waitt consider their best team.
Dugdale is aware that over-confidence could be the team's biggest problem against a side capable of at least matching the All Whites for pace. With four players, including former Oceania player of the year Batram Suri, playing their football in New Zealand, they will be well aware of what to expect.
"The Solomon Islands have the opportunity to upset," said Dugdale. "We don't.
"We are putting out a team of fulltime professionals. So far they haven't performed like pros."
Australia beat the Solomon Islands 6-0 - all goals in the first half - on Saturday night while Vanuatu, who will play Australia in the early game tonight, upset Tahiti 3-2 after being a goal down after just two minutes.
All Whites: Jason Batty, Che Bunce, Scott Smith, Sean Douglas, Jonathan Perry, Simon Elliott, Chris Jackson (capt), Gavin Wilkinson, Mark Atkinson, Chris Killen, Kris Bouckenooghe. Substitutes: Ross Nicholson, Ivan Vicelich, Harry Ngata, Gerard Davis, Raf De Gregorio.
Soccer: 'Holiday mode' rules out Urlovic
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