Sainsbury keen to net support for Socceroos

SOCCEROOS defender Trent Sainsbury has pleaded for Australia to get behind the team as it pursues World Cup qualification.

Australia hosts world No.1 Brazil tomorrow night at the MCG before heading to Russia on Wednesday for the Confederations Cup.

Bournemouth left back Brad Smith strained a hamstring in the first half of the win against Saudi Arabia in Adelaide on Thursday.

Former Melbourne City star Aziz Behich, who replaced Smith at halftime, is favoured to take his place in the starting side while Rosenborg left back Alex Gersbach was drafted into the 23-man squad.

Sainsbury felt the negative reaction to the 3-2 win, which leaves the Socceroos in a good position to qualify for Russia 2018, was unfair.

“It just seems like everything that we do these days is getting hammered, especially in the media,’’ Sainsbury said.

“It’s nice for ourselves to stay together and get the three points. We won’t worry about what people say on the outside.

“It fortifies the unit and belief that we’ve got.

“It would just be nice for the Australian public to be on our side. We don’t focus on it, but it’s hard to ignore when it comes up every single day and it’s the same nit-picky stuff that makes the headlines instead of the three points.

“We made it difficult for ourselves, but our objective was to win and we did that.

“We’re working hard and trying to achieve the goals and objectives we’ve set out, to win and qualify for the World Cup and do it our way.’’

Sainsbury said Brazil would be a great yardstick for the Socceroos.

“We get to gauge ourselves against one of the world’s best [teams], some of the world’s best players,” he said.