ROOS AREN’T RAW, JUST ‘UNTAPPED’
THE Socceroos’ lack of World Cup experience will be tested in Russia, though defender Trent Sainsbury prefers to think of the squad having “untapped potential”.
Bert van Marwijk’s national squad are upping their preparations in a pretournament camp in Antalya, Turkey.
Underlining the scale of the task ahead, just seven players in the 26-man group have experience at the global event.
Sainsbury was the first defender on former coach Ange Postecoglou’s teamsheet when fit and was the Socceroos’ best player at last year’s Confederations Cup in Russia.
But the 26-year-old A-League winner missed the 2014 World Cup – like Robbie Kruse and Tom Rogic – through injury.
“It’s hard not to imagine what’s ahead. What’s at stake and what the possibilities of the games are,” Sainsbury said.
“Every kid dreams of going to a World Cup and I’m still dreaming to this day. Until I’m there on the pitch, I can keep dreaming.”
Other players were brought into the fold after the 2014 tournament, helping Postecoglou win the 2015 Asian Cup.