Australian national football team coach Ange Postecoglou has "no concerns with the uncertainty over the stadium for Australia's World Cup group match against Spain," which could be removed as a venue, according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The Arena da Baixada in Curitiba has fallen "well behind the deadline date for completion." Reports surfaced on Monday that the venue had "already been axed as a host city though the Football Federation of Australia denied that they had received any notice from FIFA or warning for a change in schedule." FIFA will assess the "renovations of the stadium over the next two days before announcing their decision to cancel all games held there." Despite the "looming logistical nightmare, Postecoglou is unfazed over the potential relocation of their third and final group match." Postecoglou said, "I've got more important things to worry about, we'll play them in the car park if we have to, we've just got to be ready to play" (SMH, 2/17). In Sydney, Ray Gatt wrote in a "situation that smacks of political opportunism, it is also believed the city claims it has no more money to fund further improvements." FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke tweeted on Monday, "As announced many times, decision on Curitiba will only happen on 18 Feb. Rest pure speculation by people who just want to create rumours." An FFA spokesperson suggested that it "was too far gone for FIFA to change the venue as it would cause huge problems in terms of ticketing, hotel accommodation and flights not just for the eight teams that have to play there but for fans as well" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 2/18).
