Tahiti savouring Brazil challenge

Tahiti, shock Oceania champions after their triumph over New Caledonia 1-0 in the Oceania Nations Cup final, are relishing competing at next June's FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil alongside the cream of the international game. Brazil and Spain will participate alongside Italy, Uruguay, Mexico, Asian champions Japan and whoever wins the African Nations Cup in January - and even if the Tahitians expect to be taught several footballing lessons, coach Eddy Etaeta says they will look to acquit themselves respectably. "We are just a small country going up against seven world names. Winning the Oceania Nations Cup sparked incredible joy. After our victory I think our players are now not really quite aware what we face at the Confederations Cup," Etaeta told reporters in Sao Paulo on Friday ahead of Saturday's draw. We are just a small country going up against seven world names. Eddy Etaeta, Tahiti coach "The problem has been to digest this victory over the following months. But we have to be aware we are playing with the big boys now. We have to ask ourselves the right questions," He said it had been difficult for Tahiti, ranked 179 in the world, below the likes of Afghanistan and Barbados, to emerge as any kind of force even on a regional level given the usual dominance of New Zealand. Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation ahead of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Etaeta, whose side are coming off tough losses to the Kiwis in Oceania group stage three FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers, says they must show they are no flash in the pan. "Now is the time to get down to the nitty gritty," he warned. From FIFA