Australia captain Mile Jedinak promised Thursday that the Asian Cup hosts will embrace the local pressure ahead of their tournament opener against Kuwait.
With most of the golden generation of players who reached the 2011 final long gone, Australia’s coach Ange Postecoglou will be under intense scrutiny when they take on former champions Kuwait in Melbourne.
But Jedinak backed the home side to rise to the challenge, despite failing to win the Asian Cup since joining the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2006.
“I didn’t play (the Asian Cup) in 2007 but I played in 2011 and think it was a great tournament for us,” said the Crystal Palace midfielder.
“As a group we grew. We didn’t get the final result that we wanted but you’ve got to use that a little bit as motivation going forward, whether you’re hosting (the tournament) or not.
“It’s something that makes you grow as a footballer. It doesn’t always go as smooth as you want, but does that put any more pressure on? I personally don’t feel it. You put pressure on yourself to do well no matter what.”
“Everyone wants to be involved in a major tournament in their own back yard playing in front of family and friends,” he added. “We’re no different so it’s something we all have to embrace.”
Kuwait, Asian Cup winners in 1980, have beaten Australia in five of their previous 10 meetings, losing just three times with two draws.
Australia last came out on top in 2006, and Jedinak warned against looking beyond the Arabian Gulf side with games against Oman and South Korea to follow.
“Our biggest rivals in the tournament are Kuwait tomorrow night, pure and simple,” he said. “We won’t be looking too far ahead. I won’t allow myself to do it and I won’t allow my teammates to.”
The Australians, beaten by Japan in the 2011 final, are only the 10th highest-ranked team at the Asian Cup, but Postecoglou dismissed the significance of his side’s current world ranking of 100 – or a woeful record of just one victory in 11 matches last year.
“We have blooded a lot of players since the World Cup,” he said. “We’ve tried to broaden the base and to expose as many players as possible to international football. I’ve now got so many options across the park. If we play well, we’ll be a handful for anybody.”
Jedinak, who along with Tim Cahill will be crucial to Australia’s hopes, called on the side to put football on the map in the sports-mad country.
“Football in Australia is a sleeping giant,” he said. “Obviously it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Hopefully now everyone else can see, with the country hosting such an important tournament. A lot of it is going to come down to us performing well, starting tomorrow night.”
New Kuwaiti coach Nabil Maaloul, appointed after the team’s nightmare Gulf Cup campaign last November, tried to deflect the pressure onto the hosts.
“It will be difficult for the Australian team as it’s the opening match,” he said. “I hope the shock of a new coach will give my team a boost. We have a proud history in the Asian Cup and there is no reason why we can’t do well.”
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