SOCCEROOS PRESS ON WITH ATTACKING INTENT
AN intimidating atmosphere in muggy conditions at a hostile venue with a rough pitch means the Socceroos were to have no choice but to respond to Honduras’ declaration of “war” with a fighting display at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano today.
As much as this week in San Pedro Sula has been about goodwill and charm following derogatory comments made about the Central American nation in Australia, niceties were to go out the window this morning in the World Cup qualifying playoff first leg.
Honduras coach Jorge Luis Pinto fired the opening salvo on match eve, saying the Socceroos were welcome to have fun – until kick-off.
“Once we’re on the pitch, it’s going to be war,” he said.
And it was nothing less than Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou expected, or wanted.
Playing in conditions totally against you, and in front of 40,000 passionate fans baying for your blood, is what football is all about.
“We’re expecting a tense atmosphere, and a passionate home crowd who want their team to win, and that’s the way it should be, because we’re both playing for a World Cup spot,” Postecoglou said.
“They’re a strong team, they’re a very aggressive side, they’re very hard to beat at home … we’re going to have to play well.”
Playing well for Postecoglou has always meant sticking to his attacking philosophy. That will not change despite the poor state of the surface.
‘‘It’s a little bit bumpy and a little bit soft but we were prepared for that,” the Socceroos coach said.
“We understand that it’s going to be hard to play the kind of football we want to play but we’ll adjust to that … every game we play we’re going to try to win.
“Whether we play home or away, we play the same way. We’ll be aggressive and we’ll take the game to the opposition.”