Sydney: Ange Postecoglou is adamant that the Socceroos’ tough 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign in Asia has well-prepared his side for their Intercontinental Play-off first leg in Honduras next week.
According to the Australia coach playing in front of partisan home crowds of over 50,000 in the likes of Jeddah and Saitama during their Group B campaign has hardened his team’s nerves and is ideal preparation for what is likely to be a tricky test at San Pedro Sula’s Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano on November 10.
“The atmosphere in Honduras will be hostile,” admitted Postecoglou in Tuesday’s press conference announcing his 25-man squad. “But it was hostile in Saudi Arabia when we played there, as it was in Japan.”
“There’s always challenges but, from my perspective, this group of players and staff have had an array of experiences already, sometimes positive, sometimes challenging, and we’re well-prepared.
“Honduras are hard to beat, particularly at home as they make things difficult, with conditions that will be challenging. We’re expecting a tough contest with the prize at stake.
“It’s just one game, though, and then they have to come here. We’ve worked hard to ensure the logistics are spot on and to give the players the best possible environment to do what they do.”
Two players who will not be up for selection for Postecoglou will be Melbourne Victory midfielder Mark Milligan and Hertha Berlin winger Mathew Leckie who are both suspended for the first leg in Honduras.
“We’ve had Milligan out before, although Leckie not too many times, but we’re hopeful we can cover his absence,” added Postecoglou, who may not have been able to use the Bundesliga star regardless due to are recent thigh injury.
Winger Mathew Leckie is suspended for the first leg of the Intercontinental Play-off.
“Everything suggests though that he [Leckie] will be fit for the second leg and well-rested. That’s an enormous weapon to have.”
VfL Bochum forward Robbie Kruse is also a slight concern having suffered a knock to the knee in his last Bundesliga game.
Postecoglou’s own availability for Australia following the Intercontinental Play-offs has been a source of constant media speculation in recent weeks, but the coach insisted he is only focusing on the task at hand.
“All I’m thinking about is these two games. If I’m not successful, then any talk of journey or project will be over anyway,” he said.
“I’m just not wired that way to speculate about what happens after that, I’m just concentrating on these two games.
“That’s been my message to the players: To represent our country and get the job done, that’s more important than anything else.”
Australia 25-Man Squad: Mitchell Langerak (Levante, Spain), Mat Ryan (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Danny Vukovic ( K.R.C. Genk, Belgium); Aziz Behich (Bursaspor, Turkey), Milos Degenek (Yokohama F. Marinos, Japan), Alex Gersbach (Rosenborg, Norway), Matthew Jurman (Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Korea Republic), Ryan McGowan (Al Sharjah, UAE), Josh Risdon (Western Sydney Wanderers), Trent Sainsbury (Jiangsu FC, China), Bailey Wright (Bristol City, England); Craig Goodwin (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands), Jackson Irvine (Hull City, England), Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa, England), James Jeggo (Sturm Graz, Austria), Massimo Luongo (QPR, England), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town, England), Tom Rogic (Celtic, Scotland), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory); Tim Cahill (Melbourne City), Tomi Juric (Luzern, Switzerland), Robbie Kruse (VfL Bochum, Germany), Mathew Leckie (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Nikita Rukavytsya (Maccabi Haifa, Israel).
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com