Team ready to capitalise on good away results
Socceroos defender Luke Wilkshire says the team is ready to capitalise on the good away results, by making sure they get the wins they need at home to ensure qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
Socceroos defender Luke Wilkshire says the team is ready to capitalise on the good away results, by making sure they get the wins they need at home to ensure qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
Australia has three of its next four games at home, starting with Uzbekistan next Wednesday night (April 1) at Stadium Australia* in Sydney.
Wilkshire left no doubts the squad will be looking for nothing else but a win against Uzbekistan, with the three points leaving them on the cusp of qualification, if not qualified, if results over the next two rounds go their way.
“They are all important games, but especially this one,” Wilkshire told www.footballaustralia.com.au. “Hopefully we can get in touching distance (of qualifying for the World Cup), if we are not there already.
“We know we-ve still got points to pick up to get to South Africa and Wednesday-s going to be crucial for us.
“Home games are especially important to win. We-ve managed to get some important results away from home and now we have a few home games coming up its important we win these.”
Wilkshire is also confident a good week of preparation will also see a much better performance from the side, after two relatively poor performances on the pitch against Bahrain and Japan, even though they managed to pick up a vital four points from the two games.
For both the Bahrain and Japan away trips, coach Pim Verbeek had just a day or two to work with the players, so defensive tactics were employed. While the style of play certainly was pretty, in terms of results, it worked to good effect.
“It-s been difficult, we-ve had very tough away games,” he said. “It-s always difficult away from home and especially in Bahrain, it was played in very difficult conditions and we didn-t play so good, but its about winning games.
“Generally when your at home, you can be a little bit more attacking, so hopefully that-s going to be the case (on Wednesday).”
One of the reasons for Australia-s success during the World Cup qualification campaign has been the partnership of Wilkshire and Brett Emerton down the right. While Emerton has been scoring the goals, Wilkshire has been setting up quite a few, although with Emerton missing for the rest of the campaign, he obviously leaves a big hole attacking wise.
But Wilkshire is confident that whoever comes in on the right side of midfield, will do the job, as has been the case with the absence of so many players during the course of the campaign.
“Of course you miss someone like Emo (Brett Emerton). But that-s a great thing about our squad, when we are missing players; like now we are missing Moorey (Craig Moore) and we-ve got Chris Coyne and Jade North who can step in.
“I am sure that will be the same for Emo.”
Meanwhile David Carney has a new lease of life, after finally playing a full 90 minutes for Norwich City, following his loan move from Sheffield United in January.
“The team was playing quite well and rarely getting beat, so basically I just had to bide my time and now that I have got my time, I have just got to take it.
“I felt fitter than I thought I would, so that was good and I was hoping to get through it. Hopefully I can keep playing now for the rest of the season.”
With a new spring in his step Carney is now hoping he can carry that into the national team.
“I am hoping to,” he replied, when asked if he thought he would get into the starting eleven. “Being in Sydney as well, this is back in my home town, so I would to play.
“But obviously that-s up to the gaffer and hopefully I can perform in training and show him that I am fit and ready.”
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*ANZ Stadium referred to original name of Stadium Australia, due to rules of Asian Football Confederation.