Match-hardened Leckie ready to start for Socceroos
WORLD CUP PLAYOFF
SOCCEROOS star Mathew Leckie has declared his strained hamstring is right to go for Wednesday’s Russia 2018 decider against Honduras.
Leckie revealed he was close to playing for Hertha Berlin last week, but he and coach Pal Dardai opted to err on the side of caution before the FIFA international break.
Having clocked up 850 Hertha Berlin minutes in 11 games — and scoring four goals — this season plus four gruelling Socceroos outings, he said he was still sharp.
“I feel really good. I was pretty good before leaving my club. I probably could have made the squad for (last) weekend but we decided there was no point risking it,’’ he said.
“Bit of a setback because I haven’t been able to play, but it’s two weeks. I don’t think I’ve lost too much fitness. I’ll be good to go.
“Until the injury I’d played in all the league games. So I got an extra 10 days (to recover).
“My coach pretty much said don’t risk it, I didn’t get much of a break after Confederations Cup, I had 10 days off. The club said in hindsight they probably would’ve given me a bit more time off.
“It’s a good set up at Hertha, they manage me pretty well. I’ve missed a few Europa League games to recover for the league.”
A running machine, Leckie — who started in Ange Postecoglou’s Socceroos debut four years ago and has played four different roles since — is likely to resume his wing role on Wednesday.
Leckie, who watched the first leg with Robbie Kruse in their Melbourne hotel room, said the ANZ Stadium surface would lend itself to the Socceroos’ up-tempo style.
“Our goal is to dominate the game on Wednesday and I think we can do that,’’ he said.
“We controlled the game over there in poor conditions. The pitch looked very tough and the guys did very well.
“The away goal would’ve been nice, but with us getting back early, we’ve got all the right people to get us right, the pitch is going to be in good condition so we can move the ball.
“The speed of the game will be much faster and I think we’ve got a better team.
“In 90 minutes anything can happen, against Syria we copped a bit of a scare when we copped a goal from an easy mistake, but then we fought back. I think we’ll be able to create enough chances to — if we convert — score a couple.”
WITH an away clean sheet and transport home fit for royalty, the Socceroos are resolved to put a still-airborne Honduras to bed in their decisive World Cup qualifying clash.
There were tired eyes and heavy heads when the Socceroos touched down in Sydney early yesterday afternoon, barely three days before Wednesday night’s playoff second leg finally decides their Russia 2018 fate.
But their near 24 hours in the air paled in comparison with the journey of their Central American opponents.
In shades of Uruguay 2005, no measure was taken for granted on the charter flight that transported the Australian team from San Pedro Sula, a vessel featuring massage and physio tables for treatment at 30,000 feet and a mathemat- the Socceroos and with about 60 hours to prepare.
By that time, Ange Postecoglou’s squad will be adjusted to the 17-hour time difference, well recovered and about to undergo its first full team training session.
“Recovery time is very important thing in international football, especially over such distances,” defender Trent Sainsbury said on landing.
“Every little bit counts in such big games. Honduras still have a long way to go. We’re already here and we can recover and be fresh.”
Another advantage is that Honduras is much more of a known quantity.
“If we can play any team back to back we get to know what they’re like and their tendencies,” Sainsbury said.
“So it’s an advantage coming back here on home soil after a good performance away.
“I can’t see them changing many different things. Tactically they might tweak a few things but we’ll be ready.”
Sainsbury, again a cool head in Australia’s backline, was one of the few experienced faces in the line-up that dominated Honduras in a hostile at- mosphere described pitch.
For the second leg Postecoglou will regain the services of key personnel in Mathew Leckie and Mark Milligan, the latter crucial if previously injured skipper Mile Jedinak cannot back up for a second 90 minutes.
Though the odds are in their favour, Sainsbury said the Socceroos were under no illusions that qualification is far from a formality.
“This is do or die, you make a mistake and it could be the end of the road,” he said. on as a what he “diabolical”